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A review by neuroqueer
The Graveyard Shift by Maria Lewis
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Plot ๐ญ:
* Slow & Dragging at Times
* Strong Start, Boring Middle, Underwhelming Finish
Writing Style โ๏ธ:
* Easy to Read
* Awkward Dialogue
Pace & Pacing โฑ๏ธ:
* Too Slow & Draggy At Times ๐ข
* Point of View Shifts Handled Well
* Overall Narrative Arc ๐
Structure ๐๏ธ:
* Unnecessary Scenes or Subplots ๐
Setting ๐:
* Melbourne, Australia
Characters ๐ญ:
* Likable Enough Main Character
* Other Characters Unlikable or Uninteresting
Book Cover ๐ผ๏ธ:
* Visually Represents the Story/Genre
Triggers/Content Warnings โ ๏ธ:
* Murder
* Sex Scenes
Target Audience ๐ฏ:
* Adult
Thoughts ๐ฃ:
* Tinsel: While Tinsel is likable enough lead, her dialogue occasionally veers into cringe territory. Phrases like "Initiate Break Up Critical" feel forced and detract from her otherwise relatable persona. When she's not saying such awkward lines, she comes across as empathetic (evident in her fundraiser for the victim's family), ambitious (allowing outdated on-air calls knowing it will give her more engagement and listeners) and passionate about horror movies (her horror themed radio show and knowledge of the genre).
* Where Is Randy Meeks When You Need Him: Despite being a horror movie buff, Tinsel makes the stupidest decisions that contradict her supposed knowledge of the genre. Her tendency to wander alone into dangerous situations when she knows someone is trying to kill her was fitting to the genre but frustrating to watch
* Pandora, The Worst Sister Ever: Pandora, Tinsel's sister, is the most frustrating character in the book. Her obsession with her crime blog overshadows any concern for her sister's safety and sanity. While she does help thanks to clues gleaned from the blog and her social connections, her self-serving actions and smug demeanor make it difficult to sympathize with her. I listened to the audio book version and even the narrator's portrayal was unlikable (she did a great job in general though)
* Who Need Romance?: The romance between Tinsel and Detective James feels unnecessary and insignificant to the overall story. While they have a cute dynamic, their relationship felt distracting and just a reward for the Tinsel's suffering for a previous (albeit shitty and should have ended sooner) relationship.
* Some Positives: The transitions between murder scenes and the main character's perspective are well-executed. The villain's hammy end speech was reminiscent of "Scream".
* Le Sigh: Overall, "The Graveyard Shift" had potential but falls short due to inane character choices, frustrating side characters (PANDORA) , and a pointless romance subplot.
Rating: C+
* Slow & Dragging at Times
* Strong Start, Boring Middle, Underwhelming Finish
Writing Style โ๏ธ:
* Easy to Read
* Awkward Dialogue
Pace & Pacing โฑ๏ธ:
* Too Slow & Draggy At Times ๐ข
* Point of View Shifts Handled Well
* Overall Narrative Arc ๐
Structure ๐๏ธ:
* Unnecessary Scenes or Subplots ๐
Setting ๐:
* Melbourne, Australia
Characters ๐ญ:
* Likable Enough Main Character
* Other Characters Unlikable or Uninteresting
Book Cover ๐ผ๏ธ:
* Visually Represents the Story/Genre
Triggers/Content Warnings โ ๏ธ:
* Murder
* Sex Scenes
Target Audience ๐ฏ:
* Adult
Thoughts ๐ฃ:
* Tinsel: While Tinsel is likable enough lead, her dialogue occasionally veers into cringe territory. Phrases like "Initiate Break Up Critical" feel forced and detract from her otherwise relatable persona. When she's not saying such awkward lines, she comes across as empathetic (evident in her fundraiser for the victim's family), ambitious (allowing outdated on-air calls knowing it will give her more engagement and listeners) and passionate about horror movies (her horror themed radio show and knowledge of the genre).
* Where Is Randy Meeks When You Need Him: Despite being a horror movie buff, Tinsel makes the stupidest decisions that contradict her supposed knowledge of the genre. Her tendency to wander alone into dangerous situations when she knows someone is trying to kill her was fitting to the genre but frustrating to watch
* Pandora, The Worst Sister Ever: Pandora, Tinsel's sister, is the most frustrating character in the book. Her obsession with her crime blog overshadows any concern for her sister's safety and sanity. While she does help thanks to clues gleaned from the blog and her social connections, her self-serving actions and smug demeanor make it difficult to sympathize with her. I listened to the audio book version and even the narrator's portrayal was unlikable (she did a great job in general though)
* Who Need Romance?: The romance between Tinsel and Detective James feels unnecessary and insignificant to the overall story. While they have a cute dynamic, their relationship felt distracting and just a reward for the Tinsel's suffering for a previous (albeit shitty and should have ended sooner) relationship.
* Some Positives: The transitions between murder scenes and the main character's perspective are well-executed. The villain's hammy end speech was reminiscent of "Scream".
* Le Sigh: Overall, "The Graveyard Shift" had potential but falls short due to inane character choices, frustrating side characters (PANDORA) , and a pointless romance subplot.
Rating: C+