Scan barcode
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I did enjoy this but i dont think it has quite stuck with me enough to give it 4 ⭐️
I think i just found it a little bit predictable?
I think i just found it a little bit predictable?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
katie_elise's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Violence
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
madamelacy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A page-turning mystery told from the perspectives of three lighthouse keepers and the women they left behind when they vanished. I loved this book until the ending which felt a bit weak.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
nixicat1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Vomit, and Grief
rosyhumbug's review
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
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
ceejcook's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Violence
lucylou's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting story, but doesn't live up to the hype. The first chapter starts off very slow, but it ends with a bang: where did the 3 light keepers go? The first 2/3s of the book, I did my best detective impersonation, trying to put possible pieces together through linking bits of the alternating stories of the past (the light keepers, 3 men) and present (the women they left behind) together, which was fun to do.
As an American, some of the chapters were hards to read, as trying to decipher some of the thick English accents were harder than I anticipated, but those parts don't last long. The style does take some time getting used to, as most of the the "present" portions read like interviews, with little emotion. It made it harder to understand and care for the women. There were moments I felt sad for them, and the things they went through, but I never connected with them. Not that I connected to the men that much more, but at least I understood their motivations, their hates/morals/desires, more. The women seemed flatter in comparison; boiled down, they were just one-dimensional, grief and guilt stricken partners. We get a glimpse into what their worlds are like after 20 years without their partners, but the author barely scratches the surface of "oh, I wish my husband/boyfriend was still alive."
As an American, some of the chapters were hards to read, as trying to decipher some of the thick English accents were harder than I anticipated, but those parts don't last long. The style does take some time getting used to, as most of the the "present" portions read like interviews, with little emotion. It made it harder to understand and care for the women. There were moments I felt sad for them, and the things they went through, but I never connected with them. Not that I connected to the men that much more, but at least I understood their motivations, their hates/morals/desires, more. The women seemed flatter in comparison; boiled down, they were just one-dimensional, grief and guilt stricken partners. We get a glimpse into what their worlds are like after 20 years without their partners, but the author barely scratches the surface of "oh, I wish my husband/boyfriend was still alive."
Overall, it was a fine book to read over the course of 2 days. The reveal of what happened was a quick 3 page explanation, which was... fine. I think the author was trying to be subversive, by going with an explanation that no one in the book had guessed. I'm glad
I think the author ended the book in the best way she could, but it still left me unsatisfied.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, and Rape