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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this Gothic mystery set along the banks of the Mississippi in Iowa. Laura McHugh's beautiful writing transported me there straight away as I became hooked from the first page. I liked Arden and understood her desire to go back to the past to recapture her life before her twin sisters disappeared. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing and being wrong on a number of occasions. I definitely recommend this if you like atmospheric mysteries, stories about memory and trying to make sense of the past.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author for my digital copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author for my digital copy.
3.5 stars
(From www.pingwings.ca)
I can’t remember where or how I heard about this book, but it had been on my TBR for a while, so I ended up choosing it as my pick for one of my book clubs.
In a way, even though this book is a mystery, it felt at times like not much was going on. It was kind of slow paced, but things moved really quickly at the end.
Much of the story centres around memory, and nostalgia: Arden’s thesis, her memories of her last day with her sisters, her eyewitness account that set the course for the investigation into their disappearance, the Arrowood house, even the town itself. Characters in Arden’s hometown seem to be living in the past, or trying to in some way or another. Arden does to, returning to the old house, eating the same food she ate as a child, and sleeping in her old room.
As for the mystery, I liked it, but there’s no definitive solution, which frustrates me. I like reading mysteries with a definitive ending, and this one felt open-ended (although our book club definitely agreed on what happened).
I liked this book overall and am definitely interested in reading more by Laura McHugh. Recommended.
(From www.pingwings.ca)
I can’t remember where or how I heard about this book, but it had been on my TBR for a while, so I ended up choosing it as my pick for one of my book clubs.
In a way, even though this book is a mystery, it felt at times like not much was going on. It was kind of slow paced, but things moved really quickly at the end.
Much of the story centres around memory, and nostalgia: Arden’s thesis, her memories of her last day with her sisters, her eyewitness account that set the course for the investigation into their disappearance, the Arrowood house, even the town itself. Characters in Arden’s hometown seem to be living in the past, or trying to in some way or another. Arden does to, returning to the old house, eating the same food she ate as a child, and sleeping in her old room.
As for the mystery, I liked it, but there’s no definitive solution, which frustrates me. I like reading mysteries with a definitive ending, and this one felt open-ended (although our book club definitely agreed on what happened).
I liked this book overall and am definitely interested in reading more by Laura McHugh. Recommended.
4/5 stars
Yoooooo this was really good. I really loved Arden as a character, and didn't think her personality was ever flat or lacking dimension- she wasn't the moody, distant main character I'm used to seeing in crime. She was willing to listen to people, reach out to them in a way that so many characters in crime/thrillers/etc. are unwilling to do, and I think that really helped carry the plot forward and helped her develop as a character.
One of my favourite parts of this novel, I have to admit, was the friendship and then relationship that grew between Josh and Arden. I'm not sure how everyone else felt, but I thought they were very like-minded and built up quite a healthy support system for one another. They both trusted each other and understood the decisions they made, and I really liked that. Another thing I'm used to seeing in crime related fiction is that the relationship just isn't built on mutual like/love and support, so I felt this novel was a breath of fresh air.
I also thought Arrowood itself became a character- the descriptions of the house were incredible, and I could quite easily picture it in my mind. On more than one occasion I felt very unnerved by the house and the people Arden interacted with, especially those that come under suspicion of being involved with the disappearance of her sisters. I loved the ending, and although I had a feeling about who was involved, it was still kind of awful finding out my predictions were true.
Yoooooo this was really good. I really loved Arden as a character, and didn't think her personality was ever flat or lacking dimension- she wasn't the moody, distant main character I'm used to seeing in crime. She was willing to listen to people, reach out to them in a way that so many characters in crime/thrillers/etc. are unwilling to do, and I think that really helped carry the plot forward and helped her develop as a character.
One of my favourite parts of this novel, I have to admit, was the friendship and then relationship that grew between Josh and Arden. I'm not sure how everyone else felt, but I thought they were very like-minded and built up quite a healthy support system for one another. They both trusted each other and understood the decisions they made, and I really liked that. Another thing I'm used to seeing in crime related fiction is that the relationship just isn't built on mutual like/love and support, so I felt this novel was a breath of fresh air.
I also thought Arrowood itself became a character- the descriptions of the house were incredible, and I could quite easily picture it in my mind. On more than one occasion I felt very unnerved by the house and the people Arden interacted with, especially those that come under suspicion of being involved with the disappearance of her sisters. I loved the ending, and although I had a feeling about who was involved, it was still kind of awful finding out my predictions were true.
While it was not a bad book by any means, it is hard to pick anything about it that really stood out to me. It was easy to be empathetic with the main character, and both her character itself and her backstory felt complete and interesting ... but I just wasn't engrossed the way I wanted to be.
That being said,, I definitely don't regret reading it. It was a quick read, and I did find myself honestly surprised with how everything turned out at the end. It would probably make a really good beach read!
That being said,, I definitely don't regret reading it. It was a quick read, and I did find myself honestly surprised with how everything turned out at the end. It would probably make a really good beach read!