This novel follows the investigation of a murder trial through a true crime documentary series twenty years after the trial. Dennis Danson wa3.5 stars
This novel follows the investigation of a murder trial through a true crime documentary series twenty years after the trial. Dennis Danson was convicted of a brutal murder and has been sitting in prison for two decades. He has a following of ‘fans’ who believe he is innocent. One of these ‘fans’ is a young school teacher, Samantha, who writes to him in prison, marries him and helps him fight for release.
I found this to be a fast read that had me intrigued throughout. It had similarities to the “Making A Murderer – Steven Avery” Netflix series which I found very interesting.
There were quite a few pieces of this story that were rather far-fetched and had my eyes rolling, however, I still found myself flying through the pages to find out how everything would come together in the end. I didn’t like ANY of the characters yet surprisingly that didn’t bother me with this book – I still found myself curious to see how things would pan out for them.
This was a Traveling Sister Read with Norma, Kaceey, Susanne, Holly and Diane. We had some great discussion, varying opinions and lots of laughs throughout this novel. I personally wasn’t “wowed” by this one, but found it very readable and addictive in its own way.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Amy Lloyd for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Merged review:
3.5 stars
This novel follows the investigation of a murder trial through a true crime documentary series twenty years after the trial. Dennis Danson was convicted of a brutal murder and has been sitting in prison for two decades. He has a following of ‘fans’ who believe he is innocent. One of these ‘fans’ is a young school teacher, Samantha, who writes to him in prison, marries him and helps him fight for release.
I found this to be a fast read that had me intrigued throughout. It had similarities to the “Making A Murderer – Steven Avery” Netflix series which I found very interesting.
There were quite a few pieces of this story that were rather far-fetched and had my eyes rolling, however, I still found myself flying through the pages to find out how everything would come together in the end. I didn’t like ANY of the characters yet surprisingly that didn’t bother me with this book – I still found myself curious to see how things would pan out for them.
This was a Traveling Sister Read with Norma, Kaceey, Susanne, Holly and Diane. We had some great discussion, varying opinions and lots of laughs throughout this novel. I personally wasn’t “wowed” by this one, but found it very readable and addictive in its own way.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin and Amy Lloyd for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!...more
Ansel Packer is a serial killer on death row. His story unfolds through multiple female perspectives - Ansel4 stars!
Compelling, mysterious and unique!
Ansel Packer is a serial killer on death row. His story unfolds through multiple female perspectives - Ansel’s victims, his mother and the detective working his case — counting down his last hours until execution. These narrative voices were a brilliant and fresh way to reveal this story.
The writing was smooth and easy to follow. I loved how the characters were slowly introduced, each providing an insightful and intriguing layer to the plot. Though there are several storylines woven throughout this book, it never felt choppy — the pieces of the puzzle slowly fit together to unravel the crimes committed.
This novel is not fast paced or gripping. It is a slow burn, character driven mystery that had me enthralled and fascinated. My few critiques would be that I found the ending was lightly lacking as I wanted “something more”. I also felt the second half could have been tightened up a bit and not so drawn out. Regardless of this, it was an excellent book that I highly recommend!
Overall, I’m happy to say that this book lived up to the hype! What a twist on presenting a serial killer story! I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
The day before Diana and Finn are scheduled to leave on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos Islands, Finn finds outSomewhere between 3 - 3.5 stars
The day before Diana and Finn are scheduled to leave on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos Islands, Finn finds out he has to stay behind to continue working. Covid-19 is a new virus that is taking over NYC and it’s ‘all hands on deck’ at the hospital where he is a surgical resident. Finn tells Diana to go on the trip without him and she does.
This was my first dive into a Covid themed novel. I was really hesitant in knowing if I was “ready” to tackle this subject matter since it’s still so fresh and prevalent in the real world. I thought the author did a fantastic job with how she incorporated all of her Covid research. I am happy to report that the Covid piece worked well for me.
Jodi Picoult is a favourite author of mine. Her storylines and characters are usually a ‘for sure’ fit for me. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case with this novel (which was extra disappointing). A few major things didn’t work for me — the main character and the storyline itself. I wasn’t a fan of the main character, Diana. She wasn’t likeable, didn’t feel genuine and came across as selfish. My lack of connection with her kept me at a distance from the entire storyline. I was interested but never invested. My emotions were never touched. My issue with the storyline itself is that it could have been done so many other ways and been more impactful (for me). I simply wasn’t a fan of the way Covid was incorporated into the book. I also felt that the book was too heavy on the romance aspect.
