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sand_between_pages's Reviews (734)
adventurous
mysterious
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
I don't want it to be over *sad face*! Le sigh, cue massive series hangover. But wait -- I still have The Box in the Woods! WOOT WOOT!
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Book 3 is my favorite in the trilogy! The Hand on the Wall had a nice blend of mystery, riddles, and reveals :). Now, for some superlatives:
MVP - Obviously Stevie. I mean, she solved the crime of the century and she got to see a moose.
Morally Gray Hottie and a Half - David! I loved David from start to finish and feel he definitely added a ton to the story.
Underrated AF - Germaine Batt. Seriously, Germaine is always doing her thing. She's freaking everywhere. In the same manner that Stevie is dedicated to her detective work, Germaine is constantly on the news line. Blizzard? NBD for G!
I Need More of Him - Mudge. I think Mudge needs his own Imagineer spinoff.
Sarcastic Perfection - Nate. Every introvert can relate to Nate. Nate always put a smile on my face and I especially love his scenes with Stevie.
Cutest BA Couple - Janelle & Vi. Need I say more?
Kinda Unnecessary - Hunter. I mean did he really need to be there?
Copper Goals - Larry. We all need a friend in law enforcement like Larry. I wish I had a Larry.
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I could go on, but these characters resonated most for me :). Bottom line, if you're looking for a mystery series with strong characters and a fun plot, look no further my friends!
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Book 3 is my favorite in the trilogy! The Hand on the Wall had a nice blend of mystery, riddles, and reveals :). Now, for some superlatives:
MVP - Obviously Stevie. I mean, she solved the crime of the century and she got to see a moose.
Morally Gray Hottie and a Half - David! I loved David from start to finish and feel he definitely added a ton to the story.
Underrated AF - Germaine Batt. Seriously, Germaine is always doing her thing. She's freaking everywhere. In the same manner that Stevie is dedicated to her detective work, Germaine is constantly on the news line. Blizzard? NBD for G!
I Need More of Him - Mudge. I think Mudge needs his own Imagineer spinoff.
Sarcastic Perfection - Nate. Every introvert can relate to Nate. Nate always put a smile on my face and I especially love his scenes with Stevie.
Cutest BA Couple - Janelle & Vi. Need I say more?
Kinda Unnecessary - Hunter. I mean did he really need to be there?
Copper Goals - Larry. We all need a friend in law enforcement like Larry. I wish I had a Larry.
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I could go on, but these characters resonated most for me :). Bottom line, if you're looking for a mystery series with strong characters and a fun plot, look no further my friends!
dark
tense
fast-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
Things I look for in a psychological thriller:
- Can't-put-this-book-down vibe
- Twists I didn't guess
- Tidy endings
- Investment in characters
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While The Golden Couple isn't groundbreaking or the best thriller I've read by any means, it did tick all the aforementioned criteria and thus, I give this four outta five stars. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, and I also like this book more than the previous books penned by this author duo!
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What I enjoyed most about The Golden Couple was the character Avery, a former therapist who lost her license because of her boundary-pushing methods. She is a strong female character that dubs as a faux-Sherlock, and I really enjoyed reading her methods of deducing the characters of those around her. From start to finish, I was rooting for her, and this connection is what kept the pages turning.
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For a quick psychological thriller, this one entertains for sure! Thank you to Macmillan audio for this ALC - the audio narration is excellent!
- Can't-put-this-book-down vibe
- Twists I didn't guess
- Tidy endings
- Investment in characters
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While The Golden Couple isn't groundbreaking or the best thriller I've read by any means, it did tick all the aforementioned criteria and thus, I give this four outta five stars. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, and I also like this book more than the previous books penned by this author duo!
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What I enjoyed most about The Golden Couple was the character Avery, a former therapist who lost her license because of her boundary-pushing methods. She is a strong female character that dubs as a faux-Sherlock, and I really enjoyed reading her methods of deducing the characters of those around her. From start to finish, I was rooting for her, and this connection is what kept the pages turning.
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For a quick psychological thriller, this one entertains for sure! Thank you to Macmillan audio for this ALC - the audio narration is excellent!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so Rebecca Funke for the gifted copy of The Christmas Gift!
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The Christmas Gift is Funke's debut. While I believe it had a lot of potential, this one kinda missed the mark for me. I was seeking a lighter, more festive read - but there is a lot going on in this book that isn't light. I don't mind a deeper read, but I didn't feel like this was really about Christmas, more just coinciding with the time of year. Basically, I went in with different expectations. I also felt like there were so many emotional triggers that I had a hard time feeling anything as I was distracted by the several plot lines.
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There are some funny parts and some endearing qualities throughout. Ultimately, I will be excited to see what Funke writes next!
adventurous
mysterious
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
<i> Where do you look for someone who's never really there? Always on a staircase but never on a stair. </i>
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Holy cliffhanger, Batman!
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I am quite happy to be back at Ellingham with my girl, Stevie, starving author Nate, machine-wiz Janelle, and our tortured boy David. :)
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The Vanishing Stair picks up right where we left off in Truly Devious. Much like Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair packs in the mystery, murder, and madness that makes these books so compelling. While much is revealed in this book by way of the Ellingham kidnappings, there is still tons that is unanswered and I am super anxious to get to book 3 and figure it all out!
.
And can we talk about that tunnel kiss? *swoon*
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Holy cliffhanger, Batman!
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I am quite happy to be back at Ellingham with my girl, Stevie, starving author Nate, machine-wiz Janelle, and our tortured boy David. :)
.
The Vanishing Stair picks up right where we left off in Truly Devious. Much like Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair packs in the mystery, murder, and madness that makes these books so compelling. While much is revealed in this book by way of the Ellingham kidnappings, there is still tons that is unanswered and I am super anxious to get to book 3 and figure it all out!
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And can we talk about that tunnel kiss? *swoon*
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this ALC of Heard It in a Love Song!
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I've been dying to read something by Tracey Garvis Graves forever. I have a copy of The Girl He Used to Know on my shelf, but I just haven't gotten to it :(! So when this book popped up, I jumped at the chance to listen!
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I feel a bit let down. Heard It in a Love Song isn't bad by any means, but it is VERY slow and has way too much (imo) background information on our main characters. Perhaps it's just me and I expected the story to purely be about the shipped couple, Layla and Josh, but we dive deep into both Layla's and Josh's background pretty much the entire book. I just felt like it was TOO MUCH.
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The story started to pick up around the 60% mark, but that just honestly felt like too long of a wait. I enjoyed the back half, but not enough to want to finish it quickly.
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I've been dying to read something by Tracey Garvis Graves forever. I have a copy of The Girl He Used to Know on my shelf, but I just haven't gotten to it :(! So when this book popped up, I jumped at the chance to listen!
.
I feel a bit let down. Heard It in a Love Song isn't bad by any means, but it is VERY slow and has way too much (imo) background information on our main characters. Perhaps it's just me and I expected the story to purely be about the shipped couple, Layla and Josh, but we dive deep into both Layla's and Josh's background pretty much the entire book. I just felt like it was TOO MUCH.
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The story started to pick up around the 60% mark, but that just honestly felt like too long of a wait. I enjoyed the back half, but not enough to want to finish it quickly.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 - this series has a new fan! ME!
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I am a massive, massive fan of Jodi Taylor. She could write an instruction manual on how to watch paint try and I would read it and I would laugh and I would probably give it a very decent rating! The Chronicles of St Mary's is one of my most favorite series, so I knew I had to start the spin off Time Police series asap, and I am so glad I finally did!
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Taylor has 12 St Marys books and never ceases to come up with an exciting plot, interesting new characters, and plenty of historical fun. I am so happy to see that Doing Time encompasses many of the traits I love about St Marys. Likable characters, time travel and history, British wit and charm, and plenty of Jodi's signature sarcastic humor. As much as I love Max, Peterson, and Markham from St Marys, I am here for this new trio - Jane, Luke, and Matthew! Cannot wait to go on more adventures with them.
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If you're a fan of St Marys, pick this one up! Even though this is the beginning of the series, it is helpful to read St Marys prior to Time Police.
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I am a massive, massive fan of Jodi Taylor. She could write an instruction manual on how to watch paint try and I would read it and I would laugh and I would probably give it a very decent rating! The Chronicles of St Mary's is one of my most favorite series, so I knew I had to start the spin off Time Police series asap, and I am so glad I finally did!
.
Taylor has 12 St Marys books and never ceases to come up with an exciting plot, interesting new characters, and plenty of historical fun. I am so happy to see that Doing Time encompasses many of the traits I love about St Marys. Likable characters, time travel and history, British wit and charm, and plenty of Jodi's signature sarcastic humor. As much as I love Max, Peterson, and Markham from St Marys, I am here for this new trio - Jane, Luke, and Matthew! Cannot wait to go on more adventures with them.
.
If you're a fan of St Marys, pick this one up! Even though this is the beginning of the series, it is helpful to read St Marys prior to Time Police.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Compelling and easy-to-read, strong characters, air of mystery, satisfying ending ... while I'm not blown away by Lisa Jewell's new book, I definitely found The Night She Disappeared fun and satisfying of my need for spoozy szn reads!
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The story is told over the course of three years, alternating between them as the reader gets little pieces of the puzzle throughout - what happened to Tallulah Murray? One night, she simply disappeared. How can a person just disappear without a trace? The persistence of her mother, Kim, and empathetic crime writer, Sophie, ensures that this cold case doesn't stay cold for long. (And I love when a murder case is solved by women!)
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What I look for most in a mystery or thriller is to tidy up the loose ends. When a lot of details are presented but the author leaves them unsettled, it drives me insane. However, Jewell does a really nice job making sure everything in the story makes sense by the epilogue, and this is something I really appreciated. I also love when there is just a little twist at the end that the reader doesn't see coming. While this book isn't super twisty, it is a page-turner and I really needed to know what happened.
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This is my fourth Lisa Jewell book - I still thing of Then She Was Gone as my fave LJ, but this is one that I recommend for a quick mystery.
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The story is told over the course of three years, alternating between them as the reader gets little pieces of the puzzle throughout - what happened to Tallulah Murray? One night, she simply disappeared. How can a person just disappear without a trace? The persistence of her mother, Kim, and empathetic crime writer, Sophie, ensures that this cold case doesn't stay cold for long. (And I love when a murder case is solved by women!)
.
What I look for most in a mystery or thriller is to tidy up the loose ends. When a lot of details are presented but the author leaves them unsettled, it drives me insane. However, Jewell does a really nice job making sure everything in the story makes sense by the epilogue, and this is something I really appreciated. I also love when there is just a little twist at the end that the reader doesn't see coming. While this book isn't super twisty, it is a page-turner and I really needed to know what happened.
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This is my fourth Lisa Jewell book - I still thing of Then She Was Gone as my fave LJ, but this is one that I recommend for a quick mystery.
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
“You have to take things as they are, not how you hear they're supposed to be.”
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Ah!!! Folks, I now totally get the hype! Truly Devious grabbed my attention immediately and didn't let go for a minute - and that ending? DYNAMITE! I already ordered book 2 and I won't wait to dive right in!
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What I enjoy about Truly Devious is that it gives the reader a taste of everything. Mystery, intrigue, romance, whimsy, dark academia, and a cliffhanger. I find it refreshing to read a true mystery, rather than a mystery woven with a thriller. I loved trying to solve the mystery of Truly Devious alongside our girl, Stevie. I also love the eclectic cast of characters and enjoyed how the character development did not stall the plot.
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CLEARLY I need to know what is going on at Ellingham Academy right the heck now! I cannot wait to read The Vanishing Stair!
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Ah!!! Folks, I now totally get the hype! Truly Devious grabbed my attention immediately and didn't let go for a minute - and that ending? DYNAMITE! I already ordered book 2 and I won't wait to dive right in!
.
What I enjoy about Truly Devious is that it gives the reader a taste of everything. Mystery, intrigue, romance, whimsy, dark academia, and a cliffhanger. I find it refreshing to read a true mystery, rather than a mystery woven with a thriller. I loved trying to solve the mystery of Truly Devious alongside our girl, Stevie. I also love the eclectic cast of characters and enjoyed how the character development did not stall the plot.
.
CLEARLY I need to know what is going on at Ellingham Academy right the heck now! I cannot wait to read The Vanishing Stair!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for this ALC of Under the Whispering Door!
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I am late to the TJ Klune game - this is my first ready by him (won't be my last) and I went in blind so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can say, without doubt, that I enjoyed this book. It gave me crazy Scrooge vibes, but was much deeper and more thought-provoking than A Christmas Carol. While the book was slow in parts, overall, I found that it kept my attention, introduced endearing character, and provided premise for thought. Personally, the afterlife is always a bit of a hard subject - it gets me thinking about death which isn't a subject I like to think about. But the story is written eloquently and truly presents life and death as a beautiful thing, both equally important in the grand scheme of things.
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I'm excited to read some more Klune!
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I am late to the TJ Klune game - this is my first ready by him (won't be my last) and I went in blind so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can say, without doubt, that I enjoyed this book. It gave me crazy Scrooge vibes, but was much deeper and more thought-provoking than A Christmas Carol. While the book was slow in parts, overall, I found that it kept my attention, introduced endearing character, and provided premise for thought. Personally, the afterlife is always a bit of a hard subject - it gets me thinking about death which isn't a subject I like to think about. But the story is written eloquently and truly presents life and death as a beautiful thing, both equally important in the grand scheme of things.
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I'm excited to read some more Klune!
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
And the twists just kept coming...!
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Dayum! The Last Flight sure is twisty turny til the very end. Everything that I thought was true ended up not being true, and the end was even more of a surprise than I would have predicted! I love those books where you think you know the whole story, and the very last page reveals something different!
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The Last Flight centers around Claire and Eva, both trying to escape a their current lives for various reasons. A chance encounter at JFK airport has them switching plane tickets in an attempt to disappear from their problems. However, when one of the planes crash, all hell breaks loose. How easy is it to just disappear?
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This is definitely a book advocating for women. There are so many relevant themes presented by the author - abusive relationships, women not having a voice, the "boys will be boys" mantra justifying a man's abuse and power. Beyond just a good thriller, this book has many important messages.
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Of course I rec this wild wild ride! And as a female, I love seeing strong women overcome and represent!
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Dayum! The Last Flight sure is twisty turny til the very end. Everything that I thought was true ended up not being true, and the end was even more of a surprise than I would have predicted! I love those books where you think you know the whole story, and the very last page reveals something different!
.
The Last Flight centers around Claire and Eva, both trying to escape a their current lives for various reasons. A chance encounter at JFK airport has them switching plane tickets in an attempt to disappear from their problems. However, when one of the planes crash, all hell breaks loose. How easy is it to just disappear?
.
This is definitely a book advocating for women. There are so many relevant themes presented by the author - abusive relationships, women not having a voice, the "boys will be boys" mantra justifying a man's abuse and power. Beyond just a good thriller, this book has many important messages.
.
Of course I rec this wild wild ride! And as a female, I love seeing strong women overcome and represent!