Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Three Things about Elsie by Joanna Cannon

4 reviews

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Dementia, Murder, Grief, Death, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content

Moderate: Death of parent, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Vomit, Child death, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, and War

elfcup's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Death

Moderate: Child death, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, and Car accident

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Stalking

natanidae's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide, Domestic abuse, Death, and Murder

Minor: Child death

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I can't tell if this was slow to start or if I just wasn't gripped straight away, but I read the first half in a week and the second half in one day, because by the end I could not put it down. It's beautifully written and sets a contemplative tone - with the constant theme of what impact, if any, we as individuals have on the world while we're alive. It's a clever device that also kept me thinking about the central mystery, and its impact on the lives of Florence, Elsie and everyone they encountered.

I loved the narrative structure, which jumps between Florence's story interspersed with chapters for a couple of minor characters, and a separate time where Florence is waiting for help in her apartment. These chapter headings just showed the time, and its progression was quite unnerving as I was desperate for someone to arrive.

Throughout the story the passage of time and our significance in it is a constant theme, with so many allusions to clocks, the position of the sun and the changing weather/seasons. As Florence and Elsie's past was slowly revealed I was increasingly gripped, and the ending absolutely threw me for a loop - leaving me keen to go straight back and re-read the entire book again.

A stunning book with a lot of sadness, but somehow filled with hope and beauty thanks to its wonderful characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Murder, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury