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A review by beverly_h
The Taking of Annie Thorne by C.J. Tudor
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I found this book quirky, humorous (in parts) and totally not what I expected.
What I really enjoyed about the book - from the start until page approx. 50 - was the humour. I actually laughed aloud at many paragraphs - these were mostly the inner monologues of the main character, Mr. Thorne. I found Mr. Thorne to be a relatable if not totally likeable narrator - I related to his struggles and imperfections, but overall I'm unsure he left the best taste in my mouth. What I found strange about this book was that it was not really the 'crime thriller' genre I was expecting (and perhaps this was my mistake) but - rather - was 'supernatural'. It definitely wasn't the where-is-Annie, whodunnit I anticipated (a word of warning for future readers). I was disappointed at this because I love a good missing-child story and the cover as well as the blurb intrigued me - even the name is 'The Taking of Annie Thorne', which I think now is a bit of a misnomer. I was pretty much geared-up for a grisly tale of abduction, which this book was not.
Apart from that, the book is set in the quite dismal village of Arnhill, which doesn't have much going for it nor does it conjure up particularly savoury images in the mind's eye. The depiction of Arnhill does, however, befittingly add to the story's dark feel and ambiance, even if it is on the whole more depressing for the reader. I felt that the story could've benefitted from the addition of more lightness: even if the humour had continued for the majority of the story (which I felt that it didn't), it would've softened the ride a bit, or if the characters hadn't had such hard upbringings and/or difficult circumstances to grapple with. I felt that the ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have hoped, with some questions being left unanswered.
All in all, an interesting if somewhat eccentric read, but one that I can almost definitely safely say I won't be returning to in my lifetime.
What I really enjoyed about the book - from the start until page approx. 50 - was the humour. I actually laughed aloud at many paragraphs - these were mostly the inner monologues of the main character, Mr. Thorne. I found Mr. Thorne to be a relatable if not totally likeable narrator - I related to his struggles and imperfections, but overall I'm unsure he left the best taste in my mouth. What I found strange about this book was that it was not really the 'crime thriller' genre I was expecting (and perhaps this was my mistake) but - rather - was 'supernatural'. It definitely wasn't the where-is-Annie, whodunnit I anticipated (a word of warning for future readers). I was disappointed at this because I love a good missing-child story and the cover as well as the blurb intrigued me - even the name is 'The Taking of Annie Thorne', which I think now is a bit of a misnomer. I was pretty much geared-up for a grisly tale of abduction, which this book was not.
Apart from that, the book is set in the quite dismal village of Arnhill, which doesn't have much going for it nor does it conjure up particularly savoury images in the mind's eye. The depiction of Arnhill does, however, befittingly add to the story's dark feel and ambiance, even if it is on the whole more depressing for the reader. I felt that the story could've benefitted from the addition of more lightness: even if the humour had continued for the majority of the story (which I felt that it didn't), it would've softened the ride a bit, or if the characters hadn't had such hard upbringings and/or difficult circumstances to grapple with. I felt that the ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have hoped, with some questions being left unanswered.
All in all, an interesting if somewhat eccentric read, but one that I can almost definitely safely say I won't be returning to in my lifetime.