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mikathereviewer 's review for:
Tell Me What You Did
by Carter Wilson
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Shortly said: The first half of the book was way more enjoyable then the second half.
It gets advertised as a thriller and it wasn't one.
First of all before I start mentioning the parts that I personally didn't enjoy let us start about good moments and aspects of this book.
1. The story unfolds itself by showing us interviews of the incident before it happened
- Yes, I talk about the broadcast with the two most important characters in this book, where we got some quick records of it as readers while reading the story. So the story unfolds itself.
2. Some nice quotes/speeches.
- Especially Hindley said stuff that felt thought through and inspiring. I always look out for quotes while reading a book and unfortunately some don't have any (that I personally like), so was nice to see some I did add later on to my collection.
3. Short chapters
- As someone who is easily distracted, when reading longer than 30 minutes, I appreciate short chapters A LOT.
4. Alice's backstory
Her whole life and how the incident from a few years ago just repeated itself. And that the first attack was based on the work of her FATHER. I would be devastated. Poor girl and also poor father.
Now we come to the aspects I didn't like
1. Main character, Poe.
- Arrogant/snooty, stupid, making stupid decisions, cringe, irony (saying she won't, but does it anyway)
Example 1: "In fact, I’m fucking proud I killed him."
Example 2: "“What’s your first name?” I ask.
“Jeff.”
“Jeff? You don’t look like a Jeff.”"
Note 1: I hate when people say 'You don't look like...' it can hurt a person saying this.
Example 3:"I no longer care about being caught. I embrace who I am and what I’m about to do. I will wear my actions with a badge of honor,"
Note 2: Honour of killing people?
even though there is police?
wow congrats for being not better than the Hindley dude
Example 4: "“Why did he stop?” I ask.
“Because you killed him.”
“Oh.”"
Note 3: No way she is that stupid 🤦♂️
Example 5: "He returns to his seat on the floor by the door, and disgust courses through my body as I realize I just missed what may have been my best opportunity. I’m unbound. I should have attacked him while he was that close."
Note 4: Yeah stupid
Example 6: "“And look at you. Bringing an axe to a gun fight.”"
Note 5: she is so stupid
axes are also way too heavy to carry around and she is a psychopath herself for murdering everyone, as soon as her emotions get the better of her
Example 7:"Then I start talking.
And I tell her.
Everything."
Note 6: At this point you shouldn't complain to make a broadcast about revealing all your secrets if you do it already anyway
and how did she turn from 'I don't tell ANYONE' to 'I tell EVERYONE'
Example 8: "“He fucking bit me!”
“Bailey’s a she,” I say. “And she just kicked your ass.”
“I don’t care…Your dog attacked me!”
“You’re lucky she didn’t kill you.” I’m still holding the chunk of gravestone, and I raise it to eye level.
“I could have her put down,” he says."
Note 7: So arrogant
and (later on) she once again guessed wrong and he isn't the one she thought he is
...Et cetera...
2. Lovey-dovey relationship (Poe & Kip)
- Their romance was just exaggerated and cringe sometimes
Example: "God, I love you.”
“I love you,” I tell him. “And I’m sorry. I’m not hurting you, I promise.”
Tears form in Kip’s eyes—not the first of the night, I’m guessing. “I’m not hurting you either.”"
Note: Man, this whole lovey-dovey instead of making a plan or something else more important in such a situation.
3. Kip
- Switching moods and opinions way too often
(+ for 1 scene also stupid)
The 1 scene where he was stupid: "You found him and could have called the police. They could have tied him to the crime scene. DNA.”
“There wasn’t any,” I say"
Note: If there was actual DNA they would have arrested him already. That's how forensics on crime scene works.
Moods & opinion changes scene/s:
Sorry? You realize the only way to protect myself is to go to the police and tell them everything you just told me.”
(Few paragraphs later)
“I do, you know.” Kip’s voice is soft and distant, a whisper from a ghost.
“You do what?” I ask.
He takes a few seconds before answering. “Love you.”
And yes I know that he has a distressing moment, but he switches way too fast. Too fast in sense of; Not processing it like a normal human being and act like he wasn't overwhelmed a few seconds earlier.
4. Unrealistically telling a whole conversation out of the MC's head that happened so long ago that she wouldn't be able to tell it THAT precisely (chapter 42)
5. Triggering content & flat characters
- Even though I like dark stuff, it was for this case kinda unnecessary as no plot twist or anything else was connected to it and it was mainly to deepen the relationship with the reader and the MC, but we don't get the same for the other characters. (So except the MC and the villain everyone was flat)
6. The WHOLE story was about Poe not telling anyone her actual story of what happened, just so that she overcomes the fear of vulnerability in like just a few days and acts like she was always an open book.
7. The book was NOT a thriller
- A thriller or even mystery thriller is based on some kind of plot twist, which wasn't there or so obvious that it can't even be called a plot twist as it was such a typical cliché ending. Like there was no surprise. Even the characters weren't surprised. And I wasn't feeling anxious or anything while reading is as it usually should be as the 'fearful' thing was so downplayed due to how the main character reacted. She reacted in such an exaggerated or stupid way that I was more focused on that then the 'scary' event.
In general I can't quite enjoy a story without liking the main character and since the character building wasn't that great and said above even the plot (and it's supposed twist) wasn't that strong and rather unoriginal, I will give it 1 instead of 2 stars. Yes, I still liked a few aspects, but as I always say; Some other aspects weight more in my reviews (i.e. enjoyment, plot and character building, et cetera)
—————
Thank you for the advanced reader copy of Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson.
