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dgrachel's review against another edition
I just can’t get into this one. The personal lives of the detectives feel like needless distractions. I don’t care about the case. I know it can’t be as easy a solve as the current set up, so there has to be a big twist coming, but I find that I simple don’t care. Plus, I almost cried when I saw how much of the book I had left to listen to. That’s never a good sign.
winniefoster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
McDermid is an excellent writer but there was something tired and predictable about this. The novel-within-a-novel feels like an overused trope and the simmering undercurrent of resentment at lockdown restrictions makes the Covid patient subplot feel exploitative rather than emotional. A lot of readers will 'solve' the central case long before the detectives do.
alixv's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
aiden2003adamson's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I enjoyed this, a lot. Can’t wait to read another Karen Pirrie, and I will reread this one again.
mysteriesandhistories's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
First half excellent, second half rambling and predictable.
csdaley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
impossiblegirl12's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
wendychurch's review against another edition
I love Val McDermid's books, but could not finish this one, even though Karen Pyrie is one of my favorite characters. The style of this novel - which goes back and forth between the Karen Pyrie plot and another line about a writer - doesn't appeal to me.