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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I saw this on the front page of Book Depository and the cover caught my eye. Upon reading the synopsis, I had to read this book. Finding unknown handwriting in your diary is beyond creepy, I'm still unsettled thinking about it.
I enjoyed this one overall, it pulled me into the story from the first page, but there were a few things I didn't love.
✗ The alternating chapters. Just as you're getting somewhere with one character, it switches to an alternate point of view. I understand the point is to keep you hooked with all these mini-cliffhangers but I just find it frustrating.
✗ I don't know if Harbinder's character is supposed to be as unlikable as she was at the beginning but it took me a while to come around to her. Letting your biases and judgements of someone you dislike get in the way of doing your job properly as a police officer is, while not unrealistic, pretty obnoxious. But she grew on me in the end.
✗ Another downside to alternating chapters is liking one POV more than another or, as in this case, hating one of them. I really didn't like Georgia and she did not grow on me. I was disappointed every time it was her turn for a chapter.
✗ The stress I felt throughout the entire story for Herbert's safety (I never trust that an animal is safe in this genre).
✓ I did like the experts of The Stranger.
✓ The atmosphere is set up so well. The gloomy, Gothic vibes set the perfect eerie tone.
✓ I appreciated being able to make it to then end without knowing, for sure, whodunnit. They had been on my suspect list at one point but a red-herring successfully threw me off so, while the reveal wasn't a complete shock, I felt all the suspense in the immediate lead-up to it.
✓ Herbert survives!
This makes it sound like I didn't like it much but I did, I promise!
Overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading more from Elly Griffiths in the future.
➳ Bonus points for my library's floppy paperback edition.
Review Date: May 18, 2019
I enjoyed this one overall, it pulled me into the story from the first page, but there were a few things I didn't love.
✗ The alternating chapters. Just as you're getting somewhere with one character, it switches to an alternate point of view. I understand the point is to keep you hooked with all these mini-cliffhangers but I just find it frustrating.
✗ I don't know if Harbinder's character is supposed to be as unlikable as she was at the beginning but it took me a while to come around to her. Letting your biases and judgements of someone you dislike get in the way of doing your job properly as a police officer is, while not unrealistic, pretty obnoxious. But she grew on me in the end.
✗ Another downside to alternating chapters is liking one POV more than another or, as in this case, hating one of them. I really didn't like Georgia and she did not grow on me. I was disappointed every time it was her turn for a chapter.
✗ The stress I felt throughout the entire story for Herbert's safety (I never trust that an animal is safe in this genre).
✓ I did like the experts of The Stranger.
✓ The atmosphere is set up so well. The gloomy, Gothic vibes set the perfect eerie tone.
✓ I appreciated being able to make it to then end without knowing, for sure, whodunnit. They had been on my suspect list at one point but a red-herring successfully threw me off so, while the reveal wasn't a complete shock, I felt all the suspense in the immediate lead-up to it.
✓ Herbert survives!
This makes it sound like I didn't like it much but I did, I promise!
Overall, I enjoyed it and will be reading more from Elly Griffiths in the future.
➳ Bonus points for my library's floppy paperback edition.
Review Date: May 18, 2019
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
This book had me guessing who the killer was all the way through! There was no obvious murderer at first, and I probably guessed at every character except the actual killer!
It was a fun and enjoyable book, perfectly complimented by the nod to the horror genre of the nineteenth century. However, the ending did feel a little rushed I have to admit. I would still recommend for those looking for an entertaining but slightly easier read.
It was a fun and enjoyable book, perfectly complimented by the nod to the horror genre of the nineteenth century. However, the ending did feel a little rushed I have to admit. I would still recommend for those looking for an entertaining but slightly easier read.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I knew who the killer was from the beginning. I like to now be able to tell.
not the biggest fan. a lot of the diary vs narrative felt repetitive to me !! also felt a little vaguely misogynistic sometimes, and felt the twist was obvious once you look at who else was in the house as the time of the notes