Review of Toxic Side Effect

[Prarthna]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Toxic Side Effect" by Sandy Magner.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Time is the wisest of all, for it reveals everything. Toxic Side Effect by Sandy Magner is the sequel to Pocket Dial, but it can be read as a standalone novel. It revolves around the theme of family, love, murder and secrets.

The narrative is from the perspective of Jennifer Burns. The book begins with Jennifer rushing to hospital after she was told that her father, Richard Burns has been hospitalised. The doctor informs her that Richard has ingested cyanide poison and Jennifer’s mother, Audrey Burns becomes the prime suspect. Soon after, Richard dies and Jennifer sets out on the quest to find the real killer to clear her mother’s name. She discovers that her parent’s seemingly perfect marriage was an illusion. Slowly the family secrets begin to unravel, which leaves Jennifer staggered and overwhelmed. Is Jennifer’s mother actually guilty? Will Jennifer be able to catch the real killer to save her mother?

The author quickly got me involved in the lives of the characters. Jennifer, mother of two children, has had two broken marriages and one of her past relationship was traumatic. She is a strong woman who doesn’t like to sit back and watch. She is very protective of her family. Jennifer’s past was mentioned quite a lot and every time I wished I had read Pocket Dial, as it seemed to be interesting. The characters in this book are relatable. One of the characters that I loved was Jennifer’s best friend, Kat. She is unapologetically straight forward. Sometimes, she comes off as rude, but I loved her sarcastic remarks. Their friendship is remarkable. Audrey Burns was another character who intrigued me. I was impressed by some of her decision and could understand why she made them.

The book is beautifully written, but I would have preferred it to be a bit more fast-paced and more twist and turns could have been incorporated. At some points, I found the story to be lagging and not compelling enough, but most of the parts were inquisitive and engrossing. Nonetheless, the final reveal was satisfying.

I would rate this book three out of four stars, as I would have preferred more complexity in this mystery. Overall, the characters are well-written. Also, there are some hidden moral lessons in this book. I only found two minor typos so I can say that this book is professionally edited. Finally, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy light suspense thriller.

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Toxic Side Effect
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[Kaushiki Parihar]

Jennifer's character appeals me to read this book. However, it's awful that the book doesn't have enough twists and turns to keep the readers engage because like you, I too prefer many twists and turns. Thanks for the great review.

[Astral Magi]

A pity that it isn't complex enough, and yet, Jennifer sounds like an intriguing character. Thanks for a great review.

[Unosthetic]

What kind of suspect use cyanide poison as his weapon? I'm excited to know. Great review.

[NetMassimo]

The story may be a bit too linear for this genre but, overall, it still seems a good thriller with well-developed characters. Thank you for your great review!

[Clare Jose]

While I do enjoy being on the edge of my seat, a good plot and some well-written characters can keep me engaged just as well.
Thank you for your review!

[markodim721]

I like that the characters are perfectly developed. They perfectly complement an interesting plot. Thanks for the good review.

[Ethan Howe]

It deserves a 3 out 4 stars rating. Slow paced novels tend to be boring but thanks to the author its characters are fascinating and relatable.

[zainherb]

This sounds like a great read. I don't mind slow paced books.
I hope Jenifer's mother is not the culprit even though she is the obvious suspect.
Thanks for the interesting review.

[Sanju Lali]

This book looks like a interesting murder mystery with full of saddening events. Thanks for your lovely review about this book, which I enjoyed reading.

[Hyacinth Bella]

I do feel like this is such a miss for me because a good mystery thriller novel has many twists and turns that would make you squirm in your seat. Thanks for your honest review.