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A review by lynwho
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I compared AGGGTM #1 to serial s1 and veronica mars s1, #2 to american vandal s2, and #3 to you s4. idk what it is about holly jackson, but her books really always have me comparing them to other crime media. the reappearance of rachel price makes me think of gone girl
you are the daughter of a woman that went missing 16 years ago, and your father who you love with all your heart was the prime suspect of her murder before he was acquitted by a jury. you are used to your life the way it is, used to trusting just the people you can count on your hand, and resigned to the idea that everyone leaves, just like your mother when she disappeared and left you as a toddler in the backseat of her car
but then she comes back, and everything changes
I found the first half very slow. I didn't particularly like Bel as a character, but I think having finished the book I can appreciate her choices and her perspective more. it was frustrating to have her as a main character, and see her pointedly dismiss and miss clues and hints, but that was fundamental to her development. she has been raised a certain way, raised to see the world and the explanations she can find in it a certain way. doesn't change the fact that the story dragged
when we start to get answers and the plot picks up, probably a bit over halfway through, i was definitely engrossed. idk maybe you can predict the plot twists, and in retrospect ofc yeah i can see how everything was set up, but i was definitely guessing the whole way through. i probably predicted only like 25% of the details and mysteries that occur. but also the plot gets really batshit so idk even with the setup it's still a bit jarring
i definitely liked this less than jackson's first trilogy. however, i love that this woman does not miss a chance to basically say acab and that the cops can't do shit. respect
you are the daughter of a woman that went missing 16 years ago, and your father who you love with all your heart was the prime suspect of her murder before he was acquitted by a jury. you are used to your life the way it is, used to trusting just the people you can count on your hand, and resigned to the idea that everyone leaves, just like your mother when she disappeared and left you as a toddler in the backseat of her car
but then she comes back, and everything changes
I found the first half very slow. I didn't particularly like Bel as a character, but I think having finished the book I can appreciate her choices and her perspective more. it was frustrating to have her as a main character, and see her pointedly dismiss and miss clues and hints, but that was fundamental to her development. she has been raised a certain way, raised to see the world and the explanations she can find in it a certain way. doesn't change the fact that the story dragged
when we start to get answers and the plot picks up, probably a bit over halfway through, i was definitely engrossed. idk maybe you can predict the plot twists, and in retrospect ofc yeah i can see how everything was set up, but i was definitely guessing the whole way through. i probably predicted only like 25% of the details and mysteries that occur. but also the plot gets really batshit so idk even with the setup it's still a bit jarring
i definitely liked this less than jackson's first trilogy. however, i love that this woman does not miss a chance to basically say acab and that the cops can't do shit. respect