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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Abigail and Emma are best friends and one night Emma watches Abigail go into the woods and that is the last anyone has seen of her. Throughout the book, the author takes us back and forth through time to find out why these characters ended up here and to reveal all the details of what happened to Abigail.
For me, this one wasn't one of my favorite reads of my recent reads and it was all about the characters. I couldn't connect and get interested in any of them and for that I had a hard time keeping my attention on this book. What kept me turning pages was wanting to figure out what happened to Abigail and I can say that without that wonderment I am not sure if I would have finished. Not only were the characters just a downer, so was the town and while I can handle unlikability, this one just went beyond that.
Abigail and Emma are best friends and one night Emma watches Abigail go into the woods and that is the last anyone has seen of her. Throughout the book, the author takes us back and forth through time to find out why these characters ended up here and to reveal all the details of what happened to Abigail.
For me, this one wasn't one of my favorite reads of my recent reads and it was all about the characters. I couldn't connect and get interested in any of them and for that I had a hard time keeping my attention on this book. What kept me turning pages was wanting to figure out what happened to Abigail and I can say that without that wonderment I am not sure if I would have finished. Not only were the characters just a downer, so was the town and while I can handle unlikability, this one just went beyond that.
Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey
Seventeen year old Abi goes missing from the small town of Whistling Ridge after she convinces her best friend Emma to leave her at a party in the woods. Emma is now racked with guilt for leaving Abi and she is determined to find out what happened to her. The deeper Emma digs, the dirtier things get.
The story is told with frequent, short, NOW and THEN segments, seen from the POV of numerous characters. The changes from one time and person to another can be jarring and I would have like to have stayed with each viewpoint and time for a longer period of time. Also, the THEN segments can be anywhere from days ago to almost 2 decades ago, which can add to an already confusing story.
At first I was enjoying the story, despite the sudden changes. But we soon learn that this is a cesspool of a town, everyone has secrets and the town is floating in it's own filth of prejudices, hatred, lies, cruelty, and debauchery. Each of these people and their faults could be real but when so many flawed and broken people end up in one small town, the story becomes overwhelmed with corruption without anything to add an iota of balance to the people. I trudged through the middle of the story, learning more and more about these disgusting people and not understanding why more kids and adults don't run away from this place as fast as they can.
The last part of the story seems to pull itself together. It's as if what resolution that we get seems to pour down a cleansing rain on the people and place, giving just about everyone, who isn't crushed by their misdeeds, some hope of a brighter days in the future. This would have been more believable if we hadn't seen so much vileness throughout the main part of the story.
Publication: August 3, 2021
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Seventeen year old Abi goes missing from the small town of Whistling Ridge after she convinces her best friend Emma to leave her at a party in the woods. Emma is now racked with guilt for leaving Abi and she is determined to find out what happened to her. The deeper Emma digs, the dirtier things get.
The story is told with frequent, short, NOW and THEN segments, seen from the POV of numerous characters. The changes from one time and person to another can be jarring and I would have like to have stayed with each viewpoint and time for a longer period of time. Also, the THEN segments can be anywhere from days ago to almost 2 decades ago, which can add to an already confusing story.
At first I was enjoying the story, despite the sudden changes. But we soon learn that this is a cesspool of a town, everyone has secrets and the town is floating in it's own filth of prejudices, hatred, lies, cruelty, and debauchery. Each of these people and their faults could be real but when so many flawed and broken people end up in one small town, the story becomes overwhelmed with corruption without anything to add an iota of balance to the people. I trudged through the middle of the story, learning more and more about these disgusting people and not understanding why more kids and adults don't run away from this place as fast as they can.
The last part of the story seems to pull itself together. It's as if what resolution that we get seems to pour down a cleansing rain on the people and place, giving just about everyone, who isn't crushed by their misdeeds, some hope of a brighter days in the future. This would have been more believable if we hadn't seen so much vileness throughout the main part of the story.
Publication: August 3, 2021
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Se cercate un mistery, se ciò che amate è la parte investigativa, questo romanzo non fa per voi. Sebbene il colpevole venga smascherato alla fine, è piuttosto ovvio fin dall'inizio chi sia. Bello però il racconto della vita della provincia americana, il rapporto con la fede e la costruzione dell'intreccio
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel for my honest opinion.
A novel about the people in a small town that holds many secrets.
I liked the premise of this novel and I liked the ending. The multiple POV's and timeline shifting back and forth was a bit jarring for me. That kept the book from really clicking for me.
This book was full of unlikable characters which isn't a bad thing. I loved Rat and would love a book just about him and his story!
Overall a good read.
A novel about the people in a small town that holds many secrets.
I liked the premise of this novel and I liked the ending. The multiple POV's and timeline shifting back and forth was a bit jarring for me. That kept the book from really clicking for me.
This book was full of unlikable characters which isn't a bad thing. I loved Rat and would love a book just about him and his story!
