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Gazwj

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Decent but left me hollow

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 26-10-24

An intriguing plot that keeps you guessing.

It was a little overly descriptive at times, often making comparisons to things it didn't need to ("it fell into the water...with a plop... like a stone dropped by a small child...standing looking wistfully...at the side of a dark river). Some of this was great for character and world building, but there were quite a few times when it was just too much. Given the subject matter and genre, it sometimes felt like it took an age to get to where we were going, which removed suspense and slowed the plot.

It's not constantly throughout the book, but often the way the dialogue was written leans towards juvenile and uncreative ("Blah blah blah" NAME said. "Blah blah blah" OTHER NAME said). Very repetitive, but as I said, this was often bit wasn't all the time.

I didn't need the 17 year old girl kissing a 20 something year old man. It added nothing. His ending coould have happened without that and nothing would have been lost.

The narrator fit who was telling the story well, however she did mispronounce a few words here and there. For example, Satan was SAT-ANN.

The ending felt a little anti-climatic. After how long it took to get there, I needed something a little more shocking, with more peril and consequence. I also didn't like that we never found out the origin (no spoilers, you'll understand after you finish). This wasn't an ambiguous, "use your imagination" ending...it simply doesn't answer the biggest question. It left me wondering "what was the point?". Lastly, once the third act got going, it was very predictable.

All in all, a decent listen, but left me, if you'll allow, a little hollow.

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Interesting.....not that scary though

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 22-10-24

I liked that this was a short book, easily got through in 1 or 2 sittings. It's an interesting plot, especially with recent advancements in AI.

It was hinting at the supernatural, before seemingly becoming horror sci-fi. However, it veered back, last minute, into being supernatural again. I understand why, as the books namesake would have vanished around 2/3 of the way through, never to return. Personally, it would have been a far scarier ending had it not had that supernatural element return towards the end. Also, the ambiguous ending only kind of made sense. If you like to guess where things are going, not be told, this might leave you asking "ok, but why?".

I personally felt the narrator was not the right choice. She just didn't fit. I also found the way the dialogue between characters was written to be juvenile, uncreative and repetitive ("Blah blah blah" NAME said. "Blah blah blah" OTHER NAME said).

Lastly, I could maybe understand if you were reading the short chapters (a staggering 50 in total!), then it might build suspense. As an audiobook, I don't"t feel it works. It took me out of the story, making it feel like a stop/start jerky car ride.

Overall, worth a listen. Some of the choices could have been better, definitely not as scary as I anticipated but thought provoking, if you ignore the supernatural element.

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Very interesting!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-09-24

Had my enthralled from the starrt. I like "girly" novels, but my main love is horror and crime. So this was a perfect combo.
The protagonist is a woman who's done evil things, but you understand why.
A little disappointed with the ending, but I understand why the "happy ending" trope wasn't used here. Unsatisfying in a satisfying way, or perhaps vice versa.
Definitely worth a listen and thoroughly enjoyed.

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Not amazing but good

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-09-24

I like the style of progressing the story through interviews. it kept it fresh, instead of the same person talking the whole time, or an disembodied narrator.

However, the start focused too much on the history of the park, and not enough on what happened in the shelter. Individuals got mentioned, as if they'd be important later, but then weren't talked about much again, or at all. This book could've been longer with the plot more flushed out. Once you knew where the situation was going, nothing happened in the book after that surprised me. Hints in one of the final interviews could have been hinted at far more throughout the book.

There's a difference between "leave them wanting more", or "the scariest things are the things you don't see", and feeling like big chunks of plot are missing. That's how I left this book. Like big chunks of the plot had been left out.

Still worth a listen, and maybe one day there'll be a follow up to give us more plot.

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Great plot, poorly executed

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-07-24

The story is a great idea and an interesting take on the typical haunted house genre, but the writing style is juvenile, relative and the ending, while good, was a little too on the nose for me. Worth a listen though.

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Gothic goodness!

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 30-06-24

I really enjoyed this. The link to The Turning of the Screw was delicious. If you like githic mansions, an eerie atmosphere and an protagonist you love to dislike, then this is a very good listen.

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Worth a listen

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-06-24

I am a huge Green Wing fan and have watched it from strat to finish multiple times. Would've much prefered to see this on TV and the acting was clearly all done separately and pieces together. The story was ok but I hate endings with no conclusion, or implied conclusion. Worth a listen but TV show would've made the acting more reliable and he story funnier.

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Funny little murder mystery

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 16-12-22

Not too long, Sally Phillips narrated well, Bob Mortimer sounded like he was reading at times but still did ok, funny phrases.....a compact and interesting little crime story. I enjoyed it.

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Very enjoyable

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-12-22

My husband is a big fan of the Discworld series and recommended I start with the books that feature Death. The story is simple to follow and some of the quotes are legendary. Definitely worth a listen 👍

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An interesting peak backstage at old Hollywood

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-12-22

I love the golden age of musicals and watched them often as a child when being looked after by my grandparents and great grandparents. I only really remember Lucille Ball from the movie Mame, but this was an interesting look back at old Hollywood and the golden age of cinema. Especially as it gives a peak behind the curtain and makes the famous stars more human and real. I really enjoyed it.

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