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A review by paperbacksandpines
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
3.0
This book is an isolated closed circle mystery revolving around a secluded island in the Pacific Northwest (and my home state!). There are 10 seniors getting picked off by a murder over the course of less than two days. The reader finds out much later in the story that the murders are kind of a [b:Thirteen Reasons Why|29844228|Thirteen Reasons Why|Jay Asher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555345043l/29844228._SY75_.jpg|2588213] gone the way of revenge.
Unlike a closed house mystery such as [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391120695l/16299._SY75_.jpg|3038872], there wasn't enough tension to sustain my attention. Most of the characters got knocked off within 24 hours and the pacing of the deaths was so quick that it seemed as though the author was using plot pacing to make up for the fact that many of the characters were undeveloped, one dimensional cliches. Although the relationship between the main character, Meg, and her best friend, Minnie, rehashed the angsty, female best friend drama trope, it could have been better explored to make Minnie's choices more believable.
One thing that bothered me was the way mental health was represented in this book, both on Minnie's behalf and on Claire's behalf. Minnie, suffering from bipolar disorder, was self involved, delusional, and paranoid. This could have been the result of but it was unclear to me if McNeil was stereotyping those with bipolar disorder or not. Also, it seemed that Claire was suffering from an undisclosed mental disorder that somehow made her delusional. I'm not sure if this was handled with the tact it needed.
Overall, this mystery wasn't bad but it won't be memorable.
Unlike a closed house mystery such as [b:And Then There Were None|16299|And Then There Were None|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391120695l/16299._SY75_.jpg|3038872], there wasn't enough tension to sustain my attention. Most of the characters got knocked off within 24 hours and the pacing of the deaths was so quick that it seemed as though the author was using plot pacing to make up for the fact that many of the characters were undeveloped, one dimensional cliches. Although the relationship between the main character, Meg, and her best friend, Minnie, rehashed the angsty, female best friend drama trope, it could have been better explored to make Minnie's choices more believable.
One thing that bothered me was the way mental health was represented in this book, both on Minnie's behalf and on Claire's behalf. Minnie, suffering from bipolar disorder, was self involved, delusional, and paranoid. This could have been the result of
Spoiler
withdrawal from her medicationOverall, this mystery wasn't bad but it won't be memorable.