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Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: July 26th, 2018
315 Pages
Synopsis: “I will never forget the night I drowned…”
Seventeen-year-old Eleanor Parker wakes up cold and alone in the river that twists through her quiet village. She remembers a hand on her chest, another on her head, water in her throat, those final gasps for air…
Her brother’s girlfriend was drowned in the same river the summer before, held under the water by an unknown killer.
Determined to unlock the mystery of what really happened that night, Eleanor can’t escape the feeling that something terrible happened links her to the previous summer’s murder. But will she discover the shocking truth, before it’s too late?
This is going to sound strange, but I’m actually surprised by how much I loved The Death and Life of Eleanor Parker. I’ve read and enjoyed several of Kerry Wilkinson’s previous books, so I’m a fan of his writing style, which is why I immediately requested it as soon as I saw it on NetGalley.
My favorite part of this book is the first person voice of Eleanor/Ellie herself. Although I’m not sure I would have been quite as calm if I found myself rising from a watery grave, I admired Ellie’s self possession and determination to discover not only who killed her, but also her brother’s girlfriend one year previously. And I absolutely loved her dry sense of humor as she investigates, while dealing with the physical effects of being dead, like being freezing cold in the middle of summer, not being able to eat, and so on. All this while keeping her new physical state secret from her family and friends.
The secondary characters are well-rounded, and relatable. I especially liked the loving yet occasionally combative relationship between Ellie and her mother. As far as the mystery goes, although Ellie is a likable girl, due to something that happens the night she dies, there are a few suspects that could be the villain. I was kept guessing until just before the end. There’s also a twist that took me completely by surprise and it fit in with the storyline perfectly.
The only reason why I’m not giving giving this 5 stars is that there’s something about Ellie’s death that for me, isn’t explained. It’s not a major plot hole but it bothered me nonetheless. Overall though, I loved this book and highly recommend it to YA and adult fans of shows like Twin Peaks and Riverdale.
raistlin0903 said:
Another wonderful review (and ofcourse yet another book I need to add lol) Seriously I just came back from good reads updating my to read list, now I have to go back again 😂😂
Strangely enough I am currently reading a Japanese book that also features a ghost who is trying to find out how he died (although at this point it’s not clear if he was murdered or not) Talk about a coincidence 😊 This sounds like a great read though, and I like your description of the main character! Thanks for sharing this one Kim 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Michel. I’m sorry I’m such a bad influence on you!😉 The book you’re reading sounds interesting. Are you going to review it?
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raistlin0903 said:
Haha, no you are not: I always love getting new recommendations, so really keep them coming, and keep writing those wonderful reviews! 😊
As for your question, yes I am. Lately I am watching way too much tv series/anime, and spending way too little time on reading books, but this week I want to finish this novel and hopefully write a review for it in the weekend 😊😊
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yay!🤗
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Well, she got me too….. 😕😉😂
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raistlin0903 said:
Haha lol…it seems nobody is safe anymore 😂😂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Bwahaha!😈
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
I’m supposed to be the Deviless!!! I’ll have to tell Shalini that she had it all wrong! 😉😂😈
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😁😂🤣
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Is this a book, or manga?? What is it?? I want to read it! (see? You can influence ME into books too! 😂)
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raistlin0903 said:
Lol…well..actually it is both. I am not kidding either. The book contains two stories. One is a novel, the other is a manga. The story I am referring too is the novel, the manga I can’t yet judge on. But as I said…I hope to write a review this weekend. Pff…no pressure here lol 😂😂
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Well… A little pressure! I want to read it! Ha ha! And, if I can’t read the novel itself (is the novel in English??), I’ll enjoy reading your review! 😀
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raistlin0903 said:
Haha…as much as I love Asian culture and the Japanese in particular, I can’t speak/read the language (except for a few choice words lol) so yes luckily it is in English 😅Okay..I’m going to make an extra effort to finish this book this week and get the review out for it ASAP. 😊😊
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
I feel like her calmness would actually annoy me! Ha ha! But… Twin Peaks??? You got me there!! Count me in!! 💖💖💖 Great review as always, Kim! 🍻😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Nicole. It’s hard to describe it, but it just made me like her more. And it definitely has that Twin Peaks vibe even though it takes place in a small English village.
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Ooo.. I also like a small English village.. Well, this is added. 😊
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Woot!🤜🏻🤛🏻
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Kim, I should probably just contact you to say this as opposed to spamming your comments, but watching “the greatest showman”…. First 5 minutes. Mind. Blown. New favourite movie. 💖💖💖💖
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Woo Hoo!🤗
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Farther in… So calculated. All of it is so exact. Greatest Showman. It’s all so precise.. I hope the dancers got props!! 💖💖
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m thrilled that you are loving this Nicole! ☺️
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
… I want to be Mrs, Hugh Jackman… Or Mrs. Zac Efron… Which I never thought I would say… 😞
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Well, I’m a bit old for Zac Zefron, but I’ve had a crush on Hugh Jackman for years.😍
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
Oh, he’s one of my Love’s. Zac Efron’s not my type, so I was surprised how much I liked him. I saw Hugh Jackman live in a one man show he did and I was SO IN LOVE WITH HIM! I hope he is as amazing as he seems in real life. 💖💖💖
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
He’s a celeb I’ve never heard anything bad about. He just seems like a genuinely nice guy.☺️
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fragglerocking said:
This one sounds interesting 😊
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s a great read Fraggle even if you don’t normally read YA. And it takes place in a small English village.☺️
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jennifertarheelreader said:
Oh, wow, Kim! This sounds great! I am super intrigued, and you’ve sold me. Wonderful review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Jennifer!🤗
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beetleypete said:
Twin Peaks? That raised my interest level by 99%. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Definitely Pete. And, in an English village.😁
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Beware Of The Reader said:
Wonderful review Kim and …they can’t all get 5 stars 😉
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Sophie! This was soooo close, and I may be being overly fussy.🤷🏻♀️
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Carrie said:
Great review on this one! This one was quite a nice surprise being nothing like the other I’d read from this author before. 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks so much Carie! I really loved Ellie. ☺️
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Carrie said:
You’re welcome! 🙂
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Michelle Morrison said:
This sounds like a great read. I will put it on my TBR list. Sigh, so many good books and not enough hours in the day. LOL.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Awesome! And I feel your pain!
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lostartofreadingblog said:
This sounds great! You’ve got me hooked so far 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yay!😁
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Diana said:
Great review Kim. I also enjoyed this one and agree with you about the bit that remained unexplained. Her humor made me smile a couple of times 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Diana! ☺️
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The Shameful Narcissist said:
It’s the Twin Peaks that convinced me. I recently reviewed a game that had the same vibe, and I loved the dry, meta humor. I’ll give this one an add!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Awesome!☺️
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mlbradford said:
Interesting plot – great Review
Novels I am (trying) to read @ th moment:
“Captain In Calico” by George MacDonald Fraser (my all-time fav historical-fiction writer!)
“The Lazarus Gate” by Mark A. Latham (begins in Victorian London, but as it features a war between parallel universes, could end up anywhere, any time!)
“Lord Foul’s Bane” by Stephen Donaldson (Book 1 of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, cos I’ve been searching for it forever!)
and
“A Kingdom Beseiged” by Raymond Feist (at last!)
Stop me if u know any of these are rubbish! 😉
Cheers!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Brad. I haven’t read any of those books. I hope you enjoy them🤗
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mlbradford said:
Thanks, Kim. I hope I can finish them!
I know u would love to see more book reviews on my blog! 🙂
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