Helpful Score: 17
Island of Lost Girls is the second novel by Jennifer McMahon, her first being, Promise Not to Tell. I really enjoyed Promise Not to Tell, and her new book was no disappointment. In fact I'm not sure it wasn't better.
Her books are a little dark, murder, abuse etc... but the story she weaves is wonderful. Her characters are all flawed, but aren't we all, making it easy for you to connect with them even if you have not experienced the horrors they have.
But the really great thing is that she does not drag you so deep into despair that you feel depressed when reading. I concentrate on solving the mysteries.
While this book was a bit more predictable than her first it is still great and I can't wait until she writes another one.
Her books are a little dark, murder, abuse etc... but the story she weaves is wonderful. Her characters are all flawed, but aren't we all, making it easy for you to connect with them even if you have not experienced the horrors they have.
But the really great thing is that she does not drag you so deep into despair that you feel depressed when reading. I concentrate on solving the mysteries.
While this book was a bit more predictable than her first it is still great and I can't wait until she writes another one.
Helpful Score: 15
Excellent murder mystery! At first, a little hard to get in to, due to the way the characters are introduced in the first few pages (I found it necessary to review the way a few of the characters were related) but once I was clear on this, I found the book hard to put down.
Helpful Score: 14
Sure, this is the mystery of a missing girl, but also the stories of several others that "go missing" over the course of the narrator's life. The relationships are complex, and it may take a bit to keep track of all of the players, but the story is rich, complicated and will keep you guessing until the very end.
Helpful Score: 11
This book touches on issues of kidnapping, alcoholism, mental illness, and child abuse. It is well-written, and certainly keeps a reader guessing, but it is not a light-hearted read.
Finished it in one night, because I couldn't put it down! Even though there were no big surprises at the end (I had figured out the "who-done-it") the story was still very engaging and there were enough small twists and surprises that I just had to keep reading. Very well written, with 3-dimensional characters I could really relate to.
Helpful Score: 9
I usually don't like this genre of writing but the summary looked good so I decided to try it. Very good book-my first from Jennifer McMahon. I found myself drawn to the characters and all the different story lines going on in the story. Very heartwrenching at the end but worth the read-I will definately be on the lookout for more Jennifer McMahon books in the future!
Helpful Score: 6
This was an OK book for a fast, easy read with an interesting storyline. I was able to read it in about two days, solely on my commute to and from work. When the protagonist witnesses a man dressed in a bunny suit kidnapping a child at the local mini mart, it sparks her to reflect on her childhood memories, including the disappearance of one of her childhood friends and her friend's father. There are lots of twists and turns, which are exciting, and I didn't think it was too predictable. That being said, there was a lot going on here, and a lot to resolve. The beginning is a bit confusing, but stay with it, it all comes together. In fact, that would be my main criticism -- that everything seems to come together too neatly. But regardless, it's still an interesting read that helped me pass the time!
Helpful Score: 4
This book turned out better than I expected. If you aren't sure if you want to read this one or not, go ahead. You won't be sorry. Nice twist.
Helpful Score: 4
Twists & turns all through this book. Hard to put it down!
Helpful Score: 3
I agree with one of the posters that in the beginning of the book it was tough to keep track of who was who, but once you got on board it was a tough book to put down.
Every time I was certain I had it figured out, something new was revealed that made me want to hurry and find out where this was going..
I love that the author tied in events from the overall story at the end to complete your "Ah ha" moment. It all made so much sense looking back that I felt so dumb for not figuring it out sooner..
Every time I was certain I had it figured out, something new was revealed that made me want to hurry and find out where this was going..
I love that the author tied in events from the overall story at the end to complete your "Ah ha" moment. It all made so much sense looking back that I felt so dumb for not figuring it out sooner..
Helpful Score: 2
I was told to check out Jennifer McMahon after telling everyone I know how much I love Gillian Flynn. I'll admit -- it was a good recommendation. I enjoyed almost everything about Island of Lost Girls, from its offbeat premise (the central crime surrounds a child kidnapped in broad daylight by a giant stuffed bunny) to its haunting cover art.
