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kaybiasotti93's review against another edition
4.0
Full of complex characters with huge flaws that for some reason you still root for. Gripping, with thrilling twists and turns, and an oddly satisfying ending.
robinsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This terrific psychological thriller with many twists and turns is set in England and will be on my best of 2011 list. There are times when you want to smack some of the characters along side the head and ask "What are you thinking?" but this kept my interest right up to the twist at the end.
I'm looking forward to the author's next book due in Febrarury 2012, and be forewarned that the British title is THE SICK ROSE but the US release will be titled THE DARK ROSE.
I'm looking forward to the author's next book due in Febrarury 2012, and be forewarned that the British title is THE SICK ROSE but the US release will be titled THE DARK ROSE.
willowfae's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so didn't expect the ending. Not sure how I felt about it after that.
laneylegz's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn't worth the read & the 2 part TV series on Acorn TV was just as bad. Flashbacks aren't my thing unless they are written better. Spoiled rich kids (Rex & Biba) living off their estranged father & straight laced poor Karen spend too much time acting like teenagers with partying & drugs. A murder happens & a prison sentence ensues & go forward 12 yrs as Rex is getting out of prison, someone is missing & threats happen. Twist at the end that was ok. Struggled finishing.
kba76's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to really like this, and it got off to an intriguing start. Sadly, I felt like it fizzled out and had all become very obvious by the end.
Karen, our narrator, is a first-class student, languages expert and generally not someone who gets into trouble. Then she meets Biba Capel, aspiring actress, and starts what can only be described as a kind of love affair (though the physical relationship comes with Biba's brother, Rex).
Our story begins with Karen going to pick up her husband Rex after he gets out of prison for committing double murder. Then we shift back to the summer when Karen first met the Capels and follow the story of what happened.
There's no doubting the shifting narrative keeps our interest, and the opening part of the novel sets up quite an interesting dynamic.
Unfortunately, I never really saw the appeal of either of the characters for Karen so her behaviour doesn't really make sense. The dynamic between Rex and Biba is so off-kilter that it felt like more detail was needed to justify how they got there. The other characters that the story involves didn't really move beyond plot devices for me.
The signs as to what happened were pretty obvious from early on. What I was more interested in was why things happened as they did, and I just don't feel that Kelly really resolved this satisfactorily for us. The 'big shock' at the end wasn't actually much of a shock...I wish there'd been something more inventive.
I keep being told to read The Secret History (to which this is being likened), but I think I'll leave a gap as I don't want to unfairly judge Donna Tartt after someone else hasn't quite succeeded.
Karen, our narrator, is a first-class student, languages expert and generally not someone who gets into trouble. Then she meets Biba Capel, aspiring actress, and starts what can only be described as a kind of love affair (though the physical relationship comes with Biba's brother, Rex).
Our story begins with Karen going to pick up her husband Rex after he gets out of prison for committing double murder. Then we shift back to the summer when Karen first met the Capels and follow the story of what happened.
There's no doubting the shifting narrative keeps our interest, and the opening part of the novel sets up quite an interesting dynamic.
Unfortunately, I never really saw the appeal of either of the characters for Karen so her behaviour doesn't really make sense. The dynamic between Rex and Biba is so off-kilter that it felt like more detail was needed to justify how they got there. The other characters that the story involves didn't really move beyond plot devices for me.
The signs as to what happened were pretty obvious from early on. What I was more interested in was why things happened as they did, and I just don't feel that Kelly really resolved this satisfactorily for us. The 'big shock' at the end wasn't actually much of a shock...I wish there'd been something more inventive.
I keep being told to read The Secret History (to which this is being likened), but I think I'll leave a gap as I don't want to unfairly judge Donna Tartt after someone else hasn't quite succeeded.
orlaelan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sarah_in_scotland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gicuzziol's review against another edition
2.0
Atualizando a review em Agosto/2021: fazia tempo que eu não via um grupo de personagens mais tosco que esse. Especialmente a Biba. Céus, não achei que eu fosse sobreviver. Duas estrelas pela “reviravolta” óbvia no final.