Drowned

Author: Therese Bohman
Goodreads Rating: 3.35
My Rating: 1 Star
Pages: 219
Reviewed by: Nicole


I got this book free in exchange for my honest review.I thought the idea of this thriller was interesting and I wanted to see how it would play out. I will also admit that I was a little interested in it because it is a Swedish Thriller, and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was also a Swedish thriller, so I hoped that they would be alike. 


Goodreads Synopses:


 On the surface, the story couldn’t be simpler. A single young woman visits her older sister, who is married to a writer as charismatic as he is violent. As the young woman falls under her brother-in-law’s spell, the plot unfolds in a series of precisely rendered turns. Meanwhile the reader, anticipating the worst, hopes against hope that disaster can be averted.
   More than a mere thriller, this debut novel delves deep into the feminine soul and at the same time exposes the continuing oppression of women in Sweden’s supposedly enlightened society. Mixing hothouse sensuality with ice-cold fear on every page, Drowned heralds the emergence of a major new talent on the international scene.


My review after the jump.
I really wish I hadn't read this book. It did absolutely nothing for me. In attempting to create mystery Bohman only created confusion. Perhaps it was just my version, but there was never any break for a new chapter or even those page break things that indicate that you're moving to a new time or scene. I always felt confused because one minute something big was about to happen and then the next, they were having dinner.


The ending also resolves absolutely nothing. We know nothing about the characters other than Marina-our narrator-being the worst sister ever and that Gabriel-the husband- is an ass! Marina is unsympathetic as she talks about growing distant from her boyfriend and growing toward her sister's husband. Stella, the wronged sister seems distant and untouchable. Even when we read a little in her diary, we don't really get to know her.


The idea behind the plot was strong, sort of. Bohman definitely could have beefed up this book more rather than leave it like the bare bones story it is. I'm not even left wanting more about I just wanted this to be over. The bright side is that because it is super short, its quick to read which is the only redeeming quality of this book.


Perhaps the most interesting part of this book was the foreshadowing about *Spoiler Alert* Stella's death and the first book that Gabriel wrote and an image that is discussed in the book. The sex scenes leave you with nothing but feeling unfulfilled and there are no thrills in this book. I only kept turning the pages in an effort to finish what I started.