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winkski's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
mlinton's review against another edition
3.0
Intriguing thriller with a psychic detective. I enjoyed the mystery, not so much the relationship drama. I hated the brother-in-law/sister/psychic love triangle. I found the tension between the cop & Vivvy (Is he actually a dirty cop & serial killer?) pretty unconvincing.
sch91086's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was great! Given its summer time and I am consuming more thrillers than maybe I usually would, this supernatural mystery was a nice change of pace while still fitting with my mood of the moment. (Also, I am coming to find I love a mystery/thriller with just a hint of magical realism/the supernatural).
I really liked the character. I thought she was a great embodiment of the strong female character without falling into cliches and stereotypes. I liked the plot and was consistently intrigued through out the book. Similarly I thought the subplots were well thought out and interwoven nicely without feeling chaotic, or like we were throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the book.
Only a couple things held it back from being a full five star read for me. The first was this bizarre love quadrangle. I don’t think it was particularly bad? Like as far as love quadrangles go I found it amusing enough. But just kinda unnecessary.
The other thing was that it felt like there were some dramatic shifts in action. I was listening to this so it’s possible that I missed the transitional sentences? But I’m reasonably sure we didn’t. We’d be just sitting at the kitchen table one moment observing something happening outside and then bam, we’re in a car driving somewhere else. Or I thought the Mc was getting ready for bed and then she’s got two visitors and they are all talking at the kitchen table.
It was really weird? It’s hard to say without the physical book in front of me to read through, but listening to it gave me whiplash to the point I was rewinding or flipping to the previous chapter to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped ahead.
It wasn’t so confusing I couldn’t follow it, and didn’t detract from my enjoyment much, it was just a small hiccup.
I would definitely read more from this author in the future. I think I’d even read more about Vivian Bouchet if this was turned into a series.
I really liked the character. I thought she was a great embodiment of the strong female character without falling into cliches and stereotypes. I liked the plot and was consistently intrigued through out the book. Similarly I thought the subplots were well thought out and interwoven nicely without feeling chaotic, or like we were throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the book.
Only a couple things held it back from being a full five star read for me. The first was this bizarre love quadrangle. I don’t think it was particularly bad? Like as far as love quadrangles go I found it amusing enough. But just kinda unnecessary.
The other thing was that it felt like there were some dramatic shifts in action. I was listening to this so it’s possible that I missed the transitional sentences? But I’m reasonably sure we didn’t. We’d be just sitting at the kitchen table one moment observing something happening outside and then bam, we’re in a car driving somewhere else. Or I thought the Mc was getting ready for bed and then she’s got two visitors and they are all talking at the kitchen table.
It was really weird? It’s hard to say without the physical book in front of me to read through, but listening to it gave me whiplash to the point I was rewinding or flipping to the previous chapter to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped ahead.
It wasn’t so confusing I couldn’t follow it, and didn’t detract from my enjoyment much, it was just a small hiccup.
I would definitely read more from this author in the future. I think I’d even read more about Vivian Bouchet if this was turned into a series.
martyndo's review against another edition
2.0
1.5/5. What a disappointment. I struggled through this one, with only the mystery surrounding Lizzy keeping me going. The concept of a psychic helping police with missing girls had so much potential, but the story felt buried under layers of unrelated, melodramatic clutter. I couldn’t connect with the characters or the tangled plot that seemed to wander aimlessly through relationship drama, science, mythology, and unnecessary subplots. The writing was overly dramatic, and the main character felt more arrogant than insightful. Although this book had some interesting moments, it was ultimately a frustrating, disjointed read.
problematique's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
natasiaob's review against another edition
4.0
I started to describe this book (psychic-scientist-detective, etc.) to some friends and they joked that I had actually written it and was just pitching my ideas. I did love the main character, and thought it was a pretty good story, but it cooouuuld have maybe been a bit more original! I would definitely still recommend it and/or read a sequel if it’s ever written though.
speedreadstagram's review against another edition
4.0
Vivvy is the daughter of a known psychic and was only ten years old when she saved the life of a boy by making an impossible prediction. Now, shes grown up and is an astrophysicist devoted to science. The boy she saved has grown up to be a cop, and believes she can see things no one else can. He comes to her asking for help with a high profiled cold case of a kidnapped girl.
