Reviews

The Mystery of Edwin Drood Illustrated by Charles Dickens

zmre's review against another edition

2.0

Ack! I didn't know this was an unfinished book when I started it. Was just getting into it when it ended. *sigh*

gerald_author's review against another edition

3.0

For a Dickens, I quite liked this book. Most of our book club didn't like the disjointed nature, and questioned whether Dickens actually wrote it, or whether it was one or more other people - the style is so disjointed. But for me, it rattled along.
Apparently, we only have half the book as it was originally planned, so we have no idea of what actually happened to Edwin Drood, but each of the members of our book club had different ideas.

amcooke's review against another edition

The old English simply kept putting me to sleep. May need to read print vs audiobook for this one. 

blakeisgreene's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

gzofian's review against another edition

4.0

Ooh! It ended suddenly!! Even though I knew it had not been finished before Dickens died, the ending took me by surprise, so I must have been engrossed. That being said, it is obvious that Dickens would have edited thoroughly and this lack does tell in the sometimes shaky motivations and character consistency. It would have been good.

karen_unabridged's review against another edition

4.0

I was actually disappointed that this novel was unfinished. Dickens seemed to be on his "A game" here and I would dearly like to know what he intended to happen. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be) people love to speculate about this one, and some have even published their answers.

dnglvr's review against another edition

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the ultimate mystery novel which no one will ever truly solve. Was Edwin murdered or did he disappear? If he was murdered, was it by his uncle Jasper, the obvious choice, or by another character? What did Princess Puffer see the night she meet Edwin prior to his disappearance or hear from Jasper during his opium altered states? How will the engagement ring fit into the mystery? Exactly who is Mr. Datchery and what is his interest in Jasper? Is Mr. Datchery someone else wearing a disguise that includes a wig which makes it too uncomfortable to wear a hat? We can speculate but never know!

After finishing Dickens, in close to publication order, below is my forced rankings:

Bleak House (1852)
David Copperfield (1849)
Great Expectations (1860)
Our Mutual Friend (1864)
Little Dorritt (1855)
Hard Times (1854)
Dombey and Son (1846)
A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
The Pickwick Papers (1836)
The Old Curiosity Shop (1840)
Nicholas Nickleby (1838)
Martin Chuzzlewit (1843)
Barnaby Rudge (1841)
Oliver Twist (1837)

dlnapier's review against another edition

5.0

Loved listening to this! I knew I would be infuriated since we all know how this ends (it doesn’t), but it’s worth it. Highly recommend! (Also, I definitely had to read chapter analyses sometimes to understand exactly what was going on, but that made it more fun!)

grahamwarren's review against another edition

3.0

Needs an ending.

daffers60's review against another edition

3.0

Not bad, a bit of a slow start, the usual bizarre characters. Wouldn't have read this through choice, it was the book group selection. Didn't quite finish it in time, but I don't suppose that really matters with this one.