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bluestarfish's review
1.0
Several women get murdered someone gets arrested and then the second half of the book begins with a new (sort of) story. Afterwards I found out this based on true crime so I wonder if that's why it felt like there was no plot developments, things just plodded along (oh here's a body, oh here's the murderer). And if you write about murders during a war time surely the blackout curtains aren't the most interesting thing about it? Maybe I'm just grumpy as the protagonist is a death penalty apologist? I do get the feeling I've read a totally different book as I didn't get any of the "tense and eerie thriller" promised on the back.
julie7's review against another edition
4.0
4 ⭐ =Good.
Paperback.
This was my physical bookclubs read this month.
Apparently this is based on a true story, although I wasn't aware of this prior to reading.
Very atmospheric, with descriptive writing that really set the scene well.
Initially, I thought that it was set during the Victorian era. I never read the synopsis prior to reading so always go in blind.
The only negative - I was a little disappointed with the ending. Not what I was expecting.
Paperback.
This was my physical bookclubs read this month.
Apparently this is based on a true story, although I wasn't aware of this prior to reading.
Very atmospheric, with descriptive writing that really set the scene well.
Initially, I thought that it was set during the Victorian era. I never read the synopsis prior to reading so always go in blind.
The only negative - I was a little disappointed with the ending. Not what I was expecting.
lovegirl30's review against another edition
5.0
"Without the Moon" is Cathi Unsworth's new book is amazing. I am so happy I picked up this book. This author is amazing at crime stories set in the past. This book in particular is set in London during World War 2.
During this time in London is a dark time and place. It is set in noir, with blackened streets, battered neighbors are multiple issues plaguing the city. There are criminals, robbers, prostitutes a plenty. The city is frustrated and most are hoping for a better life. There are even some interesting fortune-tellers to spice things up again. The world that this book is set in is very descriptive and pulls you in.
Unfortunately like most books there are people that are looking to cause ruckus and trouble. The kind of trouble that ends up in violence and murder. The author weaves a story woven together with terror as well as courage.
The real heros of these book are interesting and they are female. This is an powerful story, one with real heart. I enjoyed how the story was mixed with mesmerizing details. I loved the mix of real life events and imaginary one. The atmosphere was fun. The characters were memorable.
Disclaimer : I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review from Anansi Press . All Thoughts opinions and such are my own
During this time in London is a dark time and place. It is set in noir, with blackened streets, battered neighbors are multiple issues plaguing the city. There are criminals, robbers, prostitutes a plenty. The city is frustrated and most are hoping for a better life. There are even some interesting fortune-tellers to spice things up again. The world that this book is set in is very descriptive and pulls you in.
Unfortunately like most books there are people that are looking to cause ruckus and trouble. The kind of trouble that ends up in violence and murder. The author weaves a story woven together with terror as well as courage.
The real heros of these book are interesting and they are female. This is an powerful story, one with real heart. I enjoyed how the story was mixed with mesmerizing details. I loved the mix of real life events and imaginary one. The atmosphere was fun. The characters were memorable.
Disclaimer : I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review from Anansi Press . All Thoughts opinions and such are my own
andrew61's review
3.0
The afterword to this book informs the reader that this novel is the reimagining of true events in the London blitz of 1942 where for a very short period a series of brutal murders of young women took place . The eventual killer was hung but a copycat murder resulted in the acquittal of another serving soldier.
The book captured the atmosphere of London at that time perfectly and the characters were well drawn particularly DCi Greenaway and the Jewish criminal gang members behind cigarette smuggling. Some of the female victims and plotting felt a bit confusing and the characters a little like a black and white film cast but overall it was a good read.
The book captured the atmosphere of London at that time perfectly and the characters were well drawn particularly DCi Greenaway and the Jewish criminal gang members behind cigarette smuggling. Some of the female victims and plotting felt a bit confusing and the characters a little like a black and white film cast but overall it was a good read.
tastelikedeath's review
5.0
We were really fortunate to win a set of Without the Moon for our book group as part of Serpent's Tail's 30th birthday celebrations - complete with party kit which we made full use of!
We had a party to hand out the books and, as it was a club member's birthday around the right time, we had a party to discuss the book as well.
Much quaffing was indulged in, but (unlike some books we've read in the past), we did not need that influence to make the book enjoyable. In fact, for one of our members this was the first book for many months that he actually like and did not find a chore to finish.
The setting was evocative and lent itself well to the tension of the plot, and the characters were nicely rounded - although some of our members felt there were a few too many, making it hard to keep up. The line between reality and fiction was nicely blurred, being essentially seamless. For me, it was listening to an old "Hancock's Half Hour" which mentioned Hannen Swaffer while I was reading that gave me my first indicator that this was based in fact.
While interesting, many of us did struggle to see why the psychic subplot had such prominence as we felt it had no palpable bearing on the case and at times felt a bit intrusive.
Overall, the book was a real hit and we are looking forward to reading more of both Unsworth's and Serpent's Tail's output in the future.
We had a party to hand out the books and, as it was a club member's birthday around the right time, we had a party to discuss the book as well.
Much quaffing was indulged in, but (unlike some books we've read in the past), we did not need that influence to make the book enjoyable. In fact, for one of our members this was the first book for many months that he actually like and did not find a chore to finish.
The setting was evocative and lent itself well to the tension of the plot, and the characters were nicely rounded - although some of our members felt there were a few too many, making it hard to keep up. The line between reality and fiction was nicely blurred, being essentially seamless. For me, it was listening to an old "Hancock's Half Hour" which mentioned Hannen Swaffer while I was reading that gave me my first indicator that this was based in fact.
While interesting, many of us did struggle to see why the psychic subplot had such prominence as we felt it had no palpable bearing on the case and at times felt a bit intrusive.
Overall, the book was a real hit and we are looking forward to reading more of both Unsworth's and Serpent's Tail's output in the future.
riverwise's review
4.0
Good evocation of wartime London, wrapped up in a serial killer mystery. I don't read a lot of crime fiction, but I've enjoyed every one of Cathi Unsworth's books.
thebookgirl's review
5.0
"Without the Moon" is Cathi Unsworth's new book is amazing. I am so happy I picked up this book. This author is amazing at crime stories set in the past. This book in particular is set in London during World War 2.
During this time in London is a dark time and place. It is set in noir, with blackened streets, battered neighbors are multiple issues plaguing the city. There are criminals, robbers, prostitutes a plenty. The city is frustrated and most are hoping for a better life. There are even some interesting fortune-tellers to spice things up again. The world that this book is set in is very descriptive and pulls you in.
Unfortunately like most books there are people that are looking to cause ruckus and trouble. The kind of trouble that ends up in violence and murder. The author weaves a story woven together with terror as well as courage.
The real heros of these book are interesting and they are female. This is an powerful story, one with real heart. I enjoyed how the story was mixed with mesmerizing details. I loved the mix of real life events and imaginary one. The atmosphere was fun. The characters were memorable.
Disclaimer : I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review from Anansi Press . All Thoughts opinions and such are my own
During this time in London is a dark time and place. It is set in noir, with blackened streets, battered neighbors are multiple issues plaguing the city. There are criminals, robbers, prostitutes a plenty. The city is frustrated and most are hoping for a better life. There are even some interesting fortune-tellers to spice things up again. The world that this book is set in is very descriptive and pulls you in.
Unfortunately like most books there are people that are looking to cause ruckus and trouble. The kind of trouble that ends up in violence and murder. The author weaves a story woven together with terror as well as courage.
The real heros of these book are interesting and they are female. This is an powerful story, one with real heart. I enjoyed how the story was mixed with mesmerizing details. I loved the mix of real life events and imaginary one. The atmosphere was fun. The characters were memorable.
Disclaimer : I received this book for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review from Anansi Press . All Thoughts opinions and such are my own
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