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alavenderx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Dickensian-style cast of characters, so cleverly written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Police brutality, and Death
Moderate: Abortion
katewhite77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Glorious Crime Caper
Set in the ceady under world of 1920s Soho night life. Missing girls., bent coppers, straight coppers, an assortment of loveable rouges with some plain old rouges thrown in. Oh and did I mention and did I mention a fiesty librarian on the lookout for adventure. All woven together in a beautifully crafted narrative.
This is the definition of Darkly Comic and is easily one of my favourite books of the year so far. I would like to particularly recommend the audiobook as the narrator does the humour in this novel an incredible amount of justice.
Set in the ceady under world of 1920s Soho night life. Missing girls., bent coppers, straight coppers, an assortment of loveable rouges with some plain old rouges thrown in. Oh and did I mention and did I mention a fiesty librarian on the lookout for adventure. All woven together in a beautifully crafted narrative.
This is the definition of Darkly Comic and is easily one of my favourite books of the year so far. I would like to particularly recommend the audiobook as the narrator does the humour in this novel an incredible amount of justice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Medical content, Child death, Grief, Suicide, Murder, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
lostinthelibrary's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I was pulled in from the start by the setting and the intriguing plot. A lot of mystery was set up early on and the fast paced plot and short chapters kept me reading. I did however find the ending a bit unsatisfying and rushed with a lot of the plotlines dropped or very hastily wrapped up. I can't believe how many characters were suddenly killed off in the last 5% of the book! .
There are a lot of characters in this book and they are not given equal care and attention. There were characters I loved (Gwendolen, Freda, Kitty and Ramsey to name a few) characters I hated who I was supposed to like (Frobisher!) and countless characters who were very thinly drawn. For such a character based novel, I found this disappointing.
However, saying all this, I can't deny that I had a lot of fun reading this book and it makes me want to read more from this era.
There are a lot of characters in this book and they are not given equal care and attention. There were characters I loved (Gwendolen, Freda, Kitty and Ramsey to name a few) characters I hated who I was supposed to like (Frobisher!) and countless characters who were very thinly drawn. For such a character based novel, I found this disappointing.
However, saying all this, I can't deny that I had a lot of fun reading this book and it makes me want to read more from this era.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Abortion, and Rape
Moderate: Murder, Drug abuse, and Death
why_not's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This novel is interesting and very well written. It is character driven though I feel as if the characters aren't really explored. My favorite parts explored the point of view from Nellie and Gwendolen, but those from the Coker children, Frobisher, and Florence fall a little flat.
The point of views from a female mob boss losing the reigns of her empire is novel and performed quite well imo. And that from a nurse hardened in the first world war despite being a bit of a "not like the other girls" trope is fun as we see her expectations of police work differ from reality.
Other than that the characters feel flat. I know Frobisher is supposed to be our Niven foil. I won't go too much into Florence, but her story doesn't feel complete.
My biggest gripe is the slow start. SoG takes nealy half the book to finish explaining the case and the Coker empire. Then the rising action and climax all come very quickly and take something of a backseat to the love triangle. Then everything is wrapped up in a nice bow. I wish the story challenged me more and spent a bit more time with Florence who had a chance to be an extremely interesting character.
The point of views from a female mob boss losing the reigns of her empire is novel and performed quite well imo. And that from a nurse hardened in the first world war despite being a bit of a "not like the other girls" trope is fun as we see her expectations of police work differ from reality.
Other than that the characters feel flat. I know Frobisher is supposed to be our Niven foil. I won't go too much into Florence, but her story doesn't feel complete.
My biggest gripe is the slow start. SoG takes nealy half the book to finish explaining the case and the Coker empire. Then the rising action and climax all come very quickly and take something of a backseat to the love triangle. Then everything is wrapped up in a nice bow. I wish the story challenged me more and spent a bit more time with Florence who had a chance to be an extremely interesting character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Alcohol
madamelacy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me a while to get into this book. It felt like the story didn’t really get going until halfway through, but maybe I read the first half in too many sittings. Once it got going it was a really interesting plot with some good twists along the way.
The settings of the London nightclubs in the 1920s were interesting as they’re not something I knew anything about.
The story weaves together gangsters, poverty, murders, police corruption and complicated relationships.
I liked that there were several strong female characters who were controlling their own destinies, even if I didn’t especially like their life choices.
The settings of the London nightclubs in the 1920s were interesting as they’re not something I knew anything about.
The story weaves together gangsters, poverty, murders, police corruption and complicated relationships.
I liked that there were several strong female characters who were controlling their own destinies, even if I didn’t especially like their life choices.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Police brutality, Abortion, and Trafficking
Minor: Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness
rondasue27's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Murder, and Death
Minor: Vomit and War
somethingviola's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It was thrilling in parts, but overall by the end it felt like a lot of buildup for the characters I cared about the most without a lot of conclusions or satisfaction for them in the end.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, and Drug use
nialiversuch's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Drug use, Murder, Police brutality, Medical content, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Grief
Moderate: Rape, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Minor: War, Abandonment, and Abortion
katethealmostgreat's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Couldn’t put it down!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
zosiablue's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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
4.5
One of those books that felt like I was watching real life casually unfold. Just effortless rolling from scene to scene as if it was happening in real time. I don't know how Kate Atkinson does it. And at first, I read this as just a moment in time without a driving point - a look into 1920s gangster cocktail club glitterati London. But then she pulled a Six Feet Under finale at the end and I realized the Moment in Time WAS the point. These wild things happen and then they're just history. So tart in the moment and then gone. The algia in nostalgia. Dang.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: War and Fire/Fire injury