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bzliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I gave a pass to the case solved summary at the end of the last book but this one annoyed me. I read the book, why am I getting a TLDR at the end? Also these people are way too whiny if someone doesn’t answer their text immediately.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Pregnancy and Toxic relationship
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
3.5
“This is so Agatha Christie: a secret passage, a hidden staircase, sneaking around in the dark with a storm raging outside. A shiver of pleasure runs through me.”
➽ The Night in Question is another Agathas mystery! After helping solve the Brooke Donovan case, Alice and Iris are back for another mystery. Once again, tragedy strikes Castle Cove when a student is attacked at the Sadie Hawkins dance and falls into a coma. As the resident sleuthing duo, Alice and Iris decide to investigate the case itself, especially since it took place in the infamous Levy Castle. It's almost two cases in one, because the famous film star Mona Moody used to live there and her death in the 1940s was never solved. Iris is a big fan of her, so we get quotes from Mona for her chapters. As always, Alice is determined to use the knowledge of Agatha Christie in order to find out who hurt one of her former best friends.
➽ I liked seeing the friction the case caused between Iris and Alice. Both have formed an unlikely friendship in the last book and lead very different lives. Iris' family is struggling financially and even though her abusive father is now behind bars, the threat won't ever go away. Iris is still dealing with the aftermath of his abuse and how it makes it difficult to trust others. Meanwhile, Alice has all the money she could ever want, but feels abandoned by her parents. When they unexpectedly reappear only to take an interest in her failing grades, she's furious. I understood Alice's hurt and how her parent's absence weighed on her. It's hypocritical to her that they suddenly want to get involved again. Alice and Iris each have their own issues to deal with, but Alice's wealth and connections definitely give her an advantage. The police aren't thrilled that they're getting involved again, so it's Iris who has the most to lose if things go sideways.
➽ Sadly, the mystery didn't grip me this time and I much preferred the first book. The case didn't feel like it developed organically and felt more forced. I wish the focus hadn't been on yet another former friend of Alice's and instead someone else in town could have been the focus. For most of the book, I didn't feel intrigued and rather bored while Alice and Iris butted heads trying to solve the case. The hints of romance didn't do it for me either. Alice is obsessed with someone who's already got a girlfriend and the weird love triangle developing around Iris didn't interest me. I feel like having the case of Mona Moody alongside the main story could have been interesting, but it wasn't executed well. It felt like we were following two completely different stories. Unfortunately, I almost had to agree with the police that Alice and Iris had no right to go breaking laws and playing detective. I know the Castle Cove police sucks, but in this book, Alice's rulebreaking got on my nerves after a while. She just crossed too many lines.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Toxic relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
eliza_beth_23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Murder, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Confinement
ieemee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Murder
savanah's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Murder
lindsayerin's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Medical content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism, Death, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
rondasue27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Murder and Violence
styxx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Bullying, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The characters weren't as lovable in this book as in the first, their character development at least of Alice and Iris from the first book made them a bit more unlikable. I would have liked more of Spike since he seems to becoming a romantic lead but he's still only a minor character in this book.
I was glad they solved the Mona Mooney mystery and I hope they solve Remmy Jackson's murder next! I did figure out the Mona story about halfway through the book, but since I read it over so long not the current day one, if I'd read it faster I would have figured it out easily.
Overall a solid but not amazing book.
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Violence, and Sexism
Minor: Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Confinement