Slow moving

This book was very slow moving. The road trip went forever. I hated the ending and felt the author wasn’t sure how to end the story. Not my favourite book.

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Great Book

I love this book, it had me guessing all the way through the story. I could not put it down. I really enjoyed the narrative by Karissa she was amazing.

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Anticlimactic

Whole lot of twists and turns that didn’t really lead anywhere. Surprised I finished it.. FOMO I guess

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SO MANY TWISTS, keeps you guessing

I loved this book, But, not from the get go. I thought the first chapter was so so, but it wasn't until the second and third chapter
that you realise something is a foot.
I am not going to spoil this book for anyone. All I can say is, stick with it and you will be happy you did.
Great book, Narrater is perfect for this story.
Thank you Samantha Downing, I enjoyed this book immensely
10 out of 10

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So Disappointing!

I had this one on preorder since reading My Lovely Wife (a total 10/10). While the writing and character voices are just as good as her last novel, the story itself was weighed down completely by the ending.
The novel is less thriller and more family musings from an unreliable protagonist. I found it dull and while the brief moments of suspense or surprise interested me while reading, upon reflection, my response was notable only because it was the only responses this book seemed to be drawing from me.

The story is dry and in many parts, unbelievable. It feels as if the author is trying to draw blood when pushing for moments of suspense. Many of the scenarios that are written to evoke interest or mystery, are completely smoke and mirrors. Often the suspense will carry out until a chapter or two later, where it is revealed that the eerie circumstances do, in fact, have a realistic explanation. The stark contrast between this novel and Downing's last is that My Lovely Wife, though unbelievable in storyline, is so addictively delicious that the reader does not stop to question it. He Started It however, gives the reader an overload of time to think about the facts, because firstly, the storyline is relatively boring, and secondly, the protagonist herself is constantly asking questions, inspiring the reader to do the same.

The ending of this book is infuriating. I trusted the author because of her hit debut novel. I was rooting for her, desperately hoping that all of this tedious leadup was simply to create a platform for the starburst ending! Five minutes out from the end, and no conclusion. The hope wavers slightly. And then with crushing, unamused frustration, the reader realizes, that this is all there is.

The ending is among the very worst endings I have read in this genre. And I have read some bad ones. It seems lazy and rushed. The conclusion is possible to pull off, but not for this kind of genre, and certainly not after this kind of story. I felt I had wasted my time. My guess is that after the overall positive reviews of her first book, this second one was then pushed out to keep momentum. While the bones of good writing are there, the whole storyline should have been shot down from the start. It isn't good and it doesn't lend well to the genre.

Overall, it was just a mediocre 9.5 hours that should have really been a prologue leading into the actual story. Really disappointing and not worth the time. If you're looking for a psychological thriller, don't pick this up.

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