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amandasbookreview's Reviews (966)
This book has had a lot of buzz on Bookstagram, so I was overjoyed when it finally came in after I had a hold on it for a few weeks. A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson is a legal thriller set in Lund, Sweden. The book is split into three parts: The Father, The Daughter, and The Mother and revolves around the Sandell family. At first glance, the Sandell family is just your average family. As always, it is hard to predict what goes on behind closed doors. Stella is the eighteen year-old daughter of Adam and Ulrika Sandell. Adam is a pastor and Ulrika is a lawyer. Stella is her own person, she doesn’t want to be a typical girl. Soon, the family’s life is turned upside down when Stella is arrested for murder and the family secrets are exposed.
“Is there any sort of situation where you can say with certainty that a single person is responsible for what happens? Everything in life is dependent on so many different factors that interact in so many different ways.”
A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY BY M.T. EDVARDSSON
BRAVO! This is a thriller! All the chapters are short, but each chapter peels back just a little more detail than the last. Each detail either adds more mystery or exposes a new secret. This caused me to stay up for hours, just so I could finish it. There is always a sense of unease as all the answers aren’t revealed until the very end.
I am also not very familiar with Swedish police procedures, so this added an element of curiosity for me. I am a die-hard Law and Order SVU fan, so this book was right up my ally. The book really draws in all the complexities of a crime and how it impacts the investigation and the families involved. Also, while we are on the subject of complexity…the characters. WOW! They are all flawed and complex. I could relate to every single character. Because all of the characters are phenomenal, that makes all of their relationship that much more powerful. Stella’s friendship with her best friend, Amina, is just a powerhouse of emotion.
Now, no spoilers, but I wanted to give this book a standing ovation when I was finished. It made that much of an impression on me. Also, I must say that this translation is flawless. In fact, I would have never guessed that this book was originally written in Swedish. So well done on all fronts! I cannot recommend this book more. I rate this book a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
“Is there any sort of situation where you can say with certainty that a single person is responsible for what happens? Everything in life is dependent on so many different factors that interact in so many different ways.”
A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY BY M.T. EDVARDSSON
BRAVO! This is a thriller! All the chapters are short, but each chapter peels back just a little more detail than the last. Each detail either adds more mystery or exposes a new secret. This caused me to stay up for hours, just so I could finish it. There is always a sense of unease as all the answers aren’t revealed until the very end.
I am also not very familiar with Swedish police procedures, so this added an element of curiosity for me. I am a die-hard Law and Order SVU fan, so this book was right up my ally. The book really draws in all the complexities of a crime and how it impacts the investigation and the families involved. Also, while we are on the subject of complexity…the characters. WOW! They are all flawed and complex. I could relate to every single character. Because all of the characters are phenomenal, that makes all of their relationship that much more powerful. Stella’s friendship with her best friend, Amina, is just a powerhouse of emotion.
Now, no spoilers, but I wanted to give this book a standing ovation when I was finished. It made that much of an impression on me. Also, I must say that this translation is flawless. In fact, I would have never guessed that this book was originally written in Swedish. So well done on all fronts! I cannot recommend this book more. I rate this book a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
The Binding by Bridget Collins is a unique story about bookbinders. Books are dangerous. Bookbinders are shrouded in superstition. People go to bookbinders to get rid of the memories that cause them pain. Emmett comes from a family of farmers when he is summoned to be an apprentice to be a bookbinder. He slowly learns the artistry that is bookbinding. He eventually meets a lord named Lucian Darney, which complicates his life. As he learns more of the trade he also discovers those who use the trade for their own selfish purposes.
I picked this book at the library on a whim. I saw the cover and read the synopsis and just knew I had to read it. Then I started reading it… and I was ultimately disappointed. It was nothing like I thought it would be. It broke my heart because the story had so much potential! When I had to put it down, I found it difficult to pick back up. First of all, the pacing is unbearably slow. I was just waiting for something to happen that would draw me into the story. Second of all, I wasn’t really a fan of any of the characters. They were flawed, which I usually appreciate, but there were just no redeeming qualities. Lastly, the concept of the bookbinding actually takes the backseat to the characters and the romances. I actually liked the romance story, but I felt the author could have done a better job incorporating the bookbinding and romance storyline a bit better.
