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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked the mystery part of the book, but I did not particularly enjoy the relationship aspect. I never got a feel for why Ali and Mike were together, or knew anything about Mike as a person. Ali is kind of a crappy person, wife, mom, and friend, so I didn't necessarily want the mystery solved for her so much as I wanted it solved for me. I didn't like the weird relationships the 6 main characters had with each other, or how much they focused on college, though I understand their friendship comes from then. They're 25 years away from college!
However, the mystery part was great. I was never sure who the guilty person(s) actually was, and there was just enough of a red herring to make you question if it was someone else, but not really consider it. I would definitely put rape, child abuse, and infertility trigger warnings on this book, but if you're ok reading about those and want a good thriller mystery, this is a good story.
However, the mystery part was great. I was never sure who the guilty person(s) actually was, and there was just enough of a red herring to make you question if it was someone else, but not really consider it. I would definitely put rape, child abuse, and infertility trigger warnings on this book, but if you're ok reading about those and want a good thriller mystery, this is a good story.
A group of friends from Oxford gather for a weekend reunion after 25 years and on the boozy first evening, one of them is raped and accuses the husband of another. What ensues is an unravelling of relationships, and exposition of old secrets and--most dramatically--the revival of the mystery of the murder of one of their old classmates all those years ago on their last night at university.
Well-written, tightly-plotted and entertaining. This was my commute audiobook, and it kept me engaged, and made me curious about this author's other work, which I have some of and now plan to read soon. Didn't commit any of the cardinal sins of mystery-suspense no heavyhanded dialogue that is all plot exposition, and no clumsy foreshadowing. And the characters were interesting, with the 'working-class-kid-breaks-into-well-heeled-clique' trope thrown in to fuel and explain some of the characters' decisions. A good, light read.
Audible Note: Narration was good. Didn't get in the way of the story or characters. Easily switched between working class and middle-class and even posh accents.
Well-written, tightly-plotted and entertaining. This was my commute audiobook, and it kept me engaged, and made me curious about this author's other work, which I have some of and now plan to read soon. Didn't commit any of the cardinal sins of mystery-suspense no heavyhanded dialogue that is all plot exposition, and no clumsy foreshadowing. And the characters were interesting, with the 'working-class-kid-breaks-into-well-heeled-clique' trope thrown in to fuel and explain some of the characters' decisions. A good, light read.
Audible Note: Narration was good. Didn't get in the way of the story or characters. Easily switched between working class and middle-class and even posh accents.
This book was an Amazon Prime First Reads Giveaway, and it stacks up pretty well for a free download. The plot is not complex, but still suspenseful, and took an unexpected turn in the end. My biggest take-away from this booze-filled storyline (and this is nothing new!): excessive alcohol is a terrible idea any way you look at it.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
Not My Cup of Tea
If the goal of this book is to twist details and concepts so the reader isn't sure what happens, then it accomplished its job.
If the goal of this book is to twist details and concepts so the reader isn't sure what happens, then it accomplished its job.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book really grabbed my interest from the outset and kept me pretty hooked throughout. I read it much quicker than I generally would read a book as I needed to find out more and there were twists and turns that kept my interest. I would say the ending was a little rushed and disappointing though compared to the first 3/4 of the book…
This was such an enjoyable and nice easy read. Something perfect for like a plane ride. Enjoyed s lot!
I've rarely read a book in which I despise every single character but this was definitely one. Some chapters were all whining and "Poor me", but pushing through was worth it as the ending saved at least some of the book. I would not read it again, neither recommend it, but if you stumble over it and use Kindle Unlimited it's not that you'd completely waste your time reading this.
“We always think we want to know secrets, but what we forget is that they come with their own weights, heavy as millstones, and if you aren’t careful this weight can crush you.”
Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape
“What You Did” is about a group of old school friends who reconnect after a long time. Except the party they have goes wrong. One of the friends, Karen, is raped, and she claims that it’s Ali’s husband, Mike. And from there things unravel. The story mostly follows Ali’s point of view as she grapples between her advocacy of sexual assault victims while wanting to defend her husband. Slowly as the book progresses you start to see that the friend group was not as happy as they were made out to be. For starters, Mike and Karen had been having an affair for years, even fostering a son. Ali and Bill have been harboring feelings for each other, that they never acted on until after Mike is put in jail. Jodi and Callum, while appearing to be the innocent couple, have had problems of their own - Callum has cheated with her lots of times and she helps to cover them up, and Callum feels he’s not a man because he’s infertile and had to get a donor for Jodi to get pregnant. Basically, there’s a lot of issues between all of them. I think the book does a good job at giving all of them something to hide; they’ve all made mistakes and done bad things. Except maybe Bill. He was mostly good throughout the book, but I definitely suspected him for the entire book. I thought maybe he had tried to ruin Ali and Mike’s marriage so he could finally be with Ali. But it was actually Callum who was the rapist and murderer. I did suspect Callum but not immediately, but the clues throughout the book eventually added up. I wish that Ali would have been more supportive of Karen but I get that would be hard to hear your husband was a rapist. It was an interesting mystery, and while the plot was slow at times it was still good a mystery I enjoyed reading.
Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape
“What You Did” is about a group of old school friends who reconnect after a long time. Except the party they have goes wrong. One of the friends, Karen, is raped, and she claims that it’s Ali’s husband, Mike. And from there things unravel. The story mostly follows Ali’s point of view as she grapples between her advocacy of sexual assault victims while wanting to defend her husband. Slowly as the book progresses you start to see that the friend group was not as happy as they were made out to be. For starters, Mike and Karen had been having an affair for years, even fostering a son. Ali and Bill have been harboring feelings for each other, that they never acted on until after Mike is put in jail. Jodi and Callum, while appearing to be the innocent couple, have had problems of their own - Callum has cheated with her lots of times and she helps to cover them up, and Callum feels he’s not a man because he’s infertile and had to get a donor for Jodi to get pregnant. Basically, there’s a lot of issues between all of them. I think the book does a good job at giving all of them something to hide; they’ve all made mistakes and done bad things. Except maybe Bill. He was mostly good throughout the book, but I definitely suspected him for the entire book. I thought maybe he had tried to ruin Ali and Mike’s marriage so he could finally be with Ali. But it was actually Callum who was the rapist and murderer. I did suspect Callum but not immediately, but the clues throughout the book eventually added up. I wish that Ali would have been more supportive of Karen but I get that would be hard to hear your husband was a rapist. It was an interesting mystery, and while the plot was slow at times it was still good a mystery I enjoyed reading.