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A review by throwmeabook
Somebody I Used to Know by David Bell
2.0
Check out this and other reviews at my blog https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/somebody-i-used-to-know-by-david-bell/
While at the store picking up groceries, Nick Hansen runs into a young girl who is the spitting image of his college girlfriend Marissa Minor. Although twenty years have passed since he saw her last, it is as if she were there in front of his eyes once again. The only catch is that Marissa was killed in a campus fire all those years ago. So who is this girl? When she is found the next day, murdered in a hotel room with Nick’s name and address in her pocket, and with the police watching his every move, Nick is determined to uncover the truth. With the help of his friend and investigator, Laurel Davidson, Nick soon discovers that what he knew as reality all these years just crumbles leaving a big gaping hole filled with lies and deceit.
I always find it difficult to rate and review books where I really liked the storyline and plot twists but was so distracted from the enjoyment of the book by the author’s writing style and character portrayal. The writing was painfully straightforward, bare bones, lacking much needed descriptors and embellishments. What would have made this a kickass little mystery/thriller would have been to infuse some intensity and emotion, to create some much needed thrills and chills.
As far as Nick goes, I understand he’s been traumatised and hurt. Losing your one true love at such a young age and under such tragic circumstances is not easy, but then creates a strong yet vulnerable character, a likable character not a blubbering mass of desperation that you just want to shake some sense into.
Somebody I Used to Know was not a bad book, and reading the other reviews on Goodreads I totally understand why so many people rated it highly. It is not my intent to discourage anyone from reading Somebody I Used to Know, because how much you like or dislike a book is totally based on personal taste. It just didn’t push the buttons that needed pushing and simply put just wasn’t for me at this moment in time.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Penguin Group for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
While at the store picking up groceries, Nick Hansen runs into a young girl who is the spitting image of his college girlfriend Marissa Minor. Although twenty years have passed since he saw her last, it is as if she were there in front of his eyes once again. The only catch is that Marissa was killed in a campus fire all those years ago. So who is this girl? When she is found the next day, murdered in a hotel room with Nick’s name and address in her pocket, and with the police watching his every move, Nick is determined to uncover the truth. With the help of his friend and investigator, Laurel Davidson, Nick soon discovers that what he knew as reality all these years just crumbles leaving a big gaping hole filled with lies and deceit.
I always find it difficult to rate and review books where I really liked the storyline and plot twists but was so distracted from the enjoyment of the book by the author’s writing style and character portrayal. The writing was painfully straightforward, bare bones, lacking much needed descriptors and embellishments. What would have made this a kickass little mystery/thriller would have been to infuse some intensity and emotion, to create some much needed thrills and chills.
As far as Nick goes, I understand he’s been traumatised and hurt. Losing your one true love at such a young age and under such tragic circumstances is not easy, but then creates a strong yet vulnerable character, a likable character not a blubbering mass of desperation that you just want to shake some sense into.
Somebody I Used to Know was not a bad book, and reading the other reviews on Goodreads I totally understand why so many people rated it highly. It is not my intent to discourage anyone from reading Somebody I Used to Know, because how much you like or dislike a book is totally based on personal taste. It just didn’t push the buttons that needed pushing and simply put just wasn’t for me at this moment in time.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Penguin Group for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.