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sewingdervish's review against another edition
5.0
I'm giving this a 4.5. It was very good even though I figured out who did it I couldn't figure out how they did it for a very long time. I'm docking it half a star because it was a little wordy sometimes when I didn't need to be and my eyes completely glazed over during the science experiment. I love chemistry but this bored meet out of my mind! Also, so much misogyny and from a female author...boo.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
I think any disappointment I had with this book stemmed from the fact that I had assumed it was a Lord Peter Wimsey novel. It's actually a collection of letters. A man is murdered and the entire backstory is given to us through the observations of other people in the house. The question being brought to us is how could a man who was a noted mushroomer die from eating poisonous mushrooms? Good story.
ini_ya's review against another edition
4.0
It was new for me to read an epistolary murder mystery. The letters were nicely done. The murderer obvious in this case. But the unraveling of the case was done very well with a good end. Also the absence of a proper "detective" was good too.
Will recommend if you do not mind a slightly slow moving mystery with letters discussing old world English life in details.
Will recommend if you do not mind a slightly slow moving mystery with letters discussing old world English life in details.
clive4ever's review against another edition
3.0
I generally enjoy Sayers tremendously, but this one was a bit of a chug chug, for me. Maybe it was the format (letters and such). All of the action was loaded in the last third of the book and once I got to that point it went a lot faster, but it took a looong time to force myself through and by that point I'd forgotten some of the clues/events from earlier in the book.
janetl's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cranteach's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pgchuis's review against another edition
3.0
No Peter Wimsey this time. A narrative told by means of letters and witness statements, describing the relationships between the Harrisons and the artist and writer who move in above them. Mr Harrison eventually dies an horrific death from mushroom poisoning and the dossier is put together by his son in an attempt to persuade the Crown to prosecute the person he believes was responsible.
While it had its moments: the letters by Mrs Harrison and her companion are good, and I liked the way the common man was held consistently to view the artistic community with suspicion. However, I found the structure messy and the pace uneven. There were long passages musing the meaning of life and science versus religion etc which I skipped over.
While it had its moments: the letters by Mrs Harrison and her companion are good, and I liked the way the common man was held consistently to view the artistic community with suspicion. However, I found the structure messy and the pace uneven. There were long passages musing the meaning of life and science versus religion etc which I skipped over.