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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I looooved Magpie Murders.
This is very very loosely a sequel (carryover character) but it has none of the pizazz of the first book.
I described #1 as “fun and clever” (this is boring and bogged down with too many characters).
My favorite aspect with #1 is you basically Got 2-books-in-1, and the author somewhat tried to do that here but didn’t execute it as well IMHO.
This book also lacks the smart and sassy characters/writing I expect from the Agatha Christie-type mysteries (or Sherlock Holmes or early 20th century British mysteries). Susan is Dull and drab... and the story isn’t interesting. It also took quite a bit of effort to take the BS bite that people would hire an editor and not a detective to find their missing child.
The pace can only be described as extremely slow, another drop from the well paced #1
I waited MONTHS for this book and had been dying to read another book as terrific as Magpie but am left feeling this author isn’t for me.
DNF 31%
This is very very loosely a sequel (carryover character) but it has none of the pizazz of the first book.
I described #1 as “fun and clever” (this is boring and bogged down with too many characters).
My favorite aspect with #1 is you basically Got 2-books-in-1, and the author somewhat tried to do that here but didn’t execute it as well IMHO.
This book also lacks the smart and sassy characters/writing I expect from the Agatha Christie-type mysteries (or Sherlock Holmes or early 20th century British mysteries). Susan is Dull and drab... and the story isn’t interesting. It also took quite a bit of effort to take the BS bite that people would hire an editor and not a detective to find their missing child.
The pace can only be described as extremely slow, another drop from the well paced #1
I waited MONTHS for this book and had been dying to read another book as terrific as Magpie but am left feeling this author isn’t for me.
DNF 31%
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75 stars. 3 for how much I liked it personally. .75 bump up for cleverness. However, there was a missing element. I just didn’t care who did it. It lacked spark, in my opinion.
I know I’m in the minority on this one, but a a book this long needs charm, charisma or an author digging deep into his soul.
I know I’m in the minority on this one, but a a book this long needs charm, charisma or an author digging deep into his soul.
Mystery within a mystery, but seriously over plotted to the point of distraction.
It’s an impressive feat to write two complete books with two different settings, plots, characters, and voices (one in third person, the other in first), and then bring them together in a coherent fashion between the same cover, creating one novel. This is the second in the series (after Magpie Murders) and I think it’s the better of the two, although both are brilliant.
One note: Mr. Horowitz paints his gay characters rather poorly. I don’t think it’s offensive to have a nasty sort of person who is also gay. I mean, people are people, right? There are rotten straight men and rotten gay men. But it would be nice to see some gay characters who are likable. He includes them in his other novels, why not this one? Maybe I’m overreacting? But still…
One note: Mr. Horowitz paints his gay characters rather poorly. I don’t think it’s offensive to have a nasty sort of person who is also gay. I mean, people are people, right? There are rotten straight men and rotten gay men. But it would be nice to see some gay characters who are likable. He includes them in his other novels, why not this one? Maybe I’m overreacting? But still…
I liked the book. I liked the ending, but I wasn’t a huge fan of a whole book within a book. And there were just too many names to keep up with. You have the real people but then the author’s characters that he made up. It’s hard to keep track once the mc is trying to figure out who-dun-it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The book within the book was better than the book imo