Ratings28
Average rating3.9
With mysteries, I always feel like the conclusion is never as good as I build up in my mind. At first it's kind of fascinating, to see what's going on and building up the pressure. But then we learn the solution to it all and... eh?
Same here, especially because the story is in this weird inbetween situation where I think it's supposed to be rooted in reality, but for no apparent reason we are given these random hints at things maybe being supernatural. Which... they aren't? I think. It's never properly developed, It's never handled well, so it feels very tacked on.
Aaron's wife, Allison, gets killed in a shooting at a mall. She was a journalist, but don't imagine some hot shot person, she did these feel good local stories and such. But after her death, Aaron discovers her having a secret life where she was doing something that seemed to be way over the normal things for her.
One thing about the book that will be a hit or miss is the fact Aaron describes things about Allison is second person. Now, personally I don't like that much, especially because both him and her came off as... well, a couple of kinda insufferable quirky ass hipsters.
Allison give off this mysterious sad tough girl vibe, while Aaron is basically a whimp who thinks of her as way above him. Neither is likeable. I understand I am supposed to feel for these people, which is hard when they come off so unlikeable.
The writing itself is like that as well. Sometimes it's over the top.
The mystery... You can't really solve it yourself. No matter how much you think, you won't be able to piece it together, because there isn't enough information ahead of the reveal. In that sense, it failed.
It's not very special either. Not the victims, the method, the reasoning. It's so mundane, if you can say that about a serial killer, hah. I just expected something more grandiose.
It's a quick and easy read, but I wouldn't specifically seek this one out.