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bear_ridge_tarot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s 1905. A decade after the unsolved murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham. The newspapers called the friends the Seven Wonders, but for Jermey Kite it was more than just the lost of his best friend. It was the end of his whole life. So when a mysterious anonymous letter lands on his boss’s desk, Jem sets out to discover what actually happened that night. The pursuit might be more than he can handle when Toby’s killer escalated their attempts to silence Jem. Is it worth it, or is this a secret better kept buried?
As Jem digs into the murder mystery, it becomes clear that only one of the Seven Wonders had any opportunity to commit the crime. Each of them are broken and changed, longing for things that they’ll never have now. And yet, only one was so filled with jealous rage that they killed their friend. The story is told in a series of interlocking flashbacks and present day events that lend the overall story a feel of nostalgia. It’s not quite a dark academia, since the school is just part of the setting, but it is a good read for anyone who likes the genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, and Rape
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
knittingtipsy's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A nice twisty mystery. An unsolved murder, a group of friends 10 years later, secrets uncovered. Very atmospheric—great setting at Oxford.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Child death
purrson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely loved it. Fantastic main character—stubborn, brave, compassionate—and I appreciated the disability/chronic pain representation. I would have loved some spice to the second-chance romance subplot, but it’s truly a perfect book, and handles turn of the (20th) century queerness (in relationships, as seen by society, its potential weaponization) well. I’m not surprised Charles does murder mystery so well. Just a top-notch read. Kept me guessing and rereading. And it is dark, but not terribly so—there is a lot of love and compassion the main character feels for his friends that uplifts the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Blood, and Abortion
There is mention of sexual assault in the third quarter of the book, but it avoids details and is condemned thoroughlypurrson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely loved it. Fantastic main character—stubborn, brave, compassionate—and I appreciated the disability/chronic pain representation. I would have loved some spice to the second-chance romance subplot, but it’s truly a perfect book, and handles turn of the (20th) century queerness (in relationships, as seen by society, its potential weaponization) well. I’m not surprised Charles does murder mystery so well. Just a top-notch read. Kept me guessing and rereading. And it is dark, but not terribly so—there is a lot of love and compassion the main character feels for his friends that uplifts the plot. Excellent narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, and Abortion
There is mention of sexual assault in the third quarter of the book, but it avoids details.kgc8's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
KJ Charles packs a lot into under 300 pages! The author is adept at setting the scene, both present day and via flashbacks, and efficiently drawing all the characters with only a few lines. You quickly get a sense of everyone's possible motivations and the undercurrents beneath what seems like an idyllic university friend group. I didn't 100% guess where KJ Charles was taking the mystery and the ending (though it was not my favorite resolution), and there are definitely some heavier themes addressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Murder, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Racism, Rape, and Abortion
emilyjmasters's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Atmospheric and full of heartache, this historical murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat until the final, extremely satisfying, chapter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Rape and Abortion
jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A dual timeline mystery from a fave romance author.
School friends (and lovers) torn apart my a murder are reunited when one of them decides to investigate.
The tension is high, the twists are golden, the dual timeline is done to perfection, and social justice themes, especially reproductive health, permeate the whole story.
School friends (and lovers) torn apart my a murder are reunited when one of them decides to investigate.
The tension is high, the twists are golden, the dual timeline is done to perfection, and social justice themes, especially reproductive health, permeate the whole story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
renee_85's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
afternoon_sunshowers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
KJ Charles’ romances always have a lot of plot, and this flipped that to be a mystery with a romance subplot.
The historic setting was fascinating - I know nearly nothing about Oxford and she made it feel both understandable and absolutely foreign. Jem’s dogged pursuit of the truth if only to relieve his being stuck in life was well done, and the multiple timelines were handled well.
The answers to the mystery were well revealed and a satisfying conclusion. I don’t often read mysteries but picked this up because I like KJC’s romances and I’m glad I did, would read more mysteries from her.
The historic setting was fascinating - I know nearly nothing about Oxford and she made it feel both understandable and absolutely foreign. Jem’s dogged pursuit of the truth if only to relieve his being stuck in life was well done, and the multiple timelines were handled well.
The answers to the mystery were well revealed and a satisfying conclusion. I don’t often read mysteries but picked this up because I like KJC’s romances and I’m glad I did, would read more mysteries from her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death and Murder
Minor: Rape
f18's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts