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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
I recognize that there is a whole new subgenre of old people solving mysteries…
But to stand out in the crowd, the book needs to bring something different and interesting.
And although the elderly characters each have unique maladies that make them quite a funny little group (baldness, wheelchair bound, hippie, etc…)
The story was just boring. And even as the old bodies started piling up, I didn’t care enough to learn who the killer was.
The story was just poorly paced - and as an audiobook - i literally sat in traffic, hit stop and said “I don’t care how this ends.”
I also wonder if some of the issues was that this book was translated and it didn’t interpret as effectively to English.
But to stand out in the crowd, the book needs to bring something different and interesting.
And although the elderly characters each have unique maladies that make them quite a funny little group (baldness, wheelchair bound, hippie, etc…)
The story was just boring. And even as the old bodies started piling up, I didn’t care enough to learn who the killer was.
The story was just poorly paced - and as an audiobook - i literally sat in traffic, hit stop and said “I don’t care how this ends.”
I also wonder if some of the issues was that this book was translated and it didn’t interpret as effectively to English.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
It took me two tries to read this one and perhaps my instincts were right, it was just OK to me. I received an ARC from a local bookseller and was so excited that I started it almost immediately, only to be getting tangled up in all the characters and feel like not much was happening. I put it down for a month and then decided to try again for the MA Center for the Book's "book in translation" challenge prompt. Unfortunately, the plot and twists and turns all felt too unbelievable to enjoy. It was a lot of "well that would never happen" and at least one moment of "omg if this is the twist I will throw this book straight across the room" (it wasn't, but still.) I thought this would be a lot more about how the elders worked together to outsmart the police and it has some of that, sure, but it's also a lot more about Agnes and her past and trying to keep her thoughts and her reality straight that took away, for me, from the camaraderie and group hijinks I was expecting.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think I would’ve liked this book more if I hadn’t just watched Thursday murder club because it’s definitely not the same book or tone but it’s not dissimilar? And I’ve been reading a lot of mysteries set in small towns and they can never really be that different ya know?
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wonderful characters, solid mystery, realistic and sympathetic look at advancing years while retaining a sense of humor. Hetty the tortoise 10/10. I could read a whole book from her POV.
Superbly read.
Superbly read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No