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ajnel's reviews
665 reviews
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A slow moving gothic gender study focussed around artistic endeavour and set in a Villa in Italy. The novel is mostly narrated through two alternating diaries (one historic and one set in present day). Despite Hawkins' excellent flowing prose, the theme is just not engaging enough and despite a rather interesting finale, the content is somewhat lacking.
An Honest Man by Michael Koryta
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
A fast paced action thriller set around the murder of seven (mostly) prominent men on a luxury yacht. Koryta's writing style is ideal for suspense writing and the many twists and turns coupled with great characters makes this a true page turner.
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
Set in the late 50's in a small town in Minnesota, where a death by 8 bore, of "the worst man in town" is investigated against the personal turmoil of a number of the residents of the town. The novel is an emotional overload, with so many gut wrenching twists and turns. It's the life of that time captured on paper. An era masterpiece akin to the works of Cormac McCarthy
The Golden Gate by Amy Chua
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
An accidental death of a child and a murder of a rich businessman and presidential candidate in a prominent hotel, appears to have more in common than meets the eye. An extremely well crafted whodunnit with more than one one hundred and eighty degree turn.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
A true page-turner, psychological thriller, which is set in an affluent household and the apparently ever-increasing demented action of the wife toward the recently paroled maid. The husband to the contrary appears to be the perfect man, smart, rich, good-looking and filled with human understanding and empathy. The author developed the story in three parts, each part demonstrating a number of reveals. It's the type of novel which will keep the reader at the edge of his or her seat.
Flags on the Bayou by James Lee Burke
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
An excellent piece of historical fiction, set during the US Civil War. The relatively concise novel is unique in that it is able to demonstrate both the good and bad in most of the cast of principle characters in such a manner that the reader can't hate or disregard any character (and becomes emotionally invested in the complex lives of the cast). Similarly, the historical backstory is told with the same balance; something which has become more rare in modern times. Truly a tour de force.
The Wife Upstairs by Freida McFadden
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Apart from dropping way too many breadcrumbs, the novel is somewhat of a masterpiece. McFadden through the writing used in the diary to depict the writing style of the "wife upstairs" beautifully demonstrated the almost puerile innocence which the "wife upstairs" sought to invoke in the reader. A psychological thriller told as it should be told.
The Other Side of the Door by Nicci French
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story starts with a dead boyfriend and an attempt by best friends to hide the body. The novel is a true slow burn and unfortunately the whodunnit is clear from almost the start. That said, it's an engaging read with the odd twist and turn. 3.5/5
The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This third novel in the Marlowe Murder Mystery series, and the "formula writing" is coming through pretty clearly in this novel. That said, the principal characters are pretty easy to like and the whodunnit is decently breadcrumbed.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This novel has the most twists and turns I have come acrosss in a very long time. Thoroughly engaging and enjoyable.