A. Palla

not interested enough to keep listening

Reviewed: 02-06-25

I bought the book because the premise seemed interesting and the narrator's voice is pleasant, but it turned out to be clunky and tedious.

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never tire of these stories

Reviewed: 10-20-22

I always enjoy Andrews and Wilson's tales of the clandestine forces because, in addition to the action, they teach about technology and geography and, perhaps more importantly, take the time to develop their characters. I took a star off the story though, because it seemed they were justifying the evolution of a normal person to a terrorist. I agree that hate molds children, but adults are 100% responsible for their actions because they have the means and capability to understand occurrences IN CONTEXT. Whether jihadists or January 6ers, if they don't make the effort to educate themselves and elect to follow along in the wave of ignorance and hate, they have no excuse. I'd love an Andrews and Wilson book about talking down any of the hate monger groups that threaten our constitution from within.

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2 people found this helpful

meh

Reviewed: 08-08-22

The story formulaic and predictable, as is the dialogue. The neighbors and the super were promising, but that storyline went nowhere.

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weird

Reviewed: 06-30-21

Not what you'd expect from Dean Koontz. I can't explain without spoilers, so I will just note that it was disappointing gothic with a facile punchline

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pointless and regressive

Reviewed: 01-20-21

A woman defines success not by happiness or career or love, but by getting over on another woman. Olsen is now officially off my list.

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What a beautiful story

Reviewed: 01-09-21

I loved this book. The story is wonderful and the characters are developed almost subliminally, in the course of the telling of the story. It is a real story, in the sense that one recognizes characters and truths from personal experience, heartbreaking and joyful and beautifully told. I know I'll come back to this book. it might even join The Goldfinch among the books I reread annually.

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Fantastic story, artfully performed

Reviewed: 12-29-20

This is a story about 3 women who have been friends for years and have to face, together or not, the tragedy that harmed their 3 sons. I hesitated on this one because both the Kindle summary the author's name (sorry) suggested to me that this would be the sort of tear-jerker that ends with a big hug that makes me want to punch someone. But it's not that at all. It's told from the point of view of each of the women and examines both grief and friendship, and how they interact, or at least intersect, in the context of their lives and families.

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1 person found this helpful

more than a mystery

Reviewed: 12-18-20

First of all, the narrators: excellent. The story is told in the first person, from the point of view of Allie by one narrator, and in the third person by the other narrator to fill in gaps in the stories of the other characters. Allie is confronted, and her life and perspective are affected, by the decisions, good and bad (though generally bad), of her husband, daughter, and group of friends from "uni" (Oxford). Allie's forced to wonder, again and again, whether her perception of her friends' characters and events in her own life are tainted by selfishness, naivete, or decision not to understand.

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suspenseful and credible

Reviewed: 10-30-20

I listen to a LOT of whodunnits (it's most of what you find in read and listen for free), and most of them are predictable and ridiculous at the same time. But this book kept me guessing to the very end - not just who did it, but to whom he or she did it. Very skillful misdirection, character development and dialogue. And the narrators are terrific.

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meh

Reviewed: 10-22-20

Extraordinarily formulaic and predictable. Every-guy's-fantasy-burger-eating-beer-drinking chick private detective unearths small town sleaze and cover ups nano seconds before deadline.

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