I heard a lot of good things about Tana French but wasn't in the mood to start a long series of hers. And the woman at Waterstones promised me that French is amazing and this book is a brilliant start... But I feel betrayed by keen bookshop workers who are just doing their job to be honest (I have told many a person at my work that Cats wasn't as bad as it was made out to be... And yes I was lying).

The thing is, it's just ...boring? And all the characters are so unlikeable. Even the sickly sweet Melissa, you just keep wondering HOW she puts up with a sleazeball like Toby and everyone he associates with.

It took me ages to get into the story, and once the mystery that was promised to me on the book cover kicked in, I thought here we go. But it was more self righteous whining from Toby, and from his equally annoying and unlikeable extended family.

I really hopes that towards the end something redeemable would happen but the ending just proved that despite everything Toby went through he was still a trash heap of a human.

Well, happy new year I guess?

Giving this a 3 star rating solely because the first half was actually good.

but that's it. Spoiler alert, although I guess the cover gives it away, but SK doesn't make this some sort of psychological thriller, but reverts to the classic supernatural elements. Which would be fine if it didn't seem like a scapegoat. and I guess at someone who has read maybe half of King's bibliography, the themes are becoming a tad bit more repetitive.

I do genuinely wish that there was just something ELSE. but here we are.

it was.... ok.

it's been far too long since I've picked a book to read myself and finished it within a few days so thanks David Mitchell for *hopefully* getting me out of a reading slump! (also i need to read bone clocks since it's the same universe apparently eep!)