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siobhangrace14's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Those final chapters of the book were just completely bizarre.
Graphic: Murder and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Child abuse
kingsteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
Graphic: Terminal illness, Murder, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gaslighting
aexileigh's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Vomit, Murder, Child abuse, and Blood
madelinequinne's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This was so interesting, i’ve never read anything like it before. You go into the book expecting your usual true crime serial killer novel, but i was pleasantly surprised by how emotional and reflective this story was. The conversations about family, growing up, mummy issues and what drives someone to do bad things was so well written and explored, and i was absolutely gripped the entire time.
I think this book would make an excellent horror movie, i could picture each scene in my head so vividly which is a great example of how descriptive the writing was.
Highly highly recommend
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Torture, Death, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
booksandteatime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Vomit
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Vera Crowder is coming home to the Crowder House. Her mother is dying and after quite an estrangement, has finally called her daughter home. But the Crowder House isn't a happy place for Vera. It reminds her of her father, a notorious serial killer, and the strained relationship with her mother. It also doesn't help that there is an artist living in the garden shed, seeking inspiration in her family home. As Vera returns home, she has to face her past and the present space her family home still takes up. But things are amiss in the Crowder House and they stalk Vera as she starts the journey to clean the house to eventually sell it.
This novel is extremely slow and I can understand why many people may not like it. It's marketed as a thriller but it is much more a slow and methodical unpacking of one woman's trauma and her broken relationships. Vera isn't a likable character but I still found it easy to care for her. She has gone through a lot and it's clear how this has warped her own sense of self. Gailey unpacks this through Vera's conversations with her mother, her moments in the house, and her conversations with the artist living in the garden shed. There were a few moments where scenes felt a little bit too slow. Descriptions dragged on particularly in moments where Vera was stuck in bed at night but ultimately, I think this story is successful in what it is trying to do. This is a slow look at one woman and her childhood, how it has shaped her and twisted her own recollections. There is a supernatural element that I did really like though I can understand how some could find it off-putting. I agree with comments saying that Gailey could have leaned further into the weirdness. I would have liked to see where that could have gone. Even so, this continues my great experiences with Gailey's work. They are one of my favorite authors for a reason.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Torture, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Confinement
ellysiap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Body horror, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, and Death
hotscarysummer's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Vomit, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
riereeds's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit
al_owl's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit