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A review by mercurialbooks
Pine by Francine Toon
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was disappointing because it was sold as "spine-chilling".
It is a slightly haunting tale where the cold weather and Scottish pine woodland are atmospheric and beautiful. Unfortunately the characters do not live up to the same level of description and I didn't find myself warming to them. A father and daughter are the subjects of village gossip after the mother went missing ten years ago. The father has not thrived in that decade, he is struggling. The daughter it seems has mostly raised herself.
There is an exciting event written on the back of the book that a reader might anticipate happens quite quickly and make this book a thriller, as it was marketed. It doesn't actually occur till around the last 100 pages. I feel removing this from the blurb in any future additions might help the pace feel more natural.
It is a slightly haunting tale where the cold weather and Scottish pine woodland are atmospheric and beautiful. Unfortunately the characters do not live up to the same level of description and I didn't find myself warming to them. A father and daughter are the subjects of village gossip after the mother went missing ten years ago. The father has not thrived in that decade, he is struggling. The daughter it seems has mostly raised herself.
There is an exciting event written on the back of the book that a reader might anticipate happens quite quickly and make this book a thriller, as it was marketed. It doesn't actually occur till around the last 100 pages. I feel removing this from the blurb in any future additions might help the pace feel more natural.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Confinement