shereadytoread's Reviews (806)

Most of the book seemed like filler honestly. You don't really get any idea of what actually happened until the last 50ish pages of the book and very little of it is built on anything that happens for the first half of the book. There are a few pretty good "bait and switch" moments but the actual reveal is so unsatisfying. The book also has a lot of plot holes. Characters state they were doing something that contradicts with the earlier scenes or don't address something that clearly would have had an effect.

So I finally read this after people recommending it since the movie was released. I wanted to love it! It is such an important story but the book was a disappointment. First it is very dry and reads almost like a textbook. Just straightforward recounting of events with little else. The book bounces between the stories of a few different characters but as their stories are intertwined and very similar, it can be easy to lose track or who is being discuss. It also is not linear, bouncing between the different time periods in their lives regularly.

I thought this was a great look at the effect of a crime on not only the victims, and perpetrators but the greater community in addition to the effects of societal issues on the crime itself. Laura gave great insight with her interviews and put a fair look at each person involved while recognizing and confronting her own bias about the crime and those involved.

This was a good read that mixed supernatural elements and a crime thriller. The characters were complex and likable. Good world building that felt very detailed without feeling like a lot of filler information.

The book is actually two books combined "Ghost Hunting" and "Seeking Spirits" one authored mostly by each of the partners. The second half of the book "Seeking Spirits" is much better than the first half. The stories are more detailed and are followed by an information section on a part of the equipment, entity, etc. that was addressed earlier. The first half is short chapters (maybe 2 or 3 pages) that don't really give us enough information for the story to be interesting.

Overall an okay read but obviously goes on very long since it is two books that are pretty similar.