Overall, it was an “okay” read but not nearly as fantastic as I had hoped and expected. I know I’m the outlier with my thoughts, so please read the many raving reviews before deciding on this one.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan!!...more
Amelia wins a weekend getaway for her and her husband at an isolated remodel4+ stars! Compulsively readable!
A quick, addictive and super twisty treat!
Amelia wins a weekend getaway for her and her husband at an isolated remodeled chapel in the Scottish countryside. Their marriage is troubled and they hope this time away together will help repair what is broken. Soon after arrival, mysterious and peculiar things begin to happen.
This was such a fun and entertaining book! The perfect mindless escape read to simply sit back and get lost within. The short chapters were easy to fly through. There was a strong sense of foreboding tension that slowly built as the story progressed. I loved the palpable wintery atmosphere - the snowy isolated countryside had me reaching for a blanket every time I picked this up.
There are implausible elements to this storyline which is usually a turn off for me, but the writing was so smooth, consuming and addictive that I was hooked - I couldn’t put this down! I was fully invested from start to the shocking finish!
The characters were not likeable, yet I was rooting for them to figure out what was happening. Bob, the dog, was my favourite - I loved what he added to the storyline. That twisty ending still has me in shock! Twist after twist after twist - loved it!
This had a One By One by Ruth Ware vibe to it but with a much smaller cast of characters. I enjoyed the locked room mystery feel.
Overall, this was a quick, entertaining, suspenseful and twisty domestic thriller that kept me on my toes and had me flipping the pages as fast as possible. I highly recommend!...more
A wartime novel focused on the love and bond between sisters.
Based on true events, sisters Cibi, Magda and Livi share a promise to their fath2.5 stars
A wartime novel focused on the love and bond between sisters.
Based on true events, sisters Cibi, Magda and Livi share a promise to their father that they will always look out for one another. This promise carries them through several harrowing years living as Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.
One theme that stuck with me throughout this novel was how people suffered with ‘survivors guilt’. Feeling guilty if they survived the concentration camps, feeling guilty if they didn’t suffer as much as the next survivor, feeling guilty for witnessing things they didn’t try to stop, etc. The author did an excellent job pushing this topic forward and showing the reader how endless and life consuming this guilt can be.
This was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year as I loved Books 1 and 2 in this series. Unfortunately this lacklustre ending to the series didn’t live up to my hopes and expectations.
My main issue was the main characters — the three sisters were extremely childish and “cutesy”. They didn’t feel real. I couldn’t take their conversations seriously as their immaturity and babyish behaviour and dialogue took away from the harrowing storyline, the true grit and the heaviness of the times. For this reason, this entire story lacked the emotional pull that I have come to expect from this series. I simply wasn’t invested in the characters so my heart wasn’t in it. I can understand how wonderful it would have been for the author to be interviewing these sisters and putting their story to paper, but this simply didn’t resonate with me in any way.
Another issue for me was that this book lacked anything new. I love reading historical fiction so that I can learn about pieces of our history through fictional, entertaining characters. While the author did a good job telling the true story of these sisters, it failed to offer a fresh perspective on this time in our history. These characters brought nothing new to the over-saturated genre and the repetitive feel made the book drag.
Overall, this was barely an “ok” read for me. Many readers will love this for being a heartwarming, lighter wartime read. I feel that readers who have followed along in this trilogy will find this last book less intense and impactful. It was more of a cute, feel-good story than a powerful, emotional one. It failed to offer anything new and felt drawn out and repetitive. I strongly recommend reading Book 1 & 2 in this series and then adjusting your expectations for this one as it’s a completely different kind of read.
Thank you to St Martins Press for my review copy!...more
I adored this authors previous novel so much that I didn’t even read this synopsis before requesting this book on NetGSomewhere between 2.5 - 3 stars
I adored this authors previous novel so much that I didn’t even read this synopsis before requesting this book on NetGalley because I felt so connected to the authors writing. Unfortunately this didn’t work out the way I had hoped and expected.
