Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Murder
slow-paced
This was a sight-unseen Bookcrossing book (chosen on the basis of the first sentence). I'm not a reader of mysteries generally; I'd heard of Barbara Vine and knew it was one of Ruth Rendell's pen-names, but I'd never read any. After a few recent duds, it's good to feel you're in the hands of a master storyteller from the first page (and indeed the first sentence).
It's not so much a whodunnit as a whydunnit, and even a whatdidtheydo. A bleak little tale, with clues and red herrings very cleverly scattered through it. The viewpoint switches effectively between the three main characters, each with their store of regret and guilt poisoning their life in different ways. She allows you to figure out part of the story fairly easily, but I really didn't see the final twist coming. Perhaps a bit too neat, but it adds a final note of grim humour. Don't read this if you want to like the main characters; nobody comes out of it well, except for one unlucky victim. Otherwise, it's a great choice for a summer read, and I'll look out for more from her.
It's not so much a whodunnit as a whydunnit, and even a whatdidtheydo. A bleak little tale, with clues and red herrings very cleverly scattered through it. The viewpoint switches effectively between the three main characters, each with their store of regret and guilt poisoning their life in different ways. She allows you to figure out part of the story fairly easily, but I really didn't see the final twist coming. Perhaps a bit too neat, but it adds a final note of grim humour. Don't read this if you want to like the main characters; nobody comes out of it well, except for one unlucky victim. Otherwise, it's a great choice for a summer read, and I'll look out for more from her.
I would have liked it more if key info hadn't been withheld. I felt manipulated.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I usually go to bed before midnight, but I stayed up reading this until 4:30 in the morning. The best way to describe why is that the story had momentum. However, it wasn't so much that I had a burning desire to find out who the murderer and the victims were. It was more that each page seemed to slightly change my prediction of what would happen while never giving the game away (I didn't work it out until the very end). This was done in a natural way and didn't feel manipulative.
There's not a whole lot to the characters — the exception is Adam, whose shifting feelings provided most of the momentum — and the female characters are just props. But despite this, I really enjoyed the feeling of moving through the plot. I haven't read many murder mysteries, so might try a few more in the future.
There's not a whole lot to the characters — the exception is Adam, whose shifting feelings provided most of the momentum — and the female characters are just props. But despite this, I really enjoyed the feeling of moving through the plot. I haven't read many murder mysteries, so might try a few more in the future.
The book is a bit slow, but it captures the attention of the reader. Especially the ending, including an unexpected twist... Loved it!