A review by whatmaddieread
Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this one and found it to be darker than I anticipated. The first half was slow and a bit confusing with the POV-switching. The first chapter drops you right in the action and then takes its time establishing you in the story. It felt a bit disorienting, and this pacing was my biggest issue with the novel, as I meandered over the first third for several days, only to tear the last 70% in a single sitting.

Vernon is a really talented writer and looking back, I appreciate the way he wove the story together to build to the conclusion. One final qualm? I finished this one still a bit confused about the role one certain character played in it all, and wish that had been expanded a bit more to tie up that final thread.

While I did see the finale coming, Vernon threw enough twists in there to still make it exciting, while leaving room for commentary on trust and betrayal in relationships that I think could be impactful. 
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