This book started off strong! I felt an immediate investment. I liked the young characters and the southern roots to the story. There were several heartwarming scenes. I enjoyed the theme of family loyalty and how families don’t have to mean blood relatives.
My connection slowly started to dwindle after the first quarter where I felt the story lost direction. The author tried to take on too many topics leaving none of them fully explored. Childhood loss, family bonds, WWII, young soldiers hopeful families, bee keepers, witch doctors, domestic violence, mental illness, coming-of-age, sexual assault, and the list goes on…it was too much and I lost interest. I also found the plot lacked flow and jumped around without a smooth transition.
Overall, there were some endearing characters with heartfelt scenes, but the novel failed to keep me engrossed. I highly recommend picking up this authors previous novel, If The Creek Don’t Rise, rather than this one.
Thank you Sourcebooks for the digital review copy!...more
Told in two timelines, this historical mystery focuses on the 1960’s voters registration civil rights initiative in the southern states. The2.5 stars.
Told in two timelines, this historical mystery focuses on the 1960’s voters registration civil rights initiative in the southern states. The Summer Community Organization And Political Education (SCOPE) Project was a movement where young White men and women canvassed door to door in rural Black counties encouraging the citizens to register to vote. Though voting was legal for all citizens, law makers and enforcers in these southern states did everything they could to make it difficult and often impossible for Blacks to vote.
An informative look at this important time in our history. I recognize and appreciate all the research that would have went into creating this story. Learning about SCOPE was fascinating. The dedication of these members was inspiring and hopeful, especially coming from such a dark and difficult time where it was a constant challenge and often dangerous to move forward and try to make change.
The author does an excellent job educating her readers on this important civil rights movement, however, I had no connection to the characters. I appreciate this for being an educational read only. The mystery, the storyline, the characters — none of it worked for me which is very unusual for this author. While the plot involved very important subject matter, it was not conveyed in a convincing manner. I had zero connection to the main character in either timeline which prevented me from feeling any sort of investment.
The Past timeline ending is intense, but I wasn’t emotionally involved so it lacked the powerful punch it should have had. The Present Day storyline was dull and predictable.
Overall, this was and informative and educational read, but not an entertaining or enjoyable one. I am a big fan of this author and would rank this book my least favourite of hers. I encourage you to pick up any of this authors other work before this one, however, I am the outlier in my opinion as many have loved it.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the digital review copy! ...more
Avery Mason is a famous tv host who is investigating the story behind a victim of 9/11 identified by a bone fragment 4+ stars! Gripping. Twisty. Edgy.
Avery Mason is a famous tv host who is investigating the story behind a victim of 9/11 identified by a bone fragment found twenty years later. Breakthrough technology allowed scientists to determine the DNA within a tiny piece of bone sifted out of the large pile of rubble left after the twin tower attacks. Twenty years later, there remains a team that is still trying to find answers and give closure to the many families who never heard from their loved ones after that devastating day. Avery’s investigation brings forth far more detail and answers than she ever anticipated.
It’s brave for an author to take on 9/11 as a subplot. It’s a tragedy that many of us still cannot process and will never fully understand. I felt the author did an excellent job weaving this devastating part of history into the story.
I enjoyed the tv show angle. It kept the plot fresh and relevant. I really liked the main characters and how their own unique back stories brought suspense and tension to the storyline.
The ending was shocking and highly entertaining! Loved it! Readers will definitely have a “love” or “hate” feeling for the conclusion. For me, I felt it was clever, twisty and absolutely perfect!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!...more
Lena doesn’t believe that her twin sister committed suicide by jumping off Hairpin Bridge. She is on a 2.5 stars. Pulse-pounding tension and suspense.
Lena doesn’t believe that her twin sister committed suicide by jumping off Hairpin Bridge. She is on a mission to seek revenge and find answers as she believes her sister was murdered.
This book was intense! The first third had me nervously holding my breath, sitting on the edge of my seat while flipping the pages as fast as possible. My heart was racing from the intensity and nerve-wracking tension. This author does a phenomenal job building suspense and worry. I was immediately immersed within Lena’s story and curious to find out what would happen. I enjoyed the blog element that was included in the storyline.
Unfortunately after 40%, the narrative lost its grip on me and became repetitive. I also found the perspective changes were confusing at times. I remained intrigued and curious but not as deeply as I was at the start. Once the story reached halfway, the plot became too far-fetched for me to buy into. I have to believe storylines are plausible in order to truly connect and I just couldn’t get there with the last half of this book. Suspension of disbelief is needed which took away from my enjoyment.
