Jaksen > Recent Status Updates

Only in a few pages but this is a meticulous, finely-detailed story - or writer. So much so that I notice the writing as much as the story, dialogue, etc. I'd rather read for story, not to admire the craftsmanship of the author though - and maybe that's just me. But this one reads like the writer used a scalpel to cut the words from a dictionary - precision and perfection. Won the book and will keep reading.

Could not finish. Started to wander off on tangents uninteresting to me...

Well I'm reading this and slowly get bored. I'd heard of this author only just lately and thought I'd give her books a try. Unimpressed, but I will press on...

Omgoodness, the bad guys in the one ARE SO BAD. Keeps me reading...

This book, one amazing read so far. It pulls you and doesn't let go. Loving it!

So far, a kind of grisly-yet-fascinating read. MC, fourteen-year old Ava is fascinating all on her own. She finds a dead body - and then what? Enjoying it immensely...

A good read but so many characters! And they all interact with each other in dozens of diff. ways. Plus a timeline which shifts back and forth. This is a book which DEMANDS you pay attention.

Finally getting into it - a thick read. Lots of description. Lots of creepiness. Enjoying it immensely.

Like this series, but my one criticism: There are so many characters in this book - and all the books in this series, and so many of them are similiar. They jumble up in my head and even my cue cards are packed with who is who, who sleeps with who, who has kids with him or her. Yikes! A giant cast!

Amazing! I love reading about this stuff - my dad was at Normandy. And this is one incredible book. I want to mark it up and highlight things and add comments, so I just bought it. The one I'm reading now is a library copy but when I find a book this mesmerizing, I need to own it! Five stars already. There is SO MUCH here.

Loving this! The references to the Hitckcock films - I've seen all of them; many two or three times - and the atmosphere. Even if you don't like or 'approve' of Mr. Hitchcock, the stories he put on film are extravagant often over-the-top and worth watching. As for this book, a young man has bought a hotel, made it over to resemble the hotel in 'Psycho' and invites five old college friends to come for a visit. Great!

Amazing, about two-thirds in. Cannot put it down!

DNF couldn't get into it

Having such a hard time with this. What am I missing? Am I not 'religious' enough, or is my background lacking? Come on, I was raised Evangelical and told my dinosaur book was a fantasy, at Sunday school. So I think I've got THAT covered. I pick it up, read and go ummm dullsville. But I'll read a little further ...

Rather dry read, but keeping on. I liked one of her recent books very much, so figured I'd go back to the beginning.......

Another highly-rated book I'm having trouble with. An over-the-top MC which should be labled the introvert's introvert, or the introvert which makes most introverts look like extroverts. I understand the basic 'conceit' right away, but truly, not enjoying the read. Stereotypes overplayed, IMO.

Not bad at the start, but the kind of book - or series - which you need to read from the start. I didn't. I just jumped in, though I'd read the original series years ago. (By the author's father.) I'll keep going...

One of the more graphic and grisly reads I've read. Sometimes when/if a book gets 'too much,' I just put it aside, DNF it. I've wanted to do that here a few times, except that the MC - he ain't perfect - keeps me wanting to see 'what happens next.' Not for the overly squeamish, for sure, but still an intriguing mystery/crime read. Ima keep going ...

Started out great: scifi/horror/mystery with all the right elements to pull you in. Then sort of becomes like so many similar: big bad secret govt agency, monsters, kids in peril, chases and so on. Still enjoying it, but it feels like I've read it before. Possible five stars despite all this. Writing itself is exemplary.

It's a slow burn, a growing creep-fest in a big old villa-type house in Italy. With one of those forced family events, in this case a family vacation. (That fact alone is enough to give me the shivers.) Liking it. Very much.

Dark, grim and grizzly from the start, but liking it.

Reading this book, set in 1938 England, published in 1944. First edition copy from a local library with this cover. Very much a book of its time as far as tradition and history go, but with an MC who is so different no one knows what to do with her. Cluny simply doesn't 'know her place.' I've seen this theme before with books of this period - but still an astute, clever and interesting read.

Pretty grim and creepy right off the bat - Stepford Wives creepy - but I am liking it.

Liking it a lot. Esp. the two main characters, which IMO is often what makes a book a good or great read. Eddie and April Carter, newlyweds, seem caught in a giant loop while on their honeymoon, trying to sort out what really happened on a lonesome dark road one lonely dark night. Dark and darker - yes!

Putting this one aside for now. Very wordy. Trope-laden. Some anachronisms for the time period. Might revisit at a later time.

Wonderful, scary, something-happening-every-page book. But solid, not frenetic. Loving it.

I like the characters, storyline, etc. Some things seem anachronistic, but trying to be fair. Late 1700's ... maybe they did have a few of the things 'back then' that I don't think they did.

Short book with an interesting premise, location, time period, etc. Enjoying it.

Putting this one aside for a while. It's not exactly a 'chore' to read, but I'm finding it slow, word-heavy, and a lot of tell what's going on rather than showing it. I will finish, but maybe later in the summer (2024)

Every time I think about reading more in this book my head starts to hurt ...