Overall a good read.
content warnings:
representation: gay mcs, latina mc, disabled mc, survivor of domestic violence.
themes: mysterious disappearance, religious violence, family drama.
plot: when teenager, abigail, goes missing, no one seems that fazed by it except for her best friend, emma, who is convinced abigail didn't run away. abigail's disappearance begins to unravel the secrets that their town of whistling ridge has been hiding for years.
i never really read murder mysteries or stories about disappearances, but this one really stuck with me! i think what made me love it so much is that the story is really character-driven, which is my downfall! i love really good characters, even if the plot sucks. BUT the plot didn't suck at all!! i found the plot very intriguing and made me want more, but i did feel a certain connection to the characters, more so than in other mystery books which tend to be more plot-driven.
the beginning of the book was a bit slow to me as i tried to find my footing among the characters and who was who. the first 30% took me like 2 weeks to slowly inch through! however, around the 30% mark, i was read the rest of the book in about 2 days, and even stayed up late to finish it (which i hardly ever do anymore)!
the reason why it was a bit slow to me at the beginning was that the characters were confusing me, and i also didn't feel much of a connection to abi, the missing girl. but i soon realized even though the story begins with abi's disappearance, the story isn't about abi, but the family, friends, and secrets she left behind that begin to be unravelled. and soon enough, the large cast of characters just all clicked in my mind. i wasn't confusing them anymore, i learned to really love them. emma, hunter, rat, jude, and noah were my favourites (and I'm sure they're everyone's favourite!) and i thought the story was sad, but incredible.
the resolution is so satisfying, and even though the reason behind abi's disappearance isn't mind-blowingly unique, the whole point of the book is to point out the horrible tragedy that is the town of whistling ridge, and how the culture of the town led to abi's disappearance. this book is going to stick with me forever.
Spoiler
molestation, incest, murder, domestic abuse, child abuse/neglect, homophobic violence (physical abuse, arson), antiziganism/anti-romani sentiment, racism against latinx character, harmful religious sentiment, drug and alcohol use.representation: gay mcs, latina mc, disabled mc, survivor of domestic violence.
themes: mysterious disappearance, religious violence, family drama.
plot: when teenager, abigail, goes missing, no one seems that fazed by it except for her best friend, emma, who is convinced abigail didn't run away. abigail's disappearance begins to unravel the secrets that their town of whistling ridge has been hiding for years.
i never really read murder mysteries or stories about disappearances, but this one really stuck with me! i think what made me love it so much is that the story is really character-driven, which is my downfall! i love really good characters, even if the plot sucks. BUT the plot didn't suck at all!! i found the plot very intriguing and made me want more, but i did feel a certain connection to the characters, more so than in other mystery books which tend to be more plot-driven.
the beginning of the book was a bit slow to me as i tried to find my footing among the characters and who was who. the first 30% took me like 2 weeks to slowly inch through! however, around the 30% mark, i was read the rest of the book in about 2 days, and even stayed up late to finish it (which i hardly ever do anymore)!
the reason why it was a bit slow to me at the beginning was that the characters were confusing me, and i also didn't feel much of a connection to abi, the missing girl. but i soon realized even though the story begins with abi's disappearance, the story isn't about abi, but the family, friends, and secrets she left behind that begin to be unravelled. and soon enough, the large cast of characters just all clicked in my mind. i wasn't confusing them anymore, i learned to really love them. emma, hunter, rat, jude, and noah were my favourites (and I'm sure they're everyone's favourite!) and i thought the story was sad, but incredible.
the resolution is so satisfying, and even though the reason behind abi's disappearance isn't mind-blowingly unique, the whole point of the book is to point out the horrible tragedy that is the town of whistling ridge, and how the culture of the town led to abi's disappearance. this book is going to stick with me forever.
Small town girl Abigail goes missing, and while her best friend tries to put pieces together, everyone’s secrets begin to unravel. The story is told between the past and current events, focusing on the books more prominent characters. The Blake Family is the main focus, as their daughter is the one who goes missing, but it’s difficult to put down because all you want to know it how everyone fits into the crime. These types of small town stories are my favorite and Bailey definitely didn’t let me down!
Ahhh so many mixed feelings with this book. I think it had great potential but I think I wanted more I felt like it left me with so many unanswered questions. Im a straight “what EXACTLY” happened type of reader I don’t want to be guessing… the ending didn’t feel like an ending for me I was looking for more closure. I also don’t think I was a big fan of how many storyline and POVs there was it got a bit confusing for me. I did however appreciate the short chapters but think this one could’ve been wrapped up quicker than it was.
I received an advanced reader copy of Where the Truth Lies from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion.
Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey is a story about self-preservation, love, and family secrets. Whistling Ridge, Colorado is a small town with old-fashioned values instilled by the local preacher. The last time Emma saw her best friend, Abi, Emma was leaving a party and Abi was walking into the woods. Initially the police thought Abi ran away but quickly changed course when evidence found in the woods suggested otherwise.
Rat, an immigrant that has recently moved to town befriends Emma and Noah, Abi’s older brother. As Rat helps Emma and Noah navigate life without Abi, town prejudices and family secrets will push many town members to the brink.
This was a good, but very slow moving story filled with unlikable characters. Where the Truth Lies is available now.
#annabailey #wherethetruthlies #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #readin2021 #simonandschuster #simonschuster #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey is a story about self-preservation, love, and family secrets. Whistling Ridge, Colorado is a small town with old-fashioned values instilled by the local preacher. The last time Emma saw her best friend, Abi, Emma was leaving a party and Abi was walking into the woods. Initially the police thought Abi ran away but quickly changed course when evidence found in the woods suggested otherwise.
Rat, an immigrant that has recently moved to town befriends Emma and Noah, Abi’s older brother. As Rat helps Emma and Noah navigate life without Abi, town prejudices and family secrets will push many town members to the brink.
This was a good, but very slow moving story filled with unlikable characters. Where the Truth Lies is available now.
#annabailey #wherethetruthlies #netgalley #arcs #advancedreadercopy #mystery #mysterybooks #readin2021 #simonandschuster #simonschuster #whatthebook #bookreviews #readersofinstagram #bookaholic
For more of my reviews visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhattheBook/ or http://whatthebook-reviews.tumblr.com/ or follow me on Instagram @whatthebook__.
This book is so dark and intense. Maybe I just don’t like books that have no one to root for. I felt like everyone was such a bad person in their town and It made me feel uneasy reading it. Not for me, but Im glad others enjoyed this one.
Such a slow burn that I absolutely lost interest at 15%. DNF.