This was my first experience with this author. While the storyline wasn’t for me, the writing was excellent and drew me in strongly. I look forward to reading his previous release, No Exit, to see if I have the same intense connection to the writing and hopefully a better connection to the storyline.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
Jade comes home with her two young children to find a masked gunman waiting. The gunman has Jade call Cam5 stars!
Pulse-pounding from start to finish!
Jade comes home with her two young children to find a masked gunman waiting. The gunman has Jade call Cam, her celebrity chef husband, demanding $750,000 by 7pm. Jade and her children are held hostage while Cam has three hours to deliver the money and save his family.
This was addictive, gripping and tension-filled. The suspense and tension starts from the very beginning and doesn’t let up AT ALL! I was on the edge of my seat for this entire book. Perspectives change from Cam, Jade, the gunman and snippets of a social media interview with Cam after the incident. Each perspective was done brilliantly keeping me completely consumed and not wanting to put the book down.
I’ve read most of this authors work and am a huge fan. I’m excited to say that this is her best yet! Highly recommend!
I’ve heard that Karin Slaughter is an author like no other. I was warned that she is edgy and not afraid to 4 stars for my first Karin Slaughter book!
I’ve heard that Karin Slaughter is an author like no other. I was warned that she is edgy and not afraid to tackle highly disturbing, gruesome and uncomfortable subject matter. This book really proved that!
This was an extremely shocking, fast paced, suspenseful and addictive story with unique and memorable characters whom I was fully invested in. I felt extremely uncomfortable reading much of the stomach churning subject matter yet I couldn’t put it down. The author tackles these horrific topics with enough explanation for the reader to understand the full picture but without having to lay it all out for the reader (which I appreciated). It was an extremely upsetting storyline that will stay with me a long time.
This is book 2 in a series but can be read as a standalone. I am going back and reading book 1 as I want to get the full insight into these terrific characters and I plan to continue on with this series.
Overall, this book was a very tough read but left a great impression on me as far as the power of this authors writing. I look forward to reading more from this author!
Trigger warnings: child abuse, sexual abuse.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this book!...more
Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter, Finch, live off-the-grid. They have been living alone and isolated deep in the forest for 5 stars! Loved this!
Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter, Finch, live off-the-grid. They have been living alone and isolated deep in the forest for all of Finch’s life - she knows no different. There are reasons that Cooper chooses this life of isolation in the remote wilderness, reasons he cannot explain to Finch.
I love everything about this authors writing! The thick atmosphere, the unique and root-worthy characters and their relationships, the gritty backwoods plot, the unnerving sense of foreboding, the tension and suspense that builds thicker with each chapter. I felt gripped and on edge for the entire novel.
The pace was perfect as the author slowly weaved pieces of Cooper and Finch’s backstory into the narrative which seamlessly flowed between timelines. I was hanging on every word. My one teeny tiny critique would be that the very end wrapped up a little too quick and neat, but I super loved the twist!
This book had high expectations to live up to after the last release from this author, Fallen Mountains, which is one of my top favourite novels. I’m thrilled to say that while Fallen Mountains remains my favourite by this author, this comes in a VERY close second.
Thank you Minotaur Books for gifting me a physical review copy!...more
Mina is a flight attendant living separated from her police officer husband, Adam. They both have secrets but they have a strong enough relati4 stars!
Mina is a flight attendant living separated from her police officer husband, Adam. They both have secrets but they have a strong enough relationship that they can amicably share custody of their young daughter in the family home. Mina is part of the flight crew working on a record breaking 20 hour non-stop flight which is the first time for any airline. Soon after the flight takes off, Mina receives an anonymous note from a passenger and it becomes evident there is a scheme on board the flight that Mina is caught in the middle of.
This was an intense storyline that would be a worst nightmare for most - a plane hijacking. The novel unfolds through Mina’s perspective on the plane and Adam’s perspective at home with their daughter. The plane chapters with Mina had an intense, anxiety-filled, gripping feel that kept me engrossed and worried. Adam’s perspective, while equally important to the storyline, didn’t hold as much intrigue or spark.
