maggers94's reviews
215 reviews

There's a Giant Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed by Edgar Cantero

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This just felt too YA to me from the get-go, which made it hard to get into. Not my favorite in this collection.
Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I liked the story overall, but the one thing that felt off was the parallel timelines. It felt like Miley’s captivity was much longer than Brent and Wes’s search, and their search felt somewhat unrealistic because of it. The idea that they’d been hiking her trail for a month with next to no supplies was just hard to believe, and Brent’s chapters always had me wanting to shake him through the pages because he had no real plan and was setting them up for what eventually happened. As a whole though the story was fast-paced and I liked the writing, so I’m definitely interested in reading more from this author!
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed this and was pleasantly surprised with the supernatural element. I was expecting something to disprove that, but glad it went the direction of the haunting being legitimate. The flashbacks between past and present were well done, and I loved how Shea’s story developed along with it. I wouldn’t say it was particularly twisty, but the way everything is unearthed keeps you invested. I was sucked in and wanted justice for Beth, who for all her flaws felt like a victim. Overall a good mystery!
Oak Avenue by Brandi Reeds

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dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Sleep Tight Motel by Lisa Unger

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was such a good thriller! I loved Lucy as a character, and can see why people would recommend listening to this as an audiobook. I wish I had, because her narration is just perfect for that. The podcast element was fantastic and has me thoroughly running through different theories for everyone the entire time. It unraveled such an intricate web, and I was hooked. Quite literally couldn’t put it down.
Rabbit Heart: A Mother's Murder, a Daughter's Story by Kristine S. Ervin

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This was such a well done memoir. It does a great job of showing the impact of Kathy Sue Engle’s murder on her family and the lasting effects on a daughter having to navigate life without her mother in particular. Kristine Ervin’s reflections on the trajectory of her life and the search for connections to her mother and understanding of who she was, both good and bad, are really compelling and heartbreaking. She also spends a lot of time reflecting on the general experience of being a woman in the world and ways in which society fails us as she’s examining her own experiences. There are parts of her story that are difficult to read, but are all too relatable for so many women.
Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed the story overall, but did kind of wish the paranormal element was real/what actually happened to the ancestor Sabine was revealed. I also found the juxtaposition of the two sisters’ accounts to be well done as well, and was a big fan of how it underscored Charlotte’s point that stories can be viewed from multiple perspectives and the morals are not always black and white.
All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Although I predicted most of the ending, I loved the writing, and found the author’s note on why she wrote this insightful. It put Isabelle into a new perspective for me. A great read
The Remedy by Adam Haslett

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This plot is so vaguely explained that it makes it both confusing and unbelievable. I ended it thinking, what just even happened? And not in a head spinning twist, fun kind of way.