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madeleineisland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
3.0
toribeth521's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
richardnixon's review against another edition
2.0
This was what I call a nothing book. This is because it fells like nothing happened in the plot and I gained nothing from reading it. Leo (the real one)'s character was very interesting and for sure had potential but then basically nothing came of that plot line. anyways, just a not very good book.,
coralhaze's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
4.0
Very meta! And funny! And the structure was unique! Well done!
While I was listening to the first 50%, I felt like this story might be a 5 star read for me. But the tone of the book changed considerably during the 2nd half (still cozy, but darker), and some repetition in the chapters caused the plot to lose momentum. The ending also wraps up a little quickly (it's kind of a short for a full length novel anyway), but that said, I truly loved the mixed media component of the story and the exploration of stereotypes & biases in mysteries and discussions about the pressures of being a writer... all very intriguing!
While I was listening to the first 50%, I felt like this story might be a 5 star read for me. But the tone of the book changed considerably during the 2nd half (still cozy, but darker), and some repetition in the chapters caused the plot to lose momentum. The ending also wraps up a little quickly (it's kind of a short for a full length novel anyway), but that said, I truly loved the mixed media component of the story and the exploration of stereotypes & biases in mysteries and discussions about the pressures of being a writer... all very intriguing!
snl07002's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
sofiya_gura's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
kcp3321's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
katykelly's review
5.0
Story in a story in a story - loved this structure!
This one is going to be hard to both describe and review without giving anything away. But it was definitely worth the read and effort to write about.
What could easily have been just another murder mystery is made into something more by the clever structuring of the story - which is itself the creation of an author writing the book and discussing it chapter by chapter with a fan. Oh and the character in HER book is a writer writing a book too.
Confused? It's actually easy to follow.
The main action starts, wonderfully enough, in a public library, as a writer is observing those around her to use as potential characters in her own work. But true to form, there's a woman's scream, a lockdown, a body. And the writer speaks to the people she's been studying and friendships are formed. Though she tells us - the narrator/author of the murder story through her main character - that one of them is a murderer.
Now as we move through this mystery of working out who the dead woman is, how any of the characters might be connected to her, how the friendships/budding romances between the foursome develop, the writer of THEIR story also shares with us messages from a fan of hers (the author of the mystery is a well-known writer of the genre already). This fan, we learn, comes from the city in which the author is setting the story. Due to COVID lockdowns, she's stuck in Australia so he offers to help with geographical tips, language phrases, and comments about his own struggles to become a published author. His correspondent's words are never shared, only her chapters.
Gradually as the murder mystery itself moves through the usual red herrings, twists, amateur detective work, escalating violence, backstories and character development, its writer and fan/reader also develop their own plot, which sneaks up on the reader (us, in case you are lost in the maze or readers and writers involved in the layers by now!).
Ohh, it was great. I re-read a few pages now and then as some things were quite subtly placed in the pages to seem low-key and trivial. Which turns us (the reader of the writer of the writer - keep up!) into the detectives too.
What could have been a fairly standard murder mystery became something much more exciting and concentrated.
I hope I've kept this broad enough to tantalise without giving anything away. Apart from the fact that it's highly enjoyable, mind-twisting stuff that gives depth and finesse to this piece of fiction.
I'd recommend this for those who enjoy the genre but also those who might be weary of tropes and lazy plotting. This will give you something to get your detective teeth into.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
This one is going to be hard to both describe and review without giving anything away. But it was definitely worth the read and effort to write about.
What could easily have been just another murder mystery is made into something more by the clever structuring of the story - which is itself the creation of an author writing the book and discussing it chapter by chapter with a fan. Oh and the character in HER book is a writer writing a book too.
Confused? It's actually easy to follow.
The main action starts, wonderfully enough, in a public library, as a writer is observing those around her to use as potential characters in her own work. But true to form, there's a woman's scream, a lockdown, a body. And the writer speaks to the people she's been studying and friendships are formed. Though she tells us - the narrator/author of the murder story through her main character - that one of them is a murderer.
Now as we move through this mystery of working out who the dead woman is, how any of the characters might be connected to her, how the friendships/budding romances between the foursome develop, the writer of THEIR story also shares with us messages from a fan of hers (the author of the mystery is a well-known writer of the genre already). This fan, we learn, comes from the city in which the author is setting the story. Due to COVID lockdowns, she's stuck in Australia so he offers to help with geographical tips, language phrases, and comments about his own struggles to become a published author. His correspondent's words are never shared, only her chapters.
Gradually as the murder mystery itself moves through the usual red herrings, twists, amateur detective work, escalating violence, backstories and character development, its writer and fan/reader also develop their own plot, which sneaks up on the reader (us, in case you are lost in the maze or readers and writers involved in the layers by now!).
Ohh, it was great. I re-read a few pages now and then as some things were quite subtly placed in the pages to seem low-key and trivial. Which turns us (the reader of the writer of the writer - keep up!) into the detectives too.
What could have been a fairly standard murder mystery became something much more exciting and concentrated.
I hope I've kept this broad enough to tantalise without giving anything away. Apart from the fact that it's highly enjoyable, mind-twisting stuff that gives depth and finesse to this piece of fiction.
I'd recommend this for those who enjoy the genre but also those who might be weary of tropes and lazy plotting. This will give you something to get your detective teeth into.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.