I am a huge fan of this author, as I’ve read most of her backlist. I love her writing and this was no exception. My one issue is that I felt the last quarter of the book lost some of its intensity. The claustrophobic, suspenseful feel wasn’t as captivating for me in the end. I remained invested and curious, but it wasn’t pulling me as strongly as the start.
Overall, this was another unique, entertaining, thought-provoking read by this author and I am already looking forward to what she comes out with next! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!...more
Thank you Lisa Unger! This was the book I needed to get me out of my reading slump! A gripping and unputdownable psychological thriller.
A pop5 stars!
Thank you Lisa Unger! This was the book I needed to get me out of my reading slump! A gripping and unputdownable psychological thriller.
A popular advice columnist with a dark history.
I was engrossed by this fast-paced, unique, thrilling and suspenseful story from start to finish - it hooked me right away and didn’t let up! I loved the main character, Wren. There were so many unique and fascinating layers to her backstory that kept me curious and fully invested throughout.
Flashbacks were a brilliant addition and highly intriguing piece to this storyline. They kept the pace quick and added an intense amount of suspense and tension to the plot. I couldn’t read this fast enough!
I am a huge fan of this author and this has now moved its way up to the top of my list of her novels. I highly recommend and can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
A slow burning, beautifully written, haunting and highly atmospheric mystery.
Anna is a detective wh5 stars!
“Mothers and fathers are supposed to stay.”
A slow burning, beautifully written, haunting and highly atmospheric mystery.
Anna is a detective who specializes in missing persons. She lives and breathes for her job and has an indescribable connection to the victims she is searching for. Anna is drawn to her childhood hometown where she finds herself aiding the local police force in the case of a young teen who has disappeared.
This book was phenomenal! Unique, messy and mysterious characters. Thick, palpable, remote small town atmosphere. Intriguing, slow building and addictive mystery.
I loved Anna! She was so strong and determined, yet vulnerable facing her personal inner struggles. I truly enjoyed following her journey and really hope to spend more time with her (crossing my fingers this may become a series)!
The writing was exquisite! I was completely consumed by the beautiful prose and heart wrenching storyline. There are some heavy topics covered within the pages of this story. Several times, I stopped to fully absorb the sentences I was reading. Very powerful and thought provoking topics surrounding adoption and a child’s sense of belonging and personal identity.
I loved this book and highly recommend it. A definite favourite for 2021. I’m thrilled to report it lived up to the hype!
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for my review copy!...more
Mariana travels to Cambridge University to spend time with her grieving niece, Zoe, whose close friend was4.5 stars!
Gothic. Suspenseful. Mysterious.
Mariana travels to Cambridge University to spend time with her grieving niece, Zoe, whose close friend was found murdered. Mariana, who went to the same school as Zoe, finds herself deeply affected by the murder near campus and becomes involved in the investigation. Using her group therapy career skills, Mariana offers to meet with “the Maidens”, a secret sorority group of female students, to see if they know more than they claim.
This story gripped me with tension, atmosphere and suspense from page one. I felt deeply invested in Mariana and her determination to help solve the crimes. She was a fantastic main character who I loved rooting for.
The atmosphere throughout the novel was engrossingly heavy. I loved the dark, mysterious, creepy, rain-soaked school campus and all that it brought to the story. The tension was thick and I had a constant sense of foreboding worry about what would happen next. The pace and flow consistently kept me glued to the pages and the short chapters were easy to fly through.
There were unrealistic elements to the storyline but they didn’t bother me in the least. I was so wrapped up in the atmosphere, mystery and entertainment of the plot that I didn’t question a thing. I absolutely love this author’s writing!
I was a HUGE fan of this author’s debut, The Silent Patient. It’s one of my favourite thrillers. I thought it was a brilliant and clever addition for the author to include a tie in to that book. It took me until the end to clue in on the tie in characters and connection to The Silent Patient and it definitely kicked up my enjoyment level a notch! This was a solid sophomore thriller that I was intrigued and captivated by from beginning to end. I eagerly await what this author creates next!
Thank you to Celadon Books for sending me a physical ARC....more
A powerful, well-written, intriguing and harrowing story that sheds light on one of the worst times in our history - slavery. Slaves are at t4+ stars!
