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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
I haven’t read a book by this author since 2020 when I reviewed the audio version of [b:Within the Mind|50529282|Within the Mind (In the Mind, #1)|Alice Winters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579329665l/50529282._SX50_.jpg|67869895] (2019) and found it very disappointing. The one thing I thought the author did well, though, was the darker elements of the story (which is a paranormal procedural), so when I read the synopsis for A Simple Mistake – which sounded like a darker story than Ms. Winters usually writes – I thought it was time to revisit her work. She's very popular and very prolific, and while I don't subscribe to the “she must be good if so many people love her stuff” school of thought, I thought maybe the five-year-gap might mean she’s developed as an author and learned to create complex, three-dimensional characters and dialogue that is actually funny.
Sadly not.
A Simple Mistake is a romantic suspense tale that contains little of either. Liam, a cop, is actually a serial killer who only kills those who deserve it (à la Dexter) and his work partner (and love interest) Gabriel is far too trusting and naïve to be a cop. The story opens one year earlier, with Gabriel catching Liam getting ready to dispose of the body of a man they knew was guilty of the murder of his wife and son but who walked free from court. Horrified, Gabriel knows he should call it in, but instead, lets Liam go with the proviso that he walk away from being a cop and from Gabriel forever. In the present day, Liam learns that Gabriel has been kidnapped (and that some other cops have been murdered), so Liam returns all guns blazing determined to save “his” Gabriel. Of course he does, and the present day part of the story is about their search for the twisted killer.
In flashbacks, we get the story of the wife/son murderer and how Liam and Gabriel set about finding the evidence to prove his guilt.
God, this was a slog. It’s way too long and rather dull; I normally enjoy the use of flashbacks in books, but they just didn’t work here – again, they’re too long and rather dull. The story is dual PoV, but Liam is clearly the author’s favoured child although he’s basically a one-note character. He’s grumpy, he’s a genius who is usually several steps ahead of everyone else when it comes to solving crimes, he’s rude, he’s dismissive of everyone … except Gabriel. For reasons that are not really clear, Liam becomes obsessed with Gabriel (I can’t call it love – it’s way too possessive for that) – he thinks of him as “his Gabriel” and would do literally anything for him. Gabriel becomes fond of Liam for reasons that are equally obscure, and I have no idea whatsoever why – or how - they fall in love. In fact, the romance is a non-starter because we don’t really see it develop; it’s clear Liam is obsessed with Gabriel from the first page, and I couldn’t work out what Gabriel saw in Liam, when he's basically someone whose moral code (such as it is) is the complete opposite to his.
From reading reviews, it seems this grumpy genius/sweet sunshine pairing is the author’s usual MO, and I certainly don’t object to the trope, but the characters need depth and nuance, which aren’t present here. The plot is clunky and lacks tension, and the dialogue – which so many readers praise for its hilarity – is flat and tries too hard to be funny (and fails.)
I know I’m an outlier here and that the author and her many fans won’t care what I have to say. But clearly, Alice Winters isn’t for me.
Sadly not.
A Simple Mistake is a romantic suspense tale that contains little of either. Liam, a cop, is actually a serial killer who only kills those who deserve it (à la Dexter) and his work partner (and love interest) Gabriel is far too trusting and naïve to be a cop. The story opens one year earlier, with Gabriel catching Liam getting ready to dispose of the body of a man they knew was guilty of the murder of his wife and son but who walked free from court. Horrified, Gabriel knows he should call it in, but instead, lets Liam go with the proviso that he walk away from being a cop and from Gabriel forever. In the present day, Liam learns that Gabriel has been kidnapped (and that some other cops have been murdered), so Liam returns all guns blazing determined to save “his” Gabriel. Of course he does, and the present day part of the story is about their search for the twisted killer.
In flashbacks, we get the story of the wife/son murderer and how Liam and Gabriel set about finding the evidence to prove his guilt.
God, this was a slog. It’s way too long and rather dull; I normally enjoy the use of flashbacks in books, but they just didn’t work here – again, they’re too long and rather dull. The story is dual PoV, but Liam is clearly the author’s favoured child although he’s basically a one-note character. He’s grumpy, he’s a genius who is usually several steps ahead of everyone else when it comes to solving crimes, he’s rude, he’s dismissive of everyone … except Gabriel. For reasons that are not really clear, Liam becomes obsessed with Gabriel (I can’t call it love – it’s way too possessive for that) – he thinks of him as “his Gabriel” and would do literally anything for him. Gabriel becomes fond of Liam for reasons that are equally obscure, and I have no idea whatsoever why – or how - they fall in love. In fact, the romance is a non-starter because we don’t really see it develop; it’s clear Liam is obsessed with Gabriel from the first page, and I couldn’t work out what Gabriel saw in Liam, when he's basically someone whose moral code (such as it is) is the complete opposite to his.
From reading reviews, it seems this grumpy genius/sweet sunshine pairing is the author’s usual MO, and I certainly don’t object to the trope, but the characters need depth and nuance, which aren’t present here. The plot is clunky and lacks tension, and the dialogue – which so many readers praise for its hilarity – is flat and tries too hard to be funny (and fails.)
I know I’m an outlier here and that the author and her many fans won’t care what I have to say. But clearly, Alice Winters isn’t for me.
adventurous
funny
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a cute new series, basically Dexter in a book, if you liked Dexter and want a mystery with a mm romance this book is for you!
I didn’t find the writing particularly engaging. 30% in and there is hardly any interaction between the MMCs and when they finally meet again I didn’t enjoy it, I kind of see where the book was going but I personally didn’t like the execution
Sooooo Perfect
I will never not give a Alice Winter book anything less then a 5 star review!!
I love everything about this book!! I laugh so hard one minute and then stress the next with the mystery going on.
Liam is so prefect, he loves his Gabriel so much and that’s all he truly cares about I melt!!!
And of course there interactions are so perfectly sarcastically funny!
The story was kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next, just a good story!
Can’t wait to see what’s nexts for this couple!!
I will never not give a Alice Winter book anything less then a 5 star review!!
I love everything about this book!! I laugh so hard one minute and then stress the next with the mystery going on.
Liam is so prefect, he loves his Gabriel so much and that’s all he truly cares about I melt!!!
And of course there interactions are so perfectly sarcastically funny!
The story was kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next, just a good story!
Can’t wait to see what’s nexts for this couple!!