A review by tessa_talks_books
Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 
What's it about (in a nutshell):
Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins is a riveting mystery/thriller that exposes secrets that threaten to tear apart a family and a few businesses.
Bullet Point Review:
  • I absolutely loved how fast-paced the mystery became after the first third of the novel. Once Julia and Sienna (mostly Sienna) started looking for evidence that Jason did not kill his boss, Gavin, the pace took off, and I sat riveted.
  • The first third of the novel (particularly after the murder and the car accident), however, almost caused me to stop reading the book because it was so slow, and nothing was happening. It's only about 10-15% of the novel, but it felt like it would continue like that to the end. I'm thrilled it didn't!
  • I loved all the secrets. It's such a great look at how even small secrets kept from family members and close friends can blow up in extreme situations and how important honesty is between you and those closest to you.
  • The narration is in the first person through Julia and Sienna alternately. Even though the characters are very different, I found the chapters sometimes confusing because I didn't remember the chapter name and couldn't distinguish by the content.
  • I loved that I was eagerly following and distracted by the red herrings, so I had no idea who did what and why. I had many guesses, some that I felt sure were correct, but I wasn't even close to figuring it all out.
  • The end surprised me, and I still can't figure out how I felt about it. It's a good ending, but something about it in this story felt out of place, and I can't figure out why.
  • None of the characters are lovable or relatable, but they are all well-developed. The focus on secrets works exceptionally well to allow the reader to see the layers and flaws in Jason, Sienna (Jason's sister), and Julia (Jason's wife and Sienna's best friend and business partner). All three are very complex, and the relationship between Julia and Sienna is so authentic that it adds a much-needed layer to set this story apart from others like it.
  • The setting is not utilized. I am trying to remember if it was even mentioned or what it was. If it was, that's how underutilized or unimportant it was.
  • Read if you're in the mood for:
    • A tense, dark, and mysterious thriller (more mystery than thriller)
    • A twisty mystery/thriller that is primarily fast-paced
    • Family secrets