The Shadow Box | Luanne Rice

Title: The Shadow Box
Author: Luanne Rice


If you enjoy a tension-filled domestic thriller that plays musical chairs with its timeline, you'll find plenty to like here. The story flips back and forth between the main characters and the before and after of the attacks. It certainly kept me engaged with the story and wanting to uncover more of the secrets hidden within the plot.

However, I have to be honest: I was waiting for the jaw-on-the-floor kind of plot twist. I wanted to be knocked sideways by a shocking revelation, but instead, the story felt a little safe.

At times, the writing felt a bit long-winded and theatrical. I wanted to occasionally skim through some portions because the pacing slowed down.

It was a bit easy to see where the breadcrumbs were leading. By the end, I was left with a bit of a "was that all?" feeling.

Even though it didn't quite deliver the massive shock I was hoping for, it was still a fun read for the most part! I'd still recommend it because you may enjoy the slow-burn reveal more than I did. I'm definitely open to reading more from Luanne Rice in the future.

Three out of five stars.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Highly Sensitive Person | Elaine N. Aron

Image
Title: The Highly Sensitive Person Author: Elaine N. Aron I picked up this book hoping for a biological roadmap to explain why I jump three feet in the air when a toaster pops, but instead, I found a manual on how to join a "priest class" I didn't sign up for. The first half of this book is an endless loop of, "You thought there was something wrong with you, but there isn't!" Look, as an introvert--and part of the 70% of us who usually have enough self-awareness to realize we're just wired differently (and often gifted)--I never actually thought I was "wrong." I've always quite liked my sensitivity, thanks. I don't need a book to fix my self-esteem; I need it to help me explain to my neighbor why their windchimes are an instrument of psychological warfare. We need a version of this book for people who enjoy being sensitive and just want the data, not a pat on the head. The opening chapters actually start strong with genuine information ...
Read more

Blaze | Richard Bachman

Image
Title: Blaze Author: Richard Bachman If you've ever wondered what happens when Stephen King forgets a manuscript in a drawer for thirty years and then decides to dust it off during a book tour, Blaze is your answer. It's a crime novel that's wearing a Bachman mask, but the voice underneath is pure, unadulterated King--complete with his signature "bloat," even at a modest 300-something pages. The story follows Blaze, a goliath with cognitive challenges whose life choices are currently being managed by George. The catch? George is dead. Whether George is a supernatural hitchhiker or just a symptom of Blaze's tragic head trauma is up for debate, but either way, he convinces Blaze to kidnap a baby for ransom. The book operates on two tracks, and like a lopsided train, one side is much sturdier than the other: The Flashbacks (The Good): This is where the heart is. Seeing Blaze's transition from a normal kid to a "simpleton" after a brutal beating from...
Read more

The Nowhere Child | Christian White

Image
Title: The Nowhere Child Author: Christian White Christian White's debut thriller, The Nowhere Child , is a wild, wiggly ride (and yes, that is a snake joke). This 2019 Minotaur Books publication takes the well-worn missing child trope and gives it an unconventional spin that's both absorbing and slightly unhinging. It had me hooked, despite giving me a mild case of the jitters.  Our protagonist, Kimberly Leamy, is a photographer living her best normal life in Melbourne, Australia, until a total stranger pops up and informs her she's actually Sammy Went, who vanished as a toddler from Manson, Kentucky, twenty-six years ago. Kim is understandably skeptical. After all, who believes news like this from a random bloke? But then she checks the baby photos, and, gasp , the resemblance is uncanny! Her life, she realizes, has been one giant lie wrapped in a secret, hidden inside a cryptic admission from her stepfather, Dean.  Kim's quest for truth takes her from the sunny stabi...
Read more