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topdragon's review against another edition
5.0
Abby Williams couldn’t wait to get out of small town Barrens, Indiana, where she was born and raised. Hers was not a particularly happy childhood; bullied by classmates, mother dying of cancer, and an alcoholic father all combining for a lonely start to life. Two days after high school graduation she moved to Chicago and became an environmental lawyer. Now she returns to Barrens as part of a legal team trying to gather proof against a giant corporate polluter named Optimal Plastics only to discover connections to a scandal involving her own past circle of “friends”. While she hopes to bury her past, it starts to look more and more likely that the past may well bury her.
I suppose many people will be drawn to this book simply due to the author herself, a well-regarded actress known for her starring role as Jessica Jones or for her work on Breaking Bad or several fine movie performances. I confess that was the case for me as well. In fact, when I began reading this first person POV novel, I found myself picturing Jessica Jones telling the story of Abby Williams. Despite knowing this was a debut novel, I had pretty high expectations due to Ms. Ritter’s many impressive on-screen performances. And that certainly proved to be the case, for this novel was absorbing all the way through.
This is largely a dual mystery story as Abby tries to gather evidence against Optimal while at the same time works to understand her own childhood experiences, especially why her friend Kaycee disappeared back then. We are treated to lots of Abby’s flashback thoughts as information is slowly revealed and the style morphs into more of a psychological suspense/thriller story. However you want to classify it, it works very well. The characters, especially Abby’s reunited “friends” from high school, are well-drawn and intriguing. Abby herself, is a complex web of personality and I relished the slowly-divulged details of her past as they unfolded. The author is able to convey the uncomfortableness of Abby’s youthful remembrances and mesh them with the present-day reality in a way that really kept me enthralled throughout the book. And her ability to describe the small-town setting of Barrens through the eyes of others rather than long descriptive paragraphs speaks to the talent of an experienced writer. My initial tendency to think of this book as a debut effort by an on-screen celebrity soon fell by the wayside as I simply settled down to enjoy a really good book.
Of note, in the “About the Author” page at the very end of the book, it mentions that Krysten Ritter has founded a production company that aims to highlight complex female protagonists. If this novel is an indication of that aim, then the future looks bright for the author as well as the production company.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for a free electronic review copy of this book in return for an honest review
I suppose many people will be drawn to this book simply due to the author herself, a well-regarded actress known for her starring role as Jessica Jones or for her work on Breaking Bad or several fine movie performances. I confess that was the case for me as well. In fact, when I began reading this first person POV novel, I found myself picturing Jessica Jones telling the story of Abby Williams. Despite knowing this was a debut novel, I had pretty high expectations due to Ms. Ritter’s many impressive on-screen performances. And that certainly proved to be the case, for this novel was absorbing all the way through.
This is largely a dual mystery story as Abby tries to gather evidence against Optimal while at the same time works to understand her own childhood experiences, especially why her friend Kaycee disappeared back then. We are treated to lots of Abby’s flashback thoughts as information is slowly revealed and the style morphs into more of a psychological suspense/thriller story. However you want to classify it, it works very well. The characters, especially Abby’s reunited “friends” from high school, are well-drawn and intriguing. Abby herself, is a complex web of personality and I relished the slowly-divulged details of her past as they unfolded. The author is able to convey the uncomfortableness of Abby’s youthful remembrances and mesh them with the present-day reality in a way that really kept me enthralled throughout the book. And her ability to describe the small-town setting of Barrens through the eyes of others rather than long descriptive paragraphs speaks to the talent of an experienced writer. My initial tendency to think of this book as a debut effort by an on-screen celebrity soon fell by the wayside as I simply settled down to enjoy a really good book.
Of note, in the “About the Author” page at the very end of the book, it mentions that Krysten Ritter has founded a production company that aims to highlight complex female protagonists. If this novel is an indication of that aim, then the future looks bright for the author as well as the production company.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for a free electronic review copy of this book in return for an honest review
literarymegg's review against another edition
4.0
it took me ages to get into this but it was worth it in the end
poisonousmoon's review against another edition
2.0
I’m very happy I borrowed this from the library. While I don’t think it’s the worst thing I’ve ever read, it felt dull and things didn’t pick up until the last 30-40 pages. I wish the ending was smushed into a short epilogue. I would’ve loved more detail on Kaycee’s death and the trial, and if anything really happened with Optimal, considering the pedophilia there seemed to be going on. That would’ve been interesting.
There also seemed to be so much going on and they all received short, unsatisfactory conclusions. My head was spinning trying to keep everything straight.
The jumping between the past and the present was also pretty confusing. I wish the author had maybe chapters dedicated to the past and then the present to separate them and keep it straight.
There also seemed to be so much going on and they all received short, unsatisfactory conclusions. My head was spinning trying to keep everything straight.
The jumping between the past and the present was also pretty confusing. I wish the author had maybe chapters dedicated to the past and then the present to separate them and keep it straight.
fabio3142's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
p_wong's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.25
erine's review against another edition
4.0
I'm one of the 3.5ers on this one. I found the story engaging and the characters complex, and I flew through the last several chapters as her father grew ill, her stake in the case fell apart, and her mental health came into question. Mostly, though, what I liked was that the story kept me guessing - I kept thinking I knew who the bad guys were only to change my mind, and then change it back. There were several moments when I wondered if the entire story was an extended delusion, or if Abby was in fact Kaycee's second personality. Weirder things have happened in stories that I read. And while some of my inklings proved true, others were half-true, and still others were completely wrong.
Abby heads back to her small hometown for the first time in ten years, and a lot of teenage memories come back (as memories do - clear and yet somehow surrounded by fuzz). What I didn't care for was that the pacing of Abby's actions and the phrasing of her innermost thoughts and even the actual decisions she makes are... fraught and almost hypertense. Some of this could be written off as a byproduct of coming back to the scene of her worst teen years, but it seemed more like just who she was. But this vibe thrummed through the novel and for me it was distracting and jarring.
Abby heads back to her small hometown for the first time in ten years, and a lot of teenage memories come back (as memories do - clear and yet somehow surrounded by fuzz). What I didn't care for was that the pacing of Abby's actions and the phrasing of her innermost thoughts and even the actual decisions she makes are... fraught and almost hypertense. Some of this could be written off as a byproduct of coming back to the scene of her worst teen years, but it seemed more like just who she was. But this vibe thrummed through the novel and for me it was distracting and jarring.
sgreenleaf's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun (also very dark) murder mystery. Small town atmosphere, interesting and intense female lead.
cvmcvicker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Suicide, and Alcohol
mishka_espey's review against another edition
2.0
I never would have given this book a second glance if it wasn't for the the author. One should always be dubious about books written by celebrities, but this one claimed to be a psychological mystery, and Krysten is a sweater-knitting, pet-crazy, dark-souled kindred spirit of mine, so I had to give it a try. (Also she plays Jessica Jones, the only good thing to come out of Marvel. So there's that.)
As it happens, Bonfire has received generally favorable reviews, if not particularly enthusiastic, since its October release. The tricky part is trying to determine how many of these favorable reviews stem from an appreciation for Krysten Ritter and how many actually stem from enjoyment of the book itself. That's what led me to write this review; yes, I'm a huge fan of Krysten, but I also like to think I have good sense when it comes mystery novels.
The premise of Bonfire follows a familiar pattern: small-town girl moves to the city and becomes an attorney, but a case draws her back to her hometown to confront the demons she had hoped to bury in the past. And beyond that, frankly, there's not much more to the story. Abby Williams, the heroine, is essentially Jessica Jones minus the teeth. The plot (what there is of one) involves corporate corruption to cover a dirty secret with roots running back into Abby's childhood. In many ways, it reads like an underdeveloped step-sibling to Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects. There's the broken family relationships, the old high school scandals and rumors, the alcoholism, and plenty of mixed-up feelings and motivations on the part of Abby Williams. In fact, the story revolves exclusively around her feelings and memories, with little else offered to engage the reader.
