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missmelo's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
First, I will say I think Anthony Horowitz is phenomenal at describing people in a quick and efficient way. His description is precise and you’re able to get a grasp on the persons image and demeanor immediately:
“He was a large, effusive man in his forties, bullish in his movements and in the way he spoke.” (‘Bullish’ was a perfect word to use for an immediate mental image. You probably imagined this man as big, strong, muscular and gruff.)
“Thick eyebrows that almost met.” (Love this way of describing a unibrow.)
“She talked in a way that someone with a punctured lung might breathe.” (Quick and precise.)
I did find myself enjoying the actual “Magpie Murders” mystery much more than the Alan Conway mystery, so I was relieved when we got to the end and the missing chapters were revealed. Part of it was probably because I felt a significant lull in the middle of the book when it transitioned into the second part of the story, where we now have to be introduced to a new cast of characters and I frankly could not bring myself to care. There was a lot of meandering as the groundwork for the murder of Alan Conway was being set up, and considering that the first part of the story with the “Magpie Murders” bit ended just when we were about to find out who the culprit was that feeling of indifference was only amplified for me.
Once things started to pick up though I had moments where my mind was reeling and where I was even connecting some of the dots myself. I feel the author has the formula for mysteries down pat.
I will say though: (minor spoilers)
The reasoning for why Alans murderer killed him felt kind of unconvincing to me. In my head, even when Alans death was thought to be just a suicide people were still engaging with his books—he even kinda got more famous because of it! This was only solidified for me by Susan’s monologue at the end regarding this topic.
“He was a large, effusive man in his forties, bullish in his movements and in the way he spoke.” (‘Bullish’ was a perfect word to use for an immediate mental image. You probably imagined this man as big, strong, muscular and gruff.)
“Thick eyebrows that almost met.” (Love this way of describing a unibrow.)
“She talked in a way that someone with a punctured lung might breathe.” (Quick and precise.)
I did find myself enjoying the actual “Magpie Murders” mystery much more than the Alan Conway mystery, so I was relieved when we got to the end and the missing chapters were revealed. Part of it was probably because I felt a significant lull in the middle of the book when it transitioned into the second part of the story, where we now have to be introduced to a new cast of characters and I frankly could not bring myself to care. There was a lot of meandering as the groundwork for the murder of Alan Conway was being set up, and considering that the first part of the story with the “Magpie Murders” bit ended just when we were about to find out who the culprit was that feeling of indifference was only amplified for me.
Once things started to pick up though I had moments where my mind was reeling and where I was even connecting some of the dots myself. I feel the author has the formula for mysteries down pat.
I will say though: (minor spoilers)
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
angela005's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Suicide
Minor: Racism and Fire/Fire injury
lapon's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the concept of a mystery within a book.
The love letter to whodunits and the affectionate parody of the genre was very fun to read.
Howver I found the first part to be dragging at times.
The love letter to whodunits and the affectionate parody of the genre was very fun to read.
Howver I found the first part to be dragging at times.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Classism, and Suicide
Minor: Violence
anagspereira's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved the premise and its execution, although the ending of the modern day/ real side of the story within a story was a bit disappointing. It was overall a very fun experience and I loved annotating the book with my own comments/ theories throughout the read.
I thought the romantic sub-plot in the modern day era was unnecessary, plus it overall cheapened the story with the whole “will the workaholic woman forgo everything she cares about for romance?” clichê. Specially since by the end she had lost agency to even decide on the matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Suicide, Animal death, Child death, and Classism
kateea7536's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Would give this so far beyond 5 stars if I could. A spell-binding, gripping book that really plays with and comments on murder mysteries as a genre whilst also crafting a thrilling and interesting plot. I have never read anything like it and was enthralled from start to finish. I was disappointed when the extract from the author within the story was over because I was enjoying it so much, but then the rest of the book ramped up in intricacy and excitement and I was completely wrapped up in the new angle of the story. I also wished that the whole of the Atticus Pünd series was real, as I’d love for read more!!! I could write a significant amount on this book and how much I enjoyed it, it really did blow me away and subverted and manipulated many of the tropes from this genre. I love Anthony Horowitz’s writing, and, in my opinion, it just cannot be beaten!! Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness
atalea's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Child death, and Suicide
simply_fran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Xenophobia and Medical content
purplepenning's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Infidelity, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Suicide, Blood, Bullying, and Death
justineboots's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a really good two-in-one whodunnit!
Normally when people say a book has put a twist on the whodunnit, it turns out poorly - but this was quite well-executed.
Both mysteries were very engaging and the way that the two were intertwined by the author was very interesting. Neither of their resolutions were quite as satisfying as I would have hoped, however. In one case, it was a bit undercooked - a little gooey and runny, so to speak. In the other, I had guessed the culprit though not the motive.
Still I was eager to get to the end and while I felt a bit let down by the endings, it wasn’t quite enough to ruin the entire book for me.
There are potentially triggering topics in this book, however, I will say that I found them to be handled quite well and not used purely for shock value.
Normally when people say a book has put a twist on the whodunnit, it turns out poorly - but this was quite well-executed.
Both mysteries were very engaging and the way that the two were intertwined by the author was very interesting. Neither of their resolutions were quite as satisfying as I would have hoped, however. In one case, it was a bit undercooked - a little gooey and runny, so to speak. In the other, I had guessed the culprit though not the motive.
Still I was eager to get to the end and while I felt a bit let down by the endings, it wasn’t quite enough to ruin the entire book for me.
There are potentially triggering topics in this book, however, I will say that I found them to be handled quite well and not used purely for shock value.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Animal death, Cancer, Child death, Death, Murder, Classism, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Bullying and Homophobia