Do you remember for a while every thriller was "The next Gone Girl"? That's what I thought when I read this book. For a good portion of the book, therDo you remember for a while every thriller was "The next Gone Girl"? That's what I thought when I read this book. For a good portion of the book, there was definitely a resemblance. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but where Gone Girl (while far from perfect, imo) was fast paced from start to finish, I felt Dear Wife started off with a bang, but really slowed in the middle to the point that I almost lost interest. However, towards the last quarter, it really picked up again and delivered a twist I hadn't expected, so I'm glad I didn't give up on it. I also liked the multiple POVs, which I felt the author pulled off really well. I don't want to give away spoilers, but I was satisfied with the ending, even if it was a little tidy. I'd be interested in reading more by the author.
I read the first book in the series Watching Glass Shatter a while ago and would recommend reading these books in order, because a secret that is reveI read the first book in the series Watching Glass Shatter a while ago and would recommend reading these books in order, because a secret that is revealed in book one plays a role in book two. This is more complex than your average crime novel, and I am a big fan of family dramas with an element of mystery. Hiding Cracked Glass is very much about each member of the Glass family trying to hide the cracks in their lives and relationships. The characters, as in Cudney's previous book, seemed very real, each distinctive, and the dialogue as clever as the plotting. There is something about this book that reminded me almost of a Golden Age mystery, with the way the plot unfolded and each character has something to hide, which built an atmosphere of tension throughout the book. Hiding Cracked Glass is both an intelligent mystery and an examination of how people act under enormous strain, how secrets can eat away at you and how even powerful families have vulnerabilities. If this becomes a trilogy, you'll get no complaints from me! Recommended!
This is a tough book to get through, yet it was also compulsively readable (or rather listenable, as I opted or the audio version, which I think made This is a tough book to get through, yet it was also compulsively readable (or rather listenable, as I opted or the audio version, which I think made the podcast aspect feel more real). I agree with other reviewers that is is relevant and emotional, yet also deeply disturbing and will be triggering to some. That being said, I did not feel it was as original or inventive as I had expected it to be, given so many rave reviews. Often my expectations for popular and very highly rated books are so high, I might judge them with different criteria than books that are averagely rated, because I find I am often disappointed in them. Sadie wasn't disappointing, and I think it's Courtney Summer's best, but it if you're looking something that will blow you away with clever twists and turns, this may not be it. Then again, I probably read too much crime fiction to be easily surprised by it anymore;-)...more
Dare I say it? I think the TV series will be better than the book! I recently read this book will be turned into a show, and I hope the actors inject Dare I say it? I think the TV series will be better than the book! I recently read this book will be turned into a show, and I hope the actors inject the story with more energy, because this was a slog. I hate to say it, but the story just felt so recycled, with too many coincidences and full of predictable cliches and a dissatisfying ending. Maybe it's just me, but the pace, the characters, the plot just weren't working to capture my attention, and the ending is dragged out to the point it almost becomes comical. I generally like the author and was excited about His & Hers, and I hope other readers love it, but sadly, it just wasn't for me. Also, you should know, there are descriptions of rape and animal cruelty in this book, which may be triggering for some, and which I found quite disturbing.
Well, it only took me about seven years to finish this, and it’s not even a bad book! It didn’t really hold my attention the way other Shalini Boland Well, it only took me about seven years to finish this, and it’s not even a bad book! It didn’t really hold my attention the way other Shalini Boland books have, but to be fair, it’s 2020 and my attention is a fly trapped in a glass, bouncing around. I did guess most of the twists and turns and the ending wasn't really surprising, but I do think the did a good job developing her main character, even if the others fell a little by the wayside. That being said, I almost always enjoy Boland's books and will be curious to read what she comes up with next!
