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rouxellereads 's review for:
Whispers of the Lake
by Shanora Williams
I have read 2 other thrillers by this author so I know what to expect. Messy characters, messy relationships, simple writing that makes it a popcorn read I can fly through. And yet, I don't think this delivered on that.
Don't get me wrong, this is a short book you can fly through. The author's writing is easy to read and just flip through the pages. However, the pacing in this one wasn't the best. Usually I feel like the author is good at keeping up the pace of the story. Since this one read more as a mystery than a thriller in the beginning, it was kind of slow as she gathered clues. I kept finding myself not called to pick up the book because the suspense just wasn't there for me.
The ending, while it did pick up, I just feel some of it just felt convenient. For example, the journal entries.
In the beginning they were okay but as we kept getting more information, it just felt inconsistent. And then of course, we don't get a piece of key information until it's convenient. Then at that point, you just know it's the villain. I've noticed the author does this in their other books but because I was kind of bored in the beginning, I couldn't really move past it in the beginning.
I will say that I enjoyed the messy dynamics of the relationships, the messy characters. That's an element that I enjoy that this author adds to their thrillers. Some topics were heavy (SA, abuse, etc) and because the author writes these popcorn thrillers, I don't think some were handled that well (I side eye the therapists in this book a little). But, loved the little romance that was in it. Just added a little light touch to so much...dark things.
Overall, I would recommend this to people who just want a mystery that reads fast. Check content warnings, though! There's quite a few.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
Don't get me wrong, this is a short book you can fly through. The author's writing is easy to read and just flip through the pages. However, the pacing in this one wasn't the best. Usually I feel like the author is good at keeping up the pace of the story. Since this one read more as a mystery than a thriller in the beginning, it was kind of slow as she gathered clues. I kept finding myself not called to pick up the book because the suspense just wasn't there for me.
The ending, while it did pick up, I just feel some of it just felt convenient. For example, the journal entries.
In the beginning they were okay but as we kept getting more information, it just felt inconsistent. And then of course, we don't get a piece of key information until it's convenient. Then at that point, you just know it's the villain. I've noticed the author does this in their other books but because I was kind of bored in the beginning, I couldn't really move past it in the beginning.
I will say that I enjoyed the messy dynamics of the relationships, the messy characters. That's an element that I enjoy that this author adds to their thrillers. Some topics were heavy (SA, abuse, etc) and because the author writes these popcorn thrillers, I don't think some were handled that well (I side eye the therapists in this book a little). But, loved the little romance that was in it. Just added a little light touch to so much...dark things.
Overall, I would recommend this to people who just want a mystery that reads fast. Check content warnings, though! There's quite a few.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy