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holtfan's review against another edition
4.0
It flickers guiltily through my conscience that if any other person had written this book, I would have given it 3 stars. But it is Heyer and I delight in anything she writes like a doting parent delights in her children's drawings. Even the weaker ones. So you'll just have to accept this as a disclaimer.
The mystery of A Blunt Instrument was sadly predictable and often involves people sitting around discussing clues that have already been hashed out ad nauseam. There are some definite tones of sexism that I like to think are in fun but might not have been. And if you're familiar with Heyer's character archetypes, the characters fall into their somewhat predictable spheres.
And yet what fun spheres they are! Honestly, I read this book for the characters. The King James quoting constable kept me laughing out loud and I can't get over Heyer's daring in giving the mystery writing sister a monocle. What could be less romantic? I love the nephew with his crazy plans to keep his aunt occupied and the estranged couple each wrapped in their own private drama.
So I give this book 4 stars because it was fun and it was written by her. Don't go in expecting much.
The mystery of A Blunt Instrument was sadly predictable and often involves people sitting around discussing clues that have already been hashed out ad nauseam. There are some definite tones of sexism that I like to think are in fun but might not have been. And if you're familiar with Heyer's character archetypes, the characters fall into their somewhat predictable spheres.
And yet what fun spheres they are! Honestly, I read this book for the characters. The King James quoting constable kept me laughing out loud and I can't get over Heyer's daring in giving the mystery writing sister a monocle. What could be less romantic? I love the nephew with his crazy plans to keep his aunt occupied and the estranged couple each wrapped in their own private drama.
So I give this book 4 stars because it was fun and it was written by her. Don't go in expecting much.
elevetha's review against another edition
3.0
Wavering between 2 and 3 stars.
My first Heyer mystery! And I think, hopefully anyways, not her best. The mystery was absolutely predictable - I did second guess it once but I guessed the culprit about 1/3 of the way through. And even IF the mystery wasn't as predictable, it still would been grating to put up with 300 pages of basically the police just rehashing the same 10 points of the case. It got excessively overdone.
That being said, it was fun and had witty dialogue and I liked some of the characters/archetypes.
My first Heyer mystery! And I think, hopefully anyways, not her best. The mystery was absolutely predictable - I did second guess it once but I guessed the culprit about 1/3 of the way through. And even IF the mystery wasn't as predictable, it still would been grating to put up with 300 pages of basically the police just rehashing the same 10 points of the case. It got excessively overdone.
That being said, it was fun and had witty dialogue and I liked some of the characters/archetypes.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I've been a fun of Georgette Heyer books for a long time and I liked this mystery.
It's a comedy of manners, enjoyable and entertaining.
The characters are well written, not always likable but they're surely witty.
The style of writing aged well and I liked how she developed the plot.
A very good book, recommended!
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine
It's a comedy of manners, enjoyable and entertaining.
The characters are well written, not always likable but they're surely witty.
The style of writing aged well and I liked how she developed the plot.
A very good book, recommended!
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine
storiesforhisglory's review against another edition
5.0
Another listen, another re-read... I really enjoy this story. Neville is fun, and Sally Drew is awesome.
vesper1931's review against another edition
3.0
Seemingly well-liked Ernest Fletcher is found dead in his study. But there may be quite a few people whi wanted him dead, but with all the evidence how could the murder be done in such a short time. And then there is a second murder.
It is for Superintendent Hannasyde and Sergeant Hemingway to investigate.
I did find that the guilty party may have been too obvious and there were some really annoying characters, like Officer Glass and the idiotic Helen North. But overall the story was enjoyable enough.
A NetGalley Book
It is for Superintendent Hannasyde and Sergeant Hemingway to investigate.
I did find that the guilty party may have been too obvious and there were some really annoying characters, like Officer Glass and the idiotic Helen North. But overall the story was enjoyable enough.
A NetGalley Book
wealhtheow's review against another edition
2.0
A rich man is found dead by a blow to the head, but the murder weapon can't be found and thanks to the testimony of number of witnesses, the time in which he could have been murdered is only a few minutes. The investigation is pretty rambly, and is usual with Heyer's mysteries, I knew whodunnit and how before the detectives. I had no patience with the Norths (pretty but dramatic Helen and her stoic husband, each thinking the worst of each other), and even though none of the other characters did either, it was still a bore to have to read so many scenes of theirs. I liked Neville Fletcher, who is that common Heyer character, the burbling lazy ninny who is actually incredibly clever, and I thought the support for his romance with Sally Drew was nicely laid.
kienie's review against another edition
4.0
We're off-script. The murder occurs on page one, which makes it a bit obvious who the murder is. Maybe because we're missing the 100 pages of motive.
Hemingway plays a large role, which I like. And Hannasyde actually solves another mystery, which brings it to a total of two, I think.
Don't know how to feel about a literal Bible-quoting character.
Hemingway plays a large role, which I like. And Hannasyde actually solves another mystery, which brings it to a total of two, I think.
Don't know how to feel about a literal Bible-quoting character.
threerings's review against another edition
2.0
I got this for $1 in a Kindle sale because I'd never read one of Heyer's mysteries and I like Golden Age mysteries. And it was decent, although the detective has pretty much no personality at all.
And the worst part was that I found the solution of the mystery completely obvious from the very beginning. It is meant to be a mystery that is totally impossible to have been committed until the big reveal that makes everything possible, but I saw that possibility at once. So it wasn't too much fun to read the entire book, increasingly sure of the culprit, as no one in the book has any idea until the last few pages.
So I probably won't be reading more of Heyer's mysteries any time soon, unfortunately. The one part of the novel that was enjoyable was a tiny little romance, which would make sense I suppose.
And the worst part was that I found the solution of the mystery completely obvious from the very beginning. It is meant to be a mystery that is totally impossible to have been committed until the big reveal that makes everything possible, but I saw that possibility at once. So it wasn't too much fun to read the entire book, increasingly sure of the culprit, as no one in the book has any idea until the last few pages.
So I probably won't be reading more of Heyer's mysteries any time soon, unfortunately. The one part of the novel that was enjoyable was a tiny little romance, which would make sense I suppose.
anjana's review against another edition
3.0
https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2018/01/18/a-blunt-instrument-by-georgette-heyer/