I must say, the writing is beautiful and I really did love the romance story. It just wasn’t enough for me. I have seen so many rave reviews about this book, so my review will definitely be an unpopular opinion. I just wanted to be transported into a unique world. It just wasn’t executed well for me. I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
I picked this book at the library on a whim. I saw the cover and read the synopsis and just knew I had to read it. Then I started reading it… and I was ultimately disappointed. It was nothing like I thought it would be. It broke my heart because the story had so much potential! When I had to put it down, I found it difficult to pick back up. First of all, the pacing is unbearably slow. I was just waiting for something to happen that would draw me into the story. Second of all, I wasn’t really a fan of any of the characters. They were flawed, which I usually appreciate, but there were just no redeeming qualities. Lastly, the concept of the bookbinding actually takes the backseat to the characters and the romances. I actually liked the romance story, but I felt the author could have done a better job incorporating the bookbinding and romance storyline a bit better.
I must say, the writing is beautiful and I really did love the romance story. It just wasn’t enough for me. I have seen so many rave reviews about this book, so my review will definitely be an unpopular opinion. I just wanted to be transported into a unique world. It just wasn’t executed well for me. I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
Here is another Chirpbooks discovery! Little Darlings by Melanie Golding and narrated by Stephanie Racine is a chilling psychological thriller! Lauren Tranter gives birth to beautiful twins boys, Morgan and Riley. The birth is extremely traumatic and she is immediately thrown into challenges of motherhood. She is tired and struggling with nursing her two boys. That night in the hospital she looks up to see a woman in torn clothing, with a basket. She starts singing and talking about taking Lauren’s boys. Lauren panics but the hospital can’t find any evidence of the woman and puts her on some psychotic medication. She traps herself in her house, and her husband worries. He encourages her to go out. That day, she makes a mistake… she falls asleep. When she wakes up her boys are gone. When they are found, the babies may look like her babies, but Lauren knows that they are not hers. Where are her babies? And what are the things that took their place?
Oh, baby! This audiobook gave me the chills. I was driving home one night by myself and I actually had to turn it off because it freaked me out! This is what I call a psychological thriller! Is Lauren suffering from a mental breakdown or is she telling the truth? Could that witch have taken her babies and switched them with changelings?
First of all, Lauren is a phenomenal main character. The emotion is so descriptive and really pulls at the heartstrings. However, there is always that shadow of doubt…which I love! I hate when books are predictable and this book is definitely not predictable. With Lauren, one of the things that I really appreciated is the accurate depiction of a first-time mom or just motherhood in general. The stress, the exhaustion, the judgment…and she has twins! So it is double the stress and exhaustion. Her husband, Patrick, is a piece of crap. God, if I could reach into this story and punch him in the face, I would! He is not supportive, understanding, or loyal. Lauren deserves better, in my opinion. There is also Detective Harper, who believes Lauren. Thank heavens, Lauren needs someone in her corner! She is smart and clever and I would definitely like to see her in another mystery novel.
I did love the mystical aspect of the story as well. There are lots of references to The Brothers Grimm and changelings. It really challenged the reader’s logical thinking of reality.
Now for the star…Stephanie Racine, the narrator! I have listened to her narrate other audiobooks before and I must say she is my absolute favorite. She really channels in the emotion and the personalities of all the different characters. She is absolutely marvelous and I plan to just find all the books she has narrated.
Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 spectacular stars. Can this please be made into a movie??
Oh, baby! This audiobook gave me the chills. I was driving home one night by myself and I actually had to turn it off because it freaked me out! This is what I call a psychological thriller! Is Lauren suffering from a mental breakdown or is she telling the truth? Could that witch have taken her babies and switched them with changelings?
First of all, Lauren is a phenomenal main character. The emotion is so descriptive and really pulls at the heartstrings. However, there is always that shadow of doubt…which I love! I hate when books are predictable and this book is definitely not predictable. With Lauren, one of the things that I really appreciated is the accurate depiction of a first-time mom or just motherhood in general. The stress, the exhaustion, the judgment…and she has twins! So it is double the stress and exhaustion. Her husband, Patrick, is a piece of crap. God, if I could reach into this story and punch him in the face, I would! He is not supportive, understanding, or loyal. Lauren deserves better, in my opinion. There is also Detective Harper, who believes Lauren. Thank heavens, Lauren needs someone in her corner! She is smart and clever and I would definitely like to see her in another mystery novel.
I did love the mystical aspect of the story as well. There are lots of references to The Brothers Grimm and changelings. It really challenged the reader’s logical thinking of reality.
Now for the star…Stephanie Racine, the narrator! I have listened to her narrate other audiobooks before and I must say she is my absolute favorite. She really channels in the emotion and the personalities of all the different characters. She is absolutely marvelous and I plan to just find all the books she has narrated.
Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 spectacular stars. Can this please be made into a movie??
I found this audiobook when I was browsing at the library one day. The title and cover caught my eye and I am always down for a good thriller or murder mystery. River Bodies by Karen Katchur, read by Lauren Ezzo is the first book in the Northhampton County Series.
The book introduces Becca Kingsley, a young veterinarian who lives with her boyfriend, Matt. She gets a phone call that her estranged father is dying. She hasn’t been home in years, but with her father dying and problems with Matt, she has little choice. When she returns, a body is pulled from the river. In a small town, news and rumors spread quickly. Since Becca’s father was the former police chief, she is automatically drawn into the case. This case is not the first of it’s kind. New detective, Parker, knows that there has been a cover up and people are not talking. He has to put the puzzle together before they pull another body out of the river.
This is not one of those edge-of-your-seat thrillers. It is slower and more calculating. You know who the murderer is from the very beginning, but the murder is very heavily linked to the past. So this book really makes readers feel like investigators trying to see why this is all happening and who is really behind it. I feel like the murder mystery takes the backseat to the characters. The main aspect of the book is the characters and their relationships. I really loved all the characters. Every single character is flawed. Becca begins the story with daddy issues and really develops throughout the book. She learns more about her self-worth, who she is and what she deserves. The secrets that dwell in her family are not all what they seem. As she exposes the secrets, it causes her to be more reflective and understanding.
The book does move at a slow pace, but there wasn’t a moment where I was not interested. Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of the narrator. The voice actually annoyed me. Her female narrator voices were fine. But when she is just narrating, she sounded very dismal. As if everything is bleak. Plus, all the male voices sounded exactly the same. I am normally not this critical of audiobook narrators, but this one just didn’t work for me.
Overall, I liked the book. I would have liked a little more mystery and suspense. However, the strong characters are what make the story. It left me interested in the rest of the series. I will probably pick up the physical book this time, rather than the audiobook. So I rate this book 3 out 5 stars.
The book introduces Becca Kingsley, a young veterinarian who lives with her boyfriend, Matt. She gets a phone call that her estranged father is dying. She hasn’t been home in years, but with her father dying and problems with Matt, she has little choice. When she returns, a body is pulled from the river. In a small town, news and rumors spread quickly. Since Becca’s father was the former police chief, she is automatically drawn into the case. This case is not the first of it’s kind. New detective, Parker, knows that there has been a cover up and people are not talking. He has to put the puzzle together before they pull another body out of the river.
This is not one of those edge-of-your-seat thrillers. It is slower and more calculating. You know who the murderer is from the very beginning, but the murder is very heavily linked to the past. So this book really makes readers feel like investigators trying to see why this is all happening and who is really behind it. I feel like the murder mystery takes the backseat to the characters. The main aspect of the book is the characters and their relationships. I really loved all the characters. Every single character is flawed. Becca begins the story with daddy issues and really develops throughout the book. She learns more about her self-worth, who she is and what she deserves. The secrets that dwell in her family are not all what they seem. As she exposes the secrets, it causes her to be more reflective and understanding.
