None yet knew of the evolving tragedy that would be their lives.
All the Colors of the Dark is a luminous, sweeping, multi-generational literary mysterNone yet knew of the evolving tragedy that would be their lives.
All the Colors of the Dark is a luminous, sweeping, multi-generational literary mystery. At a whopping 600 pages, I was hooked from the first line to the last, and this is a new all-time favorite.
Our story begins in 1975 in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, where girls are disappearing. When a young boy named Patch saves a girl from her would-be abductor, he sets off a chain of events that will impact the lives of everyone around him.
This book is very, very hard to review without giving away parts of the plot that I just really don't want to give away. What I will say is that the characters in this story, especially Patch and Saint, will stick with me for the rest of my life. They just feel like real people to me. Whitaker's prose is so vivid and evocative that I felt like I could see Monta Clare, and the thousands of miles from there that our characters travel. Whitaker also clearly believes that we are smart enough to put the pieces together without needing everything spelled out for us. I was fully immersed in their world.
This book isn't just a thriller - it's a deeply emotional journey that explores the endurance of the human spirit. The relationships described in this story cracked my heart wide open and brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. I would compare the feeling I had here to the one I had when I read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - this is not a traditional love story, but it is a love story nonetheless.
All The Colors of the Dark is a literary masterpiece that transcends genres. Chris Whitaker has created a story that is both thrilling and deeply moving, with characters that will stay with you long after the final page. This is a novel that demands to be read, shared, and remembered. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Thanks so much to Crown Publishing for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.
*** pre-review
This is just a masterpiece. I’ll never stop thinking about Patch, Saint, Charlotte, Sammy, and the world created in these 600 pages. This is my contender for book of the year right now. I’m just… stunned.
Full review to come, thank you to the publisher for the ARC...more
"Things Don't Break on Their Own" by Sarah Easter Collins is an emotionally gripping and well-crafted mystery that delves deep into family dynamics an"Things Don't Break on Their Own" by Sarah Easter Collins is an emotionally gripping and well-crafted mystery that delves deep into family dynamics and unresolved grief. The story centers on Willa, whose sister Laika disappeared 25 years ago, an event that has haunted Willa ever since. As Willa navigates her complex relationships and personal struggles, she remains convinced that her sister is still alive, driven by an unbreakable sisterly bond.
Collins expertly weaves together past and present, using multiple perspectives to slowly reveal the layers of this haunting tale. The dinner party that brings together Willa, her former lover Robyn, and other significant characters serves as a catalyst for uncovering long-buried secrets. The character development is particularly strong, with each person vividly portrayed, making their interactions compelling and believable.
The narrative explores themes of loss, identity, and the impact of childhood trauma, all while maintaining a suspenseful pace that keeps readers engaged. The shifting timelines and fragmented memories create a tapestry of intrigue that culminates in a satisfying resolution, answering the lingering questions about Laika’s fate.
Overall, "Things Don't Break on Their Own" is a powerful debut that balances emotional depth with a captivating mystery. Sarah Easter Collins' lyrical prose and keen insight into human relationships make this novel a standout in the genre. Highly recommended for those who appreciate character-driven stories with a touch of psychological suspense.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC....more
Why did no one ever tell her that the most dangerous thing in the world isn't natural disasters or wars or weapons? It is unremarkable men with beautiWhy did no one ever tell her that the most dangerous thing in the world isn't natural disasters or wars or weapons? It is unremarkable men with beautiful smiles and even bigger promises.
An engrossing thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn't let go until the very last. This novel marks a compelling entry into the thriller genre by Emiko Jean, who masterfully crafts a narrative that is as deep and dark as it is intriguing.
The story revolves around Detective Chelsey Calhoun, whose life takes a dramatic turn with the reappearance of Ellie Black, a teenager who vanished without a trace two years prior. Found in the dense forests of Washington State, Ellie is alive but profoundly changed, enveloped in mysteries that Chelsey is desperate to unravel. This quest is personal for Chelsey, tying back to the unresolved disappearance of her own sister years ago.
Jean’s portrayal of both Ellie and Chelsey is nuanced and compelling. Ellie, once vibrant and full of life, returns as a shadow of her former self, her silence and secrets forming the crux of the mystery. Chelsey, on the other hand, is portrayed with a deep sense of empathy and determination, driven by her own past traumas to seek the truth at all costs.
The narrative is beautifully paced, with tension building at every turn. Jean’s writing style is fluid and evocative, capable of conveying deep emotional resonances and thrilling suspense in equal measure. The plot is well-structured with several twists that are both surprising and satisfying, culminating in a finale that is both shocking and thought-provoking.
What sets this book apart is its exploration of the psychological impacts of trauma and the persistence of hope in the darkest of times. The feminist undertones are woven seamlessly into the plot, enriching the story without overwhelming it.
"The Return of Ellie Black" is not just a mystery; it's a profound commentary on loss, survival, and the human capacity to fight for the truth. This novel is a must-read for fans of thrillers that not only entertain but also challenge and affect. Emiko Jean has indeed delivered a tour de force that will be remembered long after the last page is turned.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is out 5/7!...more
this is a tense and tightly plotted novel that is sure to be divisive. i think it’s going to suffer a bit from being marketed as a thriller, which i dthis is a tense and tightly plotted novel that is sure to be divisive. i think it’s going to suffer a bit from being marketed as a thriller, which i don’t quite think it is, but i’m not sure what a better categorization might be. this is a suspenseful novel of feminine rage, and araminta hall is a master at writing horrible men. i encourage everyone who picks this up to read at least 100 pages to get a feel for this story...more
this isn’t high literary quality or anything but it’s very solid crime fiction that i truly could not predicoh no! now i have to read the whole series
this isn’t high literary quality or anything but it’s very solid crime fiction that i truly could not predict the ending of, and that’s what i wanted! ...more
Look, I would say I am a superfan of Janice Hallett's. I will read anything she writes. I love playing detective alongside her characters. So it reallLook, I would say I am a superfan of Janice Hallett's. I will read anything she writes. I love playing detective alongside her characters. So it really, really pains me to give this a 2 star review, but this was a miss for me.
I was sooo excited about the premise of this novel: a chaotic art graduate course set at a school in London culminating in a murder, but you spend the book trying to figure out - who is dead (if anyone actually is)? How? Why? Anyone who knows me knows that I love a campus novel, so I was pumped for this. However, it fell short of my expectations.
My main gripe is the overly detailed focus on art. While I appreciate depth, the meticulous descriptions of multimedia art projects overshadowed the core mystery. This imbalance made the pacing sluggish. Hallett’s previous works masterfully balanced detail with action, but "The Examiner" spends too much time in the minutae and not enough on the unraveling of the mystery.
Another disappointment, while avoiding spoilers, is that this is the first of Hallett's novels where I felt like the readers couldn't play along. That's the fun of Hallett's work for me, and that element was really diminished here.
Overall, I am still a huge fan of Hallett, and will absolutely continue to read anything she writes. I remain hopeful her next book will recapture what I love so much about her work.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Janice Hallett for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately I really didn't enjoy this! The "mThanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately I really didn't enjoy this! The "missing white woman" syndrome is real and I thought this had the chance to be an interesting commentary about it and it fell very short. Underdeveloped characters, very little actual action (or resolution), and a "twist" that I guessed from the very beginning of the book. ...more
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