Read: 11-12. August
Wrote review: 13. August 2024
Shortly said: The first half of the book was way more enjoyable then the second half.
It gets advertised as a thriller and it wasn't one.
First of all before I start mentioning the parts that I personally didn't enjoy let us start about good moments and aspects of this book.
1. The story unfolds itself by showing us interviews of the incident before it happened
- Yes, I talk about the broadcast with the two most important characters in this book, where we got some quick records of it as readers while reading the story. So the story unfolds itself.
2. Some nice quotes/speeches.
- Especially Hindley said stuff that felt thought through and inspiring. I always look out for quotes while reading a book and unfortunately some don't have any (that I personally like), so was nice to see some I did add later on to my collection.
3. Short chapters
- As someone who is easily distracted, when reading longer than 30 minutes, I appreciate short chapters A LOT.
4. Alice's backstory
Now we come to the aspects I didn't like
1. Main character, Poe.
- Arrogant/snooty, stupid, making stupid decisions, cringe, irony (saying she won't, but does it anyway)
Example 2: "“What’s your first name?” I ask.
“Jeff.”
“Jeff? You don’t look like a Jeff.”"
Note 1: I hate when people say 'You don't look like...' it can hurt a person saying this.
Example 3:"I no longer care about being caught. I embrace who I am and what I’m about to do. I will wear my actions with a badge of honor,"
Note 2: Honour of killing people?
even though there is police?
wow congrats for being not better than the Hindley dude
Example 4: "“Why did he stop?” I ask.
“Because you killed him.”
“Oh.”"
Note 3: No way she is that stupid 🤦♂️
Example 5: "He returns to his seat on the floor by the door, and disgust courses through my body as I realize I just missed what may have been my best opportunity. I’m unbound. I should have attacked him while he was that close."
Note 4: Yeah stupid
Example 6: "“And look at you. Bringing an axe to a gun fight.”"
Note 5: she is so stupid
axes are also way too heavy to carry around and she is a psychopath herself for murdering everyone, as soon as her emotions get the better of her
Example 7:"Then I start talking.
And I tell her.
Everything."
Note 6: At this point you shouldn't complain to make a broadcast about revealing all your secrets if you do it already anyway
and how did she turn from 'I don't tell ANYONE' to 'I tell EVERYONE'
Example 8: "“He fucking bit me!”
“Bailey’s a she,” I say. “And she just kicked your ass.”
“I don’t care…Your dog attacked me!”
“You’re lucky she didn’t kill you.” I’m still holding the chunk of gravestone, and I raise it to eye level.
“I could have her put down,” he says."
Note 7: So arrogant
and (later on) she once again guessed wrong and he isn't the one she thought he is
...Et cetera...
2. Lovey-dovey relationship (Poe & Kip)
- Their romance was just exaggerated and cringe sometimes
“I love you,” I tell him. “And I’m sorry. I’m not hurting you, I promise.”
Tears form in Kip’s eyes—not the first of the night, I’m guessing. “I’m not hurting you either.”"
Note: Man, this whole lovey-dovey instead of making a plan or something else more important in such a situation.
3. Kip
- Switching moods and opinions way too often
(+ for 1 scene also stupid)
“There wasn’t any,” I say"
Note: If there was actual DNA they would have arrested him already. That's how forensics on crime scene works.
Moods & opinion changes scene/s:
Sorry? You realize the only way to protect myself is to go to the police and tell them everything you just told me.”
(Few paragraphs later)
“I do, you know.” Kip’s voice is soft and distant, a whisper from a ghost.
“You do what?” I ask.
He takes a few seconds before answering. “Love you.”
And yes I know that he has a distressing moment, but he switches way too fast. Too fast in sense of; Not processing it like a normal human being and act like he wasn't overwhelmed a few seconds earlier.
4. Unrealistically telling a whole conversation out of the MC's head that happened so long ago that she wouldn't be able to tell it THAT precisely (chapter 42)
5. Triggering content & flat characters
- Even though I like dark stuff, it was for this case kinda unnecessary as no plot twist or anything else was connected to it and it was mainly to deepen the relationship with the reader and the MC, but we don't get the same for the other characters. (So except the MC and the villain everyone was flat)
6. The WHOLE story was about Poe not telling anyone her actual story of what happened, just so that she overcomes the fear of vulnerability in like just a few days and acts like she was always an open book.
7. The book was NOT a thriller
- A thriller or even mystery thriller is based on some kind of plot twist, which wasn't there or so obvious that it can't even be called a plot twist as it was such a typical cliché ending. Like there was no surprise. Even the characters weren't surprised. And I wasn't feeling anxious or anything while reading is as it usually should be as the 'fearful' thing was so downplayed due to how the main character reacted. She reacted in such an exaggerated or stupid way that I was more focused on that then the 'scary' event.
In general I can't quite enjoy a story without liking the main character and since the character building wasn't that great and said above even the plot (and it's supposed twist) wasn't that strong and rather unoriginal, I will give it 1 instead of 2 stars. Yes, I still liked a few aspects, but as I always say; Some other aspects weight more in my reviews (i.e. enjoyment, plot and character building, et cetera)
—————
Thank you for the advanced reader copy of Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson.
Read: 11-12. August
Wrote review: 13. August 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Suicide attempt
Moderate use of religious words like 'holy' or 'Jesus' as cursing words.
Moderate overdosing (on pills)
Minor (last few chapters) mention of a gag