Reviews

A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver

slali's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

lillowo's review

adventurous funny relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

If you are interested in a fairly unpredictable mystery, some funny lines, and a really interesting dynamic between the characters, this might be a good book for you. I found it to be a really enjoyable light read and for the most part I really liked our main character. 

This book is marketed as being witty on the hardcover that I had, and generally I really like your humor. There were some moments that gave me and not like other girl vibes, but overall I think that was because stuff was told rather than shown in the way that the humor throughout the rest of the book was. I really like the relationships that were throughout the book and I am so disappointed that my library does not have the second book in the series available for me to binge. But I have it on hold now and I am excited to be able to read it soon.

joannedrake's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

bananasreads's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-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? No

4.0

A fun, cozy mystery! Definitely a great palette cleanser between heavier reads.

elemee's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.75

sunshineariel's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

mary00's review

5.0

4.5 stars.
This was a case of the right book at the right time for me. I immensely enjoyed this historical mystery on audio and can't wait to read the sequel next spring!

alikatson's review

5.0

4.5

ernis's review

adventurous challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A great, enthralling start to a series! While it was labeled as a mystery, I found it more like a heist/spy novel. Loved Ellie and can't wait to read the next one!

frasersimons's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-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

3.25

This was a pretty fun spy fiction meets will-they-won’t-they between a young woman burglar and her… handler? I guess. As a job goes south and she’s pressed into service, she begins to find reasons of her own to stick around and help the war effort in an unusual way. 

It’s pretty good at knowing when to subvert tropes and when to use them. The writing moves along at a good pace. It’s not particularly evocative or interesting at a prose level, very much feeling like commercial fiction, but there’s nothing wrong with that. It clearly knows what it’s doing and executing on that. 

There was a section that felt a bit clumsy in its choreography and I didn’t actually care about the final twist concerning the traitor. There’s a back and forth between them when they’re described as basically fighting for their lives, quite unconvincing. Pretty hard to have a conversation while you’re tangled up and being throttled. 

Otherwise it was a good time. Better than expected.