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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
August Book Club Book!!
This was an interesting storyline and was different then what I was expecting. If was lowkey a bit of a let down but oh well! I was expecting a bit more of a plot twist or reveal or something but didn’t really get it.
This was an interesting storyline and was different then what I was expecting. If was lowkey a bit of a let down but oh well! I was expecting a bit more of a plot twist or reveal or something but didn’t really get it.
2022 january pick for buzzword reading challenge hosted by booksandlala
- a book with one of the 5 W's in the title
who, where, what, when, why OR how
- a book with one of the 5 W's in the title
who, where, what, when, why OR how
Imagine a good girls guide to murder but not young adult, a lot of emotional turmoil, religious trauma, and frustration
I sure hope this author is writing another novel because this debut one is AWESOME!
Full review is here:
https://goldintheclouds-faith.blogspot.com/2022/03/2022-book-review-9where-truth-lies.html
Full review is here:
https://goldintheclouds-faith.blogspot.com/2022/03/2022-book-review-9where-truth-lies.html
SUCH an amazing read! I was honestly so gripped by the mystery and wanting to figure out what happened to Abi - I finished the entire book in one day because I just couldn't wait to figure out what happened. I loved the setting in rural Colorado and the characters were all so lifelike and relatable. It felt like any small town in America, and it felt like this could happen anywhere. I was also especially touched by Emma's love for her friend and her persistence in figuring out what happened to Abi. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my friends.
Maloměsto plné tajemství a náboženských fanatiků, obklopené skálami zvané Holé kosti, kde vládnou muži přísnou rukou a ženy musí poslouchat.
Vítejte ve Whistling Ridge.
Každou neděli chodí na první pohled spokojené rodiny s dětmi do kostela, kde poslouchají kázání pastora.
„Víte, co znamená LGBT? Lásku gayů Bůh trestá.“
Jakmile se ale všichni rozejdou do svých domovů a zavřou za sebou dveře, začíná teror. Někde lítají pěsti, jinde se člověk hroutí po psychické stránce.
Pak se mladá studentka Abigail ztratí a začne vyšetřování. Šerif navštěvuje domácnosti a všechno přísně střežené vyplouvá na povrch.
Hodně postav a střídání přítomného času s minulým může čtenáře ze začátku trochu zmást, ale kniha se čte velmi dobře a není tak snadné ji odložit stranou.
Řeknu vám, Anna Bailey teda umí vygradovat příběh. Žádné tajemství nevyzradí hned, ale dá si pořádně načas - postavy viděly něco, zažily tohle, udělaly tamto a já jsem se ptala co, kdo, s kým a čekala na odpovědi.
Bohužel jsem pachatele (i bez nějakého většího pátrání) odhalila moc brzy a díky zahraničním ohlasům jsem měla až příliš vysoká očekávání. Nepochybuji ale, že si tento mrazivý debut užijete.
Vítejte ve Whistling Ridge.
Každou neděli chodí na první pohled spokojené rodiny s dětmi do kostela, kde poslouchají kázání pastora.
„Víte, co znamená LGBT? Lásku gayů Bůh trestá.“
Jakmile se ale všichni rozejdou do svých domovů a zavřou za sebou dveře, začíná teror. Někde lítají pěsti, jinde se člověk hroutí po psychické stránce.
Pak se mladá studentka Abigail ztratí a začne vyšetřování. Šerif navštěvuje domácnosti a všechno přísně střežené vyplouvá na povrch.
Hodně postav a střídání přítomného času s minulým může čtenáře ze začátku trochu zmást, ale kniha se čte velmi dobře a není tak snadné ji odložit stranou.
Řeknu vám, Anna Bailey teda umí vygradovat příběh. Žádné tajemství nevyzradí hned, ale dá si pořádně načas - postavy viděly něco, zažily tohle, udělaly tamto a já jsem se ptala co, kdo, s kým a čekala na odpovědi.
Bohužel jsem pachatele (i bez nějakého většího pátrání) odhalila moc brzy a díky zahraničním ohlasům jsem měla až příliš vysoká očekávání. Nepochybuji ale, že si tento mrazivý debut užijete.
I haven't given a one star in a long time. This book was just awful. The characters are horrible and unlikeable. The writer must have a hatred of small towns and Christian families, because her portrayal of them is just despicable. I don't consider myself religious, but using Christianity to display characters the way she did is a bit offensive. I love a good thriller /mystery, but this one is a miss for me. It's sad, but I was actually looking forward to reading this. Huge disappointment.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Anna Bailey’s debut novel Where the Truth Lies brings readers a dark, disturbing, emotional, and atmospheric crime novel set in small town Whistling Ridge, Colorado. A teenaged girl, Abigail Blake, disappears after leaving a party and going into the woods. She had come to the party with her friend Emma Alvarez who feels guilty for not waiting on her friend and commits to finding out what really happened to Emma. Did she meet someone; and if so, who? Most, including the police, believe she ran away from home. But is that what really happened?
Many characters in this novel are nasty, spiteful, obnoxious, malicious, and mean-spirited, and that is describing them mildly. They seemed very real and it is daunting to imagine a town that contains this many vile characters. However, there are a few characters that stand out positively from the rest. One is Abigail’s younger brother, Jude. Another is Emma. Despite her problems, she is trying to do the right thing. The third was Rat, a Romanian living in an RV. While he had some problems, he basically wants to help Emma.
The plot is quite dark and contains several twists that are interwoven well. The author does a great job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the setting. The small town atmosphere came through, but not the positive atmosphere often seen in novels. This one is full of secrets, alcoholism, racism, and a charismatic pastor that advocates violence and intolerance. Add to this drugs, rage, domestic violence, child abuse, self-blame, cruelty, narrow-mindedness, inexcusably bad parenting, gossip, lies, maliciousness, bullying, and much more. What do you get? A suspenseful and emotional novel that pulls a reader in and keeps one looking for something hopeful in Whistling Ridge. My one quibble was with the frequent shift of perspective from character to character and back and forth in time which broke up the natural flow of the novel.
Overall, this book was a study of many characters and group dynamics that was intense, compelling, thought-provoking, and impactful. What will Emma find out as she digs into Abigail’s disappearance and learns that Abi had her own secrets? Will she solve the puzzle of her friend’s disappearance? I will not forget this book or its characters for a long time, if ever. It is not an easy book to read, but it is important to understand that attitudes and behaviors such as those shown in this story line exist.
Atria Books and Anna Bailey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 3, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Many characters in this novel are nasty, spiteful, obnoxious, malicious, and mean-spirited, and that is describing them mildly. They seemed very real and it is daunting to imagine a town that contains this many vile characters. However, there are a few characters that stand out positively from the rest. One is Abigail’s younger brother, Jude. Another is Emma. Despite her problems, she is trying to do the right thing. The third was Rat, a Romanian living in an RV. While he had some problems, he basically wants to help Emma.
The plot is quite dark and contains several twists that are interwoven well. The author does a great job of world-building. I was able to easily visualize the setting. The small town atmosphere came through, but not the positive atmosphere often seen in novels. This one is full of secrets, alcoholism, racism, and a charismatic pastor that advocates violence and intolerance. Add to this drugs, rage, domestic violence, child abuse, self-blame, cruelty, narrow-mindedness, inexcusably bad parenting, gossip, lies, maliciousness, bullying, and much more. What do you get? A suspenseful and emotional novel that pulls a reader in and keeps one looking for something hopeful in Whistling Ridge. My one quibble was with the frequent shift of perspective from character to character and back and forth in time which broke up the natural flow of the novel.
Overall, this book was a study of many characters and group dynamics that was intense, compelling, thought-provoking, and impactful. What will Emma find out as she digs into Abigail’s disappearance and learns that Abi had her own secrets? Will she solve the puzzle of her friend’s disappearance? I will not forget this book or its characters for a long time, if ever. It is not an easy book to read, but it is important to understand that attitudes and behaviors such as those shown in this story line exist.
Atria Books and Anna Bailey provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 3, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.