This actually felt really original and unique..... and I can't put my finger on why! The writing is excellent, there's no denying that. I'm not usually a fan of character led books but there's something about the writing style that kept me completely engaged, even though there wasn't that much going on all the time. The descriptions are so rich and you get such vivd imagery throughout.

The characters themselves are written to be pretty unlikeable. Part of the book is told through diary entries and you do get such a clear insight into who these characters are. They're also incredibly unique and I loved the rich culture they brought to life and just the representation. Even if they weren't nice characters, it's still such a fresh read to have characters who are not white basically! And it does change the entire flow of the book and no offence, but just makes the characters more interesting and the reader has more to learn.

The plot is obviously a take on the whole strangers on the train story, I'm sure that's actually the inspiration for the characters but there are still a few wee twists and turns thrown on there so it's not a flat out copy or anything like that which wad a concern I had when starting out.

It's definitely unique and unlike any other book I've read recently. I think anyone who enjoys rich description and character led novels will really find themselves lost in this one

Book- The resolution
Author - Lachlan pirie
.
My rating- 3/5 🌟🌟🌟

I recently read "The Resolution" by Lachlan Pirie and overall, I enjoyed the experience. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. The fast-paced plot kept me on the edge of my seat with twists and turns that were both unexpected and exciting. The characters were well-rounded and easy to root for, especially the enigmatic protagonist, Daniel Rodriguez. The writing style was superb and the character development was strong, making it easy to get lost in the story. The author did a fantastic job building tension and creating a sense of suspense that kept me engaged throughout the entire book.

While I did find some parts of the plot predictable, the rich descriptions of the characters more than made up for it.

However, I did feel that the ending was a bit unsatisfying and left me wanting more. Despite this, I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense with a touch of thrill and is interested in exploring the not so dark side of the genre. A solid 3 star read."

3.5 stars. I wish sites allowed for .5 increments, because it's so subjective whether people round up or down.

I found this book to be very unique. For me anyway. I don't recall reading anything like this before. It's a mix of so many things. Unlikeable characters, that are engaging because of how they're written, but still unlikeable. And, it's not often you have novels where so many big characters are written to be unlikeable. There's dark humour and satire, and the author has managed to create this intricate balance throughout the book. I found that captivating, as I was reading this story.

The writing is strong. It's not the best writing I've seen in a book, but there are strong descriptions, and those descriptions are often poetic in feel. I found it fascinating that the descriptions, through the eyes of the three main characters in this story, changed depending on the character POV. With Daniel and Jonathan, the descriptions were almost jagged, very sharp. With Janet, they were a little softer. Not by much, but enough to show contrast.. I found that so well done, and it gave a different life to the writing.

I also liked the story told within a story, the diary entries from the present used as evidence of the story we're being told now, that was obviously in the past, but felt so much in the present.

The small doll, obviously the most obvious source of dark humour in this story, injected a strange vibe into the plot. It felt to me almost like a Pulp Fiction vibe. I can imagine this on a screen, playing out the story. I can picture the small doll, resting on the train seat or in the car, driving across country. I get the sense the doll is more than just the other personality of Daniel. It's something larger in the story. It's an entity - and I don't know if it's a positive or negative entity. It wasn't clear. It feels more like a witness, a watcher, and even a judge. That doll did fascinate me.

Thank you to the author, and to Netgalley, for providing permission to read this book.