Scan barcode
kdk1898's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
hannah_the_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Blood
alexschrade's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Against my expectations, I loved this book.. i don't usually like crime stories, but this one was so entertaining to read, I practically devoured it. I loved the mix of humor and melancholy. The crime aspect was well thought out and I didn't expect the ending tbh. All in all an amazing read for all age groups (I am a good 60 years younger than the main charcters)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault
lifewithjoce's review against another edition
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
megelizabeth's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
"The daffodils will always come up by the lake, but you won’t always be there to see them. So it goes; enjoy them while you can."
Reading this a few years after its release, I couldn't help but feel it didn't quite live up to all the hype, but I still enjoyed it overall. It's well-written with an interesting plot and fun set of characters, and it's of course very witty and full of a very specific British humour which I appreciated. It's also a great combination of gripping and fast-paced on the one hand, and then complex, layered, and bittersweet on the other, with important things to say about ageing, relationships, and illness and death.
My main issue with this book is that there's a significant part of the ending which just didn't make sense to me at all, in terms of a certain character's actions and the impact that these then have on the plot. Maybe I was missing something, but it just seemed so out of character for me that it was difficult to look past, particularly as otherwise I found the various strands of the mystery to be wrapped up in a satisfying way.
On a lesser note - and perhaps more of a personal preference - I wish that more of the story had been told from Joyce's point of view and particularly that the police officer characters had been less prominent.
I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book, as there were definitely elements of this that I really liked and I do enjoy Osman's writing style, but there were also big drawbacks for me. I suppose time will tell!
Reading this a few years after its release, I couldn't help but feel it didn't quite live up to all the hype, but I still enjoyed it overall. It's well-written with an interesting plot and fun set of characters, and it's of course very witty and full of a very specific British humour which I appreciated. It's also a great combination of gripping and fast-paced on the one hand, and then complex, layered, and bittersweet on the other, with important things to say about ageing, relationships, and illness and death.
My main issue with this book is that there's a significant part of the ending which just didn't make sense to me at all, in terms of a certain character's actions and the impact that these then have on the plot. Maybe I was missing something, but it just seemed so out of character for me that it was difficult to look past, particularly as otherwise I found the various strands of the mystery to be wrapped up in a satisfying way.
On a lesser note - and perhaps more of a personal preference - I wish that more of the story had been told from Joyce's point of view and particularly that the police officer characters had been less prominent.
I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book, as there were definitely elements of this that I really liked and I do enjoy Osman's writing style, but there were also big drawbacks for me. I suppose time will tell!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Racism and Sexual assault
katietregs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it took me a while to get into it. If I hadn’t been reading it for a book club, I might have even given up around page 100.
The murder mystery aspect does have good payoff, and the characters are rich and lovable. I think it suffers from too many POV characters up front and not enough storyline events to justify the story’s overall complexity.
I also think the suicide of Bernard felt unnecessary, and rushed. And the priest’s story was supposed to be sympathetic, but it made him seem like a weird creep to me. If the nun was going to run off with him… why did she hang herself? and why did Bogdan send the picture to Jason?
That said, it’s an impressive first novel from Osman with good mystery and great characters.
The murder mystery aspect does have good payoff, and the characters are rich and lovable. I think it suffers from too many POV characters up front and not enough storyline events to justify the story’s overall complexity.
That said, it’s an impressive first novel from Osman with good mystery and great characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying and Eating disorder
salma_175's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Starts slow but picks up! Feels like a cozy mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, and Murder
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I'm so glad I read this for book club because I kept getting it confused with The Marlow Murder Club which I DNF'd and therefore kept avoiding it. This book is far more entertaining than The Marlow Murder Club! A great blend of humor, deep emotions, and red herrings to keep you just puzzled enough.
The story also raises some moral issues to chew on, and while I like how most of them are handled, I did think there was a bit too much approval (unless it was just meant to be tired acceptance?) of suicide/killing of someone because they are old/tired/incapacitated.
That said, I'm quite intrigued to continue the series at this point!
The story also raises some moral issues to chew on, and while I like how most of them are handled, I did think there was a bit too much approval (unless it was just meant to be tired acceptance?) of suicide/killing of someone because they are old/tired/incapacitated.
That said, I'm quite intrigued to continue the series at this point!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
poirot's review against another edition
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny and Medical content
Minor: Child death and Sexual assault
mo_za11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Grief, and Toxic friendship