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jhbandcats's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I loved the first Arkady Renko book, Gorky Park, and kept reading till, at book four, I’d had enough. Wolves Eat Dogs is the fifth in the series. I had just read the nonfiction Midnight in Chernobyl (excellent) and so read this mystery because it’s based there.
I was disappointed. The author is always telling us how characters feel, and even then I can’t see it. “I thought so-and-so liked you.” “No, he’s mad at me because….” I hadn’t known either about the liking or the disliking. I never felt any emotion from the characters.
I didn’t find the mystery very compelling, and the motivation didn’t seem to warrant such a homicidal result. Since I’d just read about Chernobyl, I didn’t find the descriptions boring or complicated - one complained I’ve read - but that didn’t make me find the book any more readable.
I was disappointed. The author is always telling us how characters feel, and even then I can’t see it. “I thought so-and-so liked you.” “No, he’s mad at me because….” I hadn’t known either about the liking or the disliking. I never felt any emotion from the characters.
I didn’t find the mystery very compelling, and the motivation didn’t seem to warrant such a homicidal result. Since I’d just read about Chernobyl, I didn’t find the descriptions boring or complicated - one complained I’ve read - but that didn’t make me find the book any more readable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death, Medical trauma, Murder, Suicide, and Cancer
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