amandat's reviews
576 reviews

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

For a book that was marketed as a mystery and thriller, it's so slow with a thin plot.  The setting is the best part.

Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by Jim McCloskey, John Grisham

challenging dark informative sad fast-paced

3.0

I didn't appreciate the snide and snarky tone of some chapters.  We don't need to be told the police did a shoddy investigation, show it and let the audience decide.

Cold Canadian Crime: 21 Stories of Mystery & Suspense by Delee Fromm, Elizabeth Elwood, Thom Bennett, Anita Sachanska, Rosemary McCracken, Sylvia Maultash Warsh, William Deverell, Rachel M. Greenaway, Blair Keetch, Lisa de Nikolits, Lorna Poplak, Hope THOMPSON, Karen L. Abrahamson, Linwood Barclay, Susan Calder, Lynne Murphy, Pam Barnsley, Gabrielle St. George, Melodie Campbell, Carole Kennedy, Brenda Chapman, Taija Morgan, Donalee Moulton, David A. Poulsen

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Least favourite of the O'Connor mysteries.  Scenes somewhat repeated from previous novels and Jo needs to be rescued again.  Plus something happens to her that is completely unnecessary to the plot and just made me angry.

Indelible by Karin Slaughter

dark 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? Yes

2.5

Dated.  There's a twist at the end that made my 2024 eyes roll.  

Quantum Physics Made Me Do It: A Simple Guide to the Fundamental Nature of Everything by Jeremie Harris

funny informative medium-paced

4.0

Pop science but really good pop science.  Skims the surface of a complex topic and that's exactly what I need (and want).

Big Mall: Shopping for Meaning by Kate Black

informative medium-paced

3.5

Take Me Back to Cairo by Tarek Hussein, Pamela Paterson

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

First half of the book is better than the second.  Something happens in Chapter 19 that had me so angry with one of the main characters that I struggled to get to the end.  Then it all went downhill from there.  That may not be everyone's experience with the book, but it was certainly mine.

Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of Nxivm by Sarah Berman

challenging dark informative medium-paced

5.0

Comprehensive account of the NXIVM cult (and make no mistake, it IS a cult).  Keith Raniere is a horrible man.

Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A little overly complicated.