Scan barcode
smelendez's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
stephxsu's review
3.0
It seems that I am not cut out to like books where the author/narrator writes as if he/she doesn't really care about the outcomes of the characters. This is a murder mystery in the way of Wilkie Collins' [b:The Moonstone|6138|The Moonstone|Wilkie Collins|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320451884s/6138.jpg|1044477]: the characters all act strangely and they're all hiding things and yet no one, not even the narrator, has the power to get them to reveal what they're hiding. It makes for a frustrating and claustrophobic experience. For those of you who really appreciate this unusual type of arm's-length, seemingly apathetic storytelling, FARTHING and the rest of this series will most likely be right up your sleeve. But it just wasn't for me.
billymac1962's review
2.0
I gave this one the fifty page rule and then some. DNF'd it at 62 pages.
An alternate history where Britain comes to peace terms with Hitler seems to be nothing more than a lightly referenced backdrop to a Downton Abbey-ish Josephine Tey mystery.
Far too many character associations that I did not care about (or the characters, really). This really wasn't what I was looking for, so not for me at this time.
An alternate history where Britain comes to peace terms with Hitler seems to be nothing more than a lightly referenced backdrop to a Downton Abbey-ish Josephine Tey mystery.
Far too many character associations that I did not care about (or the characters, really). This really wasn't what I was looking for, so not for me at this time.
heroineinabook's review
3.0
I know, it's interesting that I gave this book three stars but didn't finish it myself. Let me explain. The premise, it's after WWII; Hitler and England have brokered peace; a murder occurs on a country estate. From the summary alone this seemed up my alley but I just couldn't get in to the book. I felt the lead protagonist was bit of a drip and the pacing was too slow. I gave it a good go of nearly 100 pages but if you haven't captured the reader's interest this point, why finish?
All of this and with the resolution given on the last few pages, I concluded this book wasn't worth finishing.
I can see, however, why people would like this book. The premise is interesting and the writing was technically good, Sadly, it's just for me.
All of this and with the resolution given on the last few pages, I concluded this book wasn't worth finishing.
I can see, however, why people would like this book. The premise is interesting and the writing was technically good, Sadly, it's just for me.
zaphod46's review
3.0
This was an alternate-reality whodunnit. In 1941, Britain worked out a peace
agreement with Hitler and Lindenburgh became president of the US, so the
whole world is rather anti-Semitic. The Jewish husband of one of the narrators
(the other is the Inspector) is framed for a murder.
It is an OK book, but it doesn’t have the firm resolution that (in my opinion)
a whodunnit should always have: who did it and how? Instead, the Inspector
knows the general set of people who did it and sort of what they did, but he
doesn’t have all the pieces before the end of the book.
agreement with Hitler and Lindenburgh became president of the US, so the
whole world is rather anti-Semitic. The Jewish husband of one of the narrators
(the other is the Inspector) is framed for a murder.
It is an OK book, but it doesn’t have the firm resolution that (in my opinion)
a whodunnit should always have: who did it and how? Instead, the Inspector
knows the general set of people who did it and sort of what they did, but he
doesn’t have all the pieces before the end of the book.
jwoodsum's review
5.0
so an interesting premise - loved the characters and the set up is truly chilling (England makes peace with Hitler in 1940 and slowly moves to become a facsist state as well)
liketheday's review
5.0
OMG I LOVE IT
I've read many other books by Jo Walton and loved them in a generally quiet way. They're good books, Walton has an amazing way with language and worldbuilding, and I love the slow burn of her stories.
A friend recommended this book to me five years ago and I somehow completely ignored it, but when she recommended it again recently and I actually took some time to look at the description, I was hooked. It took me forever to get it from the library due to the pandemic, but I finally picked it up on the first day of a long weekend and prepared to settle in for a good time.
And then I finished the book at midnight, because I couldn't bear to go to bed without finishing it.
This is completely unlike anything I've read by Walton before, except for the amazing language and worldbuilding. It's a murder mystery rather than the more literary titles of hers I've read, so the pacing is fast and the plot is thick. At first it's all mystery, and I was a little disappointed I wasn't seeing more of this alternate history world it was taking place in, where the British don't work to defeat Hitler but cut a deal with him instead to leave them alone on their happy little island. But that world intrudes more and more on the story until it's really what the book is about, and hoo boy does a lot of the political stuff cut really close to home seventy years after this book is set and fifteen after it was published. I am excited and a little terrified to see what else happens in this world in the sequels.
I've read many other books by Jo Walton and loved them in a generally quiet way. They're good books, Walton has an amazing way with language and worldbuilding, and I love the slow burn of her stories.
A friend recommended this book to me five years ago and I somehow completely ignored it, but when she recommended it again recently and I actually took some time to look at the description, I was hooked. It took me forever to get it from the library due to the pandemic, but I finally picked it up on the first day of a long weekend and prepared to settle in for a good time.
And then I finished the book at midnight, because I couldn't bear to go to bed without finishing it.
This is completely unlike anything I've read by Walton before, except for the amazing language and worldbuilding. It's a murder mystery rather than the more literary titles of hers I've read, so the pacing is fast and the plot is thick. At first it's all mystery, and I was a little disappointed I wasn't seeing more of this alternate history world it was taking place in, where the British don't work to defeat Hitler but cut a deal with him instead to leave them alone on their happy little island. But that world intrudes more and more on the story until it's really what the book is about, and hoo boy does a lot of the political stuff cut really close to home seventy years after this book is set and fifteen after it was published. I am excited and a little terrified to see what else happens in this world in the sequels.
alkora's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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? No
4.5
cimorene1558's review
4.0
Very good, but very depressing. A para-historical mystery set in an England that made a truce with Hitler in 1941.
maggienack's review
5.0
It is a dark book, but so well done. The world is paints is grim and plausible. I need something light and happy next.