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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
This wasn’t as good as the first one. I give it a 2.5.
Creative and fun, but a disappointing payoff, including tedious moral panic and predictable but unrealistic revelations conveyed in a letter.
The mystery story within the story included in its entirety was good-the surrounding mystery was a bit of a slog.
I was wildly excited to attack this sequel to Magpie Murders and for the most part it didn't disappoint.
Book within a book? Check. Cozy murder with Agatha Christie vibes? Check. (For real, how does he make Alan's writing sound so much like her??)
My main complaints are a) like Magpie, it doesn't feel like a solvable mystery. I didn't reach the end and go, "ah! I should have seen that!" It all made relative sense, but I never felt like I had a chance. b) WHY DID WE NEED RELATIONSHIP DRAMA? Over it.
All in all, it's very much a sequel and not quite as good as #1, but still well worth the read.
Book within a book? Check. Cozy murder with Agatha Christie vibes? Check. (For real, how does he make Alan's writing sound so much like her??)
My main complaints are a) like Magpie, it doesn't feel like a solvable mystery. I didn't reach the end and go, "ah! I should have seen that!" It all made relative sense, but I never felt like I had a chance. b) WHY DID WE NEED RELATIONSHIP DRAMA?
Spoiler
We all know she's going to go back to Andreas because that's how these books work, so why pretend she won't? It felt like a stereotypical "I was told to write a sequel, but the love interests are already together, better split 'em up" move.All in all, it's very much a sequel and not quite as good as #1, but still well worth the read.
As with the first book, I like the book within the book better than the actual book. Pretty quick read despite its page count.
Every time I write a slightly dissatisfied review, I think I always start with something along the lines of, “This took me forever to get through.” Moonflower Murders was no exception.
Horowitz is a master at his craft, up there with the likes of Agatha Christie (a comparison he earns often for good reason). The fact that he’s, once again, written not just one but two stories that actually weave together and contain multiple hidden clues is a feat to be admired.
But I simply cannot justify the length of this book. It is just far too long. Horowitz could’ve taken some advice from his main character and edited this book down by about 100–150 pages and the story wouldn’t have missed a thing.
The investigation was interesting, if a bit slow to build (in both books, actually, which may be intentional), and I enjoyed the conclusions of each mystery. There was just too much filler for my taste. I could’ve done without the forays into Susan’s personal life—especially the side plot about her sister—and some of the red herrings (Martin Williams acting hard to convince his wife he’s a murderer so she stops bullying him has got to be the most ridiculous and flimsy motivation for attempted murder I’ve ever heard).
Now at this point you may be saying, “But Alyssa, you gave it four stars!” Yes, yes I did. Moonflower Murders is a valiant effort at a second entry in the Susan Ryeland series and a fantastic ode to classic mystery novels. Horowitz’s writing style is absorbing and rich. Perhaps, though, attempting to recreate the success and structure of Magpie Murders (a 5-star read, no question about it) meant this one was doomed to fall short.
Horowitz is a master at his craft, up there with the likes of Agatha Christie (a comparison he earns often for good reason). The fact that he’s, once again, written not just one but two stories that actually weave together and contain multiple hidden clues is a feat to be admired.
But I simply cannot justify the length of this book. It is just far too long. Horowitz could’ve taken some advice from his main character and edited this book down by about 100–150 pages and the story wouldn’t have missed a thing.
The investigation was interesting, if a bit slow to build (in both books, actually, which may be intentional), and I enjoyed the conclusions of each mystery. There was just too much filler for my taste. I could’ve done without the forays into Susan’s personal life—especially the side plot about her sister—and some of the red herrings (Martin Williams acting hard to convince his wife he’s a murderer so she stops bullying him has got to be the most ridiculous and flimsy motivation for attempted murder I’ve ever heard).
Now at this point you may be saying, “But Alyssa, you gave it four stars!” Yes, yes I did. Moonflower Murders is a valiant effort at a second entry in the Susan Ryeland series and a fantastic ode to classic mystery novels. Horowitz’s writing style is absorbing and rich. Perhaps, though, attempting to recreate the success and structure of Magpie Murders (a 5-star read, no question about it) meant this one was doomed to fall short.
It was good to spend time with Susan Ryeland again, this time in an effort to solve the real-life murder that formed the basis of yet another Atticus Pund novel. A classic English country murder mystery with all the necessary modern twists on the tale. I have to say I still much preferred Susan's story and her personal journey as she works out the mystery and grapples with her own romantic life. I found the book-within-a-book to be an unnecessary distraction, and I really felt I had to slog through Atticus' story. I think Susan's story was worth it, but if there is more to come in this series I would probably skip the Pund novel.
Clever story within a story but became too long and boring at some point. Didn’t really care who did it as I was not that interested in most of the characters. Slogged through to the end but didn’t appreciate the astrology or LBGT kinky theme. Wish I hadn’t pushed myself to finish.
This was flippin brilliant. I’m not tired of the book-in-a-book setup and I’d read Atticus Pund novels for themselves, even if I did see the twist coming in that one. So clever and fun.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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