The characters are strong and McMahon is skilled at letting the readers learn about them slowly and organically throughout the story. I especially liked one side story about the origin of a central character's nickname. Told in alternating chapters between the present, and 1993, the year main character Rhonda was 11, Island of Lost Girls unravels the stories of two missing children in one small town, and the mystery that connects them.
There is a great twist ending that threw me for a loop, and some really nice writing with lots of thematic extension, which I really like. My only criticism of Island of Lost Girls is that the pacing feels a little rushed, and there are a few strange choices, like a shift from first- to third-person voice midway through the book that seems to point to an author who was really pushing to strike while the iron was hot after a really hot debut novel. The story is strong enough to excuse those little distractions, though, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
The characters are strong and McMahon is skilled at letting the readers learn about them slowly and organically throughout the story. I especially liked one side story about the origin of a central character's nickname. Told in alternating chapters between the present, and 1993, the year main character Rhonda was 11, Island of Lost Girls unravels the stories of two missing children in one small town, and the mystery that connects them.
There is a great twist ending that threw me for a loop, and some really nice writing with lots of thematic extension, which I really like. My only criticism of Island of Lost Girls is that the pacing feels a little rushed, and there are a few strange choices, like a shift from first- to third-person voice midway through the book that seems to point to an author who was really pushing to strike while the iron was hot after a really hot debut novel. The story is strong enough to excuse those little distractions, though, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
Helpful Score: 1
I expected more from the book and was disappointed. It was easy reading and was easy to lay down to come back to finish another day.
The plot was shallow resulting in the book not being a page turner to the very end.
Being a voracious reader, i turned to a few other books and finished them before continue reading this one to the end.
The plot was shallow resulting in the book not being a page turner to the very end.
Being a voracious reader, i turned to a few other books and finished them before continue reading this one to the end.
Helpful Score: 1
This was really good, I think I liked it more than her first book, and that one was great too. It was a fast read, I really couldn't put it down, I read the second half of the book in one sitting becasue I just couldn't stop.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow. Really good book. It was a little difficult to keep track of all the characters in the beginning but once I got a handle on it I really enjoyed the rest of the book.
Helpful Score: 1
I prefer this book after reading her first novel. It had a few more twists in it that kept me guessing about who the real kidnapper was. I enjoy the characters this author creates. Her books are short but very well written.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this literary-mystery/thriller more than I thought I would. Everything ended up nicely, with some surprising twists and turns that I didn't see coming. It was more well-written than I thought it would be and I'm definitely interested in reading more of her work. It was certainly a fast read!
Helpful Score: 1
Really great read!! Couldn't put it down, would highly recommend!
kept me quessing up until the end;a hard to put down mystery
I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading "Dismantled" and "Promise Not to Tell" by this author. I enjoyed both of these others immensely. Having said that, I was a bit disappointed in this one. I found the plot confusing to follow and didn't care for the whole "big, white rabbit" character. Not one of my favorites!
Jennifer McMahon never disappoints. LOVED this book, and its unexpected twists. So GOOD!!!
I liked this book, but did not like it as much as Jennifer McMahon's first novel.
Rhonda witnesses someone dressed up as a rabbit kidnap a young girl at a gas station. She wants to help find her especially since she did nothing to stop this rabbit. This event brings up memories of her own childhood where her best friend went missing. The story goes from present time to the past back and forth. If you so not like that style you will not enjoy this book. I don't mind it.
This was a good read. HOWEVER, it was hard to keep all the characters names separate in my mind. I had to keep going back....again and again...to figure out who is who. That really bothered me, and I almost put the book down. But since I've been sick, and there was nothing to do but rest, I kept on. Ultimately, I liked the book. It was all just so confusing at first! Peter, Peter Rabbit, Lizzie, Tock, Clem, Aggie, huh? Down the road, I put 2 & 2 together about Tock and Peter. I felt bad that Rhonda and Lizzie were no longer friends. It bothered me that the beguiling picture on the front of the book does NOT match the description of the girl described in the book.
Gripping from the very beginning, it's a book you won't want to put down. McMahon doesn't disappoint. The story has twists and turns and keeps you guessing, changing your mind with each passing chapter.
awesome book,have to read her others