Vivvy pairs up with detective Jesse Sharpe who is a skeptic of anything other than facts. When Vivvy becomes the target of a conspiracy podcaster, she fights back with her scientific mind and gifts.
This book is being developed as a tv series on Fox. I cannot wait – it’s going to be a great drama. However, the book wasn’t exactly what I expected. My biggest complaint was the pacing, it was rather slow and drug out. I wish this would have been one that I would have preferred to get lost in the audio – which is why I’m excited for the tv show. However, I loved the characters and the writing style. I just want faster pacing in my thrillers. For general fiction however, this one work perfectly and I love it. I love how the ending set things up for a potential second book but didn’t leave you on a huge cliffhanger. Perfect way to end a book the author wants to do a sequel or series in my opinion! The supernatural elements were so fun, and really made me ponder what’s out there.
If you are looking for a great drama with light thrills, then make sure to grab a copy of this one June 20th.
Thank you so much to Flatiron Books, and Netgalley, @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Vivvy pairs up with detective Jesse Sharpe who is a skeptic of anything other than facts. When Vivvy becomes the target of a conspiracy podcaster, she fights back with her scientific mind and gifts.
This book is being developed as a tv series on Fox. I cannot wait – it’s going to be a great drama. However, the book wasn’t exactly what I expected. My biggest complaint was the pacing, it was rather slow and drug out. I wish this would have been one that I would have preferred to get lost in the audio – which is why I’m excited for the tv show. However, I loved the characters and the writing style. I just want faster pacing in my thrillers. For general fiction however, this one work perfectly and I love it. I love how the ending set things up for a potential second book but didn’t leave you on a huge cliffhanger. Perfect way to end a book the author wants to do a sequel or series in my opinion! The supernatural elements were so fun, and really made me ponder what’s out there.
If you are looking for a great drama with light thrills, then make sure to grab a copy of this one June 20th.
Thank you so much to Flatiron Books, and Netgalley, @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
asza's review against another edition
3.0
"I don't believe you either! I believe your mother was a scammer, and you've put on her robe"
*MC looks at her mother's robe she's been wearing*
This story is about Vivvy Bouchet (pronounced the french way), an astrophysicist who has been trying to hide away from her dramatic childhood. When she ten, she predicted doom to befall a neighbor, and was there to save him.
Vivvy is an interesting character that we don't usually see in stories. She developed OCD compulsions as a child, knocking and counting incessantly on her bedroom wall every night while plagued with fears and unwanted thoughts. Her mother, a known psychic, believed Vivvy to be like her and did not get her help that a regular parent might have. Instead, Vivvy and her sister wound up unearthing something as children that put their family in the public eye. Vivvy had since fled her childhood and now focuses on staring at the stars in her job as an astrophysicist
Unfortunately for Vivvy that neighbor she saved, Mike, is convinced she is a psychic and has gotten her wrapped up in one of the most well known disappearances in Texas. Now Vivvy must solve this case while coming under fire from Mike's boss, her late mother's clientele, and a podcast host with an army of crazed listeners.
While I enjoyed several of the characters, especially Vivvy and Joy, I was annoyed that this story feel into the typical "oops-my-psychic-powers-work-only-~sometimes~-and-for-that-reason-I-didn't-instantly-find-the-killer-even-though-I-can-hear-and-see-a-different-man's-last-thoughts-just-by-holding-something-of-his" trope. I had read "astrophysicist and psychic" and thought those two would intertwine in solving the mystery and was disappointed when it didn't. I think that the book started off strong as a supernatural thriller then veered off into "real world" drama, which is why I got through the first half in like 2 days and the second half in 2 weeks.