Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

9 reviews

killmoore_'s review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I watch way too many true crime stories for any of this to have surprised me, but it was enjoyable none the less.

A lot of unnecessary scene setting - clothes descriptions, random gestures, etc - and not enough character depth. Story lines fell flat, and as an avid reader of this genre, I pinned the killer by the middle of the book. The ending was a bit too well packaged for me as well - I could have dealt without the last few chapters entirely.

The story was fun, fast paced and thrilling - I listened to the audio book and loved it. I would recommend to folks new to the genre with a big ol trigger warning attached.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Mental illness, Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Stalking, Torture, Child death, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Blood, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Rape, and Sexual assault

bravelostmind's review

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Although an enjoyable read at times it felt slow and clichè. The 'romance' element did not work for me, nor did it add any addition to the 'twist' involved.

Sure, it was a sort of interesting twist, but it did not wow me or feel neatly tied in a bow.

The antagonists felt a little clichè and I did not feel much towards them.

An easy read, but not one with that much substance. Glad to have read, but I probably won't think about it again...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Self harm

meeklovestoread's review

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I rarely rate books two stars, but I honestly couldn't find one redeeming quality from this book other than the fact that it was short and I finished in a day (not because it was good; it's because I wanted it to be over). The alternating perspectives from first person to third person was  "a choice". I didn't like any of the characters. Dr. Moore's actions infuriated me so much because if she wasn't thinking with her private parts half the time maybe she would've noticed the red flags in her newfound companion. 

I don't blame her for not knowing about John's actions. However, Robert was creepy from the get-go and the fact that she couldn't (refused) see that baffles me. And what I can't begin to fathom is that she literally goes out with him after he confessed to killing one of her patients as well as attempting to kill her too. Again, thinking with her vagina instead of using an ounce of her brain.

Might I add that this book wasn't particularly suspenseful or thrilling, more so a very flat mystery. I found myself trudging along to just finish the book because nothing was interesting to me in the slightest. Also, I guess most of the twists except 

  Brooke's involvement and how she was a literal predator. I honestly didn't see that coming so I'll give her that. However, it still grants no points for me. This book was not good (to me). 

As an avid thriller reader this book just didn't deliver for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Grief

ladyinverse's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

an onion of a book.

there were so many layers to this plot and everytime you pulled back one layer, there was yet another until you hit the center of the onion and everything hits you all at once. amazing read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Torture

Moderate: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

saraavowlerr's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Torture, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Confinement, Self harm, Body horror, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, and Toxic relationship

ssarahbbeth's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Sexual assault, and Homophobia

kaylasbookgram's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“While there are some moral saints out there who have never wished ill on anyone, twenty percent of human beings have weighed the pros and cons of killing someone at some point in their lives.”

Six Dead Teens. A Serial Killer On The Loose.

Dr. Moore is an expert on killers but when she meets Robert Gavin, the father of BH Killers 6th victim, she starts to question herself. He’s very alluring but he’s hiding something from her and she just can’t put her finger on it. Robert hires Dr. Moore and together they look into the mind of the BH Killer, but it’s not who’s being accused did she miss something what is the 7th victim hiding since he escaped? So many twists and hidden secrets in this psychological thriller it was keep you reading until the last page.

This is my second book by A.R. Torre and I’m definitely in love with the style of writing! I love a good book that keeps me guessing until the end. I highly recommend this book to my fellow thriller lovers! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape

mellowbread's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This got me hooked for a week before I finally sat down and finished it in one go. CSI and Criminal Minds were two of my frequently watched shows, and I'm a Psychology student, so I really enjoyed the deep dive into the psychology of killers. I think the author is good at hooking you in, leaving clues to keep you guessing, and even the side characters are well-described. Definitely read the content warnings beforehand, because this book covers a range of darker topics that I was sometimes unprepared for. 

I would've rated it higher if not for certain things that happened closer to the ending. Like I said, I'm a Psychology student, and some of the actions that Gwen (the main character) took struck me as really unethical and improper. I couldn't really relate to her because of this.

Like, just because your potential love interest is handsome, mysterious, and has a deep dark secret, she can just drop everything? And what about the fact that it gets revealed that he knew about who the killer was all along, and was manipulating her? There were so many red flags in this relationship that irritated me.

Even with the interesting plot, I still can't get over these things. Nonetheless, A Good Lie was still an enjoyable book because it gets you thinking about how well you really know a person and how far you would go for certain people.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Torture, and Bullying

collinsd's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Fast-paced with an intriguing concept I can't say I enjoyed this book but  it was written well enough that I was able to finish it within a day. I didn't necessarily hate Gwen's character but her thought process was very frustrating

especially concerning John and Brooke Abbott she claims that she was concerned about Brooke but not enough to discuss it with the police or even Meredith or another co-worker to see if it flagged anything

.  Additionally Robert's characterisation was very off-putting and his pov could've been written better and added more characterisation rather than just have him being hot, broody and secretive

for example focusing more on his own investigations or his feelings towards his son it didnt really seem like he was grieving Gabe, also it really annoyed me that he knew about the Abbotts role in it all and just fucked around with Gwen  to enact some petty grudge and then she just forgives him even though he's a massive red flag and slept with her TWICE trying to get information he already knew??  Also they just throw around the fact that his wife died from a gunshot wound and leave it at that??

.  The ending felt very rushed and the reveal fell flat.

Additionally I wish the author didn't make it seem as if Scott was obstructing justice when in fact he was a victim of kidnapping, physical, pyschological and sexual abuse. He was manipulated by Brooke into lying about Randall Thompson's involvement.

All in all not a bad read but could've been better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Alcohol, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Homophobia and Toxic relationship