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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Some cozy mysteries are less obvious, and some are more. This one was as glaringly obvious as possible after the first half. There was only one conclusion, and it's a shocker that everyone else didn't come to it sooner. So yeah, the plot was abysmally dry and obvious. The few suspects that the story did have danced around each other and were so involved in each other's lives that there was really only one conclusion.
As for the main characters, they were just okay. The romance may have been framed as a love triangle, but it was pretty obvious that there was no real competition between the two love interests. There's definitely not enough of a story to them for me to want to continue the series. Nor is there enough depth to the world beyond this snippet of Emma's life. Am I curious? Sure. But do I need more? Not really. It's only been a day, and most of the story is already unmemorable.
As for the main characters, they were just okay. The romance may have been framed as a love triangle, but it was pretty obvious that there was no real competition between the two love interests. There's definitely not enough of a story to them for me to want to continue the series. Nor is there enough depth to the world beyond this snippet of Emma's life. Am I curious? Sure. But do I need more? Not really. It's only been a day, and most of the story is already unmemorable.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
3.75 Stars
After literally tripping over a corpse and becoming a suspect, Emma Harmon needs to clear her name. Alas, the next suspect on the list is her very first crush and now she needs to prove his innocence as well.
The back and forth between the home location and the murder location was jarring. But, to be frank, if I had the lack of privacy as an adult as Emma has, I wouldn't be going home at all. Her mother and her mother's friends acted as though they were mid-schoolers. Emma tells her mother something in confidence only to find that it has been broadcast all over town along with a plethora of misleading gossip about her love life. Meanwhile, her father seems cold and aloof. Emma, herself, is warned to stop sleuthing by just about everybody and she blithely continues on. Emma does eventually take a stand, which was refreshing. It'll be interesting to see if it sticks in the sequels.
Why the almost 4 stars, then? For one, I didn't guess the murderer right off the bat. Emma's best friend, Raina is interesting with her high-flying job and apparent wealth. So, too, is the new love interest after a fashion. And it is set in a beach town which counters a lot of ills. A lot.
After literally tripping over a corpse and becoming a suspect, Emma Harmon needs to clear her name. Alas, the next suspect on the list is her very first crush and now she needs to prove his innocence as well.
The back and forth between the home location and the murder location was jarring. But, to be frank, if I had the lack of privacy as an adult as Emma has, I wouldn't be going home at all. Her mother and her mother's friends acted as though they were mid-schoolers. Emma tells her mother something in confidence only to find that it has been broadcast all over town along with a plethora of misleading gossip about her love life. Meanwhile, her father seems cold and aloof. Emma, herself, is warned to stop sleuthing by just about everybody and she blithely continues on. Emma does eventually take a stand, which was refreshing. It'll be interesting to see if it sticks in the sequels.
Why the almost 4 stars, then? For one, I didn't guess the murderer right off the bat. Emma's best friend, Raina is interesting with her high-flying job and apparent wealth. So, too, is the new love interest after a fashion. And it is set in a beach town which counters a lot of ills. A lot.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced