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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
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:
No
Oh, Mr. Horowitz, keep writing mysteries! This is my second read of this title. There is no stone un-turned in the double story, double entendre mystery. Everyone gets a nod, all mystery writers with names coded in the characters, all the characters in the Clue Game and MORE. We have all the sins....debauchery, greed, jealousy, murder, lust, lots of pride, plenty of anger and all in double vision, the story within the story. Poor little Susan Reiland and her Andre. Poor Detective Pund, the Turkish Jew from Germany, who has a mind like a steel trap...All the heros must be exhausted as this word puzzle unveils itself. I adored it. More Susan, Mr. Horowitz...more Detective Pund, even though Alan is dead and Pund is dying...please! It was such a lark, packed with tension, humor and great dialogue. My thanks!
Re-read and LOVED-like working a puzzle-The last names of mystery writer-glorious this!
Re-read and LOVED-like working a puzzle-The last names of mystery writer-glorious this!
When I read Horowitz’s Magpie Murders last year, it was the first book of it’s kind that I’d read; two clever, complex murder mysteries wrapped up in a book within a book format. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was excited to learn that Horowitz was releasing Moonflower Murders at the end of last year when the first book was still fresh in my mind.
Again, Moonflower Murders follows the same format as its predecessor and it was enjoyable to read another Atticus Pünd novel alongside Susan Ryeland as she desperately sought to uncover the clues and answers that would lead to the reveal of the murderer at Branlow Hall.
However, I couldn’t help but notice there were so many glaring errors throughout the text that have been missed during the editing process...
*Branlow Hall is owned by the ‘Treherne’ family but on page 38, Cecily’s last name is spelt ‘Traherne’.
*When Susan is comparing the characters from APTTC to their real life counterparts, she lists ‘Lance Gardner/Maureen Gardner’ and writes ‘Characters based on: Lawrence and Maureen Treherne’. This should be ‘Pauline Treherne’ - There is a muddle between the two worlds on page 240.
*On page 365, when Susan is finding all of the lions left in the book by Conway to hint at ‘Leo’, she says that ‘The first murder is committed by Lionel Collins. His name, obviously, conceals another lion. He is Leo.’ Again, this is incorrect as the character in Conway’s book is ‘Leonard Collins’, it is ‘Lionel Corby’ who is his ‘real life’ counterpart so this is another mix-up between the two worlds.
I did spot a few more but I could go on forever! I wonder if other people spotted them too?
Perhaps I’m being fussy but I just find these little errors stunt the pace of reading and make me wonder why they weren’t picked up in the editing process? It’s surprising coming from Century/Penguin Random House!
Again, Moonflower Murders follows the same format as its predecessor and it was enjoyable to read another Atticus Pünd novel alongside Susan Ryeland as she desperately sought to uncover the clues and answers that would lead to the reveal of the murderer at Branlow Hall.
However, I couldn’t help but notice there were so many glaring errors throughout the text that have been missed during the editing process...
*Branlow Hall is owned by the ‘Treherne’ family but on page 38, Cecily’s last name is spelt ‘Traherne’.
*When Susan is comparing the characters from APTTC to their real life counterparts, she lists ‘Lance Gardner/Maureen Gardner’ and writes ‘Characters based on: Lawrence and Maureen Treherne’. This should be ‘Pauline Treherne’ - There is a muddle between the two worlds on page 240.
*On page 365, when Susan is finding all of the lions left in the book by Conway to hint at ‘Leo’, she says that ‘The first murder is committed by Lionel Collins. His name, obviously, conceals another lion. He is Leo.’ Again, this is incorrect as the character in Conway’s book is ‘Leonard Collins’, it is ‘Lionel Corby’ who is his ‘real life’ counterpart so this is another mix-up between the two worlds.
I did spot a few more but I could go on forever! I wonder if other people spotted them too?
Perhaps I’m being fussy but I just find these little errors stunt the pace of reading and make me wonder why they weren’t picked up in the editing process? It’s surprising coming from Century/Penguin Random House!
My second Horowitz (listened to it) book and it was almost as good as the first. I like his writing and characters, and for this series, the book within a book structure. Can I get credit for reading two books though?
This was very clever but also a little drawn out. I largely enjoyed it, however, and I'm excited to read more of Horowitz in the future!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
This one would qualify as a "literary tour de force," I think, as Horowitz creates three--maybe even four--mysteries within the layers of the overall mystery that Susan Ryeland comes to solve. Susan is the most interesting character, with her directness and her willingness to push for what she wants. The others are a bit thinly drawn in spots, with mourning families and troubled children somewhat cardboard-ish. Still: it's great to listen to, to try to keep the bits all separate, and to simply admire what Horowitz is capable of creating. I haven't a clue (a month out) of what the solution was--but I know I enjoyed getting there!
This series is unlike many others, I like how the "novel in a novel" works and how things are hidden.
The list of hidden clues that are given is a stratifying way for the author to say "here, I wanted to share what I hid" without being obnoxious.
I look forward to more from this series, it's a fun concept.
The list of hidden clues that are given is a stratifying way for the author to say "here, I wanted to share what I hid" without being obnoxious.
I look forward to more from this series, it's a fun concept.
Waiting and hoping for the next installment as well as the PBS adaptation.
Love the format and plot devices used to execute the story.
Love the format and plot devices used to execute the story.
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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