The book does move at a slow pace, but there wasn’t a moment where I was not interested. Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of the narrator. The voice actually annoyed me. Her female narrator voices were fine. But when she is just narrating, she sounded very dismal. As if everything is bleak. Plus, all the male voices sounded exactly the same. I am normally not this critical of audiobook narrators, but this one just didn’t work for me.
Overall, I liked the book. I would have liked a little more mystery and suspense. However, the strong characters are what make the story. It left me interested in the rest of the series. I will probably pick up the physical book this time, rather than the audiobook. So I rate this book 3 out 5 stars.
Chirp books has struck again! I am obsessed. This time I bought Black Flags, Blue Waters by Eric Jay Dolin and read by Paul Brion. You all know how I can’t resist anything about pirates, especially pirate history. This book is the epic history of America’s most notorious pirates. In this book, the author goes into as much detail about the pirates, society and economics that affected pirates, and those in the American colonies who supported pirates. There are details of Captain Kidd, Edward Teach (also known as Blackbeard), Sam Bellamy, and many more! There are also many historical figures who come into play, like Benjamin Franklin. The time period of this nonfiction spans the Golden Age of Piracy which goes from 1600 to the early 1700s.
As I said above, I love pirate history…well, anything to do with pirates. I think what I find most fascinating is how pirates came to be. Belonging to a place, at that time, was a sense of pride. Pirates seceded from their place and pillaged and exactly violence in many different nations. It is not hard to figure out why they came to be though. They are a product of their society. Men who had debts were often press-ganged into the navy, which didn’t exactly have the best conditions. They depended on commerce and trade to make their living. Even though they were not popular at the time, their deeds inspired stories, legends, and lore.
The book can be a little slow-paced, especially for someone who may not find the topic interesting. However, since this is something I am interested in, the pace did not bother me. A few years ago, I was able to see the Whydah treasure in San Diego’s Natural History Museum. It really brings the stories to life when seeing something like that in a museum.
The narrator does a fantastic job of reading the story. He has a clear and firm voice that even adds a bit of suspense, especially when reading about the battles. Overall, I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars!
As I said above, I love pirate history…well, anything to do with pirates. I think what I find most fascinating is how pirates came to be. Belonging to a place, at that time, was a sense of pride. Pirates seceded from their place and pillaged and exactly violence in many different nations. It is not hard to figure out why they came to be though. They are a product of their society. Men who had debts were often press-ganged into the navy, which didn’t exactly have the best conditions. They depended on commerce and trade to make their living. Even though they were not popular at the time, their deeds inspired stories, legends, and lore.
The book can be a little slow-paced, especially for someone who may not find the topic interesting. However, since this is something I am interested in, the pace did not bother me. A few years ago, I was able to see the Whydah treasure in San Diego’s Natural History Museum. It really brings the stories to life when seeing something like that in a museum.
The narrator does a fantastic job of reading the story. He has a clear and firm voice that even adds a bit of suspense, especially when reading about the battles. Overall, I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars!
I really enjoy Meg Gardiner! I loved Into the Black Nowhere. So when I discovered that my library had Random River I just had to have it. Ransom River written by Meg Gardiner, read by Angela Dawe is a thrilling suspense story. This book goes back and forth between two time periods: the present and 20 years prior. In the present, Rory Mackenzie is a juror on a high-profile case. She did not want to come back to her hometown but circumstances have led her back. The case involves a police shooting and is already getting a lot of heat. That is… until two gunmen storm the court room and hold everyone hostage. After the hostage situation is over, the police think that Rory had something to do with it. With help from her ex-boyfriend, Seth, she needs to figure out why she is being singled out in this event. The evidence leads them to a robbery that took place 20 years before…
Meg Gardiner flawlessly ties up all the ends in her stories and misdirects her readers. I could not predict the ending, as the plot had kept twisting and turning. Another thing is the pace kicks off right away. There is never a lull in the pacing. There is a constant sense of danger and suspense. The connection of both the crimes is actually brilliant. The jumping back and forth between the time periods did get a little tedious, especially when it focused on Rory’s cousins. I cringed every time Rory’s cousins entered the story. I am grateful they weren’t the only antagonists. However, I really enjoyed Rory’s character. She is strong, smart, and brave. I did love her relationship with Seth. It is flawed and relatable.
