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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Even though What Remains isn't released until June 2023, I loved this one so much that I have to put it on everyone's radar! I'm going to be very brief with the synopsis because trust me, the less you know going into this one the better!
What Remains centers around Detective Elise Sutton. Elise walks into a store and stumbles upon a robbery in progress. Elise is then faced with the impossible decision of taking down the armed shooter in order to save all of the innocent shoppers' lives. What happens next, turns Elise’s world upside down and ends up in an intense game of cat and mouse leaving the reader wondering who is the predator and who is the prey.
I knew that I would like this one because I enjoy Wendy’s writing however I had no idea the thrill ride that I was in for when I started What Remains. I initially found myself immediately captivated by Elise’s story. What Remains is different from her prior novels that I've read. Emma in the Night, American Girl, The Night Before, and Don't Look For Me would all be classified more along the lines of domestic suspense whereas What Remains is more of a crime thriller. Also unlike her prior works What Remains has some intense action scenes and a more fast-paced. Not to mention What Remains has an epic twist that will leave you gasping for breath.
Wendy Walker killed it with her characterization of the main character Detective Elise Sutton. Elise was so well written and I understood her thought process so well that she felt as it felt as if I knew her in real life.
What Remains is my fifth read by author Wendy Walker and it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations! I loved Wendy’s prior works but I have to say that What Remains is my absolute favorite by her! I highly recommend this brilliantly written and highly entertaining read.
What Remains by Wendy Walker will be available on June 13, 2023. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
What Remains centers around Detective Elise Sutton. Elise walks into a store and stumbles upon a robbery in progress. Elise is then faced with the impossible decision of taking down the armed shooter in order to save all of the innocent shoppers' lives. What happens next, turns Elise’s world upside down and ends up in an intense game of cat and mouse leaving the reader wondering who is the predator and who is the prey.
I knew that I would like this one because I enjoy Wendy’s writing however I had no idea the thrill ride that I was in for when I started What Remains. I initially found myself immediately captivated by Elise’s story. What Remains is different from her prior novels that I've read. Emma in the Night, American Girl, The Night Before, and Don't Look For Me would all be classified more along the lines of domestic suspense whereas What Remains is more of a crime thriller. Also unlike her prior works What Remains has some intense action scenes and a more fast-paced. Not to mention What Remains has an epic twist that will leave you gasping for breath.
Wendy Walker killed it with her characterization of the main character Detective Elise Sutton. Elise was so well written and I understood her thought process so well that she felt as it felt as if I knew her in real life.
What Remains is my fifth read by author Wendy Walker and it lived up to and exceeded all of my expectations! I loved Wendy’s prior works but I have to say that What Remains is my absolute favorite by her! I highly recommend this brilliantly written and highly entertaining read.
What Remains by Wendy Walker will be available on June 13, 2023. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The tagline here really drew me in, the thought of saving someone’s life and then they become obsessed with you sounded so thrilling and exciting to me. Unfortunately I didn’t find this one to be thrilling or exciting in the end though. Elsie is a police officer and I normally love procedurals but this one read as very dry and repetitive for me. There were shades of How to Get Away With Murder that kept me reading but ultimately things fell flat in the end. I have really loved the authors other books so will definitely be reading her in the future but this was a miss for me.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Elise Sutton has always loved putting together the puzzle of a cold case. When she stops to grab new bath towels for her daughters and ends up at the scene of a shooting however, her training kicks in and she must take the life of the shooter in order to save the man his gun faces. With the guilt she feels, she must find the man she saved to know she did the right thing, even though everyone is calling her a hero.
Whew. There were so many times during this book I didn’t know who was really the one “in charge” of the situation. Between Elise and Wade constantly trying to outsmart the other, it was hard to keep track of who was actually tricking whom. I was a bit confused by the second storyline at the start, but it does make sense in the end. This one kept me guessing until he end which is what I always want in a thriller!
I really loved Emma in the Night, so I was excited to pick up an early copy of this upcoming release by Wendy Walker. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. On the bright side, it was a short, to-the-point book, and I appreciate a quick read. However, the choppy writing, oddly constructed plot, and two dimensional characters put me off.
I will say, the final twist did make me smile a bit, though in my opinion it became a bit obvious mid-way through the book. I feel like I may just be becoming irritated with anything resembling a domestic thriller (why do we need so much information on the husband’s infidelity when the real issue at hand is a dangerous stalker?) — so take my review with a grain of salt.
I will say, the final twist did make me smile a bit, though in my opinion it became a bit obvious mid-way through the book. I feel like I may just be becoming irritated with anything resembling a domestic thriller (why do we need so much information on the husband’s infidelity when the real issue at hand is a dangerous stalker?) — so take my review with a grain of salt.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
A young man with a gun walks into a department store and begins shooting. Detective Elise Sutton, a cold case detective, buying towels for her daughters, hears the shots and witnesses the shooter aiming his weapon at a tall man and is compelled to take him down. With several eyewitness accounts corroborating Elise’s role in saving the lives of those present in the store on that day, the police have no doubts that Elise’s actions were justified. Her heroic act earns her accolades and recognition but Elise is consumed by guilt for taking the life of a young man. Traumatized she hopes that the testimony man whose life she saved will help her justify her actions to herself. But he seems to have disappeared without giving testimony. But when Elise finally meets the man, Wade Austin, the meeting does not end as Elise would have expected. The man in question becomes obsessed with Elise, following her every movement, threatening her safety as well as that of her family, leaving Elise with no option but to conduct her own investigation into this man, separate from her that being conducted by her department since she knows that Wade is not going to back down unless she beat him at his own game.
The narrative is well-structured and consistently paced. The story is shared from dual perspectives in alternating chapters, which works well in building up the tension. Complex characters, an intriguing premise and unpredictable twists and turns make for a riveting read. The character development was superb – both for Elise and Wade as well as the other supporting characters. I did feel, however, that the drama in Elise’s personal life was an unnecessary plot point, but luckily that did not detract from the overall reading experience. Overall, I found What Remains by Wendy Walker an intense read that grabbed me from the very first page. This is my first Wendy Walker novel and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the digital review copy of this gripping novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on June 13, 2023.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes