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A review by mbkarapcik
The Herd by Andrea Bartz
3.0
The Herd caters to female professionals, artists, and independent thinkers who wish for a co-working space that fosters an inclusive environment that supports their diverse causes and projects. It's also the title of a novel by Andrea Bartz. In this book, three friends try to come to terms with the unexplained disappearance of The Herd's dynamic and glamorous leader and creator, Eleanor Walsh.
Since I read Bartz's chilling We Were Never Here, I added all her books to my TBR list. The premise for this book works well in that you meet two very different yet close sisters, Hana and Katie Bradley, who go on a quest for answers after their friend Eleanor disappears. Unfortunately, at times, it is predictable, and, as another reviewer said, reads so much like her other novel, The Lost Night. I agreed, and the thought crossed my mind but didn't solidify until I read another review.
Eleanor feels like a character that you come across many times in books such as these. I liked the sister dynamic, but I felt like it could have been more developed. And it was hard to believe these women really liked each other or had much in common, including the sisters. Side characters' stories, especially some of the male characters, never seem to go anywhere, and many characters feel very narrow in their depictions. I cannot say that I liked any of them that much, but I really love Bartz's writing otherwise.
I will say that the outcome of the book was surprising. It takes a while to figure out what happened to Eleanor and if anyone should take responsibility for her disappearance. Some red herrings appear, but they add to the story.
This novel reads like a debut novel, but you detect the seeds of stronger novels on the rise. I'm glad I read it, but unless you're a fan of Bartz, you could skip it. Besides, she has a new novel out in June, The Spare Room, which I cannot wait to read.
Since I read Bartz's chilling We Were Never Here, I added all her books to my TBR list. The premise for this book works well in that you meet two very different yet close sisters, Hana and Katie Bradley, who go on a quest for answers after their friend Eleanor disappears. Unfortunately, at times, it is predictable, and, as another reviewer said, reads so much like her other novel, The Lost Night. I agreed, and the thought crossed my mind but didn't solidify until I read another review.
Eleanor feels like a character that you come across many times in books such as these. I liked the sister dynamic, but I felt like it could have been more developed. And it was hard to believe these women really liked each other or had much in common, including the sisters. Side characters' stories, especially some of the male characters, never seem to go anywhere, and many characters feel very narrow in their depictions. I cannot say that I liked any of them that much, but I really love Bartz's writing otherwise.
I will say that the outcome of the book was surprising. It takes a while to figure out what happened to Eleanor and if anyone should take responsibility for her disappearance. Some red herrings appear, but they add to the story.
This novel reads like a debut novel, but you detect the seeds of stronger novels on the rise. I'm glad I read it, but unless you're a fan of Bartz, you could skip it. Besides, she has a new novel out in June, The Spare Room, which I cannot wait to read.