Begins with an engaging premise ... Todd...steers her twisty narrative with artful control ... Builds to a satisfying (and satisfyingly unexpected) finale. A little bit thriller, a little bit mystery, the novel’s genre elements are commendably propulsive. Some of its issues — uneven pacing, inconsistent characterization — are encountered frequently in debut novels and don’t obscure the fact that Todd’s confidence and talents augur a bright future.
Not a rapid-fire page-turner or a wild freak-fest: It is instead a slow-burn meditation on grief, hope, mortality ... What is on the page holds up a mirror to what is in the sky — luminous, unusual, unexpected ... Yet, when it comes to weighty prose, there can be too much of a good thing ... Brings Bright Objects to a remarkable conclusion as unexpected as it is poignant, and more original and human than any conventional cult story.
Smart, propulsively readable ... Todd knows how to draw readers in. Her prose is elegant but accessible, her narrative embraces both mystery and quick plot pivots, and her protagonist, though flawed, remains sympathetic. And Todd’s grip only tightens as the story turns downright chilling.
Dazzling ... A riveting literary thriller of obsession, vengeance and astronomy, but its most poignant gift may be its depiction of trying to make sense of life after tragedy.
Lushly detailed ... The novel’s noir edge combines with a tone of mystical fatalism to make for a disorienting reading experience. A heady look at the influence of the heavens on a small patch of earth.
