Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Next Girl by Carla Kovach

7 reviews

lifeofchrstnlvly's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book is a straightforward procedural thriller. 

It took me some time to finish it due to a lack of compelling tension. Although the stakes were high with a life on the line, the plot revealed the victim's situation while the protagonist, DI Gina Harte, was still trying to solve the case. As a result, I, the reader, was merely waiting for the protagonist to catch up with what I already knew. The question was not 'what will happen?' but 'when and how will the villain be caught?' This aspect dulled the suspense and made me less inclined to pick up the book. 

However, DI Gina Harte, the protagonist, was a well-developed character. Even though her personal backstory didn't profoundly affect me, I could understand her because her character was thoroughly explored. 

I'm undecided about continuing with the series. I might consider reading the second book in the future, but if it follows the same format, I may not pursue the entire series.

Also, to be honest, Harte was a bit.. dumb for a DI. She actually didn't solve the case in this book. All the pieces just fell into place: she didn't find the victim, someone else did. She didn't take down the perpetrator. Someone else did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Blood, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Sexual violence

Minor: Animal cruelty and Pregnancy

yarm's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Very tense. Good suspense. Hard to put down. Trigger warning for abuse and trauma.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Kidnapping, Rape, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Violence

amandamaree's review

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual violence, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

_em_lauren's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

An easy read that keeps you engrossed in the plot. Very tense and keeps you guessing. The chapters focus on different characters and keeps you in suspense all throughout the story. Would definitely recommend.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gore, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Stalking, Vomit, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Blood, Animal cruelty, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

username330's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Torture

Minor: Grief, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

dogearedbooks's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Confinement, Murder, Grief, Violence, Physical abuse, Dementia, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Stalking, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Dementia, Torture, and Rape

Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, and Death

mbjrose99's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book.  The detectives were easy to like - even though they sometimes acted in ways I didn't like - and the cold-> warm case was intriguing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Torture