Official Review: The Dark Secrets of Jealousy

[Mallory Whitaker]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dark Secrets of Jealousy" by Angela Moore.]

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1 out of 4 stars

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The Dark Secrets of Jealousy by Angela Moore begins with a young woman, Kerry Ann Johnson, who wakes up in a psychiatric hospital with no recollection of how or why she’s there. The story unravels as her insatiably envious sister comes into the picture. The esteemed Johnson family’s history and all of their secrets are exposed.

The novel is labeled as a psychological thriller. This and the given synopsis are unfortunately misleading. The thriller portion takes up only the first third of the novel while the rest deals with the aftermath. I continued reading, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It never did. Honestly, this would have been better as a short story.

The writing is riddled with technical errors. I found it difficult to follow at times, especially when characters were accidentally called by another character’s name. There are a few instances of the narrator directly talking to the reader, rhetorically asking them if they think a word-choice or character’s decision is justifiable. For instance: "Who’d criticise her as I’m sure I wouldn’t absolve anyone who’d do or done the unscrupulous on me either, would you reader?” It gave me the feeling of being told what conclusion to draw about the characters rather than letting me draw them myself.

The plot (in first part) has a good foundation. The idea is solid, but the execution leaves something to be desired. The motives behind both of the sisters’ actions are explained but…fall flat. Perhaps it’s because the characters themselves are explained in a way that tells you how to feel about them. Kerry Ann is a law student, super smart, gorgeous, charitable, fashionable, the “golden child”, etc. Natasha, the sister, was sent to boarding school where she entertained herself with boys and arson. After graduating, she becomes a prostitute/drug dealer who disdains everyone and is drunk or high all the time. Kerry Anne is defined not by action and thought but by her accomplishments while Natasha is defined by her failures. We are told everything, not shown.

Like I said, the latter part of the novel feels like a different story, it merely has the same characters, give or take a couple. If there had been a clear and intentional division between the two I think it would have helped me get more into it. Instead I was waiting for there to be a connection between the two story arcs when really the former is just the background for the latter. This wouldn’t be as problematic if the summary had not insinuated that it’s a thriller revolving around a toxic relationship between two sisters. The last sentence of the summary, "Things become uncontrollable when Natasha hatches a plan that enforces Kerry Ann to look the villian and the crazy one,” is where the story begins and there are no flashbacks. It’s explained right away and the plot is over and done with by chapter eight (there are twenty-five of them).

This novel gets one out of four stars. I really hate doing this, especially for my first review, but I couldn’t recommend this book to anyone. I hate criticizing the product of someone’s hard work but…honesty is the best policy, right?

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The Dark Secrets of Jealousy
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Like Mallory Whitaker's review? Post a comment saying so!

[angie610]

I have to take the criticism as a writer, but, I think you misjudged the novel. Never mind. I know it is a decent book and one bad review won't kick me down. Technical errors, I am a new author who is poor and cannot afford an editor at this stage. But the novel does not end after 8 chapters as you say... how do you know this is not a series? The rest may follow. Thanks for the feedback though.

[bookowlie]

The plot sounds interesting. Even though you only gave it 1 star, I am still intrigued and may add this one to my list.

[geoffrey ngoima]

Writer and reviewer in the same tiny room, awkward, I wouldn't want this to be my first book to review...
Anyway, when you get the time drop by my new review. (The Elf Brief) I don't know whether it will have been approved by the time you'll read this

[Mallory Whitaker]

Writer and reviewer in the same tiny room, awkward, I wouldn't want this to be my first book to review...
Anyway, when you get the time drop by my new review. (The Elf Brief) I don't know whether it will have been approved by the time you'll read this

I did check out your review!

Bookowlie, I'm curious if you ever ended up reading this and what your thoughts were?

[geoffrey ngoima]

Well, if you would have asked, my opinion about this book, before even reading it is the title is too revealing. It lacks imagination if I might say. It's sth that would catch my eyes but not make me read it. Maybe someday I will try it out.

[Mallory Whitaker]

Well, if you would have asked, my opinion about this book, before even reading it is the title is too revealing. It lacks imagination if I might say. It's sth that would catch my eyes but not make me read it. Maybe someday I will try it out.

It is very revealing, but at the same time, it would grab the attention of people who typically read these kinds of books (like me). But you're right, it could definitely turn some people away. I would absolutely love love love to hear your thoughts so please do and tell me everything.