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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am becoming increasingly fond of the Brighton Mysteries. I love the old variety references and there are some extremely well-observed insights into women and the workplace. But I wish the books were edited for period accuracy. No, the actor didn't have a shower in his hotel in Whitby and there weren't free toiletries, not in 1965. I also spotted a 'Mrs Stephens' where a 'Mrs Saunders' should have been.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A well written and fun mystery, the plot ran well and the pacing was solid. Lots of engaging, delightful characters and all female leads. Fun mix of 1960’s feminism, movie stars and variety show stars, and 60’s Britain. Very enjoyable historical fiction mystery, looking forward to reading more Brighton Mysteries!
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
fast-paced
This was a lovely lovely read with a wonderful retro feel and no gore. An aging actress, Verity Malone, is suspected of poisoning her philandering husband and old showbiz impresario Bert Billington. She hires a team of female investigators, enter Emma Stephens, a wife and mother of three but also a former police detective, and her friend Samantha Collins, a former newspaper reporter. The finger of suspicion is pointed at her by her youngest son, Aaron, who believes she was getting tired of caring his dad, plus she was getting new ideas reading The Feminine Mystique.
It felt like the spirit of the time was captured very well. It treads a very fine line between nostalgia to a golden age and a social catalogue of all its faults. Feminism is explored throughout the story though most of the female cast are not the average suburban housewives. There are the attitudes toward the female cops who are treated differently than their male counterparts and were not allowed to drive police cars. The women in the showbiz who are subject to unwanted sexual attention. Or even minor tasks like catering to other characters and supplying them with tea and biscuits which was also relegated to the investigating women in the story. Also while Emma investigates Edgar her husband and police officer is left to care for their children for one day and realizes how difficult it is.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & Quercus Books in exchange for my honest review
It felt like the spirit of the time was captured very well. It treads a very fine line between nostalgia to a golden age and a social catalogue of all its faults. Feminism is explored throughout the story though most of the female cast are not the average suburban housewives. There are the attitudes toward the female cops who are treated differently than their male counterparts and were not allowed to drive police cars. The women in the showbiz who are subject to unwanted sexual attention. Or even minor tasks like catering to other characters and supplying them with tea and biscuits which was also relegated to the investigating women in the story. Also while Emma investigates Edgar her husband and police officer is left to care for their children for one day and realizes how difficult it is.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & Quercus Books in exchange for my honest review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
David Frost said "Love is staying up all night with a sick child - or a healthy adult.". A book that keeps reading till 3 am is an excellent book.
Maybe I'm a bit biased as I think I could read Elly Griffiths' shopping list and rate is as "gripping, highly entertaining, 5*". In this is case it's the right way to define this book as I read it turning pages maniacally and couldn't stop till I read the last word.
It's a complex story, full of twists and turns, a puzzle where there's one main suspect who's also an unreliable witness. Plenty of red herrings and a solution that came as a surprise.
I was happy to read about Emma investigating again and her relationship with WDPC Meg is interesting as it's based on common experience and bypass and social difference.
There's a lot going on in the life of the characters, fleshed out as usual, and there's plenty of references to the "The Feminine Mystique" and the beginning of the feminism movement. It's something so revolutionary that one of the male characters is considering it a possible motive for killing.
There's a quite bleak description of the entertainment in first part of the XX century: plenty of power plays and no metoo to prevent abuse.
A highly entertaining, gripping and well written story, highly recommended.
Many thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Maybe I'm a bit biased as I think I could read Elly Griffiths' shopping list and rate is as "gripping, highly entertaining, 5*". In this is case it's the right way to define this book as I read it turning pages maniacally and couldn't stop till I read the last word.
It's a complex story, full of twists and turns, a puzzle where there's one main suspect who's also an unreliable witness. Plenty of red herrings and a solution that came as a surprise.
I was happy to read about Emma investigating again and her relationship with WDPC Meg is interesting as it's based on common experience and bypass and social difference.
There's a lot going on in the life of the characters, fleshed out as usual, and there's plenty of references to the "The Feminine Mystique" and the beginning of the feminism movement. It's something so revolutionary that one of the male characters is considering it a possible motive for killing.
There's a quite bleak description of the entertainment in first part of the XX century: plenty of power plays and no metoo to prevent abuse.
A highly entertaining, gripping and well written story, highly recommended.
Many thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine