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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, War
I really liked M. R. C. Kasasian's Gower Street series, despite its increasing darkness and gore. I thought I would like this new series better than I actually did. (I mean the setting alone seemed hand-picked for me: England, 1939!)
All the supporting cast, and I mean ALL of them, are annoying in one way or another. And Betty is intrepid, but somehow not truly likeable. The names are over the top. The plot is obscure.
But Kasasian does have a way of turning a phrase...I know I'll give at least one more book in the series a chance before I give up.
All the supporting cast, and I mean ALL of them, are annoying in one way or another. And Betty is intrepid, but somehow not truly likeable. The names are over the top. The plot is obscure.
But Kasasian does have a way of turning a phrase...I know I'll give at least one more book in the series a chance before I give up.
Spoiler
So, Betty is totally March Middleton's daughter, right? I mean her "parents" are AWFUL. They don't remember her birthday. They don't visit her in the hospital. They don't care about her at all. But M.M. does. So. This is not really a spoiler, just my guess at how the series might go.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
Kasasian's dry wit and humor are in top from throughout this book, but the motives for the murders (I won't tell it here) was a bit insensitive given the type of world we live in now and the silliness of the perpetrators could have been approached differently.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire by M.R.C. Kasasian starts in 1939. Betty Church was injured on the job and, if not for the assistance of her godmother, March Middleton, she would have been off the force. Instead, Betty gets a promotion (she is now an inspector) and transferred from London back to her hometown of Sackwater (the last place Betty would like to return to). Life moves at a slower pace in Sackwater and the officers at the Sackwater Central Police Station are lacking (let’s face it—it’s a dumping ground). Things get off to a roaring start when she arrives at the station to encounter a sleeping front desk officer, Frank Briggs, who distinctly resembles a corpse (creepy). Betty than proceeds to her parent’s home where she is told there is no room since they are taking in some East End refugees as part of a trial program (in other words, they are getting paid to do it). Betty has not been at her new posting long when Constable Dodo Chivers arrives a week early for her new position. Betty and Dodo go to check on Mr. Peatrie and find him dead at the bottom of his stairs. They notice two strange marks on his neck and Dodo is sure that a vampire has attacked him. This is just the beginning of the killing spree and the press dub the killer the “Suffolk Vampire”. Betty must calm down the locals who are taking precautions (the town has run out of garlic) while tracking down a dangerous murderer.
Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire is well-written and a humorous novel. This is the type of book that my mother just loves (she laughed continually while reading it). Betty is a strong, intelligent resourceful woman who is not afraid of hard work and has the patience of Job. The townspeople and Betty’s co-workers are quirky (to put it mildly). Dodo Chivers is a unique personality who seamlessly fits into the Church household and wins the affections of Betty’s parents (they treat her better than Betty). The author managed to combine an amusing plot with dastardly deeds. M.R.C. Kasasian created imaginative characters that challenge Betty. I like how the author incorporated the rules from the time-period for female officers into the story (they could not work at night so as not to incite the desires of the male officers) as well as the attitudes of the male officers (misogynists). I like the authors descriptive writing style. The details help bring the scenes alive for me. Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire was a little over-the-top for my tastes. I thought the pace was a little slow and there was too much of Dodo (I wanted to wring her neck). Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire is British cozy mystery that will have you laughing from beginning to end. It is an unforgettable novel.
Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire is well-written and a humorous novel. This is the type of book that my mother just loves (she laughed continually while reading it). Betty is a strong, intelligent resourceful woman who is not afraid of hard work and has the patience of Job. The townspeople and Betty’s co-workers are quirky (to put it mildly). Dodo Chivers is a unique personality who seamlessly fits into the Church household and wins the affections of Betty’s parents (they treat her better than Betty). The author managed to combine an amusing plot with dastardly deeds. M.R.C. Kasasian created imaginative characters that challenge Betty. I like how the author incorporated the rules from the time-period for female officers into the story (they could not work at night so as not to incite the desires of the male officers) as well as the attitudes of the male officers (misogynists). I like the authors descriptive writing style. The details help bring the scenes alive for me. Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire was a little over-the-top for my tastes. I thought the pace was a little slow and there was too much of Dodo (I wanted to wring her neck). Betty Church and the Suffolk Vampire is British cozy mystery that will have you laughing from beginning to end. It is an unforgettable novel.