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debsd's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.5
charliegirl211's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
catarnott's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dbevvers63's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
schopflin's review
medium-paced
2.5
I do try with the Brighton novels, and some of the characters are engaging, but the anachronisms and other errors are annoying and distracting.
ajnel's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Max Mephisto'sl old friend, and fellow magician, Ted English, finds himself connected to a murdered assistant. Fearful of being accused, Ted pleads for Max's help and as always, more murders occur as the mystery unfolds. Some very interesting ideas (as always), but this novel is definitely the slowest moving one in the series. The mystery is a bit easy to figure out, but still a great read for a slow afternoon.
nocto's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
When I read The Midnight Hour I mentioned that this was one of my favourite new series in the last few years. And it’s still providing plenty of entertainment. It’s maybe getting a tad too cozy between the characters but since the interpersonal relationships are one of the things I like and the series might otherwise fall apart I can see why things are going in the way that they are.
On the whole though it’s an entertaining murder mystery that begins when the assistant to the “Great Deceiver” magician is found dead in a Brighton boarding house. The stories are dealing nicely with the demise of variety theatre since the first episode in the series which was set in 1950, along with other changes in society. We’re in 1966 now and the book is a little heavy handed with foreshadowing things that the reader knows well. Not just characters commenting that England will no doubt be terrible in the World Cup but pondering future advances in forensics as well.
I suspect that if I examine the plot too closely it’ll fall apart so I’ve learnt not to do that with Elly Griffiths’ books. I’m here for the ride and I hope there is more to come.
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