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yoursam's review against another edition
3.0
i like it when a book doesn't waste time to get to the plot. i know a nice, slow start has its time and place but for stories like this one the hit the ground running approach fits so much better.
there's a bit of a quirk to dave's writing that sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't. a sort of repetition that i don't mind overall but that seems slightly overused in this particular book, it didn't take away my enjoyment but it does get old in some spots, i won't lie. that being said, in general i did like her writing style! i think it lends itself well to the story she has chosen to tell here
i do think maybe there could have been a couple less scenes of hannah getting a lightbulb moment all on her own, where you're sort of left being dragged along by her because she's got something or someone figured out and you don't seem to have all the elements she does to make the connection with her BUT honestly everything flows well enough in terms of plot points and i would consider this almost nitpicky, i'm only including it because it's my review and i do what i want.
as a last thought: wouldn't have minded more bailey!
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
jessthemess8112's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Toxic relationship
leenzreadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Murder
kelsey1995we's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
cassidy_rain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
bookaddictlt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
viertelvorvier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Death of parent
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hannah begins to investigate when her husband of one year goes missing, leaving behind only his sixteen-year-old daughter and a cryptic note.
This was my first time listening to a thriller on audio (I’ve always avoided it out of worry about my ability to follow the story) and the good news is the audio format worked really well. The bad news is it was probably because this book isn’t a thriller. I’m not usually a stickler for genre labels (I think they should be really broad and fluid!) but I don’t think this one qualified as a thriller almost any definition. It was, at best, a mystery, and really read to me as “vaguely mysterious contemporary fiction.” That’s a valid genre and even one I read, but I truly think the inaccurate marketing for this one affected my reading experience/perspective in a big way.
That said, there were a lot of positives about the book—I thought the writing itself was really good, the characters were likable and I enjoyed the relationship between Hannah and her step-daughter Bailey, and I thought the audio narration was very well done. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the ending and ultimately had more frustration with this book than I did enjoyment.
All of this with a giant caveat, though: I read this as a buddy read and at least one of my fellow readers LOVED this book and gave it five stars. So it definitely is for some people, even though it largely was not for me.
Recommended if you like: contemporary fiction with a dark edge, reflections on parenthood, missing person stories
CW: Loss of parent; abandonment
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
uranaishi's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Infidelity, Cancer, Classism, Death, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
In general, none of the characters have much personality. Which isn’t uncommon for a mystery novel, but made the plot a little stale. It’s hard to believe a character doing unthinkable things for another character when neither are fleshed out so much to show true reasoning behind their actions. Although this is a story about protecting those you love, I found little detailed emotion in the pages aside from literally stating said emotions.
And what modern 16-year-old girl calls their dad by “father”?? I found Bailey’s use of it so off-putting. Her dialogue didn’t give off the teenager voice to me.
Also, chapters do not need to have titles unless it’s intended for someone under the age of 11. End of.
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence, Cursing, Drug use, Murder, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol