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ameliareeve's review
2.0
I was genuinely shocked to find that this was published in 2020, as it used and reused mystery formulas with no new angle or fresh breath at all. This is especially true of the women, all of whom are "not classically pretty, but something in the strangeness of her features is alluring," a trope which has been thoroughly exhausted. Of course they all without fail throw themselves at the protagonist despite his having minimal personality or interest. Very frustrating. Murderer obvious by 50% through. Expected better of John Banville.
ztkatch's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kmac2022's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sarahholland's review
2.0
I kept thinking that the author wasn't going to go for the obvious answer; surely he was more clever than that? But no, it was that obvious.
Curious to know if the use of the words such as queer or gay (plus a few others) were intended to be foreshadowing, of a sort. There's even a reference to Oscar Wilde. I do have some qualms, if they were intended, as pedophilia and homosexuality are not at all the same thing.
Curious to know if the use of the words such as queer or gay (plus a few others) were intended to be foreshadowing, of a sort. There's even a reference to Oscar Wilde. I do have some qualms, if they were intended, as pedophilia and homosexuality are not at all the same thing.
kurbanski's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jeffreyb721's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A good mystery with an old timey feel.
alison18's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Murder
mcearl12's review
4.0
I really enjoyed every page of this book. Unfamiliar with this author so I’ll be haunting the shelves for other works by him.
pujadev's review
1.0
This book made me really mad. The plot is so predictable, almost lazy which surprised me because Mr. Banville is a highly renowned author. The women are written almost as caricatures of what the author thinks 'alluring/mysterious' women should be like and all of them are somehow attracted to the rather unimpressive, bumbling Inspector. This one was a DNF for me.