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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall I feel a little confused and unsure about how much I enjoyed this. Maybe towards the end of writing this review it might become more clear.
But for me it just seemed to start off a little slow (even tho it didn't...if that makes any sense), it seemed to take a while to really connect with any of the characters and then when finally more was learnt about them, I found myself not particularly caring about any of them.
Amelia was the more interesting character out of all of them, and that was probably because of her multiple personalities. I would have liked more from her perspective to be honest, especially when the "fog" lifted and she became more lucrid about things including the truth about what happened that night.
Really, the "secret" Sadie had, wasn't really a secret. Well I had guessed it so I am going to assume that lots of other readers probably did also.
I think what it was about this was that even though I didn't particuarly find any of the characters interesting, I still wanted to find out what was going on with the hospital patients etc. Although again I ended up being a little disappointed purely because I had guessed correctly what was going on and why. I think it might just be me though who hates to be right...personally I love a good twist and being surprised and this really didn't have that.
In fact the story itself was quite straightforward if unbelievable. One review of this I read, someone thought it was ridiculous how someone who had never been a sheriff before or for very long had managed to link it and solve it all when noone else had before, and that reviewer had a point. Slightly unbelievable that the CIA that gone to all that trouble and cleverness to hide and cover their tracks, then suddenly start making loads of obvious mistakes leading the police and FBI straight to them.
The love story felt like an afterthought to me. Wasn't really explored enough, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the 2 characters. And I was more interested in the hospital and what was going on there than the love story.
I would have to say overall this was an average read with an average story. I have read books from Rita Herron in the past and have enjoyed her work but for me this one kind of felt like a chore getting through it. I hate to give up on a book, especially when not enjoying it as much as I would hope but I kept on reading because I wanted to know what was going on and who was behind it etc. So because it did keep me reading in the end, I have rated 3 stars.
But for me it just seemed to start off a little slow (even tho it didn't...if that makes any sense), it seemed to take a while to really connect with any of the characters and then when finally more was learnt about them, I found myself not particularly caring about any of them.
Amelia was the more interesting character out of all of them, and that was probably because of her multiple personalities. I would have liked more from her perspective to be honest, especially when the "fog" lifted and she became more lucrid about things including the truth about what happened that night.
Really, the "secret" Sadie had, wasn't really a secret. Well I had guessed it so I am going to assume that lots of other readers probably did also.
I think what it was about this was that even though I didn't particuarly find any of the characters interesting, I still wanted to find out what was going on with the hospital patients etc. Although again I ended up being a little disappointed purely because I had guessed correctly what was going on and why. I think it might just be me though who hates to be right...personally I love a good twist and being surprised and this really didn't have that.
In fact the story itself was quite straightforward if unbelievable. One review of this I read, someone thought it was ridiculous how someone who had never been a sheriff before or for very long had managed to link it and solve it all when noone else had before, and that reviewer had a point. Slightly unbelievable that the CIA that gone to all that trouble and cleverness to hide and cover their tracks, then suddenly start making loads of obvious mistakes leading the police and FBI straight to them.
The love story felt like an afterthought to me. Wasn't really explored enough, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the 2 characters. And I was more interested in the hospital and what was going on there than the love story.
I would have to say overall this was an average read with an average story. I have read books from Rita Herron in the past and have enjoyed her work but for me this one kind of felt like a chore getting through it. I hate to give up on a book, especially when not enjoying it as much as I would hope but I kept on reading because I wanted to know what was going on and who was behind it etc. So because it did keep me reading in the end, I have rated 3 stars.
Good read
Yes, definitely a good book. I would recommend it. But not better than good like they say. But it had a good plot and some good twists to it
Yes, definitely a good book. I would recommend it. But not better than good like they say. But it had a good plot and some good twists to it
sadie couldn’t go 5 minutes without something horrible happening to her
Sadie Nettleton receives a telephone call. She hears her sister’s voice and then a gun shot. Sadie rushes back to her hometown to find her sister, Amelia, the main suspect in the murder of their grandfather. Amelia is suffering from multiple personality disorder.
