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maisha_raihan's review against another edition
It is incredibly dull and slow. It's not interesting enough for me to pick it up again.
weaselweader's review against another edition
3.0
OLD CITY HALL bills itself as a legal thriller but ...
... I believe it would be more accurate to describe this as a low key legal procedural or a mystery. A celebrated Canadian radio host, Kevin Brace, confesses to killing his wife in their Toronto apartment. But, once he's done confessing he refuses to say another word - nothing to the investigating detectives and not even a word to his attorney, Nancy Parish.
As an eclectic Canadian reader and a lover of legal thrillers and mysteries, I confess I was looking forward to Robert Rotenberg's debut novel with considerable relish. But I'll have to admit that the quality of the mystery was spotty and I felt that the eventual courtroom drama just wasn't worth the reading.
However, if you're looking for a novel that will definitely give you a fine flavour of the culture, the geography and the feel of Canada's largest city, I have to give OLD CITY HALL two thumbs up on that count. If the truth be told, I have to admit that I only live about 50 kilometres down the highway from where most of Rotenberg's story took place, but I definitely felt transported. Every inch of the road, every street scene and every event in the story right down to the hopeless futility of being an eternally unfulfilled Toronto Maple Leaf hockey fan resonated with absolutely accuracy and completely conveyed me into the life of downtown Toronto.
Two stars for the story line, four stars for the setting and we'll call it an enjoyable three star read that is well worth the time of an out of country reader looking to sample Canada's largest city on the printed page.
Paul Weiss
... I believe it would be more accurate to describe this as a low key legal procedural or a mystery. A celebrated Canadian radio host, Kevin Brace, confesses to killing his wife in their Toronto apartment. But, once he's done confessing he refuses to say another word - nothing to the investigating detectives and not even a word to his attorney, Nancy Parish.
As an eclectic Canadian reader and a lover of legal thrillers and mysteries, I confess I was looking forward to Robert Rotenberg's debut novel with considerable relish. But I'll have to admit that the quality of the mystery was spotty and I felt that the eventual courtroom drama just wasn't worth the reading.
However, if you're looking for a novel that will definitely give you a fine flavour of the culture, the geography and the feel of Canada's largest city, I have to give OLD CITY HALL two thumbs up on that count. If the truth be told, I have to admit that I only live about 50 kilometres down the highway from where most of Rotenberg's story took place, but I definitely felt transported. Every inch of the road, every street scene and every event in the story right down to the hopeless futility of being an eternally unfulfilled Toronto Maple Leaf hockey fan resonated with absolutely accuracy and completely conveyed me into the life of downtown Toronto.
Two stars for the story line, four stars for the setting and we'll call it an enjoyable three star read that is well worth the time of an out of country reader looking to sample Canada's largest city on the printed page.
Paul Weiss
kailadan's review against another edition
Love the characters in this book and all the references to Toronto and Canadian culture. The story kept me reading, wanting to get to the next clue in the mystery. This, and Mr. Rotenberg's other books do a great job of representing the multicultural nature of Toronto.
eclectictales's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this novel thanks to the GoodReads First Reads program. Old City Hall is an intriguing murder mystery with a few unexpected twists and turns that unfolds at a realistic pace. I enjoyed getting to know more about these characters, who they are and how they react in certain situations and how they handle the mystery before them. Perhaps my favourite part of the novel is how the author brings the city of Toronto to life--from the districts and structures to the multiculturalism to the hockey culture. I highly recommend this novel to fans of crime and mystery novels!
My complete review of the novel was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/03/24/review-old-city-hall/
My complete review of the novel was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/03/24/review-old-city-hall/
knit_and_purl's review against another edition
4.0
I actually quite enjoyed this, which was a very pleasant surprise. I would rank it more of a 3.5 as I found some elements seemed a bit contrived or rushed, but overall, I liked it. The Toronto setting was nice, mainly because I knew of all of the places the author wrote about, so I was able to visualize them. I'd definitely pick up another of his titles.
skyreader's review against another edition
2.0
Rotenberg is a lawyer first, novelist second, and unfortunately it shows in the novel. It's a story about a fictional Canadian radio morning-show host, whose wife is found dead in the bathtub. He confesses to his newspaper delivery man that he killed her, and surrenders to the police. But, despite his confession, the things are not as straight forward as they seem.
Oh, don't worry, I'm not throwing spoilers, this all happens in the first 20 pages of the book. After that, we are introduced to a long list of characters, mostly well developed, but by following so many threads at once, the story doesn't move anywhere for the next 200 pages. Then, as if the author realized the he should move the plot toward conclusion, things start happening all at once, without a hint beforehand. And, as a result, there is no real conclusion.
What I like about the story is location - it's happening in Toronto, where I live. It gives the book an intimate feel. I am not quite sure how would a non-Torontonian like it. The legal process is described well, but the police investigation is a bit shallow and less believable. Oh, and Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Stanley cup is a pure fantasy, cute, but utterly impossible.
What I don't like is too many characters, and at the same time lack of the main character. Too much legal and law stuff and too little investigation, clues, mystery and problem solving. The pace is way too slow. Finally, the thing I really hate is when the ending doesn't offer closure.
Oh, don't worry, I'm not throwing spoilers, this all happens in the first 20 pages of the book. After that, we are introduced to a long list of characters, mostly well developed, but by following so many threads at once, the story doesn't move anywhere for the next 200 pages. Then, as if the author realized the he should move the plot toward conclusion, things start happening all at once, without a hint beforehand. And, as a result, there is no real conclusion.
What I like about the story is location - it's happening in Toronto, where I live. It gives the book an intimate feel. I am not quite sure how would a non-Torontonian like it. The legal process is described well, but the police investigation is a bit shallow and less believable. Oh, and Toronto Maple Leafs winning the Stanley cup is a pure fantasy, cute, but utterly impossible.
What I don't like is too many characters, and at the same time lack of the main character. Too much legal and law stuff and too little investigation, clues, mystery and problem solving. The pace is way too slow. Finally, the thing I really hate is when the ending doesn't offer closure.
martyfried's review against another edition
5.0
I'd give this 4+ stars, but I'm rounding up to 5 because it's a first in the series, and I didn't expect it to be so good.
I loved the twists and turns of the story, but perhaps even more, I loved the characters. Almost all of them were likable except the ones who were not supposed to be. Even the prosecutor was interested in justice rather than just winning his case. He had said that his role was not to win or lose a case, but to ensure that the integrity of the system is upheld. Of course, most people are too jaded to believe something like that, but it turns out that he really did believe this. Very much, it seems.
The client was a real mystery. The only words he spoke were basically "I killed her". So, of course, any astute reader would know he didn't do it - much too easy. But how does a struggling defense lawyer defend a client like that?
Speaking of which, I loved the defense lawyer, Nancy Parish, a divorced woman in her late 30s struggling to get by with a wry sense of humor which I found very entertaining. I'll look forward to future appearances for her.
Lots of other interesting people in this story. I liked it so much, I'm going to jump right in to the 2nd book of the series while they are still fresh in my mind.
I loved the twists and turns of the story, but perhaps even more, I loved the characters. Almost all of them were likable except the ones who were not supposed to be. Even the prosecutor was interested in justice rather than just winning his case. He had said that his role was not to win or lose a case, but to ensure that the integrity of the system is upheld. Of course, most people are too jaded to believe something like that, but it turns out that he really did believe this. Very much, it seems.
The client was a real mystery. The only words he spoke were basically "I killed her". So, of course, any astute reader would know he didn't do it - much too easy. But how does a struggling defense lawyer defend a client like that?
Speaking of which, I loved the defense lawyer, Nancy Parish, a divorced woman in her late 30s struggling to get by with a wry sense of humor which I found very entertaining. I'll look forward to future appearances for her.
Lots of other interesting people in this story. I liked it so much, I'm going to jump right in to the 2nd book of the series while they are still fresh in my mind.
henrismum's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
First in series
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: I don't remember how I found out about this series, but the setting is in Toronto, so it was an easy sell.
Will I read more of the series?Probably Not Maybe Likely Most Likely Definitely Very good. The only part I didn't quite like was the very end.
The narrator was Paul Hecht. I enjoyed his reading. He also narrated From Time to Time.
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: I don't remember how I found out about this series, but the setting is in Toronto, so it was an easy sell.
Will I read more of the series?
The narrator was Paul Hecht. I enjoyed his reading. He also narrated From Time to Time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
maureenmccombs's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent book by Rotenberg. I have to again remark that I am surprised he is not a more well known author. His characters and plots are believable, his writing style is smooth and unforced, and his story holds up from beginning to end. Can't wait for his next book. Heartily recommend!