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3.08 AVERAGE
3.08 AVERAGE
dnf @ 1/3rd of the novel. i know isabel allende is a very popular author, so i'm giving the benefit of the doubt that it's just this particular book that i did not like and perhaps her other ones are a lot better. i had to stop reading because it was genuinely putting me into a slump and i don't want to be in a slump. i'm not even exaggerating when i say that the majority of what i read was character descriptions. i felt like i was being told things about characters–there wasn't any kind of flow to this book. on the rare occasion something interesting was happening, it was cut off either by another character description or a new chapter. it kept taking me out of the book. i don't really like not finishing books, and i did give it 2 stars because maybe it does get better, but i just can't keep reading it.
Rounded down from 2.5 stars. This is not Allende’s genre. She does okay but it’s clear that she’s out of her element. It wasn’t really “gripping” until the very end. More of a slow burn. Also, what is alluded to in the description on the back of the book doesn’t even occur until 3/4 of the way through the book! It came together well in the end but honestly I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re looking for a gripping murder mystery, you can skip this one.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
There are some mysteries that are compact, like Agatha Christie novels, and then there are more modern mysteries that are a bit more convoluted. This one is definitely the latter. However, the mystery slogs along for 300-350 pages of its 475 page narrative and moves at a breakneck pace in its next 100+ pages, leaving the reader little time to follow all the clues or let all the twists and turns sink in. It also doesn’t help that one of the main characters, Indiana, is such an infuriating character. Not only is she torn between two lovers, but she hardly seems to have any kind of relationship with her teenage daughter, Amanda. And considering that these two characters make up the bulk of the story, you would expect a more fleshed out relationship, even though they don’t share any interests or characteristics.
Having said all that, the climax was tightly woven, edge-of-your-seat stuff that will please anyone who has a hankering for thrillers. I didn’t care much for how the resolution of the story, but it is certainly unpredictable. And though I felt the lead up to the climax took too long, I will say that Ms. Allende writes about all her characters, particularly Indiana’s male lovers, with a great deal of empathy. You will get to know them intimately, even if one of them is selfish prick.
This is a good mystery/thriller for anyone who is a fan of the genre and is looking for something a little different. Just be prepared for a bit of slow burn followed by a quick explosion in terms of the narrative arc.
Having said all that, the climax was tightly woven, edge-of-your-seat stuff that will please anyone who has a hankering for thrillers. I didn’t care much for how the resolution of the story, but it is certainly unpredictable. And though I felt the lead up to the climax took too long, I will say that Ms. Allende writes about all her characters, particularly Indiana’s male lovers, with a great deal of empathy. You will get to know them intimately, even if one of them is selfish prick.
This is a good mystery/thriller for anyone who is a fan of the genre and is looking for something a little different. Just be prepared for a bit of slow burn followed by a quick explosion in terms of the narrative arc.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book makes no sense at all.
Leider hatte das Buch insgesamt zu viele Längen, die ich jetzt nach Beenden des Buches doch recht unnötig fand. Das Spiel "Ripper" an sich kam zu kurz und die beschriebene Handlung des Klappentextes trat erst nach 3/4 des Buches ein. Sowas nervt, da man ja irgendwie darauf hin ließt. Das Ende fand ich leider auch sehr in die Länge gezogen, die Auflösung des Täters zu sehr gewollt und nicht gekonnt. Zu unrealistisch und nicht komplett nachvollziehbar. Und dann endete das Buch doch zu abrupt und nicht dem restlichen Teil des Buches entsprechend...ich merkte, dass Allende toll schreibt, es ist aber kein Krimi oder Thriller...gerne gebe ich ihr bei einem anderen Buch nochmal die Chance mich zu überzeugen!
Nope, nope, nope. The first couple paragraphs describe more brutality than I can stomach, and a group of 4th grade children discover the results of that brutality. I'm done.
I was disappointed in the book. Pretty much throughout it was unbelievable to say the least
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes