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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I picked up this book from my sister-in-law’s bookshelf because I had watched the Shetland series on Acorn TV. I could not put down this book. I will be borrowing the rest of the series and then starting in on the Vera series.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Den här serien, som från början kallades Shetlandskvartetten (vilket jag envisas med att fortsätta göra), har väl alltid varit något av en favorit för mig. I alla fall innan jag läste den fjärde (och det som då skulle bli den sista) delen. Sällan har ett slut överraskat mig (och gjort mig riktigt upprörd) så och det kändes ändå bra att Ann Cleeves bestämde sig för att fortsätta serien. Även om det verkar ha tagit ända till nu, med Mörk jord, innan jag känner att jag är hemma igen.
Till min stora glädje så gillar jag denna mer än förra boken (nej, den var inte dålig, men inte heller jättebra). Jag vet egentligen inte varför, vad som är skillnaden, men jag upplever det som att det är bättre flyt här. Trots det långsökta motivet. Jag kan inte låta bli att fundera över varför man i den svenska översättningen bestämt sig för att jorden är mörk, i stället för kall som den ju heter i original. Kall hade, i mitt tycke, varit bättre.
Tempot i Mörk jord är otroligt långsamt, nästan eftertänksamt, och det kan faktiskt inte vara på något annat sätt. Det här är en motvikt till alla blodiga och actionspäckade deckare
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
Till min stora glädje så gillar jag denna mer än förra boken (nej, den var inte dålig, men inte heller jättebra). Jag vet egentligen inte varför, vad som är skillnaden, men jag upplever det som att det är bättre flyt här. Trots det långsökta motivet. Jag kan inte låta bli att fundera över varför man i den svenska översättningen bestämt sig för att jorden är mörk, i stället för kall som den ju heter i original. Kall hade, i mitt tycke, varit bättre.
Tempot i Mörk jord är otroligt långsamt, nästan eftertänksamt, och det kan faktiskt inte vara på något annat sätt. Det här är en motvikt till alla blodiga och actionspäckade deckare
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
I did really love this book, but I have to say that I actually prefer the characterisation on the BBC show better than the books. I felt like Jimmy wasn’t as clever or insightful as the tv character, and we rarely got his POV - it was mostly side characters, Sandy (who drives me NUTS!) and Willow, who was also pretty irritating. I felt like the author told us more than she showed us.
The writing itself felt amateurish. I’ve never read an Ann Cleeves book before, so perhaps this is just her style, but it was so simplistic as to almost feel like it was written by a child. “Jimmy felt scared.” I mean, those were the types of sentence structures we were getting. It felt like not much effort was put into the actual writing.
Also felt the characterisations were not consistent. We were told one thing about a character, only to have it directly contradicted a few chapters later. Honestly, if I hadn’t had the characters from the show in the back of my head the whole time, I wouldn’t have felt any connection to them at all.
I feel really conflicted about this book. The mystery was good, but all the things I love about the show, like Jimmy’s relationship with Cassie and Duncan, the camaraderie between the cops...it was all missing. I’m assuming the first four books must be better for them to have been optioned as a tv show.
The writing itself felt amateurish. I’ve never read an Ann Cleeves book before, so perhaps this is just her style, but it was so simplistic as to almost feel like it was written by a child. “Jimmy felt scared.” I mean, those were the types of sentence structures we were getting. It felt like not much effort was put into the actual writing.
Also felt the characterisations were not consistent. We were told one thing about a character, only to have it directly contradicted a few chapters later. Honestly, if I hadn’t had the characters from the show in the back of my head the whole time, I wouldn’t have felt any connection to them at all.
I feel really conflicted about this book. The mystery was good, but all the things I love about the show, like Jimmy’s relationship with Cassie and Duncan, the camaraderie between the cops...it was all missing. I’m assuming the first four books must be better for them to have been optioned as a tv show.
The audiobooks of the Shetland series are my happy place, strange as it may be for murder mysteries to make me happy. It’s the accent; hours and hours of it, the setting, and also the characters. There is only one left, and I can’t bear to think I’ll leave Shetland behind.
This has been my favorite of the series, so far. It is also the next to last, according to the author. I will read the final book now...
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am sad that the inimitable Morag has been dropped for the irritating Willow and that Jimmy isn't allowed a decent time to grieve before he is forced back into a romance (Ok, it isn't exactly 'romantic') but a quick and overall enjoyable read. I didn't find it as atmospheric as the others in the series and didn't sympathise with the suspects or the victims so, for me, it felt a bit flat/uninspired but only compared to the other Shetland novels. What on earth is Willow's sudden baby-mania about? I am a bit worried that it might heralds a surprise announcement and more angsty faffing in the next novel.
Another satisfying installment in the Shetland series!