Sheriff Jake Blackwood wants to believe that Amelia is not guilty for Sadie’s sake but all the evidence is pointing right at her. Jake and Sadie used to be in a relationship until she ran off and broke his heart.
It has been a while since I have read a book by Rita Herron. I know she is a good romantic suspense author. Dying to Tell is a nice introduction back to this author. However the romance is mild at best. This really worked for me this time. I felt that the story was stronger with less interaction between Sadie and Jake. This is only because if Sadie and Jake had been trying to reconnect too much it would have taken away from the plot. I found the plot really intriguing.
All the different voices inside of Amelia’s head were strong voices. I liked Skid the best because he was trying to protect Amelia. I was caught unaware as to the mystery man that was after Amelia until the reveal. This is the whole idea behind these types of books so the author achieved her goal with me on this book.
Sheriff Jake Blackwood wants to believe that Amelia is not guilty for Sadie’s sake but all the evidence is pointing right at her. Jake and Sadie used to be in a relationship until she ran off and broke his heart.
It has been a while since I have read a book by Rita Herron. I know she is a good romantic suspense author. Dying to Tell is a nice introduction back to this author. However the romance is mild at best. This really worked for me this time. I felt that the story was stronger with less interaction between Sadie and Jake. This is only because if Sadie and Jake had been trying to reconnect too much it would have taken away from the plot. I found the plot really intriguing.
All the different voices inside of Amelia’s head were strong voices. I liked Skid the best because he was trying to protect Amelia. I was caught unaware as to the mystery man that was after Amelia until the reveal. This is the whole idea behind these types of books so the author achieved her goal with me on this book.
This book was excellent. My first thoughts were that it wasn't much of a Suspense novel if the author gave away the killer but then, I realized it was so much more...
"Hell, he’d keep an eye on Sadie like he always had. And if she got out of hand, or if Amelia spilled her secrets, he’d take care of both of them."
Sadie returns home to Slaughterhouse Creek after 10 years after receiving a phonecall from her Sister's alter ego, only to find it was too late and she killed her grandfather. Eager to find out which alter killed him and why, Sadie is forced to work with Jake, the man she loved and was forced to leave.
As the investigation got under way, they began to find a lot of inconsistencies and mistreatment of patients. Did Sadie's mentally ill sister Amelia really kill her grandfather or did someone else?
I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. There was a bit of romance but not really enough to dominate or distort the story. I really enjoyed the constant back and forth between the alters and how well each of their characteristics were portrayed.
"Hell, he’d keep an eye on Sadie like he always had. And if she got out of hand, or if Amelia spilled her secrets, he’d take care of both of them."
Sadie returns home to Slaughterhouse Creek after 10 years after receiving a phonecall from her Sister's alter ego, only to find it was too late and she killed her grandfather. Eager to find out which alter killed him and why, Sadie is forced to work with Jake, the man she loved and was forced to leave.
As the investigation got under way, they began to find a lot of inconsistencies and mistreatment of patients. Did Sadie's mentally ill sister Amelia really kill her grandfather or did someone else?
I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. There was a bit of romance but not really enough to dominate or distort the story. I really enjoyed the constant back and forth between the alters and how well each of their characteristics were portrayed.
How on earth does this book have a 4-star rating?! If this sets the tone for my 2024 reading, then I'm in trouble!
What I liked about Dying to Tell:
The twist at the end was interesting and unexpected. I was genuinely surprised by both the identity of the killer and the motives behind the murders.
What I disliked about Dying to Tell:
In all fairness, I didn't realize Dying to Tell was considered a romance suspense novel when I first picked it up. Had I known that, I would have never picked up the book. The focus on the romance storyline detracted from my enjoyment of the book. The romantic elements came across as cheesy and unnecessary and it was obvious early on that the two main protagonists would end up together, despite their initial claims otherwise.
Aside from the focus on romance, some of the events in the plot felt unrealistic and far-fetched to me. There were times when the protagonist's actions and underlying motivations didn't fully make sense or align with the character's established personality. Overall, I found the characters themselves to be flat and underdeveloped - they seemed more focused on each other than on solving the central murder case.
What I think would have made Dying to Tell better:
In my opinion, I feel that there was an overemphasis on cheesy romance dialogue in the book. Rita Herron seemed to prioritize superficial romantic drama over creating a gripping suspense thriller. Additionally, the events and characters often lacked believable motivations and logical actions. I wish there had been more focus on building suspense through the plot and developing characters realistically, instead of leaning heavily on superficial romantic drama. A more nuanced, suspense-driven mystery would have made the story more engaging in my view.
Would I recommend Dying to Tell by Rita Herron:
Dying to Tell marks my introduction to Rita Herron's work, and although I'm willing to give her another chance, if her next book falls as short as Dying to Tell, I'll likely steer clear of her future works. As for recommending Dying to Tell, I wouldn't suggest it to others unless they're devoted fans of romantic suspense.
****
What happened to Sadie Nettleton's sister at the psychiatric hospital years ago? After fleeing Slaughter Creek a decade back, Sadie is forced to return when her grandfather is killed, and her sister is accused. Sheriff Jake Blackwood, still in love with Sadie, helps uncover the truth. But as they dig into the past, they unearth dangerous secrets, putting everybody in jeopardy. Jake will protect her at all costs, but can he risk his heart again?
What I liked about Dying to Tell:
The twist at the end was interesting and unexpected. I was genuinely surprised by both the identity of the killer and the motives behind the murders.
What I disliked about Dying to Tell:
In all fairness, I didn't realize Dying to Tell was considered a romance suspense novel when I first picked it up. Had I known that, I would have never picked up the book. The focus on the romance storyline detracted from my enjoyment of the book. The romantic elements came across as cheesy and unnecessary and it was obvious early on that the two main protagonists would end up together, despite their initial claims otherwise.
Aside from the focus on romance, some of the events in the plot felt unrealistic and far-fetched to me. There were times when the protagonist's actions and underlying motivations didn't fully make sense or align with the character's established personality. Overall, I found the characters themselves to be flat and underdeveloped - they seemed more focused on each other than on solving the central murder case.
What I think would have made Dying to Tell better:
In my opinion, I feel that there was an overemphasis on cheesy romance dialogue in the book. Rita Herron seemed to prioritize superficial romantic drama over creating a gripping suspense thriller. Additionally, the events and characters often lacked believable motivations and logical actions. I wish there had been more focus on building suspense through the plot and developing characters realistically, instead of leaning heavily on superficial romantic drama. A more nuanced, suspense-driven mystery would have made the story more engaging in my view.
Would I recommend Dying to Tell by Rita Herron:
Dying to Tell marks my introduction to Rita Herron's work, and although I'm willing to give her another chance, if her next book falls as short as Dying to Tell, I'll likely steer clear of her future works. As for recommending Dying to Tell, I wouldn't suggest it to others unless they're devoted fans of romantic suspense.
****
What happened to Sadie Nettleton's sister at the psychiatric hospital years ago? After fleeing Slaughter Creek a decade back, Sadie is forced to return when her grandfather is killed, and her sister is accused. Sheriff Jake Blackwood, still in love with Sadie, helps uncover the truth. But as they dig into the past, they unearth dangerous secrets, putting everybody in jeopardy. Jake will protect her at all costs, but can he risk his heart again?
Good read
Yes, definitely a good book. I would recommend it. But not better than good like they say. But it had a good plot and some good twists to it
Yes, definitely a good book. I would recommend it. But not better than good like they say. But it had a good plot and some good twists to it
I got this book because I liked the cover..... The comments on it were very mixed some people loved it and some didn't like it at all, this was the first book I've read by this author and I felt that it started off very slow but it did get better then it got a little confusing but at the end of the day I really liked the characters and I enjoyed reading this book the ending was a little predictable but maybe thats just me so I decided to give this book 3 stars.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes