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fbone's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to read an early detective story and chose this one. It was ok although I felt the ending was a bit "out there." The author used a reveal method that isn't my favorite type. It's a common one used in early mysteries so I was expecting it. I did enjoy how the author developed motives for each character except for the murderer (?) which was unexpected.
losthitsu's review against another edition
4.0
This would be a pretty box standard murder mystery with forged letters, red herrings, mistaken identities and a shocking final reveal - if it wasn't written in 1878, which means that it predates pretty much everything from the genre including Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. I don't understand why we date anglophone murder mysteries to Collins' Moonstone - a rambling novel with a fairly absurd investigation hidden in it if you look hard enough - but ignore something like this, which clearly sets the blueprint for tropes that reappear in pretty much every murder mystery written in the past century and a half.
julia_may's review
3.0
Interesting mystery but too long winded and dull at times. Virtually on every page the incredibly beauty of the two female characters was proclaimed in most dramatic terms and that got old pretty fast. By the time the final twist came around, I just wasn't all that invested in the story anymore, I just wanted it to hurry up and resolve. There was also a touch of naivete that set my teeth on edge, especially in relation to the two-dimensionality of female characters. All up, it was okay, but I enjoyed "That Affair Next Door" much more, it was more humourous, was a better mystery and had far more interesting characters.
collegecate's review
2.0
Listened to via the Phoebe Reads a Mystery podcast. I found the twists and turns a bit extreme and had to keep track of. I totally forgot about the last two chapters for over a week before finishing it.
becasaur27's review
4.0
Listened to Phoebe Judge read this one on her podcast. It was pretty enjoyable. Very much can see how it was an inspiration for Agatha Christie.
naomisbookshelf's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
liam_of_page's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amygibbs's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Another Phoebe Reads a Mystery. I’d never heard of this one, and really enjoyed the set-up and progression of the mystery. I am a little tired of the trope of a narrator who isn’t quite as sharp, and a detective who’s always explaining why they’re wrong (Sherlock and Watson, Poirot and his narrator). The ending wasn’t completely satisfying - it relied on a lot of Victorian moralizing - but I’d still recommend it to fans of old-fashioned mysteries.