A powerful, well-written, intriguing and harrowing story that sheds light on one of the worst times in our history - slavery. Slaves are at the centre of this story set in the 1850’s - on a plantation and in a prison setting. The way the slaves are treated is horrific, devastating and sickening. This book provides some insight on what it took for the slaves to survive both physically and mentally.
I was fascinated to see the way in which the slaves created a sense of family and belonging within their own community. As horrid and awful as their situations were, they found ways to be happy and thankful within their own circle of family. A true testament to the strength of the human spirit.
While I really liked the main character, Pheby, I felt as though she was kept an arms length away, preventing me from an emotional connection. I felt for her, but not deeply. This book was not as heavy as I had anticipated and it took me a third of the way to feel an investment in the story. I had hoped for a much more intense emotional connection which made this slightly disappointing even though I did enjoy the entire book and appreciated learning about this time in our history. The authors note at the end makes this book more impactful as it explains how the author was inspired by true events.
A beautifully written historical fiction novel that I recommend....more
Allie and Mark move into a posh new neighbourhood with their young son, Cole. After an incident at a neighbourhood gathering, Allie finds her2 stars.
Allie and Mark move into a posh new neighbourhood with their young son, Cole. After an incident at a neighbourhood gathering, Allie finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation that ties her to social media accounts that she never opened.
What started off as an intriguing plot quickly turned into an eye-roller. While I understand that identify theft on social media is an important issue to be aware of, I didn’t find the characters thoughts or actions believable so I wasn’t invested in any portion of the storyline.
This was a complete miss for me, but I encourage you to check out the many positive reviews out there.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy through NetGalley....more
4+ stars! A fast-paced, entertaining, page-turning domestic suspense novel!
I’m a huge fan of Shari Lapena and this latest release was another winner! 4+ stars! A fast-paced, entertaining, page-turning domestic suspense novel!
I’m a huge fan of Shari Lapena and this latest release was another winner! There are three adult children in the wealthy Merton family. Their parents are found brutally murdered two days after their family Easter dinner. The children are shocked as they are pulled in for questioning related to the murders. There are plenty of secrets within the family making them wonder just who they can trust.
This was an extremely unique narrative tone for me. The story is told from a distant third person perspective, yet I felt fully connected and engrossed within this twisty and suspenseful tale. I loved the short chapters of this family drama that always left me on edge wanting to read “just one more”. My suspicions flew all over the place, suspecting every single character at one point or another.
Overall, this was a treat to read! I love this authors writing and am happy to report this lived up to my hopes and expectations. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for my review copy!...more
3 stars. A small town story of loyalty, loss and revenge.
It’s hard to keep secrets when everyone knows each other’s business. Local police chief, Walk3 stars. A small town story of loyalty, loss and revenge.
It’s hard to keep secrets when everyone knows each other’s business. Local police chief, Walk, has lived in the same town his entire life. He makes it his mission to keep a close eye on those who he needs to protect the most.
I love small town crime fiction. This seemed right up my alley but unfortunately I felt underwhelmed upon finishing. I’m going to blame it on the hype which set my expectations far too high for what this book delivered. It’s a unique story but it failed to bring the powerful impact I had expected. It was averagely enjoyable, but it just wasn’t a great or memorable reading experience for me.
My main issue was that I didn’t connect with the characters. I liked them and was intrigued by their personalities and personal situations at the beginning, but I didn’t feel invested in their lives.
A large part of my lack of connection to the main characters was that I felt they were overdone. The “good guy”, the “outlaw”, the “innocent man”, etc. They were all “too much” and lacked any sort of depth required to make them feel real to me. Their actions and dialogue often felt forced and unrealistic. The ages of the children did not ring true which was a constant irritation as I have children these exact ages. I like what the author was trying to do but he didn’t pull it off for me.
This was a sad story. It should have broke my heart and had me in tears, however, it lacked any sort of emotional pull on me which is surprising as I’m a very emotional reader. The story was quite slow and dragged at several points. I kept waiting for an intense connection that never happened. I guessed a big twist early on which took away the suspense aspect.
The writing lacked flow to the point that I had to stop, backtrack and reread sentences several times because they didn’t come across smoothly and I found several narrative switches lacked ease.
Overall, this was just an “ok” read for me. Somewhere between 2.5-3 stars. I’m definitely the outlier as there are countless raving reviews which I encourage you to check out....more
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