This is such a unique and twisty mystery. I've never read anything like this. I was very emotionally invested in the story. As a mom 5 stars - Mystery
This is such a unique and twisty mystery. I've never read anything like this. I was very emotionally invested in the story. As a mom of a pre-teen son, I really connected with Jen's character. The constant self-doubt and fear parents experience worrying if everything we've done is good enough to protect them and to help them become happy, well-adjusted, good citizens of the world.
The plot was a little confusing at times, and it dragged just a tiny bit in the middle. I kept wondering where the story was headed and how everything was going to be resolved. There were so many surprising twists, and the ending came together brilliantly.
I really enjoyed this book, and I think it would make a great movie. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job....more
This was a nice surprise. It's a good mystery, but it really shines with the complex characters of Maggie, Liz, Helen4 stars - Mystery/Women's Fiction
This was a nice surprise. It's a good mystery, but it really shines with the complex characters of Maggie, Liz, Helena, and Joni and the depiction of their friendship. I've also never read a book with the setting being the wilds of Norway, so that also added a unique element to the story. This is a solid 4 star read....more
There are so many things wrong with this book, but I'm not wasting my time detailing all of it. I can't believe this won the 1 star - Mystery/Thriller
There are so many things wrong with this book, but I'm not wasting my time detailing all of it. I can't believe this won the Goodreads Choice Award for Winner for Best Horror. No way is this the best, and it's definitely not a horror book. It actually felt like a YA novel to me.
The big, stupid, cheesy, dumpster fire plot twist is that the (view spoiler)[super leftist snowflake atheist parents who don't allow any food that's not organic, red meat, saying "bless you" after sneezing, or celebrate Christmas end up being villains who couldn't have children of their own, so they murdered a mother (because she let her daughter have to much screen time while she painted), buried her body in the woods, and then kidnapped the daughter and forced her to become a boy to keep him for their own. (hide spoiler)] Liberal stereotypes and conservative propaganda anyone?
The scene where Mallory finds the dad (view spoiler)[drunk and sleeping in her bed with her bras everywhere (hide spoiler)] was brushed off like it wasn't a big deal.
This was such a disappointment, and I also didn't like the audiobook narrator....more
This is a very intriguing and creepy mystery/thriller with a sprinkling of chilling horror, and I loved the audiobo4.5 stars - Mystery/Thriller/Horror
This is a very intriguing and creepy mystery/thriller with a sprinkling of chilling horror, and I loved the audiobook narration from Richard Armitage. This book also has an alternative, original title, The Taking of Annie Thorne, and I think that title and cover are more fitting....more
I was very impressed with the first book I read by this author, The Gathering, so I decided to check out her previo4 stars - Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
I was very impressed with the first book I read by this author, The Gathering, so I decided to check out her previous novels. I was confused at the start of this story due to the alternating of past and present and the different point of views. I considered giving up on it, but Gabe's character was so compellingly broken and Richard Armitage's audiobook narration was so good that I kept listening. I'm really glad I did because it's a very unique, complex, and creepy mystery with a hint of supernatural, and everything came together in a surprising, chilling, and fulfilling way.
I wish Richard Armitage narrated a lot more audiobooks!...more
I enjoyed this thriller. I had the killer figured out from the beginning, and there were a few breadcrumbs dropped 4 stars - Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
I enjoyed this thriller. I had the killer figured out from the beginning, and there were a few breadcrumbs dropped along the way for the reason why. I wasn't surprised with the climax and reveal, and I felt satisfied that I had it right. I didn't like the abrupt ending or that the author didn't divulge (view spoiler)[if Alexis and Hutch lived or not. (hide spoiler)] I'll definitely check out more books by this author....more
This book is overhyped and overrated in my opinion. I’m glad I listened to the audiobook version because the narration by January L2.5 stars - Mystery
This book is overhyped and overrated in my opinion. I’m glad I listened to the audiobook version because the narration by January LaVoy and Will Damron is fantastic. Their narration made it easier to keep listening, even when I found myself rolling my eyes. The heroine’s grandmother is hilarious, but I hated all the other characters.
Lucy’s snarkasm was entertaining and funny at first, but it grew irritating and overly self-deprecating. And the blood-thirsty voice in her head that ended up being (view spoiler)[her murdered best friend Savvy (hide spoiler)] was excessive, annoying, and distracting. Everyone was sleeping with everyone and cheating around in the small Texas town like some kind of bad soap opera. The characters don’t act their age, the plot is farfetched, and the writing is somewhat simplistic. I wasn’t surprised that the author’s other books are young adult.
My biggest issue with the book is the casual treatment of infidelity, violence, and domestic abuse. I was so angry when Lucy didn’t support Julia when she came forward about (view spoiler)[Matt’s abuse during their marriage (hide spoiler)], and I was frustrated with her for refusing to finally tell the truth about the (view spoiler)[abuse during her own marriage with Matt. (hide spoiler)] Because she was worried people wouldn’t believe her about it? Everyone already considered her a liar and violent murderer, so what freaking difference would that admission have made? Not validating Julia by being honest when she had the chance and continuing to make excuses for her alcoholic, violent, cheating, abusive douchebag ex made me like Lucy even less.
