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the_gare_bear's review
3.0
I love that there were a lot of Bitch Slaps happening in this book. I'm also glad to finish up this series.
This book had me feeling a few ways. First and foremost the startling revelation that happened and the response and outcome of the revelation not only shocked me, but how it was handled really aggravated me.
I understand loving someone. But the person that Mark is and has been honestly wouldn't have done what he did. Regardless of how much you love someone, keeping things secret can cause a lot of issues further down the line. Fantasies and thoughts about the relationship that aren't discussed, the involvement in a crime although accidental was the main cause of death (!). The sheer number of people who felt someone so heinous deserved death is beyond me, especially feeling no remorse of such a thing. The only issues they had was seeing if they would actually get accused.
I am happy the Pierce found someone, although rushed, I think with age that is something that is a little easier to slip into and create a good foundation as opposed to being young and pretty flippant with your desires (or as someone who has newly came out and hasn't slept around).
As I said, I'm glad to be done with the series. I think the writing was good, but the books became overly predictable down the line. I actually envisioned Glee being played by Bette Midler as it reminded me of some of her 80's characters she played.
This book had me feeling a few ways. First and foremost the startling revelation that happened and the response and outcome of the revelation not only shocked me, but how it was handled really aggravated me.
I understand loving someone. But the person that Mark is and has been honestly wouldn't have done what he did. Regardless of how much you love someone, keeping things secret can cause a lot of issues further down the line. Fantasies and thoughts about the relationship that aren't discussed, the involvement in a crime although accidental was the main cause of death (!). The sheer number of people who felt someone so heinous deserved death is beyond me, especially feeling no remorse of such a thing. The only issues they had was seeing if they would actually get accused.
I am happy the Pierce found someone, although rushed, I think with age that is something that is a little easier to slip into and create a good foundation as opposed to being young and pretty flippant with your desires (or as someone who has newly came out and hasn't slept around).
As I said, I'm glad to be done with the series. I think the writing was good, but the books became overly predictable down the line. I actually envisioned Glee being played by Bette Midler as it reminded me of some of her 80's characters she played.
zefrog's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It seems the drop in (admittedly not all-that-high-to-begin-with) standards I noticed in the sixth instalment was in fact the beginnings of slide downward that carries on in this book.
Not much more happens here in terms of detecting than in the previous book, but there is an added lack of subtly in the writing that I don't remember being that unsubtle(!) in the previous episodes. As a result it is difficult for the reader to trust what they are reading and in the impressions they get from it.
An author failing to generate trust in his readers from its lack of competency in the handling of his tools (words) is no doubt one of the cardinal sins in writing. The plot hangs together reasonably well but it's by no means exciting or thrilling. Craft also tries to incorporate a moral and ethical quandary to the narrative, which rather falls flat and feels manufactured and unconvincing in the way it unfolds for the main character.
Add to that a lacklustre story, and some blatant errors (such as the coroner blithely announcing that the victim died of a "snapped cervix - [they] broke [their] neck" (p148). "Cervical" does come for "cervix" but... never mind!) and one can help but be thankful that Craft appeared to have been aware of the series failings and decided to put an end to it with this last volume. Merciful for everyone involved.
Not much more happens here in terms of detecting than in the previous book, but there is an added lack of subtly in the writing that I don't remember being that unsubtle(!) in the previous episodes. As a result it is difficult for the reader to trust what they are reading and in the impressions they get from it.
An author failing to generate trust in his readers from its lack of competency in the handling of his tools (words) is no doubt one of the cardinal sins in writing. The plot hangs together reasonably well but it's by no means exciting or thrilling. Craft also tries to incorporate a moral and ethical quandary to the narrative, which rather falls flat and feels manufactured and unconvincing in the way it unfolds for the main character.
Add to that a lacklustre story, and some blatant errors (such as the coroner blithely announcing that the victim died of a "snapped cervix - [they] broke [their] neck" (p148). "Cervical" does come for "cervix" but... never mind!) and one can help but be thankful that Craft appeared to have been aware of the series failings and decided to put an end to it with this last volume. Merciful for everyone involved.
taliesien's review against another edition
4.0
So relieved Mark & Neil's relationship survived. It was nice to see Mark finally get that stick out of his ass too. All and all a decent ending although I did miss some of the supporting characters the other books introduced. I guess it was fitting that the series ended as it began, with the focus on Mark and Neil.
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