Review : Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes
Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes
Pages : 400
Genre : Psychological Thriller
Stand alone
My Rating : 2/5
About the Book :
As the sanctuary of the marina is threatened, and Genevieve’s life seems increasingly at risk, the story of how she came to be so out of her depth unfolds, and she discovers the hard way the real cost of mixing business with pleasure.
My Thoughts :
Oy! What to say, what to say about this book?
Dark Tide was one of those books I was quite looking forward to reading. I didn’t even question it, I thought for sure I was in for, at least, a good mystery. After all, I had had a great time reading the author’s previous novel, Into the Darkest Corner. I had enjoyed the way the author mixed past and present to share a scary tale, and appreciated the thought she had put in her main character’s emotional journey.
In Dark Tide though, I felt that what had so well worked previously was failing me this time. The thing is, when you weave together two stories, there’s always a risk one will suffer from it. Here, I found myself not caring much for the present, and much more intrigued by Genevieve’s past. The now, which was where the story should have been taking place, felt boring and uneventful compared to what she had left behind. I felt like the book would have been much more interesting if one or the other time frames would have been kept out; limit the past to a few flashbacks, or the present to an epilogue, for instance.
I also felt very little connection to Genevieve. We get to know what she does and why, but we never really get to know who she is. The romance felt very sudden, and I was surprised by the things she chose to question or not.
All in all, I was very disappointed by Dark Tide. It’s not a bad book per say, just one that didn’t hook me right. I’m still up to giving the author another chance though, as I had appreciated her previous novel. If you have yet to read Elizabeth Haynes, Into the Darkest Corner is where you should start!
I saw the title of this post and knew I’d read something by the author before, so I went to look her up before reading your review. Then realized I should have just read your review, since you mention Into the Darkest Corner several times, haha. And honestly, I didn’t much like Corner. It felt overdone and flat to me, and I had a hard time believing the characterization (really? She DIDN’T see it coming that this loser she met was controlling and manipulative? Because it was kinda obvious from their first moments…). If this one was bad even for someone who enjoyed the one I didn’t enjoy, I might just have to avoid it. :/
I agree about the characterization on that point. I was about to say that I didn’t mind because it often is the case in books, but in fact, it just reinforces your point really! 🙂
I think what I mostly enjoyed in Darkest Corner was the characterization in the “present” part. Dealing myself with anxiety and OCD, I felt it was really well done, so I guess I connected in a more personal manner. But the faults you found in that one were present in Dark Tide too, so I think you are right that you should probably avoid it!
I haven’t read anything by this author yet, and it sounds like I shouldn’t start with this one! Bummer that it didn’t live up to her last book 🙁 I’ll keep Into the Darkest Corner in mind.
I’m sorry to see this was a stinker.