E5trella

What the heck was that ending?

Revisado: 04-04-25

Wow. Okay. I’d say the ending DID disappoint. Otherwise was okay, but just not a satisfying ending at all.

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Why is the Narrator Whispering?

Revisado: 02-19-25

I cannot hear what this narrator is saying- and I do not have abnormal hearing! Not sure whether this is an actor issue (whispering, inflection, enunciation) or an audio-engineering issue, but WOW. Combined with the super-low volume issues, I really feel for anyone who DOES have any hearing loss!

I think I do slightly prefer the performance of the previous narrator, but not an insurmountable difference. If only I could hear what she is saying.

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Main character is insufferable

Revisado: 04-20-24

The sister was way more interesting and likable, even though the main character is trying to convince the reader otherwise. Weird yes. But not evil. Especially on balance.

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An Intergenerational, International Tale of Resilience and Love

Revisado: 04-06-24

This is such an engaging and entertaining story on the surface, with perfect pacing and tone. And normally once I read (listen) to a book, I move on. But this is also so compelling that I am still thinking about it, and in that reflection, its depths are becoming revealed to me in terms of the (hidden, often unacknowledged) value of women historically… the expectations, and the penalty for not upholding them… how in some ways, not much has changed. And yet, just as family recipes are passed down, or maybe even certain eye colors, so too are things resilience. I know I’m going to continue to think about this book and find more themes… I might even have to go back and listen again (or, gasp, read in print)!! (This, dear reader, is never done normally…) I hope you, too, enjoy this beautiful story!!

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At least it was a discounted bundle

Revisado: 03-24-24

So many (dated) clichés… feels like it was written by 60 year old matron imagining what (20-something) “kids these days” do. But make it a procedural. “Dark-skinned”…? Narrator sounds much older than character is supposed to be. British accent is… not? The writing is so awkward. I am so confused how these books are rated so high. Only made it through book 1, can’t decide if I should push through since I already paid, but thinking I just let this one go (it’s so bad)…

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The Writing is So Bad…

Revisado: 03-03-24

The plots of these books are compelling… I just wish someone else wrote the exposition. Author did not learn “show don’t tell.” Also…the main character is scared of dogs. And? She’s scared of dogs. Did you hear? She is scared of dogs. Finally, in conclusion, scared of dogs. Think the author might be working through something via the books? Anyway. I’m convinced the “big slow burn” isn’t actually intentional so much as she can’t figure out how to write it. Hate-listened to get through the last half. Can’t decide if I like the narrator or not… wasn’t great but not sure if it was her or what she was working with.

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What was the Actual Point?

Revisado: 12-08-23

Was it to save her own reputation or assuage guilt around profiting off the story of the infallibility of science when she discovered later it was not? If so, she didn’t need to revisit this story to do it… she could pick from hundreds of stories from the inmates “Dustin” represented.

Because let’s be real… if he wasn’t the killer, Helena is the most unlucky person in the history of victims, attacked, moved, “happened to be attacked again by someone else” (in an otherwise safe neighborhood) right before she was to testify. He was in the area, lied about where he was going (or changed his mind)… regardless of intent, he was almost certainly guilty, especially in light of the heinousness of his first violation against the victim. To ask “knowing what you know now”… well, we also have GPS data now. We also have neighborhood cameras. DNA tech has evolved along with proper process and procedures today (vs back then). Likewise, the burden of proof given the information available today is different- it is not a fair lens through which to view % guilty vs. innocent.

Which the author knows. Which again, makes me wonder, what’s the point? I just don’t buy she spent this much time and effort to “atone” for profiting off of this before when this dude was a violent sexual predator who would have gotten a slap on the wrist for his offense back in the 80’s and almost certainly gone on to offend again, whether he murdered her or not.

So the only conclusion I can really come to is that she wanted to profit off the story again, by again leveraging the “current” perspective on DNA (good but only as good as the people using it vs. infallible of her initial perspective).

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Beautiful Series!

Revisado: 11-19-23

The perfect balance of sweet and (not overly) sentimental with clever and (a little) cheeky! Really fantastic character development, including that of Edinburgh itself, which becomes one of the main characters through the author’s incredible descriptions. Excellent narration, as well! I hope the series continues, but if not, it does feel like a good conclusion.

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So close!

Revisado: 11-18-23

The writing is good… the narrator is good. The story itself has great bones, interesting elements and themes, just too much time spent in the wrong areas (main character dithering and not communicating) and not enough in the right areas (backstory of main character, resolution). I think if the weight of the different parts had been reworked, it could have been a really great book! But the way it is… the main character ends up with the emotional maturity of a high schooler playing at being an adult. But again… the writing itself is good- so maybe just needs better editing?

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We Need more Nosey!

Revisado: 09-14-23

My only complaint about this book is that I can’t go on to listen to books 4-6 (yet?)… I hope HC/One more Chapter are working on that! And also hope Zara Ramm continues to narrate- she’s perfect!

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