Source: Publisher
Description: Scream meets The Guest List in this wickedly compelling and compulsively page-turning thriller of friendship and murder from the author of The Lost Village, Camilla Sten.
On a remote, craggy island nestled off the coast of Sweden, four friends—Tilly, Anna, Linnea and Evelina—meet every year. Best friends since childhood, the idea is to drink beer, dance by the water, and shake off the weight of life's expectations. The location of the island is a secret to everyone but them. One night of reckless fun and secret-sharing, and then they return to their normal lives.
Ten years later. Ever since she was a teenager, Tessa Nilsson has been consumed by the story of four friends who disappeared on their annual trip to a remote island together. As her true crime fervor turned into a wildly popular podcast, Tessa urgently covered Sweden’s most gruesome cases, but could never find the answers behind what happened to these women who disappeared, leaving a few maddening clues but no concrete answers. Now Tessa’s podcast has crashed and burned, any chance she had at uncovering the truth vanishing with it.
Anneliese is Tessa’s best friend, and before she walks down the aisle, she wants to have a bachelorette party. The Baltic Vinyasa, a sleek, sophisticated yoga retreat on a small island off the coast—one with such similar characteristics to the tragedy years ago that it raises the hair on Tessa’s neck. The idea is to drink gallons of cava, do sunrise yoga, and get in their last chance to bond with the bride. Tessa will not pass this up. It’s her last chance to find out what happened to the four women, once and for all.
And it’s someone else’s last chance to get revenge.
Genre: Mystery
Why I Picked This Book: I've never come across this author but the premise really grabbed my attention.
My Impression: I love the concept of this one - there's a cold case, a podcaster, and a current day investigation that quickly becomes a new problem. However, the execution of this one didn't quite work for this one. I really didn't like Tessa. I get things haven't gone well for her but she's such a disaster I don't see how she functions in day to day life. Not only is her career and relationship tanked but she can't interact with people or really maintain basic hygiene. As well I felt strung along regarding just what she had done and for way too long into the book. I don't mind a little bit of foreshadowing but more than halfway into the book there are still hints regarding "what she had done". I found it hard to maintain interest that far into it. As well, I didn't really like any of the other characters either with the exception of Irene and Annelise.
If the mystery is fast paced I don't really find not liking the characters to be a big deal. Unfortunately, I didn't find this to be fast paced either. Nothing really seemed to happen (other than a quick scene in the prologue) until almost halfway through the book. The last half of the book did keep me reading and guessing and is what saved this one for me.
While this book didn't really work for me, I did find a lot to appreciate. The author did a fantastic job setting a creepy scene and then filling it will all kinds of foreboding and tense atmosphere. The characters were well drawn and the premise was intriguing.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Maybe? There were enough positives that I'd give the author another try if a premise caught my attention enough.
Would I Recommend this Book? If a slower build up in a thriller works for you, you might enjoy this one.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
Would I Recommend this Book? If a slower build up in a thriller works for you, you might enjoy this one.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
Basic hygiene? Wow, Tessa sounds like she is a total mess.
ReplyDeleteI liked Sten's book The Lost Village, but it was slow in parts, too, and not a perfect read. Still entertaining though, especially at the end. But it didn't make me want to read any of her other books.
ReplyDeleteyes I liked this a bit more than you but I can see your points. They aren't very likeable.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Hmmm...I found that I another book by Camilla Sten. It's The Lost Village. Haven't read it yet and I notice that Lark talked about in her comment. I had also noticed this one and wondered. We'll see if I come across it at the library. Might pick it up and try it if I do. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it, Katherine!
ReplyDeleteWell sounds like it has a few things going for it, but really I love your response to the book. Not for me I think.
ReplyDeleteI have this one on my wish list. I thought it sounded pretty good. I'll have to check to see if the library has it.
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