Genre: Suspense
Type: Hardcover
Pages: 388
Source: Publisher
Publisher: DoubleDay Canada
First Published: May 2, 2017
First Line: "Again! Again!"
Book Description from GoodReads: A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.
Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother's sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she'd never return.
With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.
Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath.
My Rating: 2.5 stars
My Review: This quickly became the must-read book of the Spring so I was excited to get my hands on a copy - especially since I enjoyed Hawkins' previous book, The Girl on the Train.
This book has a stunning cover but, from the beginning, it had a different feel than I expected. The first thing I noticed was that there were MANY points of view - so many that I had a hard time grasping who was who. Things got better once I made a cheat sheet of characters but it's not something that I like to do and I found it frustrating to have to keep referring to it.
If you're going into this book thinking it's the next The Girl on the Train -- don't. It isn't the addictive, twist-filled, fast-paced read that TGOTT was. It's more of a slowly unfolding mystery that is told by many characters - some of whom had very weak connections to the actual mystery. But even with all these 'cooks in the kitchen' the reader doesn't get to know anyone in much depth (nor are any of the characters vying for most likable - they're a dysfunctional, unlikable lot).
While I didn't find this book as compelling or suspenseful as I had expected, it had its moments. The mystery surrounding what happened to these women kept my interest but, unfortunately, the ending was lackluster with no big twist.
What this book does have is a very sinister, eerie vibe and an interesting premise but the convoluted, meandering plot and keeping track of the vast cast of characters diminished my enjoyment of this book.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to DoubleDay Canada for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting Laurie, I haven't read one positive review of this book yet. Shame for the author, the pressure must be on to produce another bestseller, although this probably will be one because of her reputation. This may put people off reading anything new after this book by her. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary - a magnificent achievement for you both. We will celebrate 41 in August.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janine. We had a great time in Montreal and Ottawa together. 20 years goes by fast.
DeleteIt is too bad about the book. I think her intention was good but too complicated. For people expecting a suspenseful read, this isn't it.