Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Enjoyed this book within a book double mystery! Interesting characters and good mysteries, parts of each that I figured out but with some good twists and red herrings. Feel it could have gotten by with fewer pages, though.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It hooked me in- I love the unique story line and I am glad that it is a duology. It felt complete.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pund Return in The Moonflower Murders, set just after the Magpie Murders ended. Again we have the book within a book format---which I love!--- and Susan is the detective with Pund. I found this book easier to follow than the first and I enjoyed it so much.
A riveting mystery within a mystery in the vain of Agatha Christie. Such a good read.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On the whole, I really enjoyed this. Horowitz strikes a great balance with this series: it's not entirely a cozy mystery, but neither is it a super-gritty 'realistic' modern detective story. One of the things I appreciate the most is that the main character isn't a dark, brooding police detective with a tragic past that makes them really sad/angry all the time. My main complaint is that the novel-within-the-novel wasn't written as well as the framing narrative. Horowitz probably did that intentionally to create a different voice and style, and he succeeded really well, but I still rather struggled through that portion.
A few minor gripes:
- both the murder victim in the first book of the series and the murder victim in this book are gay men. They're both perverts. There is only one other gay character in the books, and he's extremely camp.
- the only Black character in both books is a Black police officer. He's described multiple times as 'angry' and in this book even 'always on the edge of violence'. That's not a great look, Mr. Horowitz.
Aside from that, I had a great reading experience, and will be looking forward to book three in the series.
A few minor gripes:
- both the murder victim in the first book of the series and the murder victim in this book are gay men. They're both perverts. There is only one other gay character in the books, and he's extremely camp.
- the only Black character in both books is a Black police officer. He's described multiple times as 'angry' and in this book even 'always on the edge of violence'. That's not a great look, Mr. Horowitz.
Aside from that, I had a great reading experience, and will be looking forward to book three in the series.