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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm hovering between two and three stars on this. Three because Morton is a good descriptive writer and captures the surroundings and era very well. Two stars because although the plot started as intriguing, the story had way too many characters and subplots that she didn't weave together very adeptly. The big plot twists that are "revealed" at the last moment seemed contrived to be the most unexpected but don't make a lot of sense. Very disappointed with the ending, there were a lot of unanswered questions. I don't love it when I close a book and feel irate. But I did.
This book is so long and is difficult to keep characters straight. At 22%, this one’s a DNF for me.
This continues Morton's style of combining past with present stories, this time including a ghost to follow changing faces over time in Birchwood Manor. There is a love story, betrayal, art, murder, poverty and heartbreak. It all "begins" when Elodie Winslow (in the present) discovers a leather satchel, a photograph and an artist's sketchbook and her investigation leads her to Birchwood Manor and its mysteries.
I have read several of Morton's books, and this is my favorite so far. For a long book it flows beautifully. In these kinds of stories, often past eclipses present, but here Elodie's story is just as strong and intriguing as the others, so the book never drags. As usual, the solution to mysteries evolve gradually so that characters are fully developed and emotions deeply felt. I highly recommend.
I have read several of Morton's books, and this is my favorite so far. For a long book it flows beautifully. In these kinds of stories, often past eclipses present, but here Elodie's story is just as strong and intriguing as the others, so the book never drags. As usual, the solution to mysteries evolve gradually so that characters are fully developed and emotions deeply felt. I highly recommend.
I liked the vibe of this book a lot, it was pretty whimsical, a mystery at a country estate told partially from the perspective of a ghost. I would have given it five stars but I felt like there were some loose threads that didn’t really get tied up at the end. Overall beautiful prose, intricately woven timelines, interesting characters, and lovely setting.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Books like this give me trust issues. About 40% in I was considering DNF’ing (which I never do)…but I persevered and about 60% in I had a moment of “omg I think I’m finally starting to see how she’s going to make it all come together. Cool! THIS is why I don’t DNF books. Ha! I’m right.” LOL nope. Should have gone with my gut. This wasn’t a terrible book, and the writing/setting is LOVELY. But that didn’t make up for that fact that it was messy…too many characters/I couldn’t connect with them, the plot was confusing, the nonlinear framework did NOT work, and the ending was a huge letdown.
Based on other reviews, I’ll probably give Kate Morton a second chance but I’m disappointed that this was my first experience.
Based on other reviews, I’ll probably give Kate Morton a second chance but I’m disappointed that this was my first experience.
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
informative
mysterious
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
Too heavily plotted. Too clever for its own good. Too many pantomime villains.
An interesting conceit, with some great historical elements, but taken altogether, the pieces of the story were too heavy for the frame that they were hung on. Sometimes, less is more. I found the writing uneven and the characters were painted on bits of plywood and wheeled clumsily onto the stage. That said, I was never bored.
An interesting conceit, with some great historical elements, but taken altogether, the pieces of the story were too heavy for the frame that they were hung on. Sometimes, less is more. I found the writing uneven and the characters were painted on bits of plywood and wheeled clumsily onto the stage. That said, I was never bored.