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Then She Vanishes
Then She Vanishes
Claire Douglas | 2019 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
7
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a good psychological thriller with a captivating start and the rest being a slow, burn to the satisfying conclusion.

Written at good pace and switching between two timelines with complex and interesting characters, Then She Vanishes is an enthralling read and whilst it might not have the action or thrills of most books of this genre, it definitely has the tension and build-up to rival any of them.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
  
The Midwife [Audiobook]
The Midwife [Audiobook]
Victoria Jenkins | 2022 | Thriller
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the first book I have read/listened to by this author and it will likely not be my last as I quite enjoyed this. I do think it worked really well as an audiobook; would I have thought the same if I had actually read it? I'm not sure as it was quite a slow burn but it was perfect to listen to whilst in the car.

The two main characters, Lauren and Jackie, are really interesting and well developed. It is clear they both have secrets but quite what they are and how they link to each other doesn't become clear until the end.

As I said, this is a slow burn with a growing sense of tension and unease from the beginning and this kept me listening desperate to find out what the twist was going to be and, overall, I wasn't disappointed.

The narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza, did a good job with the narration and she was easy to listen to.

Overall, a satisfying audiobook and many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts of The Midwife.
  
Into the Jungle
Into the Jungle
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Erica Ferencik does it again! In a much more subtle and nuanced way she gives us just as much anticipation, excitement and uncertainty as in her debut. This novel is much more complex in its research, dynamics and characters. While it may seem slow in some spots, you later realize that, much like the Amazon, it is just a brief, and later appreciated, respite from the almost constant anxiety and slow burn of trepidation and exaltation that the rest of the novel delivers. The end felt a bit rushed and, in my opinion, could have easily benefited from another fifty pages but, even so, it was a wonderful foray into a reality that most of us will never live and even fewer would survive. A definite must read!
  
What She Saw
What She Saw
Wendy Clarke | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Slow burn, debut novel
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

In What She Saw by Wendy Clarke, you meet Leona, a loving and extremely protective mother of teenaged Beth. They do everything together, absolutely everything. They seem to be perfect and have the perfect life. Of course, things are not always what they seem. Leona and Beth both have secrets which they keep from each other and from everyone else. The question asked is, "how far will a mother go to keep her child safe?"

What She Saw is a slow burn which I had difficulty getting into. However, since I did, I could not put it down. I was a Psychology major and am a sucker for when a character meeting with a psychologist partly reveals the story.

The story uses flashbacks and the present. It starts slow but is suspenseful and well-written.

According to Goodreads, Clarke has published over three hundred short stories published in national women's magazines, and this is her debut novel. As of 6/13/19, it has a rating of 4.25 out of 5. Most of the ratings are 5 stars, and none are 1 star. For a debut novel, that is quite impressive.

I am looking forward to reading more by Wendy Clarke.

This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 6/15/19.
  
Memento (2000)
Memento (2000)
2000 | Mystery, Thriller
Very unique storytelling
If you are a Christopher Nolan fan, or even a fan of movies that make you think, you should give Memento a try.

The story is pretty simple about a man (Guy Pearce) who is trying to remember details relating to the murder or death of his wife. The problem: the suffers from short term memory loss and wakes up every day having to start over.

Maybe like a serious version of Groundhog Day, Memento is such a fascinating slow burn, slow reveal of details. As the man encounters the creepy individuals who inhabit his life, he does not know who to trust or how the puzzle pieces will ultimately fit together.

If you watch the movie 10 times, you will find different layers in it each time.

A must watch!
  
40x40

ClareR (5726 KP) May 26, 2018

I really enjoyed this film - it had a great atmosphere to it, and was really frustrating at times.

40x40

Sara Cox (1845 KP) Feb 18, 2020

I absolutely love this film!

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Dean (6926 KP) rated Watcher (2022) in Movies

Nov 12, 2022  
Watcher (2022)
Watcher (2022)
2022 | Drama, Horror, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Old school Thriller (1 more)
Very photogenic
Bit abrupt towards the end (0 more)
Who is watching who?
A decent, intelligent thriller that feels like an old classic. Slight Hitchcock vibes in places. A woman moves with her husband to Romania and is often alone throughout the day and not knowing the language feels isolated. While people watching from the her window she notices a figure watching her.
A very nice looking film, great photography. It's a slow burn and feels like a longer film but makes the every day things feel tense when you feel you are being watched. Well worth checking out.
  
The Venetian: This Haunted World: Book 1
The Venetian: This Haunted World: Book 1
Shani Struthers | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Slow Burn
actually purchased this book by mistake, it's cover is similar to another novel, but I'm glad that I did!

This novel is certainly a slow burn, for the first 20% of it I was highly unimpressed. It felt flimsy and rushed, making it hard to sympathise with the main characters struggles. To be frank - I almost gave up on it. Suddenly, though, the story really kicks in and I read the remainder in one go.

This story is about anger,madness, betrayal and disappointment. It is also about survival, determination and love.
The main stage for the story is an island that is painted so vividly I can almost believe I have been there! The growing suspense and fear is skillfully built to a crescendo, the story woven between different times in just the right way. The ending is very satisfying - not a fairy tale where suddenly everything is perfect but instead a believable end note.

The medical practices described are even more distasteful and repugnant because they actually occurred. In fact a lot were very common sadly.

This would have been a 10/10 review had it not taken so long for the real, meaty story to start. Hopefully others who have purchased this book also continued with it and discovered this gem of a story.
  
Just Go with It (2011)
Just Go with It (2011)
2011 | Comedy, Romance
I did not expect to like this film. Especially with how sketchy Adam Sandler's track record is. But I really enjoyed it. I think what made it so good was Jennifer Aniston. I also loved young Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck. They are both succeeding in their own rights now and it's fun to see them younger and still talented and funny and just overall great.

I liked the slow burn of the film. Even though it was predictable and you knew what was going to happen, it was still enjoyable and a feel-good and definitely one I think I'll end up watching again.