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alexratman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror
frostbitsky's review against another edition
3.0
This was such a sad story about WW I veterans, their physical and mental trauma, and their families' grief. As sad as it was, it was good to see a story that addressed those topics. Especially about WW I which is often overlooked by WW II.
The mystery was easy to figure out and solve.
If this book were only about Maisie Dobbs's first P.I. case it would have been a shorter book, but a big chunk of the middle is dedicated to Maisie's backstory.
The part about her childhood and education dragged and I did get bored, but it all ties together at the end.
The prose is beautiful. I wrote down some quotes.
- Memory is a golden chain that binds us till we meet again. (Donald Holden's gravestone.)
- "Never follow a story with a question, Maisie. Not immediately. And remember to acknowledge the storyteller, for in some way even the messenger is effected by the story he brings."
- A grand house that was now a home for the men stranded in time by the Great War. Men trapped in the caverns of their own minds. Never to return.
- "It was as if the memory of you, of us, of the explosion, were encased in fine tissue paper."
- With their damaged faces once so very dear to a mother, father, or sweetheart, they were now reduced to gargoyles by a war that for them never ended.
Overall, good female detective story. I am not hooked enough to continue the series.
3 out of 5 Retreats
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookfann's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
juliabegeman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Suicide
lakea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
bergha1998's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Historic Mystery, War Trauma, Good Character Development
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kristywebb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Medical content, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Blood
knit_the_resistance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
edhyndman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: War
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness