Jenny's Reviews > Good Half Gone

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher beckoned me with promises of intrigue—a twin sister torn from her sibling's grasp, the eerie backdrop of a desolate mental hospital. Eagerly, I delved into its pages, ready for a rollercoaster ride of emotions and revelations. And yet, as I journeyed through its twists and turns, I found myself grappling with a tangle of conflicting emotions, ultimately emerging from the experience with a sense of both admiration and disappointment.

From the outset, Fisher masterfully plunges the reader into the chaos of Iris Walsh's world, where the specter of her twin sister's abduction looms large. The rawness of Iris's grief is palpable, her determination to unearth the truth a beacon in the darkness. I found myself rooting for her, holding my breath with each revelation, desperate to uncover the secrets hidden within the shadows.

As Iris immerses herself in the labyrinthine corridors of the state hospital, her quest for answers becomes my own. I hang onto every clue, every whispered rumor, my pulse quickening with each step closer to the truth. Fisher's prose is hypnotic, drawing me deeper into the mystery even as I struggle to untangle its threads.

And yet, for all its promise, Good Half Gone ultimately falls short of its potential. The narrative loses its way amidst a maze of unnecessary detours, the momentum grinding to a halt just when it should be hurtling towards its climax. I find myself bogged down by superfluous subplots, longing for the clarity and focus that initially drew me in.

The ending, when it finally arrives, is a bitter pill to swallow. What should have been a moment of catharsis feels rushed and unsatisfying. I'm left with a sense of disillusionment, mourning the untapped potential of a story that seemed poised to soar.

And yet, even in my disappointment, there are moments of brilliance that I cannot ignore. Fisher's exploration of grief and obsession is hauntingly beautiful, her characters flawed and human in ways that resonate long after the final page is turned. Despite its flaws, Good Half Gone remains a testament to the power of storytelling, a reminder that even amidst darkness, there is beauty to be found.

While Good Half Gone may not have lived up to my expectations, it has left an indelible mark, a reminder of the complexities of the human experience. And for that, I am grateful, even as I mourn the story that could have been.