The narrator, Angela Dawe did a fantastic job at reading this book. She is able to display the emotion and tension. Overall, it is definitely worth listening to Ransom River. The crime and the suspense are phenomenal. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Meg Gardiner flawlessly ties up all the ends in her stories and misdirects her readers. I could not predict the ending, as the plot had kept twisting and turning. Another thing is the pace kicks off right away. There is never a lull in the pacing. There is a constant sense of danger and suspense. The connection of both the crimes is actually brilliant. The jumping back and forth between the time periods did get a little tedious, especially when it focused on Rory’s cousins. I cringed every time Rory’s cousins entered the story. I am grateful they weren’t the only antagonists. However, I really enjoyed Rory’s character. She is strong, smart, and brave. I did love her relationship with Seth. It is flawed and relatable.
The narrator, Angela Dawe did a fantastic job at reading this book. She is able to display the emotion and tension. Overall, it is definitely worth listening to Ransom River. The crime and the suspense are phenomenal. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
DNF.
I tried. But there is so much that prevented me from finishing this book. First, I was listening to the audiobook version. The reader was not that great. The accents were off, there were moments where she read way too fast, and there was absolutely no emotion in the voice.
As for the story. Nothing was happening despite there being too many points of view. It was a dull story with one dimensional characters and unnecessary information.
I am sorry. I am sure this is a wonderful book to some. But it did not work for me.
I tried. But there is so much that prevented me from finishing this book. First, I was listening to the audiobook version. The reader was not that great. The accents were off, there were moments where she read way too fast, and there was absolutely no emotion in the voice.
As for the story. Nothing was happening despite there being too many points of view. It was a dull story with one dimensional characters and unnecessary information.
I am sorry. I am sure this is a wonderful book to some. But it did not work for me.
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski is the first book in The Witcher Series. I have read the introduction to the Witcher stories, but I am so excited to finally get into the full story.
The world is changing. Kingdoms are threatening war. Races are becoming more divided. Hatred surges against the Elves. Then there is Geralt the Witcher. A witcher is a mutant made to defeat monsters. He is smart and clever. He is destined to protect Ciri. young girl with Elven blood and power that not many understand. The problem is that no one knows if she will change the world for good or evil. Along the way, Geralt involves Triss, a beautiful enchantress whose heart lies with Geralt but know of his complicated history with her friend, Yennefer. Triss, Geralt, and Ciri set out to find a place where she will be safe, but there are eyes everywhere.
YES. YES. YES! This is my kind of fantasy. I saw many reviews that gave this book a low rating score and I can understand their reasoning, but do not agree. If you are a fan of The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, be prepared for a slower pace, with lots of world-building. This book really focuses on the political upheaval and the dividing of the races. The first two books were mostly action and just Geralt constantly defeating monsters. This book is different. However, I find that this often happens with the first book in a series, especially in fantasy. Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, etc… the first books really focus on explaining what is happening in the world. And while it may be slow in pacing, I think it is super important to pay attention because a lot of that information pops up later. So I did not mind the slow pacing, I really fell in love with the world-building.
Now for the characters. You can’t not like Geralt. I don’t think it is possible, so we are just gonna skip him. We all know that he is clever, strong, and just flat out epic. Ciri is fascinating and I can’t wait to watch her character grow. If I could, I would have immediately picked up the next book to continue the story…but alas, life and other review deadlines needed my attention. My favorite aspect is Ciri and Geralt together. I love how they learn from each other and how he takes his role of protecting her so seriously, especially by teaching her how to defend herself. Now for the infamous Triss vs. Yennefer. As of now, I am still Team Triss. I don’t like Yennefer. I feel she is not trustworthy and definitely manipulative. HOWEVER, that may change. But as of this book, this is where I stand.
Obviously, I am rating this book 5 out of stars. BRING ON THE WITCHER SERIES Netflix! I am so excited! Are you pumped for December? Who else will be watching with me?
The world is changing. Kingdoms are threatening war. Races are becoming more divided. Hatred surges against the Elves. Then there is Geralt the Witcher. A witcher is a mutant made to defeat monsters. He is smart and clever. He is destined to protect Ciri. young girl with Elven blood and power that not many understand. The problem is that no one knows if she will change the world for good or evil. Along the way, Geralt involves Triss, a beautiful enchantress whose heart lies with Geralt but know of his complicated history with her friend, Yennefer. Triss, Geralt, and Ciri set out to find a place where she will be safe, but there are eyes everywhere.
YES. YES. YES! This is my kind of fantasy. I saw many reviews that gave this book a low rating score and I can understand their reasoning, but do not agree. If you are a fan of The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, be prepared for a slower pace, with lots of world-building. This book really focuses on the political upheaval and the dividing of the races. The first two books were mostly action and just Geralt constantly defeating monsters. This book is different. However, I find that this often happens with the first book in a series, especially in fantasy. Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, etc… the first books really focus on explaining what is happening in the world. And while it may be slow in pacing, I think it is super important to pay attention because a lot of that information pops up later. So I did not mind the slow pacing, I really fell in love with the world-building.
Now for the characters. You can’t not like Geralt. I don’t think it is possible, so we are just gonna skip him. We all know that he is clever, strong, and just flat out epic. Ciri is fascinating and I can’t wait to watch her character grow. If I could, I would have immediately picked up the next book to continue the story…but alas, life and other review deadlines needed my attention. My favorite aspect is Ciri and Geralt together. I love how they learn from each other and how he takes his role of protecting her so seriously, especially by teaching her how to defend herself. Now for the infamous Triss vs. Yennefer. As of now, I am still Team Triss. I don’t like Yennefer. I feel she is not trustworthy and definitely manipulative. HOWEVER, that may change. But as of this book, this is where I stand.
Obviously, I am rating this book 5 out of stars. BRING ON THE WITCHER SERIES Netflix! I am so excited! Are you pumped for December? Who else will be watching with me?
The Whisper Man by Alex North is my book club’s selection for the month of October. We wanted a thriller. Something creepy. Did we find it? Keep on reading and find out.
* WARNING: POSSIBLE TRIGGERS INVOLVING MENTAL ILLNESS, DARK CRIMES AND GRUESOME DEATH.*
The story follows multiple points of view. Tom Kennedy is a writer and father of a young boy named Jake. Tom Kennedy’s wife had died and he still grieves for her. He also doesn’t know how to be a good father to Jake. Jake is an unusual child. He is scarred from discovering the body of his mother. He has an imaginary friend, draws most of the time and rarely talks. They move in order to leave the past behind and start a new life. However, the house that they move into has a dark history. Not just the house, but the town itself. The town was the home to Frank Carter, the infamous Whisper Man. He was a serial killer who killed young boys before he was caught and put in prison. But twenty years later, another boy disappears and the evidence is similar to The Whisper Man, but how? He is in jail. Is it a copycat or an accomplice? That is what Detective Amanda Beck and Pete Willis have to figure out. They work tirelessly to find the young boy. Meanwhile, Jake tells Tom that he has heard whispers outside his window.
Well, folks. Here we are again. Another book that received all the praise. In fact, it has a 4.11 star average on Goodreads. But am I one of those people? Nope. I wanted to love this book. I wanted to be scared out of my wits. I have a weird fascination with crime books, movies, and shows. (Seriously, I binge-watched Mindhunter on Netflix in less than a week.) However, I found this book so cliche and rather dull. It was one of those books that if I put it down, it was hard to pick back up again because I was not invested. I will say, that the concept of The Whisper Man is unbelievably creepy. But we don’t see him! In fact, he is only in a scene or two. I wanted to know more about how his case. The ending result of the story felt pretty lackluster.
Ok, but my biggest issue with this book…WHY ARE NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS IN THERAPY!!!!!! Jesus! Come on! A kid finds his dead mother on the floor in his home, and the Dad just wonders why he has a disturbing imaginary friend? Hmmm, I wonder why?!?! He also suffers from grief and PTSD from child abuse he experienced as a child. Does he seek help?NOPE. He just keeps suffering and wondering why the nightmares keep coming back. Then there is Detective Pete Willis, who is a recovering alcoholic and is SEVERELY scarred from working the original Whisper Man case. You would think that a police department would require their officers and detectives to seek counseling after finding a bunch of dead bodies of young boys. Again…NOPE. They all just meander around, actually asking themselves why they feel this way and trying to just ignore that there is a problem. It made absolutely no sense to me that they are wondering what is wrong with them when they experienced so much severe trauma. I recommend everyone go to therapy, even if you haven’t experienced severe trauma. It is a healthy option and nothing to be ashamed of. I do and it is life-changing. Ok, I got that off my chest.
I have a few other issues, but discussing those would involve spoilers. In all, it was not scary. It was not suspenseful. I never felt like I was on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next or how the book would end. There is also a lot of repetitive information. If there are going to be several points of view. I want them to come together to make a cohesive story and let me discover something new. Unfortunately, that does not happen in this book. Most of the different points of view just felt unnecessary and repetitive. Sadly, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. It just did not work for me even though I know that is an unpopular opinion.
* WARNING: POSSIBLE TRIGGERS INVOLVING MENTAL ILLNESS, DARK CRIMES AND GRUESOME DEATH.*
The story follows multiple points of view. Tom Kennedy is a writer and father of a young boy named Jake. Tom Kennedy’s wife had died and he still grieves for her. He also doesn’t know how to be a good father to Jake. Jake is an unusual child. He is scarred from discovering the body of his mother. He has an imaginary friend, draws most of the time and rarely talks. They move in order to leave the past behind and start a new life. However, the house that they move into has a dark history. Not just the house, but the town itself. The town was the home to Frank Carter, the infamous Whisper Man. He was a serial killer who killed young boys before he was caught and put in prison. But twenty years later, another boy disappears and the evidence is similar to The Whisper Man, but how? He is in jail. Is it a copycat or an accomplice? That is what Detective Amanda Beck and Pete Willis have to figure out. They work tirelessly to find the young boy. Meanwhile, Jake tells Tom that he has heard whispers outside his window.
Well, folks. Here we are again. Another book that received all the praise. In fact, it has a 4.11 star average on Goodreads. But am I one of those people? Nope. I wanted to love this book. I wanted to be scared out of my wits. I have a weird fascination with crime books, movies, and shows. (Seriously, I binge-watched Mindhunter on Netflix in less than a week.) However, I found this book so cliche and rather dull. It was one of those books that if I put it down, it was hard to pick back up again because I was not invested. I will say, that the concept of The Whisper Man is unbelievably creepy. But we don’t see him! In fact, he is only in a scene or two. I wanted to know more about how his case. The ending result of the story felt pretty lackluster.
Ok, but my biggest issue with this book…WHY ARE NONE OF THESE CHARACTERS IN THERAPY!!!!!! Jesus! Come on! A kid finds his dead mother on the floor in his home, and the Dad just wonders why he has a disturbing imaginary friend? Hmmm, I wonder why?!?! He also suffers from grief and PTSD from child abuse he experienced as a child. Does he seek help?NOPE. He just keeps suffering and wondering why the nightmares keep coming back. Then there is Detective Pete Willis, who is a recovering alcoholic and is SEVERELY scarred from working the original Whisper Man case. You would think that a police department would require their officers and detectives to seek counseling after finding a bunch of dead bodies of young boys. Again…NOPE. They all just meander around, actually asking themselves why they feel this way and trying to just ignore that there is a problem. It made absolutely no sense to me that they are wondering what is wrong with them when they experienced so much severe trauma. I recommend everyone go to therapy, even if you haven’t experienced severe trauma. It is a healthy option and nothing to be ashamed of. I do and it is life-changing. Ok, I got that off my chest.
