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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Hmm. I think we're supposed to be dead impressed that a fancy non-crime writer like Susan Hill writes crime. And it's very pleasant, and she clearly understands and wishes to deepen the genre, and and and... yet it's just not as satisfying as a proper crime writer who isn't slumming it.
There is a crime-and-solution plot, and it's well laid and well hinted, though resolved in a possibly OTT way. There's also an ongoing thing about caring for older and dying people, and about euthanasia, and it's that plot which is frankly not very good - very one-sided, peopled by monsters and stereotypes. You come away in no doubt that Hill opposes euthanasia and can't allow the case for it to be made by someone who doesn't turn out to be a hypocrite and an enthusiastic killer. There are good characters wasted, and what feels to me like very slight research - the medical student Molly, allegedly about to graduate, struggles to name the major blood vessels and doesn't seem to be on placement at all - and Cat, the sainted GP, is as irritating as ever. Oh, but Simon Serailler falls in love. Obviously not happy and convenient love, but instead love that fits the book's theme. Bah.
Basically, Hill ain't no Kate Atkinson.
There is a crime-and-solution plot, and it's well laid and well hinted, though resolved in a possibly OTT way. There's also an ongoing thing about caring for older and dying people, and about euthanasia, and it's that plot which is frankly not very good - very one-sided, peopled by monsters and stereotypes. You come away in no doubt that Hill opposes euthanasia and can't allow the case for it to be made by someone who doesn't turn out to be a hypocrite and an enthusiastic killer. There are good characters wasted, and what feels to me like very slight research - the medical student Molly, allegedly about to graduate, struggles to name the major blood vessels and doesn't seem to be on placement at all - and Cat, the sainted GP, is as irritating as ever. Oh, but Simon Serailler falls in love. Obviously not happy and convenient love, but instead love that fits the book's theme. Bah.
Basically, Hill ain't no Kate Atkinson.
Explores some very challenging topics and leaves with no conclusions or answers. First time I've been big-time disappointed with Simon. Hoping she'll pick up some threads in the next book.
It's interesting to me how whole stories are left unfinished from earlier books, though. We see a snapshot of lives where they intersect with the main story arc and then they're left loose ... I suppose that's like real life.
It's interesting to me how whole stories are left unfinished from earlier books, though. We see a snapshot of lives where they intersect with the main story arc and then they're left loose ... I suppose that's like real life.
tense
medium-paced
The characters are in danger of becoming clichés of themselves.
And Simon’s romantic efforts are inappropriate. Especially for a man in his position. And the melodrama is annoying.
The story was ok.
And Simon’s romantic efforts are inappropriate. Especially for a man in his position. And the melodrama is annoying.
The story was ok.
I think this is one of those detective books that you need to read in order. It isn't a series you can dip in and out of for a one off cracking murder mystery. There are characters and plot lines in this book that had precious little to do with the murder investigation in hand, which just left me wondering... what? So, coming in to this series at book six has left me very underwhelmed, and I feel I much prefer Susan Hill as a writer of ghostie stories. There was no sense of anyone's character in this book (I'm guessing because I've missed all the build up of the previous five books) so they all felt a bit middle aged, middle class and gentile, regardless of what age or background they were actually meant to be.
There's a theme running through this about the terminally ill, people living with these degenerative diseases, the effect on relatives etc etc. So I suppose she's getting in all the viewpoints and experiences, but it did get to the point that whenever anyone new turned up, you were thinking, oh no, who do they know who's dying now? I also didn't quite like the way anyone involved in assisted suicide was tinged with the psychopathic villain hint. And a lot of the book is about all of this.
But there's a murder, right? Yeah, some of the book does cover this. There's a lot of rain and loads of flooding. Two bodies buried close to each other on the moors are dislodged, and it turns out they were buried 16 years ago. They quickly figure out one is the body of a missing teenager, but the other woman is a complete mystery...
There's a theme running through this about the terminally ill, people living with these degenerative diseases, the effect on relatives etc etc. So I suppose she's getting in all the viewpoints and experiences, but it did get to the point that whenever anyone new turned up, you were thinking, oh no, who do they know who's dying now? I also didn't quite like the way anyone involved in assisted suicide was tinged with the psychopathic villain hint. And a lot of the book is about all of this.
But there's a murder, right? Yeah, some of the book does cover this. There's a lot of rain and loads of flooding. Two bodies buried close to each other on the moors are dislodged, and it turns out they were buried 16 years ago. They quickly figure out one is the body of a missing teenager, but the other woman is a complete mystery...
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the first I've read in this series and I've jumped in at #6. It didn't seem to matter. The audiobook performer does the story a great service -- he is a sympathetic reader, really fills out the characters.
The title doesn't really suit the story but that's not a big deal.
Susan Hill does a great deal in her writing -- there are many threads here and they did eventually bind together though predictably so in the end. I could do with a bit more simplicity.
The inquiry into topics of dementia and maid assistance in dying was interesting and mostly well done in this novel. The sinister element surprised me -- is that the author's view, to make us question motives of people who pursue this option and those who help make it available?
Possibly a better audiobook than print; it's likely I wouldn't have finished it had I been reading hard copy.
The title doesn't really suit the story but that's not a big deal.
Susan Hill does a great deal in her writing -- there are many threads here and they did eventually bind together though predictably so in the end. I could do with a bit more simplicity.
The inquiry into topics of dementia and maid assistance in dying was interesting and mostly well done in this novel. The sinister element surprised me -- is that the author's view, to make us question motives of people who pursue this option and those who help make it available?
Possibly a better audiobook than print; it's likely I wouldn't have finished it had I been reading hard copy.
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've loved the entire series but this one was extremely disappointing. In fact the ending is so abrupt I thought there was something wrong. I can only presume there is a follow up in the works with so many lose ends? Another wonderful reading by Stephen Pacey who has done all the audiobooks, but this cannot mask the weaker narrative and heavy handed approach taken.