Past Perfect

WTH did I just read?!

I’m genuinely trying to be as polite as possible, but… what the actual h** was this book?

If I went through the pain of buying a book and spending time I’ll never get back reading it, then I think I’ve earned the right to be as critical as I’m about to be.

Danielle Steel (DS) has always been one of my favorite authors, and having read many of her novels, I can honestly say that Past Perfect ranks among the lowest of the Danielle Steel books I’ve read. I bought this book solely because of DS, but I guess I should’ve checked the reviews first… not that I would’ve believed them. I’m way too much of a fan.

I was initially intrigued by the foreword, which mentioned she was attempting something new, and the premise sounded promising. The first few chapters lived up to that promise, but unfortunately, the story quickly lost all momentum.

The novel became extremely repetitive and lacked the signature “Danielle Steel effect” one would usually expect from her work. There was no depth, no emotional pull, and very little consistency. TBH, if I hadn’t known this was written by Danielle Steel, I might not have guessed it was hers at all.

I finished the book solely because I don’t like leaving books unfinished, but believe me, it wasn’t an enjoyable experience, and what made it even more frustrating was the wasted potential. The plot could have been interesting if only it had been adequately developed or even remotely researched - like, this is just bonkers!

Three hundred pages of ghosts and humans playing dress-up felt excessive and unnecessary. I don’t get the point!

Sighs! I could go on ranting and ranting, but it’s honestly not worth the effort. Overall, this was a thoroughly disappointing read, and sadly, not one I would recommend.