Scan barcode
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written, this is about the murder of a priest in a grand country manor in 1950s Ireland. It made me think of Peter Temple's books and the subject matter is also similar.
essjay1's review against another edition
3.0
On the one hand, this is John Banville - of course the characters, the setting, the atmosphere are all perfectly set. He is such a craftsman. On the other, this plodding, predictable plot had me yawning well before the end. I see what he is trying to do, but I was bored. Maybe it was a case of timing, maybe I’ll read this again in 10 years and think it’s a masterpiece. Maybe. Note that there is a rape scene in the 1947 section. The scene of course is sickening, however the writing here is Banville at his best. He doesn’t shield us from corporal punishment either.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
3.0
Readable, but not too hard to figure out who dunnit.
slinkn_bite's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Dark, atmospheric, suspenseful... and then that horrifying twist at the end. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to curl up with something spooky. I only wish I had read it on a snowy night in the middle of winter.
emckeon1002's review against another edition
3.0
I get it, Banville is a masterful author. He can write, and write well. But for border crossing detectives, his "Sinjin" Strafford (with an "r") can't hold a candle to detectives in the novels of Adrian McKinty and Stuart Neville. And for me, personally, the drawing-room murder novel is far less appealing than those of the gritty-street variety. What Banville does, in a masterful way, is crack the facade of faded Protestant-Irish land baron aristocrats, and the vicegrip lock that powerful Catholic clerics had on Irish culture and politics. While Snow is a murder mystery, it's more deeply an examination of Irish social and religious division, and the inability of truth seekers to find the answers that will open the gates to ancient secrets.
katrinpkirilova's review against another edition
2.0
Прекалено банална ми беше тази книга, просто не остави място за каквито и да било изненади, на които някак се надявах, да. Някои неща усещах като насила втъканати в историята, за да може да пасне напълно в жанровата форма. На места вътрешният монолог на инспектор Страфорд беше направо умопомрачителен.
"Най-силният му стимул беше любознателността, най-простичкото желание да бъдеш просветен, да бъдеш допуснат до онова знание, което е скрито за останалите. На него всичко му приличаше на шифър. Животът беше земна мистерия и ключовете за нейното разгдаване са пръснати навсякъде, скрити или - далеч по-вънуващо - скрити, ала на показ, така че всички да ги виждат, но само той да ги разпознае.
Според него и най-обикновеният оредмет можеше ненадейно да блесне пред погледа ти с ново значение, да запулсира внезапно преосмислен. Да, ключове към загадките ивинаги има и той е техен откривател." - И въпреки това, почти от самото начало читателят знае кой е убиецът, а инспектор Страфорд - не.
"Най-силният му стимул беше любознателността, най-простичкото желание да бъдеш просветен, да бъдеш допуснат до онова знание, което е скрито за останалите. На него всичко му приличаше на шифър. Животът беше земна мистерия и ключовете за нейното разгдаване са пръснати навсякъде, скрити или - далеч по-вънуващо - скрити, ала на показ, така че всички да ги виждат, но само той да ги разпознае.
Според него и най-обикновеният оредмет можеше ненадейно да блесне пред погледа ти с ново значение, да запулсира внезапно преосмислен. Да, ключове към загадките ивинаги има и той е техен откривател." - И въпреки това, почти от самото начало читателят знае кой е убиецът, а инспектор Страфорд - не.
emeck's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Not bad, pretty predictable though. Protagonist is kinda stupid for a detective, it took him way too long to figure things out & he was pretty apathetic the entire time. I think it skated way too fast over the main plot/point of conflict that resulted in the murder (purposefully vague, not trying to spoil). But overall a quick and easy mystery to read if you’re looking for something short & simple!
Not bad, pretty predictable though. Protagonist is kinda stupid for a detective, it took him way too long to figure things out & he was pretty apathetic the entire time. I think it skated way too fast over the main plot/point of conflict that resulted in the murder (purposefully vague, not trying to spoil). But overall a quick and easy mystery to read if you’re looking for something short & simple!
jessmay27's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0