by: Ruth Ware
published: July 12, 2022
genre: Mystery, Thriller
423 pages, E-Book
GoodReads Link
Synopsis
April Coutts-Cliveden was the first person Hannah Jones met at Oxford. Vivacious, bright, occasionally vicious, and the ultimate It girl, she quickly pulled Hannah into her dazzling orbit. Together, they developed a group of devoted and inseparable friends—Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily—during their first term. By the end of the second, April was dead.
Now, a decade later, Hannah and Will are expecting their first child, and the man convicted of killing April, former Oxford porter John Neville, has died in prison. Relieved to have finally put the past behind her, Hannah’s world is rocked when a young journalist comes knocking and presents new evidence that Neville may have been innocent. As Hannah reconnects with old friends and delves deeper into the mystery of April’s death, she realizes that the friends she thought she knew all have something to hide… including a murder.
I. The Story / Plot
There was a lack of compelling elements in the characters of Hannah, April, or Will that could captivate me, making it exceptionally challenging to meet my daily quota of 100 pages. The narrative primarily revolves around Hannah, who forms an unexpected friendship with April, an effortlessly glamorous and affluent girl at Oxford. The story alternates between the “before,” depicting their time at Oxford, and the “after,” featuring Hannah’s current life with her husband, Will. Regrettably, the entire narrative failed to engage my interest.
During her Oxford days, Hannah exhibits a strong inclination to please others, particularly April. April, a person of wealth and influence, immediately captures Hannah’s admiration. Despite April’s unkind behavior towards their friends and clear infidelity, Hannah refrains from confronting her, driven by a desperate desire to fit into their social circles.
In the present day, Hannah continues her people-pleasing tendencies, this time directed towards her husband, Will. Notably absent from the storyline is any exploration of therapy, a seemingly logical choice following the murder of her college roommate. As the narrative unfolds, Hannah grapples with financial worries concerning the impending arrival of their baby and the potential need to curtail their lavish date nights. However, frustratingly, she fails to communicate these concerns to her husband. Throughout the story, a staggering 99.9% of the plot revolves around Hannah’s persistent struggle to advocate for herself, creating a pervasive sense of her own internal conflicts.
II. The Characters
Hannah emerges as a timid and mild-mannered individual, consistently seeking to please others without asserting herself. How Will addresses her is disconcerting, portraying a disturbing dynamic. Speaking of Will, he remains a rather unpleasant character for the majority of the book, only demonstrating utility in the final chapters. The basis of Hannah’s attraction to him remains elusive and perplexing.
Among the peripheral characters, Emily stands out as a figure tolerable in the present-day storyline, displaying commendable qualities. Her proactive approach, taking Hannah to Dr. Myers about the porter issue, showcases the essence of a genuine friend. Ryan, while seemingly cool, and Hugh, though present, primarily function as a punching bag for April during their time at Oxford.
The overarching sentiment is a lack of redeeming qualities among the characters, making it challenging for the reader to form any positive attachments. The narrative fails to present individuals with virtues or admirable traits, leaving a noticeable absence of character depth and development.
III. The Writing
So. Many. Words.
It’s evident that this book didn’t resonate with me, and I can acknowledge and accept that. It simply wasn’t my preferred genre or style, and I’m fine with that realization. Although I appreciate a well-described narrative that vividly paints scenes in my mind, this particular story took the concept of detailed descriptions to an excessive level. In the later chapters, I found myself gravitating solely toward the dialogue, bypassing the overly elaborate descriptions to streamline my reading experience.
IV. My Final Thoughts
It wasn’t my cup of tea.
whitneydaniell 