Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

2 reviews

juanat77's review against another edition

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

4.0

What Have You Done? By Shari Lapena 

This was a fast paced whodunnit thriller set in a small town with multiple POVs including the victim’s. Short chapters made you want to continue on and on.  The author’s engaging writing style held my interest throughout the story. Though I guessed “whodunnit” early on, Lapena threw in twists that threw me off the path a couple times. 

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys fast paced, easy, suspenseful, intense thrillers with a whodunnit vibe. 

#sharilapena #whathaveyoudone #pameladormanbooks
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minimicropup's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad 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

3.0

Looking past some of my least liked tropes and narration quirks, this was intriguing despite being predictable. 
 
Energy: Impartial. Distressed. Sorrowful.  
 
🐺 Growls: The beyond the grave angle felt out of place/OTT just for heartstring tugs. 
🐕 Howls: Robotic overenunciation on audio, especially for younger characters. Everyone speaks with the same tone, even teens (almost too proper). Hand-holding style commentary after hard-hitting plot points. Obvious red herrings and over-hinting (subtle, but in that way where if you read a lot of books in this genre, it might seem like it’s loudly hinting).
🐩 Tail Wags: Steady momentum of twists and reveals. No shortage of suspects without feeling contrived. True crime style realism. Rapid but easy to follow perspective shifts. 
 
Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in rural Vermont.
Perspectives (multiple): The victim, their parent and friends, and the potential suspects along with their circle of friends/family.  An e-journal written by the victim’s friend. 
Timeline: October 2022. Linear (mostly). 
🤓 Reader Role: Fly on the wall. Knowing more than any one character, privy to private thoughts and conversations.
🗺️ World-Building: Barely there. Could be any small town/rural area. Mostly based on dialogue and thoughts. Vibes, season, and location were lacking but you can imagine them on your own without interruption if you want.  
🔥 Fuel: Relatable tragedy. Subtle withholding and red herrings. What happened to Diana and who did it? Why?
📖 Cred: Realistic with a sprinkling of paranormal
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Hayfield. Vultures. Phone pings. Slamming doors. Ouija board wine glass. Knock on door. Living rooms. Meetings. 
  • Clear, linear storytelling
  • False accusations and hidden motives
  • Small town paranoia everyone knows everyone
  • Whodunnit murder mystery
  • Scandal, rumours, betrayals, and tragedy
  • Creepy teqcher icks
  • Beyond the grave perspectives 
  • True crime style fiction
 
Content Heads-Up: Corpse (discovery, description). Loss of child (teen), grief (descriptive). Potential false accusation. Sexual harassment of minors, threats. Vomit. Betrayal. Infidelity. Blackmail. Murder. Corruption (institutional). 
 
Rep: Americans. Ambiguously described characters. Cisgender. Heterosexual. 
 
📚 Format: Library Audio
 
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