Las rosas de mayo

I remember running to Amazon and purchasing this second book in The Collector series right after I finished the first one because it was fantastic and totally messed up and I felt like the author really could do no wrong in my eyes. Well, almost a year later, I finally got to The Roses of May and let me just tell you, I have never been more disappointed in my life probably. Not only was the plot totally predictable but the writing really did not vibe well with me this time around. I might pick up the next book just because it has better reviews then this one but I am in no hurry to do so.

To begin with, The Roses of May picks up where the first book in the series ended and our favorite detectives are not investigating a serial killer who leaves flowers on his victims' doorstep and they realize that the clock is ticking and that it's almost time for him to kill again. I thought that the plot was interesting enough when I read the excerpt on the back of the book but in execution it was mediocre at best. For one, I was able to guess the killer correctly a few chapters in and that NEVER happens to me. On the contrary, I am usually the last one who can ever get that stuff right. I thought the pacing was also kind of slow and tedious in most parts and it took until the end of the book to get into some real action and the build up to that was not worth it in my opinion. After the first book was so unique and took my breath away, this one was a huge let down.

Further on, the characterization was probably the strongest point in this book and even that was just okay. The characters kind of let us see into their psyches but they still felt a bit standoffish and for this reason I just couldn't get to know them well enough to really care about what their fates would ultimately be. I feel like the author was keeping us at a distance and I don't think the writing helped either. The new characters definitely didn't stand out like the ones in the previous book did.

Finally, the writing was extremely problematic to me in this one. I don't remember how it was in the previous book but in this one it was choppy and didn't flow whatsoever. There were times when I had a hard time understanding what was happening or what the characters were talking about because phrases that I am not familiar with were used often. I had to reread quite a few paragraphs and for that reason couldn't finish this book as quickly as I really wanted to. It was on the shorter side for a novel and yet it stretched on endlessly because the writing style really did not do it any favors.

In conclusion, while the first book in this series was a home-run, the continuation was severely lacking and was not a joy to read. I thought that not only was the plot and murder rather predictable, but the characters and the writing style left much to be desired. I actually went to see what the next book was about and because the next one has much better ratings on Goodreads, I might pick it up just for that reason. However, this will not be happening anytime soon. While I recommend you read the first book ASAP, I would not recommend you pick up this second one in the series. What a major let down.

I've never been so disappointed in a book. I LOVED The Butterfly Garden because it was unique, thrilling, and absolutely fucked up. But Roses of May is just like every other detective novel that I was trying to avoid. SNOOOOZE. The characters aren't likeable or relatable, the plot is predictable, the climax is boring, and the string connected the The Butterfly Garden is as thin as can be.

The first book is still one of my favorite books of the 2010s, but Roses of May was simply awful. I started The Summer Children with hopes it will be better, but so far looking like more of the same lame cliches and boring plot lines. Dot should really have quit while ahead.

I've never been so disappointed in a book. I LOVED The Butterfly Garden because it was unique, thrilling, and absolutely fucked up. But Roses of May is just like every other detective novel that I was trying to avoid. SNOOOOZE. The characters aren't likeable or relatable, the plot is predictable, the climax is boring, and the string connected the The Butterfly Garden is as thin as can be.

The first book is still one of my favorite books of the 2010s, but Roses of May was simply awful. I started The Summer Children with hopes it will be better, but so far looking like more of the same lame cliches and boring plot lines. Dot should really have quit while ahead.

Awestruck

Dot Hutchison is gifted with incredible talent, that she uses to get you into the minds of killers and survivors. I have learned so much in these 2 books and am enamored with the characters she creates.

Really enjoyed but slightly less than first in the series.

I am not sure how to explain how I feel about this book. I loved the butterfly garden and I read it in one sitting just like I did this one. Initially, I didn't get into the book as quickly as I did the first book. I find it easier to get into books when they are told in the...what I think is called the first person narrative. This book alternates more than the first one did. However, the story is good. It actually is quite thought provoking. It brings up many interesting points: how the media often persecutes and harasses victims of crimes, how the delays in the justice system can delay healing, and the difficulties faced in people trying to start a new life after a tragedy (both for victims and the families of the victims). I thought it was a different story yet a masterful next installments all in one.

I loved that the author added the story of Priya and the way it wraps everything up yet leaves room for more.

1: The Butterfly Garden ★★★★★
#2: Roses of May ★★★
#3: The Summer Children ★★★★
#4: The Vanishing Season ★★

Note: This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Right off the bat I'm going to give my trigger warnings for this book, although it isn't necessarily a comprehensive list. I will not be discussing these triggers in my review. Content warning for The Roses of May for: eating disorders, stalking, and sexual assault.

I was STOKED when I saw this on NetGalley. I had just read The Butterfly Garden a month or two beforehand and couldn't believe my luck in stumbling across an ARC of the sequel. I gave The Butterfly Garden five stars and was really looking forward to what Dot Hutchinson was up to next.

Let me just start off by saying that even though I hyped this book up in my mind, it completely lived up to it. I didn't even read the plot summary because I was so sure that Dot would pull out another wonderful work. It was kind of nice to go in cold and without much in the way of expectations as far as plot goes, but I will briefly cover the story.

The Roses of May is definitely a sequel to The Butterfly Garden. I think I've seen a few folks say it could work as a standalone piece, but I really disagree. I mean, it's certainly possible to read it without any context, but I just don't think it'll hold up as well. A lot of the characters carry over and their stories are so closely tied that I don't think it would do the story justice not to have that background.

The Roses of May focuses on a young woman named Priya whose story is largely unrelated to The Butterfly Garden, save for the fact that the same group of FBI agents had worked a case close to her. Dot Hutchinson uses this connection to weave Priya's story in with that of the Butterflies'. This book follows Priya's life five years after the murder of her older sister. Naturally, the killer returns and the agents are on the case. It sounds a little cheesy, but it's really well done in my opinion.

Dot Hutchinson's writing is fantastic, per usual. I remembered being struck by her writing in The Butterfly Garden and was glad to experience it again so soon! The story was immersive, the characters were wonderful, and it was almost impossible for me to put down. It was also wonderful to read a book with women of color as the main characters! There are also two notable lgbt women, which I was super excited about! There are so many complex women in Dot Hutchinson's books, I love it. It was also great to see a really nice mom-daughter relationship, which I feel like we don't see enough of.

Overall, The Roses of May was a fantastic read that I would highly recommend to anyone interested, but would probably be best for lovers of thriller and crime. I can see why it wouldn't work for some people, but I loved it!

This is just as good as the first!!! I loved the new characters! Gio is a trip. He's totally laugh out loud funny. I really love where this series is headed. It's all very ominous and that's fantastic. I wish Lilith was in the story more along with Theresa! Theresa is awesome!!!! She's the best part of this book and she's not even in it very long. I would love to see Gio and Theresa make a reappearance in this series.

I bought my copy from Robot Trading Co. and it's full of glaring errors. I hope they get fixed soon for future buyers.