3.5 rounded up

The plot was pretty clever. I’m not sure I’ve read a mystery thriller that put that much thought into plot beats after the details of the mystery are revealed. In a way, the mystery reveal is the buttressing for a satisfying finale.

Bit of a gamble though, because there’s so many components that it feels really contrived until the information is sorted multiple times; the first time being actually a bit of an annoying info dump. For me, because the reveal is too predictable and contrived, driving beyond that, almost every mile beyond it, actually became more interesting to me.

I notice that I tend to rarely care about characters in this genre. And this was true here. The way my brain works, with these stories I’m constantly speculating about what’s happened. Character comes into play in so far as who seems like they’d do it or not. I’ve just consumed so much of this genre in book and media form, I automatically look at it like a writers room approach. This gelled well with the story because it’s mostly plot acting on the character, loss of agency goes hand in hand with these titles. I didn’t get attached to anybody.

For instance, as soon as we’re through the events of the blurb, you pretty much know whatever the character is feeling and thinking is a misdirect. How can you feel like a character is three dimensional and real when you know, especially in first person perspective, their every thought and limited perspective is designed to pivot the reader in the wrong direction. I just have a weird mind, I guess.

I wonder if this is overrated for people big on character, or the development worked for them? I could see it going either way. One day I’ll be able to suspend my disbelief in this genre. Maybe when I pick up something that isn’t billed as such.