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ekmurray's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.0
I think I may have missed the point of this book. I found the plot slow, and the time jumps confusing. I thought many of the plot developments were a surprise - which might reflect my poor reading, or may reflect the unreasonableness of the plot and characters.
I liked how Evelyn was a fish out of water, flailing to find a place for herself in the class system. Julia saw her truly when she said the saddest part was how even Evelyn didn’t believe she could find a place for herself. This is a relatable struggle.
I disliked Evelyn’s personality. I thought her enjoyment of the violence of the interrogation, and her sympathy for the hateful anti-Semite Nina, were despicable. How could you become friends with, or have empathy for, someone so awful? And how could you enjoy watching someone be broken, and lie to them to get them to confess, when they would be executed anyway? I would understand it if she had been double-crossing a person and grew to understand their views, but all she learns of Nina’s views is entitlement and fascism.
I didn’t understand how Sally was suddenly the puppet master at the end. Her role was not explained or justified through subtle character development. Yes, we the reader had been underestimating and cruelly typecasting her, because it suited Evelyn to regard herself as the smarter of the two, but where did her role as some kind of spy ring master come from?
I didn’t understand whether Hancock was actually a Nazi or a British agent: Evelyn’s description of his cruel smile and his holding of a Iron Cross seem to indicate she believes he was a double agent for Germany all along. However, if so, why would White be protecting him? Was White protecting Hancock by warning Evelyn not to investigate him? Does that mean White is a double agent for Germany, too?
I don’t understand why Evelyn was surprised and disheartened by her imprisonment- she made a decision to work without authorisation and then to betray her NDA to protect a Fascist. She was warned off pursuing that lead, as it was already being developed by another agent. She should own those choices and accept the consequences, rather than being naively surprised by the consequences.
Also, the thread of obtaining the red leather-bound membership ledger was never resolved: it was dangled as a task for Evelyn, then forgotten.
I liked how Evelyn was a fish out of water, flailing to find a place for herself in the class system. Julia saw her truly when she said the saddest part was how even Evelyn didn’t believe she could find a place for herself. This is a relatable struggle.
I disliked Evelyn’s personality. I thought her enjoyment of the violence of the interrogation, and her sympathy for the hateful anti-Semite Nina, were despicable. How could you become friends with, or have empathy for, someone so awful? And how could you enjoy watching someone be broken, and lie to them to get them to confess, when they would be executed anyway? I would understand it if she had been double-crossing a person and grew to understand their views, but all she learns of Nina’s views is entitlement and fascism.
I didn’t understand how Sally was suddenly the puppet master at the end. Her role was not explained or justified through subtle character development. Yes, we the reader had been underestimating and cruelly typecasting her, because it suited Evelyn to regard herself as the smarter of the two, but where did her role as some kind of spy ring master come from?
I didn’t understand whether Hancock was actually a Nazi or a British agent: Evelyn’s description of his cruel smile and his holding of a Iron Cross seem to indicate she believes he was a double agent for Germany all along. However, if so, why would White be protecting him? Was White protecting Hancock by warning Evelyn not to investigate him? Does that mean White is a double agent for Germany, too?
I don’t understand why Evelyn was surprised and disheartened by her imprisonment- she made a decision to work without authorisation and then to betray her NDA to protect a Fascist. She was warned off pursuing that lead, as it was already being developed by another agent. She should own those choices and accept the consequences, rather than being naively surprised by the consequences.
Also, the thread of obtaining the red leather-bound membership ledger was never resolved: it was dangled as a task for Evelyn, then forgotten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Classism, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
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