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readershark's reviews
193 reviews
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I picked up this book because I love a good dark academia setting, a cozy mystery, and the title grabbed my attention immediately. The premise is usual enough for a thriller, having to uncover what happened one night during their college years, a group of friends come back together at their ten year reunion and rehash what really happened. It's really the characters and the thrills and suspense that make it or break it.
For me, the suspense was there. Every time something interesting happened I found myself nearly ripping through the pages. Unfortunately, it also felt frustrating when every single time the tension built it was broken with a flashback. Personally, it was a little too flashback heavy for me and I felt like some of those scenes could have been cut. Near the end it just made me annoyed. But I was intrigued until the very end.
I do love a little fucked up friend group. Jessica's motivations are all too familiar as someone who's always also felt second best. Clawing your way to the top when people just seem to be born there is hard and excruciating work. That part of her I actually liked. That drive, that insatiable need to social climb. It's an extremist point of view of that archetype and I actually really liked it. I also despise cheating so for that I hated her, but I did like to see the dynamics between all the friends and see all their flaws. I also really liked the setting of Duquette. The school is a character on its own, and I really liked that. One thing though, why did literally everyone's names start with a C. It took me so long to differentiate all the characters.
I will say that while I felt this book stretched itself in length, I really liked the writing style. I would definitely pick up another book of Winstead's if she ever comes out with one! But the mystery fell flat for me. If I can see the twist coming from the first two chapters the book is usually a flop for me. I also didn't like the finger-pointing technique of solving the mystery. It feels a little juvenile in my opinion. Overall, this one is a mixed bag so I'm giving it a 3 star. I'm glad so many people loved it though!
Spoilery thoughts under the cut
Okay so here's the thing. When they first introduced the murder weapon, they said it was found under Jack's bed. Now, this fact is only brought up like twice in the book because I think the author was kind of hoping we forgot?? Because we know that Jack lived in the frat, so whoever did it had to have access to the girl's dorm (where both their girlfriends lived), and the frat after hours. So it very obviously, from the start, was not any of the girls, which leaves only one real valid suspect. So I basically guessed it from the start LOL. Kind of ruined Jess questioning herself but eh. I texted my friend at the end that i should really trust my instincts more, because as soon as Mint was introduced i was like. That man seems like a psychopath. and bitch i was right.
For me, the suspense was there. Every time something interesting happened I found myself nearly ripping through the pages. Unfortunately, it also felt frustrating when every single time the tension built it was broken with a flashback. Personally, it was a little too flashback heavy for me and I felt like some of those scenes could have been cut. Near the end it just made me annoyed. But I was intrigued until the very end.
I do love a little fucked up friend group. Jessica's motivations are all too familiar as someone who's always also felt second best. Clawing your way to the top when people just seem to be born there is hard and excruciating work. That part of her I actually liked. That drive, that insatiable need to social climb. It's an extremist point of view of that archetype and I actually really liked it. I also despise cheating so for that I hated her, but I did like to see the dynamics between all the friends and see all their flaws. I also really liked the setting of Duquette. The school is a character on its own, and I really liked that. One thing though, why did literally everyone's names start with a C. It took me so long to differentiate all the characters.
I will say that while I felt this book stretched itself in length, I really liked the writing style. I would definitely pick up another book of Winstead's if she ever comes out with one! But the mystery fell flat for me. If I can see the twist coming from the first two chapters the book is usually a flop for me. I also didn't like the finger-pointing technique of solving the mystery. It feels a little juvenile in my opinion. Overall, this one is a mixed bag so I'm giving it a 3 star. I'm glad so many people loved it though!
Spoilery thoughts under the cut