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terriep's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
This was a somewhat dry telling of a broken relationship through memories after the wife dies and the husband is on trial for her murder. The structure is a day by day of the trial as different witnesses causes the husband to remember his wife in various circumstances. As the circumstantial evidence builds, we aren't sure if he did it or not until quite late in the book.
He's a professor at a local college so the story is peppered with literary references and quotes supporting the idea that the town "didn't like him" because he was a bit pretentious. So the neighbors and townspeople were inclined to think the worst of him. It was an okay read.
He's a professor at a local college so the story is peppered with literary references and quotes supporting the idea that the town "didn't like him" because he was a bit pretentious. So the neighbors and townspeople were inclined to think the worst of him. It was an okay read.
seddso's review against another edition
Oh. my. God . This book totally got on my nerves. I've read thousands of books , am educated and consider myself fairly intelligent- but this book was filled with pretentious words that contributed nothing to the story. Usually I'll highlight a new word and look it up , I like to learn. But this book had so many I was irritated beyond belief and feel the author is either aiming at intellectuals or is just pretentious himself. Binned. Am glad to see I can award no stars.
tee3's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Wow. While it took me a while to read this book, and I wasn't racing to read it every spare minute I had, I enjoyed it while I read it. Then the last 50 pages of the book happened. Everything fell into place, and all of a sudden it wasn't the story I expected to read. I expected a court room drama, did he or did he not kill his wife, a question you toss up the whole time. However, upon reaching the end, it was only then I really realised the true story. Others might have picked up on it sooner, maybe I didnt read into it enough but It's a book I definitely plan on reading again, with the new outlook in mind, to truely appreciate it.
Whilst at times i found the book pretentious, reflecting the main character, and at times had no feeling of actually liking Sam, I think these elements are necessary for Sandrine's Case to have the full effect.
Wow. While it took me a while to read this book, and I wasn't racing to read it every spare minute I had, I enjoyed it while I read it. Then the last 50 pages of the book happened. Everything fell into place, and all of a sudden it wasn't the story I expected to read. I expected a court room drama, did he or did he not kill his wife, a question you toss up the whole time. However, upon reaching the end, it was only then I really realised the true story. Others might have picked up on it sooner, maybe I didnt read into it enough but It's a book I definitely plan on reading again, with the new outlook in mind, to truely appreciate it.
Whilst at times i found the book pretentious, reflecting the main character, and at times had no feeling of actually liking Sam, I think these elements are necessary for Sandrine's Case to have the full effect.
mpivawer's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, this is a hard one to review. I spent a lot of it feeling slightly bored and wishing the pace would pick up, knowing it wouldn't. Despite that, it also kept the tension taut and I was never wholly sure which way the ending would go. Consider the whole book takes place in 9 days, most of those with the main character sitting idly in a courtroom, this narrative tension is quite the feat.
The book really made me think. What would I judge a man on, the person he once was, has recently been, is now or will be in the future? When there's been or will be a significant breach between one and the other, this isn't an easy question to answer.
For those who enjoy a slow, considered pace and tightly woven psychological thriller. This is one worth picking up.
The book really made me think. What would I judge a man on, the person he once was, has recently been, is now or will be in the future? When there's been or will be a significant breach between one and the other, this isn't an easy question to answer.
For those who enjoy a slow, considered pace and tightly woven psychological thriller. This is one worth picking up.
neilsb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cleng's review against another edition
5.0
A masterpiece of a book! ... a mystery, courtroom drama, but more importantly, the redemptive story of a human heart.
cheryl_r's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I liked anything but the storytelling technique...yet it kept me reading!The author's risks pay off, delivering everything a good read should. He might have a new fan!
aquick's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jeanm333's review
4.0
Another finalist for the Edgar awards, Sandrine's Case is an interesting novel; I read it in a day, wanting to look at the end but resisting. It's told in first person by Sam Madison, who is accused of murdering his wife Sandrine, who was dying of ALS. The story is told from Sam's viewpoint, so it is introspective, as Sam endures the prosecution at his trial and spends much time reviewing his life and his relationship with his wife. We learn much about Sam, but also a lot about Sandrine and their daughter Alexandria.
The story twists and turns and leads you exactly where Thomas Cook wants to take you. At times I was sure I knew what was going on, then Cook twists things around.
I can't give this book 5 stars because there were several places where the story was completely unbelievable. Some of the courtroom scenes and testimony were absolutely wrong and only served to bring out information that should have been revealed in some other way. (I can't be more specific without revealing too much.)
For the Edgar Awards, I'm still rooting for Lori Roy's Until She Comes Home, but Louise Penny's How the Light Gets In and William Kent Krueger's Ordinary Grace (both of which I've reviewed previously) are also fantastic.
The story twists and turns and leads you exactly where Thomas Cook wants to take you. At times I was sure I knew what was going on, then Cook twists things around.
I can't give this book 5 stars because there were several places where the story was completely unbelievable. Some of the courtroom scenes and testimony were absolutely wrong and only served to bring out information that should have been revealed in some other way. (I can't be more specific without revealing too much.)
For the Edgar Awards, I'm still rooting for Lori Roy's Until She Comes Home, but Louise Penny's How the Light Gets In and William Kent Krueger's Ordinary Grace (both of which I've reviewed previously) are also fantastic.