The Long, Long Afternoon - Inga Vesper - 4* review
I've only read a few mystery/thrillers but this is not the usual. This book is a slow, creeping sort of horror, like a nightmare wrapped in sunshine. There’s an oppressive atmosphere that feels sweaty and tired and sluggish, like it’s hard to breathe even while reading, and paired with such a mystery this is an odd but oddly effective way to tell a story. I’ll admit, I was impatient with the first half of the book; I’m the kind of person who wants to get straight into the thick of it and find out all the answers at once. This book doesn’t jump into the action, it meanders its way through it and sticks to its own pace. This isn’t just a mystery, it’s a conversation on race, feminism, wealth disparity, and mental health, wrapped up in a beautifully poetic writing style and a setting that leaves one feeling unsettled and distrustful.
That being said, there were no trigger warnings on the NetGalley arc, and there needs to be on the final copy. The summary has no real indication of these extremely triggering topics, including but not limited to:
Despite these topics being common in books such as this, it’s very important to warn for them in a place where people who need trigger warnings can quickly and easily access them.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
