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kellylacey's review against another edition
2.0
I can't say I enjoyed it. It had one long monotonous tone. I didn't laugh at all. I am glad it's done. I can't recommend it. Not my cup of tea.
lizzy_balmain's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping, easy read. A whodunnit with Jay good imagery, I'm surprised it's not been made into a TV version already
alisonw's review against another edition
3.0
I was a bit disappointed by this book. Three stars because it’s not that it’s terrible, it’s well written and the premise -at least to me- is quite a new one and seems well thought out.
I was overall just quite let down by the ending on two counts. Avoiding spoilers but I may accidentally give you a clue. The book mixes past and future chapters extremely well, leaving you more and more curious as two who’s dead, then who killed them, and finally why they did so. It’s the answers to this I find disappointing. It’s not that it’s implausible, it’s just not a very relatable motive as bad as that sounds. It also simultaneously felt like an ‘easy ending’ which could have been executed much better with different answers to at least some of those questions.
The second count by which I was displeased is essentially the fact that the book for no understandable reason ends on a semi depressing cliff hanger, which does nothing for the storyline or characters features, nor for me as a reader.
As I said; it’s well written and is the type of book you’ll finish ASAP so as to get to the ending... I just can’t promise you’ll particularly enjoy it.
I was overall just quite let down by the ending on two counts. Avoiding spoilers but I may accidentally give you a clue. The book mixes past and future chapters extremely well, leaving you more and more curious as two who’s dead, then who killed them, and finally why they did so. It’s the answers to this I find disappointing. It’s not that it’s implausible, it’s just not a very relatable motive as bad as that sounds. It also simultaneously felt like an ‘easy ending’ which could have been executed much better with different answers to at least some of those questions.
The second count by which I was displeased is essentially the fact that the book for no understandable reason ends on a semi depressing cliff hanger, which does nothing for the storyline or characters features, nor for me as a reader.
As I said; it’s well written and is the type of book you’ll finish ASAP so as to get to the ending... I just can’t promise you’ll particularly enjoy it.
chris_cousins's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Quite a different style to other murder mysteries, kept me guessing until the end.
cherylgarnsey's review
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well written and structured. Interesting plot and characters.
brettcarl's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
booktwitcher23's review
3.0
I thought this was an interesting concept for a book - you know a family has been murdered right at the beginning but not which one of the four possibilities - and then there is also a bit of a twist at the end. However, I did get a bit fed up of all the references to luxury life that these poshies felt entitled to, so none of the characters were very sympathetic. Even the female doctor could justify her finally decent sized wage and pension.
alexclare's review
4.0
These characters were written so that you wanted them all dead, so this was a guilt-free fun read.
pgchuis's review
4.0
The story of four rich couples who live in big houses in a commuter village in Buckingham. It is clear almost from the beginning that one of the husbands has killed his dogs, children and wife and then himself, but for most of the book the reader is not sure which family has died, while the preceding months are described in flashback. While it took me a while to get it straight in my mind who was married to whom, I never managed to work out whose children were whose.
There are lots of details which root the book firmly in the near past and make it seem very real - I have fond memories of using the self-scan service at Waitrose (although I always scanned every single item in my trolley!) Throughout I found it very well-observed and characters such as Jenno's clients at the CAB will stay with me. The solution is satisfactory - the clues are there - but I could have done without the very ending.
There are lots of details which root the book firmly in the near past and make it seem very real - I have fond memories of using the self-scan service at Waitrose (although I always scanned every single item in my trolley!) Throughout I found it very well-observed and characters such as Jenno's clients at the CAB will stay with me. The solution is satisfactory - the clues are there - but I could have done without the very ending.
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