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kaleys23's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tsenko2's review
3.0
Starts strong, finishes strong. The middle two novellas were not quite as good. I would have liked to see more continuity between the 4 novellas.
jaded618's review
3.0
I enjoyed the concept of this book and how well all the stories tied together. To have 4 authors who were able to write an anthology that fit together so well was a reading treat. I enjoyed how they all had their commonalities, but also each story had a piece of that Authors style tied to it.
The story itself was following the 'life' of a cursed pocket watch. In each event, the watch ruined lives until someone had found a way to rid themselves of it. Each time setting had a different approach and willingness to believe different aspects of this mysterious watch and how to handle it.
I was engaged through most of the story, but I found myself not getting as int0 the book as I would have initially thought based on the description.
Thank you Netgally and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book.
The story itself was following the 'life' of a cursed pocket watch. In each event, the watch ruined lives until someone had found a way to rid themselves of it. Each time setting had a different approach and willingness to believe different aspects of this mysterious watch and how to handle it.
I was engaged through most of the story, but I found myself not getting as int0 the book as I would have initially thought based on the description.
Thank you Netgally and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book.
shomarq's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
josephine_b13's review
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was quite different from anything I have ever read. Although it was an average length for a book, due to the fact that it was split into four different stories made it. really quick read. I also really enjoyed how the different authors flawlessly combined their stories together. The combination of magic, supernatural, and science made for a very well balanced book. Not only that but I felt like I was in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie the whole time I was reading this. The book als0 showcases many strong female roles which I really appreciated even though it takes place in the 17-20 centuries. The only drawback is that the stories did seem to start feeling very repetitive and near the end of the book I wasn't quite sure if the watch was cursed because the storyline for the "curse" seemed to change. Overall I would recommend this book because of how light a read it is and how unique it is.
ewil6681's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jtlars7's review
Ok. I read it for the first novella, which is a sort of epilogue to A Desperate Fortune. A collection of mysteries about a cursed watch isn’t really my thing, but I kept reading anyway (skimming number 3). Enjoyed the first and final stories most.
greenldydragon's review
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
katevaliant's review
4.0
Each story in this collection has a unique mystery and voice thanks to each writer. The stories play well together as readers follow a cursed pocket watch through time from 1733 to the second world war.
Weapon of Choice follows Highlander Hugh MacPherson as he learns about a watch made of gold with a legendary curse surrounding it as he works to stop an assassin. In a Fevered Hour explores a mysterious illness that may be related to the watch as Lady Darby searches for the cause. In A Pocketful of Death Violet Harper is moving the Ashenhurt family’s dead relatives to the family cemetery when she finds a watch she gives to the family believing it to be an heirloom. A series of murders follows by whispers of the watch’s curse being at fault. In the final story, Siren’s Call Scotland Yard investigates a possible German spy. When the aircraft spotter gets murder, they discover his watch is missing, setting off the last leg of the watch's story.
I enjoyed the way each story played together in regards to the link to the watch. While this book stands alone, the stories include characters from other books, like Lady Darby from the Lady Darby Mystery series. Since I hadn't read those books. I felt like I was stepping into the middle of the character's stories, getting a quick excerpt of their travels or work that I would have better understood if I'd read their other books. So while this is an intriguing read for historical mystery fans, I think readers who have read the other books characters have been in will get the most out of this collection.
I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Weapon of Choice follows Highlander Hugh MacPherson as he learns about a watch made of gold with a legendary curse surrounding it as he works to stop an assassin. In a Fevered Hour explores a mysterious illness that may be related to the watch as Lady Darby searches for the cause. In A Pocketful of Death Violet Harper is moving the Ashenhurt family’s dead relatives to the family cemetery when she finds a watch she gives to the family believing it to be an heirloom. A series of murders follows by whispers of the watch’s curse being at fault. In the final story, Siren’s Call Scotland Yard investigates a possible German spy. When the aircraft spotter gets murder, they discover his watch is missing, setting off the last leg of the watch's story.
I enjoyed the way each story played together in regards to the link to the watch. While this book stands alone, the stories include characters from other books, like Lady Darby from the Lady Darby Mystery series. Since I hadn't read those books. I felt like I was stepping into the middle of the character's stories, getting a quick excerpt of their travels or work that I would have better understood if I'd read their other books. So while this is an intriguing read for historical mystery fans, I think readers who have read the other books characters have been in will get the most out of this collection.
I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
marissa_roo's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The four novellas feel well connected but it is odd to jump in time. Some were better than others