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ajnel's reviews
665 reviews
Keep It in the Family by John Marrs
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Finn and Mia moved out of their respective suburban flats to pursue their dream of a place in the country. Unfortunately, one sale after the other fell through and they ended up living Finn's mom and dad for almost a year. When a property, which has been standing vacant for almost 30 years, comes on the market, they purchase the said money pit as a fixer upper. While fixer upping, they discover seven suitcases with the remains of seven children in a hidden room. Mia, having just given birth, becomes somewhat obsessed with the mystery and soon starts to ruffle feathers, including those of Finn's dad. A very dark psychological thriller with some decent twists and turns and multiple mysteries. Marrs really shines at getting us to glimpse into the world and mind of a very different serial killer. The use of multiple narrators really worked well in bringing a pretty unique but small cast of characters to live in a psychologically unsettling and almost macabre manner.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Having recently survived a horror blind date, Sydney looks like she has finally found her perfect match when she by luck meets up with the man who saved her from said horror date, a few weeks earlier. Sydney's best friend is however murdered shortly prior to her meeting Prince Charming MD, and as the relationship progresses, Sydney begins to suspect him of being the murderer. As is often the case with a McFadden whodunnit, the story is told on different timelines. The second timeline is narrated by teenage Prince Charming , who becomes a prime suspect in the murder of his highschool girlfriend. This psychological whodunnit is clever, fast-paced and has some really decent red hearings. Most importantly it culminates in a bloody good blindside. A true old school page turner.
The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While seeking answers why her artist husband committed suicide, Anna moves into his studio, which turns out to be a room in a run down apartment complex. Cass, the handy"mam" of the complex, recently lost everything when her dodgy hubby left her for a cocktail waitress and kicked her out of their mansion. Rosa's husband is both extremely abusive and potentially high up in the Mexican cartels. Things however go terribly wrong when a good deed is met with an unforeseen consequence. As such the various individual stories play out against these "consequences" , whilst building up to a pretty nailbiting climax. Glass is known for creating interesting and well developed characters and then placing them in very interesting dilemmas, and again she does not disappoint. The various individual stories all fit perfectly into the main psychological thriller and the whodunnit has a decent twist or two.
Cimarron Rose by James Lee Burke
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Billy Bob Holland, a former Texas Ranger turned prosecutor and eventually defence lawyer, finds himself defending his illegitimate son, who is accused of a brutal murder. As Billy Bob delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of corruption, deceit, and violence fueled by politicians and cartels that extends far beyond the initial crime. Burke is master of Southern noir and his richly descriptive and immaculately paced writing makes each of his novels very special.
I Follow You by Peter James
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A standalone thriller about a respectable doctor named Marcus Valentine who becomes obsessed with a woman he sees jogging one morning; believing her to be the spitting image of a girl he was infatuated with as a teenager, Marcus's obsession quickly spirals out of control. His pursuit of her leads to a series of events that threaten to destroy his seemingly perfect life and that of those around him. The novel starts off a bit slow but moves into the most extreme singular literary example of a sociopath removing one obsticle after the other in his pursuit of his "true love". James expertly crafted Valentine's personality to match his sociopathic nature. A bit of a dark novel but such a page turner.
The House on Cold Hill by Peter James
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Harcourt family, drawn by the allure of a country lifestyle, moves into a secluded Georgian mansion and soon realize that their dream home, apart from being a money pit, harbours a dark secret. As strange occurrences and unsettling visions begin to plague them, the Harcourts must uncover the chilling truth behind Cold Hill's haunted past. Unfortunately I read this first novel after the sequel and effectively rated the sequel higher than it actually deserved. The sequel is somewhat of a carbon copy of this novel but set in a slightly later time period featuring different families with different occupations, but the storyline remains exactly the same. The wiring style is however unique interesting and engaging.
The Secret of Cold Hill by Peter James
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The haunted mansion from "The House on Cold Hill" has been demolished, replaced by a modern housing development. However, the dark secrets of the past refuse to be buried.
The Danes and the Penze-Weedells, move into their new homes in the development. As they settle in, they begin to experience strange and unsettling occurrences. The novel is well-written as it creates the impression that a very sinister and unemaginble plot might be lurking. The downer to this is however the fact that the story is what you see is what you get.
The Danes and the Penze-Weedells, move into their new homes in the development. As they settle in, they begin to experience strange and unsettling occurrences. The novel is well-written as it creates the impression that a very sinister and unemaginble plot might be lurking. The downer to this is however the fact that the story is what you see is what you get.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A dystopian murder mystery set on a secluded island which is home to a small community of survivors, protected from a deadly fog that has enveloped the rest of the world. The murder of one of the island's elders /scientists triggers a countdown: if the murderer is not identified within 92 hours, the island's protective barrier will fail, and the fog will engulf the community. As the fog closes in, the islanders must grapple with their own secrets, lies, and the possibility that one of their own is responsible for the murder. A very unique medium-paced whodunnit, which is impossible to put down.
The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A historical fiction murder mystery set in 19th-century Paris in the famous Salpêtrière asylum. The story centers around two women, Laure and Josephine. Laure is a former patient at the asylum and current ward attendant, who is desperate to leave and find her missing sister, Amélie. Josephine is a young woman with amnesia who arrives at the asylum covered in blood and suffering from trauma.
As the novel progresses, Laure and Josephine form a bond while navigating the questionable treatments within the asylum and attempting to find ways out of their respective dilemmas. Very well researched and more gripping than the title infers. Fact and fiction intertwine very believably and seamlessly.
As the novel progresses, Laure and Josephine form a bond while navigating the questionable treatments within the asylum and attempting to find ways out of their respective dilemmas. Very well researched and more gripping than the title infers. Fact and fiction intertwine very believably and seamlessly.
The Whitewashed Tombs by Kwei Quartey
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Set in Accra, Ghana, the story revolves around gumshoe Emma Djan, who is tasked with investigating the murder of a prominent LGBTQ+ activist. As Emma delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of corruption, homophobia, and secrets within the Ghanaian society. An eye-opening account of homophobia in Western-Africa coupled with a very decent whodunnit. Quartey always delivers with an intriguing gumshoe whodunnit.