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pollyno9's review against another edition
4.0
The story was just as good as all the others in this series, the one... issue? I had with it was that it felt like a graphic novel that someone turned into a novel.
Which I would love, by the way.
Which I would love, by the way.
gawronma's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! This is such a great series. Grecian constantly surprises the reader. I would hope that this book would not be the last book in the tales of the Scotland Yard Murder Squad.
hanrutous's review
3.0
Not quite the light read I was expecting but full of adventure and mystery and intrigue. Annoying because it’s the fifth instalment of a series and this isn’t noted anywhere on the cover or inner parts of the book.
kikib_123's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book as part of a goodreads giveaway.
I wish I could give this novel a 3.5. I disliked some of it though not enough to give it a lowly 3 since I did also appreciate much of it (especially towards the end).
Things that I thought could be improved:
For me, the beginning of the novel was rather slow. Maybe this would not be the case if I had read the previous novels in the series and was more emotionally invested in the characters. But the short chapters and slow pace at the beginning (maybe first 100-150 pages) made it really tough to get through since you had no idea where this book was getting at.
I received an uncorrected proof so I'm hoping they worked out the parts that I was confused by, like the last scene it was confusing which character or loud bang was being referred to. Or sometimes a chapter would start out and you didn't know who's perspective you were in until a page or two in. But I'm almost certain that while these instances were far and few between they've been edited in the final copy.
Amazing parts about this novel that I LOVED:
I did like, though, that as the novel went on the pace quickened gradually until you are in the height of the main action and it feels like you are running through the words to keep up. It reminded me of a slow clap or like when you are in an adrenaline rush where once it speeds up it just gets more and more intense until there's the final resolution and you return to normal. Once each characters motives and goals became clear I could not put the book down.
I loved how the story is told through various perspectives and sometimes in the same scene it will shift character perspectives. It was interesting to get used to but it helped tell the story really well. With all of the characters' miscommunications and interwoven and/or conflicting motives the end of this novel was quite thrilling and suspenseful in the most perfect way.
I loved how Jack the Ripper was detailed, you always knew based on the vocabulary used to describe him that the characters had encountered him (even if he was hiding in society as someone else). And he really comes to life in the creepiest, most disturbing, of ways.
And the way the author portrays women, especially during this time period, as fully capable in many aspects of their lives from work to love interests to standing up to strong authoritative men. It was refreshing.
I wish I could give this novel a 3.5. I disliked some of it though not enough to give it a lowly 3 since I did also appreciate much of it (especially towards the end).
Things that I thought could be improved:
For me, the beginning of the novel was rather slow. Maybe this would not be the case if I had read the previous novels in the series and was more emotionally invested in the characters. But the short chapters and slow pace at the beginning (maybe first 100-150 pages) made it really tough to get through since you had no idea where this book was getting at.
I received an uncorrected proof so I'm hoping they worked out the parts that I was confused by, like the last scene it was confusing which character or loud bang was being referred to. Or sometimes a chapter would start out and you didn't know who's perspective you were in until a page or two in. But I'm almost certain that while these instances were far and few between they've been edited in the final copy.
Amazing parts about this novel that I LOVED:
I did like, though, that as the novel went on the pace quickened gradually until you are in the height of the main action and it feels like you are running through the words to keep up. It reminded me of a slow clap or like when you are in an adrenaline rush where once it speeds up it just gets more and more intense until there's the final resolution and you return to normal. Once each characters motives and goals became clear I could not put the book down.
I loved how the story is told through various perspectives and sometimes in the same scene it will shift character perspectives. It was interesting to get used to but it helped tell the story really well. With all of the characters' miscommunications and interwoven and/or conflicting motives the end of this novel was quite thrilling and suspenseful in the most perfect way.
I loved how Jack the Ripper was detailed, you always knew based on the vocabulary used to describe him that the characters had encountered him (even if he was hiding in society as someone else). And he really comes to life in the creepiest, most disturbing, of ways.
And the way the author portrays women, especially during this time period, as fully capable in many aspects of their lives from work to love interests to standing up to strong authoritative men. It was refreshing.
marneyjane's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
aditurbo's review against another edition
5.0
This book should not be read on its own, before you read the previous two books in the series. Together, the three are really one book, which follows the devil that is Jack the Ripper, and his cruel game, playing with inspector Walter Day's life and mind. Jack is truly scary here, a monster which knows no limits to its brutality and enjoyment of being in control of other people's suffering and pain. It is quite a while since I found myself really scared after closing the book at night, not that I closed it that often. The whole series is simply un-put-downable, with characters you care about and feel for or that are very original and well-depicted, subtle mind games, fantastic plots that converge and mix, and the best setting of all - Victorian London. Highly recommended, but start at the first book.
smellbelle's review
4.0
Alex Grecian hates his readers, it's as simple as that. Every time I think that the story is going to tie off nicely, and all will be well or well enough, no. Just not even close.
In this installment we see a love story go horribly wrong and one of our favourite characters die! Why do you hate us so Mr Grecian!? Why do you want to make us sad?
As with every other of these novels, the writing has been impeccable and hooks you right from the start. I did find this one a little harder to get into at first because I'm not all that sure how I feel about Jack having played such a big role in these stories, they were always strong enough without him.
I wonder if there will be more?
In this installment we see a love story go horribly wrong and one of our favourite characters die! Why do you hate us so Mr Grecian!? Why do you want to make us sad?
As with every other of these novels, the writing has been impeccable and hooks you right from the start. I did find this one a little harder to get into at first because I'm not all that sure how I feel about Jack having played such a big role in these stories, they were always strong enough without him.
I wonder if there will be more?
cajengirl's review against another edition
4.0
A great finish to this series. This is definitely a "read in order" series. Apparently I really enjoy Victorian mysteries... Who knew??
si0bhan's review
4.0
I’ve been a fan of Alex Grecian’s Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad since I picked up the first book, The Yard. What I especially loved about The Yard was how it strayed away from the topic so often touched upon in books based in the era – it avoided Jack the Ripper. The same was true of The Black Country, ensuring I would follow the series wherever it went next. In book three, The Devil’s Workshop, I was a bit unsure. The book finally made a play for Jack the Ripper, which saddened me as the avoidance was what I enjoyed so much. It won me over, sure, but I was a bit upset by the change. In The Harvest Man, I found myself a bit more convinced by the change. The Harvest Man wasn’t all I had hoped it would be, but it left me with very high expectations for the next book.
Lost and Gone Forever, however, didn’t quite live up to my expectations. If I’m completely honest, book five is my least favourite in the series to date. In truth, a part of me considered giving this one a three-star rating. In fact, I thought I would be for quite a bit of the earlier part of the book. I’m not sure when, but at some point things started to change. Things started to come together and I found myself enjoying it a lot more. It is not a solid four-star rating, but it was a strong three-point-five-stars that needed to be rounded up. Thus, it may not have been my favourite, but it wasn’t a complete disaster.
I think my biggest disappointment is that The Harvest Man made it seem as though huge things were to come from Lost and Gone Forever. Although many details did come together in this one, although we got to see more of some of the things suggested in the prior books, it wasn’t as powerful as it could have been. In fact, I felt as though it glossed over many things. It seemed to be pulling multiple things together, but it didn’t tie them in a pretty bow – instead, things just were. Some things were great, others not so much.
It was fun, worth reading if you’re a fan of the series, but it is not the best Alex Grecian book I have read. Although I will continue to read this series, I’m not going to be quite as eager to dive into the next when it comes out.
Lost and Gone Forever, however, didn’t quite live up to my expectations. If I’m completely honest, book five is my least favourite in the series to date. In truth, a part of me considered giving this one a three-star rating. In fact, I thought I would be for quite a bit of the earlier part of the book. I’m not sure when, but at some point things started to change. Things started to come together and I found myself enjoying it a lot more. It is not a solid four-star rating, but it was a strong three-point-five-stars that needed to be rounded up. Thus, it may not have been my favourite, but it wasn’t a complete disaster.
I think my biggest disappointment is that The Harvest Man made it seem as though huge things were to come from Lost and Gone Forever. Although many details did come together in this one, although we got to see more of some of the things suggested in the prior books, it wasn’t as powerful as it could have been. In fact, I felt as though it glossed over many things. It seemed to be pulling multiple things together, but it didn’t tie them in a pretty bow – instead, things just were. Some things were great, others not so much.
It was fun, worth reading if you’re a fan of the series, but it is not the best Alex Grecian book I have read. Although I will continue to read this series, I’m not going to be quite as eager to dive into the next when it comes out.