Book Review: Crematorium by Marilyn Benner Sowyak

“Two deaths were related to Maggie. His plans? Start where the husband had been? Why did he leave his wife? And, by some weird coincidence, were the two men connected? If they were, what was Maggie’s connections to the deaths? He had to admit; things didn’t look good for her.”

Marilyn Benner Sowyak, Crematorium

Review:

While the plot of this thriller was in constant motion, there were too many other things going on at the same time that made so much get lost in the jumble. 

Maggie gets caught in a string of murders, many of them people she was close to. Worse, she is a suspect. This is the main focus of the plot and is interesting, especially where so many scenes take place in a hospital. Unfortunately, there is a lot of buzzing around it. Romances that feel forced, different characters coming and going, and frankly, some unrealistic scenarios. Toward the end of the book, a character even mentions people thinking it’s going to be a soap opera. This is exactly how it reads right down to the most cliche tropes. When I got to the ‘About the Author’ page, the first credits mentioned being a medical consultant for two major soap operas which explained it all. If you enjoy these kinds of busy plots, it will be an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy to read and review.

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• The medical content made the plot intriguing. It can get gory, however.

What I didn’t like:

• Too many side plots that distracted from the main plot.
• Weak writing. It was clear, but cliche.
• There was no chance to connect to the characters.

Afterthoughts:

The book was a letdown for me, but again, if you are a fan of soap operas and busy plots, this is a great read. If you’re a fan of gripping thrillers, not so much. That being said, there is a lot of action. There aren’t any slow moments which I consider to be a plus.

Where to buy the book: