Reviews

Celine by Peter Heller

candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition

4.0

Here's what I loved about "Celine": The two main characters, Celine and her husband Pete, kick ass. They are senior citizens, Celine has emphysema, Pete is a step away from non-verbal, being from Maine; she's tiny and very stylish, he's big and wears coveralls. And because of their ages, no one really pays much attention to them, which is bad news for those who write them off. Celine has a better record of finding people than the FBI due to her mysterious contacts; Pete has the sort of internet search skills rarely attributed to someone over 30. Celine is really good with guns, although why remains a mystery since she grew up in a society family. They don't think about their ages, they adapt to what's not working so well and what works better than ever. I would love to read about them again.

So why four stars? I was surprised at how quickly I skimmed over the sections set in Celine's youth, eager to get back to her and Pete bumping across Montana in an RV full of guns, followed by an FBI agent with a goatee.

How great to shake up the PI genre! "Celine" is smart and entertaining. Enjoy it.

librariansrule's review against another edition

4.0

Where's the extra half-star button? I need that.

meera01's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This is the third book by this author that I've enjoyed. That means I must be a fan! The main character and her background were fascinating. I would have rated this higher if the novel had a bit more depth without leaving too many things unanswered or developed. Otherwise, I enjoyed the novel and its characters. 

holly_keimig's review

4.0

This book really resonated with me. It almost felt like the author somehow took all of my favorite things and somehow managed to include them all in the same story. It may have been the setting, which is written about in such vivid beautiful detail that you can feel it with multiple senses. The Yellowstone area is one my favorite places on this planet. It may have been the mystery which was really well done with just the right amount of suspense. It may have been the characters who were just interesting and hard to look away from. Whatever it was, I am glad I took a chance on reading this one. The book kept me wrapped around its finger until the very end, where it left me both wanting more and slightly disappointed (both at the craziness of the resolution of the mystery and the fact that it was over). That said, the prose in this book is amazing enough to read just to appreciate its beauty if nothing else. There are old family secrets intertwined throughout and the book has that quality that makes you always want more. Plus, who can resist an elderly PI who carries around oxygen and isn't afraid of being shot? This was my first novel by Heller but I may end up checking out others in the future. I recommend checking it out.

kellyyyyy's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated

2.75

dmcarl's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

leaphornlover's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Plodding narrative. I was disappointed Yellowstone itself didn’t really play a part in the book at all—could have been anywhere with mountains and bears. Predictable ending. 

wemedge's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

wymabradley712's review

emotional mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lamom77's review against another edition

3.0

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook. I liked the characters and the mystery; however, there were several inconsistencies and so much of Celine's background that did not really feel relevant to the main storyline.