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cerilouisereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Abandonment
alison18's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, and Grief
bookishbee27's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A riveting and beautifully written twisty tale that builds slowly but surely.
The good: I would say the action in the book is a slow burn but the way the story is told and complexity of the characters, as well as the atmospheric - and hauntingly sinister - setting had me gripped. I loved how The Lamplighters transcends genres by combining a crime thriller/mystery with a love story, as well as hints at the supernatural.
The not-so-good: I felt the tightness of the writing unravelled a little at the end and it felt like the wrapping up of the story was a little rushed. I would have gladly read more!
The good: I would say the action in the book is a slow burn but the way the story is told and complexity of the characters, as well as the atmospheric - and hauntingly sinister - setting had me gripped. I loved how The Lamplighters transcends genres by combining a crime thriller/mystery with a love story, as well as hints at the supernatural.
The not-so-good: I felt the tightness of the writing unravelled a little at the end and it felt like the wrapping up of the story was a little rushed. I would have gladly read more!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Violence
ccassidy98's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
cshcolson's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Infidelity
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, and Mental illness
laurataylor's review
adventurous
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was mainly drawn to this book because of the cover but luckily the plot also sounded intriguing. I often enjoy a dual timeline and I thought it worked well here as a way of gradually revealing details from the past. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting and there's some beautifully descriptive writing. So there were definitely some elements I really loved but there was also something holding me back from being fully invested which I can't put my finger on. Also a problem I often have with mystery books is finding the ending a little disappointing compared to what I've built up in my head. I did like the ending but I think I was just expecting a little more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape
elerireads's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't really enjoy this, but I think a solid part of that was to do with it not being to my taste rather than it not being good. I bought it on a whim and had I read the blurb more closely and thought about it a bit more I suspect I might have realised I might not enjoy it, so that's on me really. The supernatural elements pissed me off - I just found them deeply unsatisfying. Also, as I've said before, my tolerance for reading deeply traumatic things is not high, but this is definitely a problem I could have anticipated from the blurb.
What I will say is that I thought the suspense wasn't handled that well in some places. I understand the tack of dropping subtle but gradually more obvious hints about some mystery or other over the course of the book before a dramatic reveal, but (a) this wears a bit thin if you do it for every single interesting detail; and (b) the hints in this were not AT ALL subtle. It was like HERE IS AN INTERESTING THING I'M REFUSING TO TELL YOU ABOUT followed by loads of unrelated stuff. Imho that kind of mystery is much better handled with a quicker turn-around, i.e. you can make it super clear that there's something we don't know so we're left guessing for a few pages, but then the next chapter has to resolve it. Much more satisfying reading experience that way anyway, although maybe I'm just too impatient 😂
What I will say is that I thought the suspense wasn't handled that well in some places. I understand the tack of dropping subtle but gradually more obvious hints about some mystery or other over the course of the book before a dramatic reveal, but (a) this wears a bit thin if you do it for every single interesting detail; and (b) the hints in this were not AT ALL subtle. It was like HERE IS AN INTERESTING THING I'M REFUSING TO TELL YOU ABOUT followed by loads of unrelated stuff. Imho that kind of mystery is much better handled with a quicker turn-around, i.e. you can make it super clear that there's something we don't know so we're left guessing for a few pages, but then the next chapter has to resolve it. Much more satisfying reading experience that way anyway, although maybe I'm just too impatient 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
danimarie96's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Mental illness
theunfinishedbookshelf's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Child death
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, and Abandonment