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si0bhan's review against another edition
4.0
Since reading The Devil’s Workshop last year I was excited for this Murder Squad book. With everything that happened in the third book in the series you knew great things were to come.
Sadly, despite how much I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t quite to the level of the other books in the series. For me, this book focused far too much on the personal lives of the characters and overlooked the thing I was really interested in – the complex crime that came about following the events in the last book.
It is wonderful build up for what is to come – the events that took place in the last fifty or so pages suggest the series is going to take a truly interesting turn and I cannot wait to see how things are resolved – but as a whole it felt, in part, like a filler book. I simply wish there had been more to it than the focus upon the personal lives (whilst I’m at it, I should probably point out that I felt as though things could have been made more extreme in that regard as well, as people seemed to brush the details of the prior book aside a bit more than I would have liked).
As a whole, it’s not my favourite book in the series yet it has left me more than curious about what is to come next.
Sadly, despite how much I enjoyed this one, it wasn’t quite to the level of the other books in the series. For me, this book focused far too much on the personal lives of the characters and overlooked the thing I was really interested in – the complex crime that came about following the events in the last book.
It is wonderful build up for what is to come – the events that took place in the last fifty or so pages suggest the series is going to take a truly interesting turn and I cannot wait to see how things are resolved – but as a whole it felt, in part, like a filler book. I simply wish there had been more to it than the focus upon the personal lives (whilst I’m at it, I should probably point out that I felt as though things could have been made more extreme in that regard as well, as people seemed to brush the details of the prior book aside a bit more than I would have liked).
As a whole, it’s not my favourite book in the series yet it has left me more than curious about what is to come next.
beckmank's review
5.0
For those unfamiliar with this series, we are transported back in time to 1890, London. Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad has their hands full; Jack the Ripper may have disappeared into thin air, but the dawn of the random serial killer has now arrived.
There are three investigative subplots occurring in The Harvest Man: the search for the Harvest Man, an unofficial search for Jack the Ripper, and a mystery of several Ripper-like murders which have turned up. The latter two plots flow in and out nicely around the hunt for the Harvest Man.
The Murder Squad series features a terrific cast of regular characters. Detective Inspector Walter Day is our main character, the center of this large cast. While the mysteries are the great piece of the books, the personal lives of the characters play just as an important role.
Mr. Grecian had a terrific buildup going throughout the novel. The ending was fantastic – but it just leaves you wanting more. When does the next book come out?
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Thanks to First to Read for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are three investigative subplots occurring in The Harvest Man: the search for the Harvest Man, an unofficial search for Jack the Ripper, and a mystery of several Ripper-like murders which have turned up. The latter two plots flow in and out nicely around the hunt for the Harvest Man.
The Murder Squad series features a terrific cast of regular characters. Detective Inspector Walter Day is our main character, the center of this large cast. While the mysteries are the great piece of the books, the personal lives of the characters play just as an important role.
Mr. Grecian had a terrific buildup going throughout the novel. The ending was fantastic – but it just leaves you wanting more. When does the next book come out?
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Thanks to First to Read for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
pupandpint's review against another edition
2.0
I'm honestly surprised that so many people who've read his previous books liked this one. Generally speaking, it's typical of The Yard, but I was majorly disappointed by this one. I felt The Yard started with great characters and plot development intertwined with the budding field of forensics. With The Harvest Man, however, the forensics seemed wildly out of place. The scene preservation kit aspect alone had little bearing on the events of the book; plus, he went from fingerprints to a full blown investigation kit which seems ludicrous. All of that was in addition to the use of a sketch artist for the perpetrator. Those little issues really bothered my enjoyment of the book, making me feel as though Grecian rushed the writing to churn out another book.
jadeandsuch's review against another edition
5.0
It has been an incredibly long time since a book has kept me up until the wee hours of the morning, but this series certainly does it for me. This book was, in my opinion, the best one of the series so far. I've come to love all the characters and the story is always gripping. If you're a fan of murder mysteries, historical fiction, or just reading in general, definitely give these a read.
I'd write a more in depth review but the fifth book is burning a hole in my night stand waiting for me, which is bittersweet because I know when I finish it, I'll be done with the Murder Squad.
I'd write a more in depth review but the fifth book is burning a hole in my night stand waiting for me, which is bittersweet because I know when I finish it, I'll be done with the Murder Squad.
rebeccadupont's review
4.0
I quite enjoyed this recent installment of the Scotland Yard series. All of our favorite characters are back and our timeline is very near to the end of our last book. I enjoyed how all of the characters we given moments of reaction and lingering effects of the previous book. It was great to have real human emotions and actual effects of traumatic events included.
The Harvest Man was an interesting killer though I would have liked to learn more about him. he is searching for his family but so many questions are left open. Why is a child in his head? What about his ear? Why had he been in prison before? It did not need to be wrapped up in a bow but I wanted just a bit more. At times it felt a bit like filler in between the Jack story.
I was glad to see more with our women, Claire and Fiona. They are given time that is not just 'mother' or 'love sick' that still fits within the world; Claire and her rhymes and Fiona with her own detecting with Hammersmith.
And then, of course, the wonderful set up ending. Not how I expected it to go but it does leave me excited about the next installment! I love how Jack is written.
The Harvest Man was an interesting killer though I would have liked to learn more about him. he is searching for his family but so many questions are left open. Why is a child in his head? What about his ear? Why had he been in prison before? It did not need to be wrapped up in a bow but I wanted just a bit more. At times it felt a bit like filler in between the Jack story.
I was glad to see more with our women, Claire and Fiona. They are given time that is not just 'mother' or 'love sick' that still fits within the world; Claire and her rhymes and Fiona with her own detecting with Hammersmith.
And then, of course, the wonderful set up ending. Not how I expected it to go but it does leave me excited about the next installment! I love how Jack is written.
rachelverna's review
3.0
While I still like this series it has been serverly dragged down by the Jack the Ripper Story line.
carenz's review
5.0
I love the Alex Grecian Murder Squad books. This one didn't disappoint, it was a cliffhanger up to the very end.
alex_henault's review
4.0
I need more! This ending was too much and I need to know what happens NOW!
evila_elf's review
5.0
I had a hard time putting this down and spent many nights reading past my bedtime.
The lead characters are wonderful and I feel so bad for them, with all that they had been through in the last book and they barely got a rest at all in this one.
The ending dragged a little. I could feel it going towards a conclusion. And with three (pretty much) bad guys, it had to have three conclusions/endings. But the last one was OMG awesome! THIS is how you do a cliffhanger!
Though my fault for getting this book as soon as I could...now I have to wait ages for the next one! But there is a small amount of relief at knowing that there IS a next one :D
The lead characters are wonderful and I feel so bad for them, with all that they had been through in the last book and they barely got a rest at all in this one.
The ending dragged a little. I could feel it going towards a conclusion. And with three (pretty much) bad guys, it had to have three conclusions/endings. But the last one was OMG awesome! THIS is how you do a cliffhanger!
Though my fault for getting this book as soon as I could...now I have to wait ages for the next one! But there is a small amount of relief at knowing that there IS a next one :D
louiseog's review
3.0
Much better than the last one in this generally good series. Interesting to see where next.