"The Ruinous Sweep" by Tim Wynne-Jones presents readers with a complex and atmospheric narrative that combines elements of mystery, psychological thriller, and coming-of-age drama. Wynne-Jones demonstrates a keen understanding of human nature and the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, crafting a story that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its evocative setting and atmospheric prose. Wynne-Jones captures the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness with vivid descriptions and a keen eye for detail, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world. The remote setting adds an element of isolation and foreboding to the narrative, heightening the sense of tension and suspense.

Moreover, "The Ruinous Sweep" features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. Wynne-Jones deftly navigates the tangled relationships and hidden agendas that drive the plot forward, creating a sense of intrigue and uncertainty that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery is compelling, as he grapples with questions of identity, belonging, and the nature of truth.

However, while "The Ruinous Sweep" excels in creating a richly textured world and compelling characters, some readers may find the pacing to be slow at times. The novel's leisurely buildup and introspective passages may detract from the overall momentum of the story, leading to moments of stagnation or disengagement.

Furthermore, the novel's nonlinear structure and shifting perspectives may present challenges for some readers, particularly those who prefer a more straightforward narrative. While the multiple points of view add depth and complexity to the story, they may also contribute to a sense of confusion or disconnect for readers trying to piece together the various threads of the plot.

In conclusion, "The Ruinous Sweep" by Tim Wynne-Jones is a nuanced and atmospheric novel that offers a compelling exploration of identity, family, and the human condition. While its richly imagined setting and complex characters are sure to captivate readers, its slow pacing and nonlinear structure may limit its appeal for some. Overall, "The Ruinous Sweep" is a thought-provoking read that rewards patience and introspection, offering readers a tantalizing glimpse into the mysteries of the human heart and the power of redemption.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

I’m a fan of books like this one so I thought I’d enjoy it more than I did. I did like certain aspects, such as the main character.

Heartily enjoyed this one with its twists and excellent writing. The jumpy POVs and almost dream-like sequences managed to both confuse and grip, giving the story an excellently surreal feeling without completely losing the reader. A unique addition to any collection and a compelling author.

The premise for "The Ruinous Sweep" is an intriguing one, but there was quite a bit lacking in the execution. For me, the pacing was the problem. It felt like it was either dragging or being rushed, with an ending that felt forced. That being said, it wasn't a bad book, just not one that lived up to its potential. If the synopsis sounds like your type of thing, I still recommend giving it a try.

More than a little disappointed by this one. The synopsis of The Ruinous Sweep failed to mention its paranormal and supernatural elements so when one of the characters in the first chapter could read someone’s thoughts? Well, it was just a big no-no for me. I am far too old to be reading anything that even slightly edges towards science-fiction in the Young Adult age category, so this one really didn’t work for me.

This book was a little confusing at times. I wasn't sure what was going on or what any of it meant. I guess it all came together in the end but I definitely had to flip back a few pages to go over major plot points that I missed. It was ok but got a little too caught up in Donovan's confusing journey for my taste. I wish we had more Bee moments. I also wish the ending were different.

I tend to find Wynne-Jones a bit of a mixed bag. Sure, he doesn't pull punches when talking about life's grittier realities. He trusts that teen readers can handle violence, corruption, the horrible things people do to one another. He empowers his teen protagonists to deal with serious situations on their own. SOmetimes they're too empowered, take foolish risks for no clear reason. THat's the case here. We have no reason to believe that the police are not fully investigating this crime and yet our protagonist goes investigating. She puts herself in significant danger on the basis of some pretty flimsy evidence.

This one was not a big hit with me but I can see how it could be adored by a younger audience. It was mysterious and a bit bizarre, which when you're not old and jaded, are quite appealing.

A bit of everything: intriguing, well-flowing, slightly messy, addictive at time and completely flat at others... it's a book for those who're tired of the expected and usual format.

Thank you Netgalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much for the chance to review this title. I absolutely loved it and will be posting my love for it all over.

I was excited about The Ruinous Sweep from reading the synopsis in the very beginning. It started out suspenseful and exciting, yet a bit bizarre. Donovan is suspended in a coma, trying in his dreamlike state to determine if he killed his own father. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Bee is in the real world trying to make sense of Donovan's ramblings, and ultimately takes on an investigation of her own.

This book is a twisted journey through the Inferno (a la Dante) and its often difficult to tell what is reliable and what is not. I found the writing to be sharp and detailed, but yet the pacing wasn't all that I hope for in a thriller.

Ambitious is the main word that comes to mind.  Retelling Dante's Inferno is intense and quite a load to take one.  Unfortunately, it did not work for me.  I gave it 100 pages, and when I was just as confused and uninterested as when I started, I decided to call it quits. I have 11 other ARCS on my plate, 3 in July.  I live by the motto, "life's too short to waste time on books you're not feeling"

I don't think this book was bad, not by any means.  It just simply wasn't for me.  I enjoyed the writing style, but the story was just too jumbled and way too many question marks for me to get through.  

Based on other reviews, this seems like a total hit or miss with readers.

Before I started reading this one I wanted to take a peek at a few reviews and get a general feeling about the book. I saw that this book was getting mostly negative attention, and after skimming a few of them, I was more than a little tentative to start it. However, I ended up liking this one a lot. The story had me hooked right from the beginning.

Oh, sure there were parts that were a bit confusing and chaotic (especially the sections told from Donovan's POV). And parts that I am still not entirely sure I understand. I am assuming Donovan's journey is supposed to resemble Dante’s Divine Comedy, but since I haven't read that since high school English Lit, the symbolism was a bit lost on me. Nevertheless, I still found myself pulled into the story. I especially loved Bea and her determination to find out what really happened to Dono. I also loved that was set in Ontario my home province, and not particularly far from where I grew up.

So yea, it wasn't a perfect book, and I can certainly understand some of the issues other reviewers have brought up in their reviews. However, for me, this was a case of the plot being intriguing enough that the good outweighed the bad. Therefore I am going to give this one two thumbs up.

A novel with an interesting plot. I picked it up because of the cover and really enjoyed it. I would recommend this one to fans of thrillers and YA.

Did not finish.
Unfortunately, this book did not catch my attention, despite its abstract seemed intriguing. I reached around 25% of the book, but the plot did not engage me in keeping on reading.

A bit of everything: intriguing, well-flowing, slightly messy, addictive at time and completely flat at others... it's a book for those who're tired of the expected and usual format.

Thank you Netgalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting idea for a retelling intermixed with a murder mystery sounds like just the thing I’d get excited for but unfortunately in this case it fell flat.

“The Ruinous Sweep” is a story told in two parts as Donovan desperately tries to determine if he’s responsible for his father’s death all the while dealing with his own chaotic situation as his girlfriend Bee struggles with the detectives eager to pin the entire crime on him while he lays in a hospital bed. As the story unfolds and secrets come to light both have to venture deep into the past to find the people responsible and find peace moving forward.

Creating a story retelling Dante’s Inferno is a very unique idea and the way it’s intermixed with the mystery/thriller plot of this novel works to its advantage, however, the beginning takes off in a way that plays to both Donovan’s and Bee’s narrative without informing the reader of the discrepancies so I thought I had jumped ahead somehow and spent a good portion of that early bit confused as to what was going on.

That being said my favorite part was the second half when the entirety of the Dante component is dropped in favor of the whodunit though it ended up pairing nicely with the events of part one with the threads of foreshadowing paying off.

I don’t know, I really hoped to love this book because the source material is so layered and fascinating that I sort of expected something more but here it was really more of a personal reflection rather than a new take on a descent into hell.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**