The plot twist and reveal of the “truth” about Savvy’s murder should’ve been satisfying, but it wasn’t. (view spoiler)[I had a slight hunch about Emmett being involved, so him being the one who killed Savvy wasn’t all that surprising and made sense to me. (hide spoiler)] The “flashback” Lucy had regarding what happened that night is really sad. It should’ve at least provided closure, but it doesn’t. (view spoiler)[The fact that Lucy has a brain injury and suffered amnesia and violent thoughts doesn’t give full credibility to her newly remembered recollection of that night. Ben lying about what Emmett said to him to cover for Lucy also leaves the validity of events in question, and Lucy still seems unsure of herself in the end. The book sort of leaves it unclear whether Emmett or Lucy truly killed Savvy. I think Emmett killed her, and Matt could’ve been even more involved than he seemed to be. At the very least, Matt helped cover it all up and lied about it. (hide spoiler)]
And what the f@$% kind of police did this town have? I was baffled the entire book about the inept investigation that was done. (view spoiler)[I found it difficult to believe that Lucy was the prime suspect and that everyone turned against her so quickly considering she had a bash to the back of her head and other significant injuries. It was hard to believe that others weren’t questioned more significantly, especially with everyone cheating on everyone all over town. If Emmett grabbed Savvy's leg and punched her, wouldn’t the medical examiner find evidence of a third person or consider those injuries a different hand size than Lucy’s? They fought back against Emmett, so wouldn't his blood have been found on Savvy or Lucy? Wouldn't he have had blood on him or torn/dirty clothes when he went back to the wedding? Or is the lack of evidence against Emmett because Lucy's memories aren't accurate? (hide spoiler)] Why didn’t Ben question the police for his podcast? I feel like the shoddy, incompetent investigation and the fact that Lucy was never charged due to a lack of evidence should’ve been more of a focus.
Even though this didn’t work for me as a mystery/suspense/thriller, I enjoyed the fabulous audiobook narration. Considering its popularity and hype, I won’t be at all surprised if it gets optioned for a movie or TV series. It might be better in that format, especially given that it reads like a dark comedy melodrama. If it does get made, I’ll probably watch it, especially if there’s a decent cast. I just hope they cast the feisty grandma Beverly well because she was the best thing about the book....more
This book is a train wreck. The characters are all awful, horrible people, the multiple POVs are confusing and so1.5 stars - Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
This book is a train wreck. The characters are all awful, horrible people, the multiple POVs are confusing and some end up being totally pointless, and the plot is convoluted and utterly ridiculous. There are so many serious subjects touched on in this book: rape, sexual harassment, gaslighting, cheating, voyeurism, embezzlement, depression, suicide, nature vs nurture, genealogy, women enabling men, sperm donation, IVF, miscarriages, toxic relationships, and the use of them feels disingenuous, discounted, and shallow.
(view spoiler)[The Peeping Tom cabin owner’s point of view was totally pointless and didn’t add anything to the story. I hated the way Hannah, Cricket, and Liza all coddled Mako and covered for him. When everything came out and the extent of Mako’s crimes were revealed, it still seemed like they diminished and downplayed it. And he pretty much got away with it all. I mean, he gets house arrest until his trial, and his still-pregnant wife Liza, who miraculously survived being stabbed in the belly by Trina/Cat because of him, is going to stand by her man? WTAF?! And the chapter from dead Cat’s POV looking down on everything before riding off on a motorcycle with her non-bio dad to the great beyond was so bizarre. (hide spoiler)]
Even though it was a hot mess, I found myself inexplicably engrossed by all the craziness, and the audiobook narrator was really good, so I kept on listening to the bitter end....more
I mainly read the Shadow and Bone trilogy before this to have a better understanding of the world-building, and I'm gla4.5 stars - Young Adult Fantasy
I mainly read the Shadow and Bone trilogy before this to have a better understanding of the world-building, and I'm glad I did because I think it helped my enjoyment of this book. I thought the Shadow and Bone trilogy was interesting, but it felt too YA for me in some ways. I also didn't like the characters.
That isn't the case at all with Six of Crows. The story is a multifaceted, dark, intriguing, action-packed fantasy with villains, brutal violence, some road-trip buddy moments, a prison break, a heist, and subtle romance. Even though the ages of the main characters make it fall into the YA category, they don't act like typical YA characters and seem much older. They're all complex, brave, strong, and broken or tortured in some way. I loved them all, especially Kaz and Inej. (view spoiler)[And I'm really hoping for a happy ending for them all in the second book. (hide spoiler)]...more
It's hard to believe that this is the 57th (wow!) In Death book, and I still absolutely love this amazing series. I 4 stars - Futuristic Crime/Mystery
It's hard to believe that this is the 57th (wow!) In Death book, and I still absolutely love this amazing series. I can't imagine ever getting tired of these characters, so I hope Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb never gets tired of writing them! And I'm still holding out hope for a TV series or movie someday....more
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