I have a few other issues, but discussing those would involve spoilers. In all, it was not scary. It was not suspenseful. I never felt like I was on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next or how the book would end. There is also a lot of repetitive information. If there are going to be several points of view. I want them to come together to make a cohesive story and let me discover something new. Unfortunately, that does not happen in this book. Most of the different points of view just felt unnecessary and repetitive. Sadly, I have to rate this book 2 out of 5 stars. It just did not work for me even though I know that is an unpopular opinion.
I have been in a thriller mood for months. When selecting my next book, I lean towards a murder mystery, crime novel, or a thriller. So it is no surprise that I picked up Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Helen Duff at the library. I enjoyed the last Lisa Jewell audiobook, so I had high hopes for this one as well. The book is broken up between “Then” and “Now” and follows the points of view of multiple characters. The main character is Laurel, the mother of three teenage children. They say parents don’t have a favorite, but Laurel does. Her golden girl is Ellie. She is clever and has her whole life before her when she goes to the library, but never returns. There are never any leads and it destroys her family. Years later, Laurel meets a charming man in a cafe. They begin a whirlwind romance and Laurel is shocked when she meets his daughter, Poppy. Poppy looks exactly like Ellie. There is something suspicious happening. What happened to Ellie and why does this charming stranger feel like he is linked to her disappearance?
I am very particular when it comes to multiple points of view in books. If it is not done correctly then I find the book tedious. This book transitioned from each point of view smoothly. The pace never slowed down and I was always interested in the story. Now, there are a ton of “missing girl” thrillers out there. This book definitely has a unique spin on that trope. I did find the twists very predictable. I felt that they were actually pretty obvious relatively early. However, I am actually surprised by how dark the story became. A lot of authors flirt with the disturbing line and Lisa Jewell had no problem tap-dancing on that line–which I appreciated. It kept the pace moving and it exposed more about the characters.
Speaking of the characters, they are absolutely fantastic. At first, I was not sure about Laurel. I found her typical and selfish. However, as the story goes on, her development is quite extraordinary. I love how even as her children are older, she is able to discover how to be a better mom and she learns from her mistakes.
I am still not sure how I feel about the narration. The narrator does a good job with all the different accents in the story. However, I did not like some of the voices for different characters. For instance, her voice for Laurel’s other daughter Hannah. It is very deep and low. There were times that I almost couldn’t understand what Hannah was saying because it was not enunciated as well. So overall, I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars. Between the predictability and narration issues, I could not give it a perfect score. Although, I do recommend this book for those who enjoy thrillers.
I am very particular when it comes to multiple points of view in books. If it is not done correctly then I find the book tedious. This book transitioned from each point of view smoothly. The pace never slowed down and I was always interested in the story. Now, there are a ton of “missing girl” thrillers out there. This book definitely has a unique spin on that trope. I did find the twists very predictable. I felt that they were actually pretty obvious relatively early. However, I am actually surprised by how dark the story became. A lot of authors flirt with the disturbing line and Lisa Jewell had no problem tap-dancing on that line–which I appreciated. It kept the pace moving and it exposed more about the characters.
Speaking of the characters, they are absolutely fantastic. At first, I was not sure about Laurel. I found her typical and selfish. However, as the story goes on, her development is quite extraordinary. I love how even as her children are older, she is able to discover how to be a better mom and she learns from her mistakes.
I am still not sure how I feel about the narration. The narrator does a good job with all the different accents in the story. However, I did not like some of the voices for different characters. For instance, her voice for Laurel’s other daughter Hannah. It is very deep and low. There were times that I almost couldn’t understand what Hannah was saying because it was not enunciated as well. So overall, I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars. Between the predictability and narration issues, I could not give it a perfect score. Although, I do recommend this book for those who enjoy thrillers.