The Stats

Title: Don’t You Cry

Author: Mary Kubica

Narrated By: Kate Rudd,Kirby Heyborne

Publisher: MIRA (17 May 2016)

Time: 10 Hours 31 Minutes

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Romance

Trigger Warnings: Death, Murder, Violence, Death of a Parent

Read if you like: The Other Mrs., Bye Baby, Local Women Missing

Rating: 3.5 Rounded down to 3 on Good Reads

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The Review

I have read multiple Mary Kubica novels now—Don’t You Cry is my third. I wouldn’t necessarily say Don’t You Cry is better than Kubica’s main hit, Local Woman Missing. However, I did enjoy the unique take on the mystery thriller genre.

Don’t You Cry is a slow-burning suspense thriller, with a hint of a romance plotline I was not expecting. The novel is told through dual perspectives—Quinn, a young woman trying to unravel the sudden disappearance of her roommate, Esther Vaughn (E.V.), in Chicago, and Alex, a lonely small-town boy who becomes fixated on a mysterious woman, Pearl, who appears in his town. I was unsure how the story would eventually intertwine, but as the two narratives unfold, the connections between them gradually begin to form.

Kubica excels at crafting an unsettling tone, and Don’t You Cry was no exception. Her vivid descriptions of isolation and paranoia, particularly in Alex’s storyline, heighten the suspense, while Quinn’s increasingly frantic investigation adds to the novel’s tension. This careful layering of uncertainty and unease makes for an immersive psychological thriller. While the suspense builds steadily, the pacing is uneven. Quinn’s passages varied between a quick-paced informational dump and dragging monologues, whereas Alex’s storyline tended to drag, taking a rather long time to build momentum. I personally struggled with Alex’s portions near the beginning of the novel, finding them slow and difficult to engage with. I thought I had the big twist figured out, so I didn’t pay attention as much to them as I did Quinn’s. This was a BIG MISTAKE.

Overall, Don’t You Cry is an enjoyable read. While the slow-burn approach may not be gripping enough for seasoned mystery thriller fans who prefer a faster pace and higher stakes, the novel still delivers a compelling psychological drama. Kubica’s ability to craft flawed, relatable characters makes it an engaging read, even if the twists might not be as shocking for those familiar with the genre. Despite its uneven pacing, the novel succeeds in building an ominous tension that lingers until the final pages, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a more character-driven thriller.

Short Review (AKA TLDR)

I have read multiple Mary Kubica novels now—Don’t You Cry is my third. I wouldn’t necessarily say Don’t You Cry is better than Kubica’s main hit, Local Woman Missing. However, I did enjoy the unique take on the mystery thriller genre. Told through dual perspectives, the novel follows Quinn, who investigates her roommate’s disappearance, and Alex, who becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman in his small town. As their stories unfold, unexpected connections emerge. While the suspense builds steadily, the pacing is uneven. Quinn’s passages varied between a quick-paced informational dump and dragging monologues, whereas Alex’s storyline tended to slowly creep, taking a rather long time to build momentum. I personally struggled with Alex’s portions near the beginning of the novel, finding them slow and difficult to engage with.

Overall, Don’t You Cry is an enjoyable read. While the slow-burn approach may not be gripping enough for seasoned mystery thriller fans who prefer a faster pace and higher stakes, the novel still delivers a compelling psychological drama. Kubica’s ability to craft flawed, relatable characters makes it an engaging read, even if the twists might not be as shocking for those familiar with the genre. Despite its uneven pacing, the novel succeeds in building an ominous tension that lingers until the final pages, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a more character-driven thriller.