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A review by book_concierge
Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica
2.0
Digital audiobook performed by Kate Rudd
2.5**
Quinn is a bad roommate; she’s frequently late with her share of the rent, she doesn’t respect her roommate’s privacy, and she’s messy and disorganized. But when her roommate Esther disappears out of the fire escape of their Chicago apartment, Quinn is certain something very wrong has happened. She investigates (- okay, snoops), and what she finds shocks and puzzles her. Meanwhile, in a small town some 70 miles away, in Michigan’s Harbor Country, Alex notices a strange woman in the diner where he works and quickly develops a major crush on her.
Kubica uses these two narrators, telling seemingly different stories in alternating chapters. In this way the reader gets clues that Alex and Quinn (who don’t interact) do not have. Additionally, Kubica occasionally includes the text of a “letter” (or is it a diary entry), supposedly written by Esther. I’m assuming Kubica felt this technique would build tension and suspense, but it didn’t quite work for me.
I think part of the problem is that both Alex and Quinn are somewhat broken people, with difficult pasts (and presents). This makes them unreliable narrators, especially Quinn. I didn’t really care about them, and I didn’t get a good sense about the missing Esther, other than Quinn’s repeated “Esther would never do that!”
The two stories finally intersect in the last few chapters, and the tension increases. The final reveal is both cliched and strains credulity. And that last sentence is just plain lame.
Kate Rudd does a fine job performing the audio. She’s a talented voice artist, and it’s too back she didn’t have better material to work with.
2.5**
Quinn is a bad roommate; she’s frequently late with her share of the rent, she doesn’t respect her roommate’s privacy, and she’s messy and disorganized. But when her roommate Esther disappears out of the fire escape of their Chicago apartment, Quinn is certain something very wrong has happened. She investigates (- okay, snoops), and what she finds shocks and puzzles her. Meanwhile, in a small town some 70 miles away, in Michigan’s Harbor Country, Alex notices a strange woman in the diner where he works and quickly develops a major crush on her.
Kubica uses these two narrators, telling seemingly different stories in alternating chapters. In this way the reader gets clues that Alex and Quinn (who don’t interact) do not have. Additionally, Kubica occasionally includes the text of a “letter” (or is it a diary entry), supposedly written by Esther. I’m assuming Kubica felt this technique would build tension and suspense, but it didn’t quite work for me.
I think part of the problem is that both Alex and Quinn are somewhat broken people, with difficult pasts (and presents). This makes them unreliable narrators, especially Quinn. I didn’t really care about them, and I didn’t get a good sense about the missing Esther, other than Quinn’s repeated “Esther would never do that!”
The two stories finally intersect in the last few chapters, and the tension increases. The final reveal is both cliched and strains credulity. And that last sentence is just plain lame.
Kate Rudd does a fine job performing the audio. She’s a talented voice artist, and it’s too back she didn’t have better material to work with.