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A review by thenovelllama
The Snowstorm by Tríona Walsh
4.0
There is something about winter that always puts me in the mood for a really well done thriller. So, when I found this book, it seemed like the perfect match for my winter mood. Set on a small island in the middle of a snowstorm, this book was claustrophobic, bordering on unsettling from the start of the opening scene. That strong start really set high hopes for the rest of the book.
Those high hopes were met through a majority of the beginning of the book. It was fast paced, interesting and the stakes were high enough where I couldn’t put the book down. However, that strong start washed away somewhere near the middle of the book. The evidence and connection between the characters became repetitive and less believable the more time that they spent together. After the initial excitement wore off, I still couldn’t put the book down because I kept waiting for that excitement to come back for a strong ending. Unfortunately, it didn't. The entire ending felt unnecessarily drawn out. I kept waiting for the last page of the book, but it took forever to finally hit that point.
I did enjoy the small town island feel. It was fascinating to watch the characters interact with the locals after being away from the island for so long. The memories that pop up for each person and the ways that memories can be twisted over time really took its toll on the town and its inhabitants.
In a book with so many characters, there is usually a strong sense of connection and purpose between each of the characters. In The Snowstorm, the connections were forced and only felt natural for the beginning. There was so much that happened outside of what I was able to piece together, that I didn't have my usual fun of trying to solve the mystery alongside the detective.
Overall, I enjoyed the timing of this book and would recommend it for anyone looking for a wintery thriller, it definitely lives up to the claustrophobic feel of being stuck in a snowstorm.
3.5/5 rounded up because I enjoyed the setting so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
Be sure to check trigger warnings.
Those high hopes were met through a majority of the beginning of the book. It was fast paced, interesting and the stakes were high enough where I couldn’t put the book down. However, that strong start washed away somewhere near the middle of the book. The evidence and connection between the characters became repetitive and less believable the more time that they spent together. After the initial excitement wore off, I still couldn’t put the book down because I kept waiting for that excitement to come back for a strong ending. Unfortunately, it didn't. The entire ending felt unnecessarily drawn out. I kept waiting for the last page of the book, but it took forever to finally hit that point.
I did enjoy the small town island feel. It was fascinating to watch the characters interact with the locals after being away from the island for so long. The memories that pop up for each person and the ways that memories can be twisted over time really took its toll on the town and its inhabitants.
In a book with so many characters, there is usually a strong sense of connection and purpose between each of the characters. In The Snowstorm, the connections were forced and only felt natural for the beginning. There was so much that happened outside of what I was able to piece together, that I didn't have my usual fun of trying to solve the mystery alongside the detective.
Overall, I enjoyed the timing of this book and would recommend it for anyone looking for a wintery thriller, it definitely lives up to the claustrophobic feel of being stuck in a snowstorm.
3.5/5 rounded up because I enjoyed the setting so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
Be sure to check trigger warnings.