The exposition is primitive verging on mediocre, though there are frequent, vivid sparks of personality in the descriptions that made me smile. I appreciated that the book wasn't littered with gratuitous language and innuendos, as many self-conscious new writers tend to assume that the "edgier" the better. Krysten didn't fall for that trap, and I love that. In fact, overall, Bonfire felt more like a young adult novel than the psychological thriller it purports to be. The overuse of simple and incomplete sentences left me feeling hungry after each chapter, like I'd sat down expecting a full meal and was fed only scraps. There's nothing satisfying about the prose; instead, it feels sparse and juvenile, marked by far too many blunt paragraphs and overly-sarcastic narrative quips from Abby. The pacing lags and then jumps and then dawdles like a distracted puppy, with no sense of driving purpose. The final twist I thought was decent, if a bit rushed. Whether it be the character development, plot, tone, or theme, though, there is very little that could be called cohesive about this book.
Did I think Bonfire was fantastic? Candidly, no. Do I think any less of Krysten Ritter, having read it? On the contrary, props to her for stepping out and doing something different. Writing a novel is incredibly hard work, and for a first-time author with no prior experience in the field (that we know of), she managed to pull together a tight, enjoyable little mystery that surely won't bore readers. As long as you go into it with the right expectations, Bonfire promises to be a good time. It's a clean, easy popcorn read. In fact, I think with a few tweaks Bonfire could have been released as a young adult novel and would have done quite well. While I wasn't impressed by the writing chops, the story itself has a genuineness about it that's hard to begrudge. I certainly enjoyed it. It's clear that Krysten believed in this project and gave it her best effort. If she decides to continue honing her skills as a writer, I'm excited to see where she goes next.
As it happens, Bonfire has received generally favorable reviews, if not particularly enthusiastic, since its October release. The tricky part is trying to determine how many of these favorable reviews stem from an appreciation for Krysten Ritter and how many actually stem from enjoyment of the book itself. That's what led me to write this review; yes, I'm a huge fan of Krysten, but I also like to think I have good sense when it comes mystery novels.
The premise of Bonfire follows a familiar pattern: small-town girl moves to the city and becomes an attorney, but a case draws her back to her hometown to confront the demons she had hoped to bury in the past. And beyond that, frankly, there's not much more to the story. Abby Williams, the heroine, is essentially Jessica Jones minus the teeth. The plot (what there is of one) involves corporate corruption to cover a dirty secret with roots running back into Abby's childhood. In many ways, it reads like an underdeveloped step-sibling to Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects. There's the broken family relationships, the old high school scandals and rumors, the alcoholism, and plenty of mixed-up feelings and motivations on the part of Abby Williams. In fact, the story revolves exclusively around her feelings and memories, with little else offered to engage the reader.
The exposition is primitive verging on mediocre, though there are frequent, vivid sparks of personality in the descriptions that made me smile. I appreciated that the book wasn't littered with gratuitous language and innuendos, as many self-conscious new writers tend to assume that the "edgier" the better. Krysten didn't fall for that trap, and I love that. In fact, overall, Bonfire felt more like a young adult novel than the psychological thriller it purports to be. The overuse of simple and incomplete sentences left me feeling hungry after each chapter, like I'd sat down expecting a full meal and was fed only scraps. There's nothing satisfying about the prose; instead, it feels sparse and juvenile, marked by far too many blunt paragraphs and overly-sarcastic narrative quips from Abby. The pacing lags and then jumps and then dawdles like a distracted puppy, with no sense of driving purpose. The final twist I thought was decent, if a bit rushed. Whether it be the character development, plot, tone, or theme, though, there is very little that could be called cohesive about this book.
Did I think Bonfire was fantastic? Candidly, no. Do I think any less of Krysten Ritter, having read it? On the contrary, props to her for stepping out and doing something different. Writing a novel is incredibly hard work, and for a first-time author with no prior experience in the field (that we know of), she managed to pull together a tight, enjoyable little mystery that surely won't bore readers. As long as you go into it with the right expectations, Bonfire promises to be a good time. It's a clean, easy popcorn read. In fact, I think with a few tweaks Bonfire could have been released as a young adult novel and would have done quite well. While I wasn't impressed by the writing chops, the story itself has a genuineness about it that's hard to begrudge. I certainly enjoyed it. It's clear that Krysten believed in this project and gave it her best effort. If she decides to continue honing her skills as a writer, I'm excited to see where she goes next.