Though Goldin's debut, The Escape Room, was just okay for me, this book sounded quite intriguing and I was excited for the chance to read it. The storThough Goldin's debut, The Escape Room, was just okay for me, this book sounded quite intriguing and I was excited for the chance to read it. The story grabbed my attention from the start, and I liked the shifting POVs. That said, I connected more to Rachel's story than Hannah's, maybe because Hannah was telling the story more or less from the perspective of a child, which isn't always my cup of tea. I will say, about two thirds of the way through, the story began to drag a bit, and I started to guess how it would end. I read a lot of crime fiction as well as write it, so I have to admit, it takes something to surprise me when it comes to mysteries, but that doesn't always take away from my enjoyment of a book. So while my guesses were proven right, I did think The Night Swim was clever and covered some timely topics as well. I'd recommend it to fans of authors like Mary Kubica or Lisa Jewell, or if you're looking for an entertaining and not too, too creepy mystery.
Thanks to St. Martin's for supplying me with a copy of The Night Swim in exchange for an honest review.
At first I thought, wow, this reminds me of Dennis Lehane or William Kent Krueger (both of whom I like), but having finished it, to be honest, my reviAt first I thought, wow, this reminds me of Dennis Lehane or William Kent Krueger (both of whom I like), but having finished it, to be honest, my review for this book could be "It's okay". It started off really well, and I liked the exploration of a family touched so tragically by the Vietnam War, inspired, in part, but real events. However, the story quickly veered in all sorts of different directions and really lost its steam and cohesion for me. I felt there were too many characters for any one to emerge as a real standout, and the scenes in prison felt so cliched and tired, and the torture scenes gratuitous. I also felt there were too many cliches. One that was particularly tedious was the "honorable" gangster, which felt deeply unoriginal and I could not connect to that story-line at all. I do think Hart does a good job setting the scene and he does try to craft a complex, multi-faceted story. For me, however, it just didn't come together successfully. It's not a bad book, but neither is it one I am going to be thinking about a week from now either. I do want to say, though, we are mere days away from the 2020 election here in the US, so I am a little distracted and it could be a case of "it's not the book, it's me"...
Thanks to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of The Unwilling in exchange for an honest review. Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com...more
I read rave reviews for this book, so naturally, I was skeptical;-) With all the anxiety surrounding the election, however, I was really in the mood fI read rave reviews for this book, so naturally, I was skeptical;-) With all the anxiety surrounding the election, however, I was really in the mood for something that was fast paced and entertaining and am happy to report, this one fit the bill. Though the plot isn't terribly original and I guessed several twists, I was engaged from beginning to end. Recommended if you're looking for a few hours of distraction (and who isn't, right?!)
The Last Flight was an entertaining, though not unpredictable thriller, that saw me through a cold and gray weekend. I liked the dual POVs and the timThe Last Flight was an entertaining, though not unpredictable thriller, that saw me through a cold and gray weekend. I liked the dual POVs and the time jumps were well done and not jarring, as they can sometimes be, but I did guess most of the twists and turns and the ending was likewise fairly predictable. This isn't really the book's fault as much as my own for reading so many books in this genre as well as writing in it. I still felt it was well written and engaging and would certainly read more by the author in the future.
I was really intrigued to read The Patient and it started off so well. I was immediately engaged and curious how the story would evolve. It was all goI was really intrigued to read The Patient and it started off so well. I was immediately engaged and curious how the story would evolve. It was all going well until about a third of the way through when it started to become ludicrous. Okay, I thought, let's see where this could go. The problem was, it went nowhere. The ending was so dissatisfying! I won't give anything away, but this book was all build up, and the conclusion was a real cop out, when it could have been really clever. I've been in a bit of a crime fiction rut, everything seeming a little predictable, but I'd prefer that to a book that leaves its readers hanging at the end! The writing was really engaging and the atmosphere very creepy, I will give the author that, and the premise had me very intrigued, but the sci-fi element and that ending were ultimately deal-breakers for me.
This might be by favorite Tana French book yet, and I think I've read them all! I enjoyed the writing, the pace, the way I felt immersed in the settingThis might be by favorite Tana French book yet, and I think I've read them all! I enjoyed the writing, the pace, the way I felt immersed in the setting, and Cal was an engaging and multi-dimensional protagonist. Some fans of the author's previous books might have felt it was a bit slow or not enough happened, but I really love character driven books, so this one easily scratched that itch. I hope this turns into a series!
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