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A review by desiree930
Twisted River by Siobhán MacDonald
2.0
I marked the SPOILER button on this review but just in case: There are HUGE spoilers for this book in the review below.
You have been warned...
I picked this book up because I was excited to see that it took place partially in Ireland, and I love stories with Ireland as a backdrop.
Unfortunately, this book totally missed the mark for me. I felt like the author was trying so hard to create suspense and intrigue that the development of the characters suffered as a result.
Kate had some redeeming qualities, but was ultimately a boring character. And I didn't understand the reason behind her falling out with Mannix (pre-Joanne...I totally get the following out AFTER Joanne) before the events of the story. Was it solely because he was laid off from his job? I understand that it would create tension in many relationships, but it seemed like a contrivance simply created to introduce his infidelity. Also, they are hard up for money but they decide to take what little she's managed to save and take a trans-continental vacation when their son has special needs that include expensive educational needs? What?! That makes absolutely no sense to me.
Mannix was a pig. A weak, cowardly, selfish pig. I have no sympathy for his character whatsoever.
Hazel and Oscar could have been better characters if the author hadn't tried so hard to be clever and misleading in her portrayal of their relationship. From the beginning, we are supposed to think that they are in a physically abusive relationship. It never really sat right with me, just from the things they would think to themselves, especially Oscar.
Then we find out that -- surprise! -- it was all misdirection and it was actually a piece of garbage boy in one of her classes that had hit her...multiple times. And Oscar really was a good guy just trying to support and protect his wife...despite being a jerk to his overweight sister, obsessive about his revulsion to sugar, and accused of sexually harassing his ex-business partner...which was a thread that was introduced and then never paid off.
And finally, the big mystery that starts out this whole story -- Oscar placing a body into his trunk -- just seems like it was thrown together with little thought. Now, I totally believe a disgusting liar like Mannix would cheat on his wife. But to turn her into a psychopath just didn't track with me. And then Oscar's reaction when Hazel was killed (trying to hide her body in the trunk, not calling the police right away, etc.) get like it was to purposely mislead the reader again, to make him seem guilty. Now, I understand that when someone has been traumatized they can act in any number of strange ways, but this felt forced to me. It didn't feel like an authentic reaction from a man whose wife was just murdered pretty much in front of him.
There were things mentioned once or twice (always very vaguely) and then dropped and never revisited or clarified. One example is the comments made by Kate about her brother-in-law. Also, the whole Bolgers storyline was completely dropped halfway through the story. And after Oscar leaves the O'Brien home, that's the last we see of his POV. I really couldn't have cared less about Mannix and his remorse for being a terrible husband and father. I would've appreciated a little more of the aftermath with Oscar.
To that end, the entire ending felt like it was just thrown together last minute. It was abrupt and not impactful at all.
To wrap this up, I felt like the author wasn't sure what kind of story she wanted to tell. One positive of this book was that it was only about 250 pages so I read it in just a couple hours. I don't think I'll be picking up any of this author's other books again.
You have been warned...
I picked this book up because I was excited to see that it took place partially in Ireland, and I love stories with Ireland as a backdrop.
Unfortunately, this book totally missed the mark for me. I felt like the author was trying so hard to create suspense and intrigue that the development of the characters suffered as a result.
Kate had some redeeming qualities, but was ultimately a boring character. And I didn't understand the reason behind her falling out with Mannix (pre-Joanne...I totally get the following out AFTER Joanne) before the events of the story. Was it solely because he was laid off from his job? I understand that it would create tension in many relationships, but it seemed like a contrivance simply created to introduce his infidelity. Also, they are hard up for money but they decide to take what little she's managed to save and take a trans-continental vacation when their son has special needs that include expensive educational needs? What?! That makes absolutely no sense to me.
Mannix was a pig. A weak, cowardly, selfish pig. I have no sympathy for his character whatsoever.
Hazel and Oscar could have been better characters if the author hadn't tried so hard to be clever and misleading in her portrayal of their relationship. From the beginning, we are supposed to think that they are in a physically abusive relationship. It never really sat right with me, just from the things they would think to themselves, especially Oscar.
Then we find out that -- surprise! -- it was all misdirection and it was actually a piece of garbage boy in one of her classes that had hit her...multiple times. And Oscar really was a good guy just trying to support and protect his wife...despite being a jerk to his overweight sister, obsessive about his revulsion to sugar, and accused of sexually harassing his ex-business partner...which was a thread that was introduced and then never paid off.
And finally, the big mystery that starts out this whole story -- Oscar placing a body into his trunk -- just seems like it was thrown together with little thought. Now, I totally believe a disgusting liar like Mannix would cheat on his wife. But to turn her into a psychopath just didn't track with me. And then Oscar's reaction when Hazel was killed (trying to hide her body in the trunk, not calling the police right away, etc.) get like it was to purposely mislead the reader again, to make him seem guilty. Now, I understand that when someone has been traumatized they can act in any number of strange ways, but this felt forced to me. It didn't feel like an authentic reaction from a man whose wife was just murdered pretty much in front of him.
There were things mentioned once or twice (always very vaguely) and then dropped and never revisited or clarified. One example is the comments made by Kate about her brother-in-law. Also, the whole Bolgers storyline was completely dropped halfway through the story. And after Oscar leaves the O'Brien home, that's the last we see of his POV. I really couldn't have cared less about Mannix and his remorse for being a terrible husband and father. I would've appreciated a little more of the aftermath with Oscar.
To that end, the entire ending felt like it was just thrown together last minute. It was abrupt and not impactful at all.
To wrap this up, I felt like the author wasn't sure what kind of story she wanted to tell. One positive of this book was that it was only about 250 pages so I read it in just a couple hours. I don't think I'll be picking up any of this author's other books again.