I'll be honest: I barely read the synopsis before requesting this book. When I saw the word "cult" I was sold. I love (fictional) books about cults. Honestly, I can't even remember one single "cult book" I haven't enjoyed so far.
Well, now there is one. :(
ONLY THE GUILTY SURVIVE did not work with me. This was my first time reading a book by this author and, even though I don't see anything essentially wrong with Kate Robards' writing, I cannot say that I truly enjoyed it, either.
The writing didn't appeal to me, the characters (I couldn't empathise with Claire, unfortunately) all fell flat and boring to me, the podcast element I thought it was dull and added nothing original or exciting to the plot, and the cult part....the only reason why I picked this book up...was disappointing. I felt nothing. Well, boredom, yes, but other than that, nothing else, really. Actually, there were some moments, some scenes I felt this book was too juvenile, too close to a YA book - which personally doesn't please me at all.
I listened to the audiobook version of it and I gotta say: it is well done, well narrated and the 3 narrators (one of them I already knew and loved) were decent enough to hold my attention, despite everything. If it weren't for the audiobook, I would probably have DNFed this book.
I guess I would recommend this book to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it, and maybe to readers who like podcast and cult elements.
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for allowing me to listen to a free audiobook copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.