Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

4 reviews

itsheyfay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Child death

Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, Murder, Infidelity, and Violence

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Ableism, and Drug use

books4em's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book made me remember why I love thrillers - but not just any thriller, those thriller series where you are left without the one last answer to the mystery. You have so many of the pieces fitting together, but then there's that one question that leaves you hanging. Add in a new cliffhanger, and you've got those specially amazing thrillers. That was The Vanishing Stair. I am about to immediately pick up the third book in the Truly Devious series because this was so good. Johnson really knows how to write a story that keeps you captivated. Reading the two timelines at the same time is a key aspect of this series and one I enjoy greatly. Combined with the fantastic descriptions of the setting of Burlington, Ellingham, and Vermont in general, it is truly amazing (pun intended). The whole subplot with Edward King I'm not a fan of, but I see its purpose. Same with the Dr. Fenton and Hunter subplot - not sure where that's going. As with Truly Devious, I appreciated the queer rep with the side characters (one of whom uses they/them pronouns and it's seamless) along with the mental health rep. I liked how these points continued from the first book. I also liked how this book focused more on solving the Ellingham case, not just the one in the current timeline. And by far, the best moment in this book is on page 348 where Stevie is talking through the murders with those involved in the cupola and the ghost of Dottie looks at George Marsh's ghost and turns to Stevie and nods and Stevie nods back. Yes!!! That moment of understanding and thanks from Dottie is insurmountable! But still, where is Alice and what's the secret surrounding her?! I need answers, so on to book 3!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Confinement

Moderate: Death and Murder

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Kidnapping

falennahrm's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Dysphoria, Gore, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Stalking, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts

bookishkia's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

(Ignore any and all grammatical and/or spelling errors. Please and thank you.) 


    BEEF. WE HAVE BEEF. She can’t keep getting away with this. She ends her books on cliffhangers and then partially answers those previously unknown answers only to leave you with more than you came!!! That may be confusing but it’s almost 4 am and I am FED UP. When I read this next book I expect no stone unturned. If my rating was based off purely satisfaction of the ending this book would get TWO FREAKING STARS. 

    But bc I wasn’t automatically bored in the beginning (like the first book) and I could actually keep up with most of the characters (unlike the first book) and the fact that I simply like the plot and where it was going. BEFORE the ending. 

    What happened with David? Why is he paying people to beat him up?? Was he the could Fenton called out to?? What happened to Alice, I know she’s dead she has to be but how did she die?? 

    To make this confusingly long story short, I am, once again, upset with the ending but satisfied with how MOST things played out. Would make it three starts even TWO but I do have to admit this was a page turner. I was hooked. Obsessed. I just had to know. I felt like someone had put my brain, or maybe my consciousness, in Stevie’s body and I saw everything form her eyes. Every decision she made I could find reason for it. 

    I could connect with her characters on most things and actually see then as humans who make mistakes. And for that? 4 stars, overall.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, and Violence

Moderate: Child death and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Gaslighting, and Murder