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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2024/07/i-will-ruin-you.html
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow. This book was a handful. It started with a literal explosion and just kept going. A lot of things happen to our characters, who are rife with bad luck as all of current days' problems (school shootings, book banning, fentynl, child molestation, etc) are visiting them in the space of a single month. They also are bad communicators, so everyone is in the dark around them. Yeah, it's a bit over the top. Throw in a couple very late twists after the fact, and you're just laughing. Was it a thrill ride? I suppose, but just way over the top.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Linwood Barclay's books are always thrilling and crazy in the way how they stitch events together and this one was no exception. But I might have become too familiar with his style because I guessed the last plot twist a long time ago. Other than that, most things took me by surprise and the mystery had me hooked, on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out how all the different characters and their story would line up together in the end.
Barclay does a great job of developing his characters and their backstory to get the reader invested and that's what makes his writing stand out to me in the genre - the depth he's able to put into his books without every info dumping or boring the reader.
Still, while a great book, it's nowhere near my top books by Barclay. Glad to see him still coming up with new books though :D
Barclay does a great job of developing his characters and their backstory to get the reader invested and that's what makes his writing stand out to me in the genre - the depth he's able to put into his books without every info dumping or boring the reader.
Still, while a great book, it's nowhere near my top books by Barclay. Glad to see him still coming up with new books though :D
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A heroic act brings unwanted attention for a high school teacher!
3.5.
When a former student, Mark LeDrew, enters Lodge High where Richard Boyle works, wearing explosives, Richard manages to talk him down. But while retreating Mark accidentally removes his finger from the trigger, detonating the bomb, killing only himself in the blast. Richard is unwittingly a hero – praised by his family, school and community for his actions and bravery.
But his moment in the spotlight brings enemies out of the woodwork, all of whom hold grievances against Richard. To protect his reputation, Richard attempts to resolve the matters himself. It's his first of many mistakes, because Richard has much more to lose than just his reputation.
I Will Ruin You (love the title) was an exhilarating, fast-moving, exciting, quick read. Honestly, Linwood Barclay has always reminded me of Harlan Coben, and vice versa – not enough for me to mix up the two authors – but their writing styles and types of plots share commonalities. There were some rollercoaster chapters cliffhangers, but unfortunately the final reveal was kind of obvious. Also, there were several sub-plots that were either resolved too easily or fizzled out which made me wonder if they were only included to distract from the perpetrator and add more suspects. There sure was a lot going on in this novel. Even though drug-dealing isn’t my preferred plot in a domestic thriller there were some great twists in that storyline.
Edited: 8 October 2024. After reading the e-book, I was fortunate enough to be approved for the audiobook. Having now sampled several chapters I have no hesitation in recommending this performance. Narrators George Newburn and Johnathan McClain elevated the source material to a whole new level. Applause!
Edited: 8 October 2024. After reading the e-book, I was fortunate enough to be approved for the audiobook. Having now sampled several chapters I have no hesitation in recommending this performance. Narrators George Newburn and Johnathan McClain elevated the source material to a whole new level. Applause!
All in all, an above average read which kept me entertained and glued to its pages.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK Audio, and Linwood Barclay for the e-ARC.
The audiobook is available now!
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK Audio, and Linwood Barclay for the e-ARC.
The audiobook is available now!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Plot twists abound in this book. It feels pretty straightforward in the beginning but the further you read, the more connecting threads you trip over and it's difficult to see what it's going to be in the end when they are woven tighter. A really fun, engaging book.