I really wanted to like this book, but it was difficult to finish. While parts of the novel were interesting, so much of it was simply boring. As I read it, I felt like this was the type of book that smart people read and raved about. I consider myself fairly smart, but I could not find enough pleasure from the book to justify how slow and dry it was. The writing is not to blame, but it felt like reading for work rather than reading for enjoyment.
Let me start by saying that this isn’t a genre I normally read. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the immediate action and compelling story. Barloc is an interesting character who finds himself stuck in the worst of circumstances. I thought about this book when I wasn’t reading it, and this is the type of book that could be turned into a movie or TV show. I give it 4.5 stars and look forward to the next one.
This is my second book by Olsen, and while I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Last Thing She Ever Did, it was still pretty good. Olsen is a talented writer who weaves a compelling tale. I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it, and that’s typically a sign of a good novel. Having read two of Olsen’s novels, I’m not the biggest fan of his endings. With that being said, I’ll be picking up another one of his books soon.
I really didn’t enjoy this book all that much. It wasn’t horrible, but it definitely wasn’t good either. My biggest problem was the dialogue, particularly with the junior high boys. Their speech was not what you would actually hear from real kids that age, and some of it was so repetitive. I give it 2.5 stars and as I reflect on the book and where it ended up, I still don’t see the point.
This was such an interesting book for nearly the entire novel. Olsen kept me guessing and sitting on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen next. I was ready to rate it at 5 stars until I reached the end. I couldn’t wait to find out how Liz would resolve the conflict, but I won’t give away any spoilers. All I can say is that this was such an enjoyable book, but it could be the worst ending I’ve ever read.
This was an interesting book. I thought that Ferencik did a nice job of mixing in the suspenseful elements while still progressing the story. I found myself wanting to know what would happen next and not being able to predict it, for the most part. If you enjoy a good mystery that’s set in the outdoors, then this one is for you. I gave it four stars instead of five due to some of the dialogue between the women lacking believability.
Jackson Paul Baer 