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isabelledonahue's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
akeivens's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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? N/A
1.5
πBOOK REVIEWβΌοΈ
Quiet Dellβ’ Jayne Anne Phillips
βοΈ
1.5/5 Overall
2/5 Writing Style
1/5 Thrill π»
Mystery π
True Crime Feel πͺ
Historical π΄πΌ
Slow Burn π’
βππ«π’βπ° π₯ππ«π‘π΄π―π¦π±π¦π«π€ π΄ππ° π¦π«π±π¦πͺππ±π’, π π―π’π£π©π’π π±π¦π¬π« π¬π£ π¬π«π’βπ° π‘π’π’ππ’π°π± π«ππ±π²π―π’.β
π₯CHARACTERSπ₯
β’The characters were well-developed, but failed to be memorable. I canβt even remember their names tbh. I did not connect with any of them.
β¨PROSβ¨
β’Well-Written even though itβs not my favorite writing style
β’End section of the book had some thrill to it
βCONSβ
β’Boring story for at least 80% of the book
β’Extremely slow story
Overall, I was not a fan of this book and it sucks because I really wanted to love it!
Quiet Dellβ’ Jayne Anne Phillips
βοΈ
1.5/5 Overall
2/5 Writing Style
1/5 Thrill π»
Mystery π
True Crime Feel πͺ
Historical π΄πΌ
Slow Burn π’
βππ«π’βπ° π₯ππ«π‘π΄π―π¦π±π¦π«π€ π΄ππ° π¦π«π±π¦πͺππ±π’, π π―π’π£π©π’π π±π¦π¬π« π¬π£ π¬π«π’βπ° π‘π’π’ππ’π°π± π«ππ±π²π―π’.β
π₯CHARACTERSπ₯
β’The characters were well-developed, but failed to be memorable. I canβt even remember their names tbh. I did not connect with any of them.
β¨PROSβ¨
β’Well-Written even though itβs not my favorite writing style
β’End section of the book had some thrill to it
βCONSβ
β’Boring story for at least 80% of the book
β’Extremely slow story
Overall, I was not a fan of this book and it sucks because I really wanted to love it!
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook of Quiet Dell and enjoyed the narrator. This book is a fictionalized account of the true story of the lonely hearts serial killer of Quiet Dell in the 1930's. Harry Powers used a variety of aliases. He lured women first by answering lonely hearts ads in the newspapers and then creating his own to find lonely women to prey on. He would then try to steal their money or property and then murder them. He murdered at least two women and three children.
Phillips tells the story from various perspectives, most commonly the newspaper woman who covered the story. While she injects her own dialogue and perspective, many of the letters, trial, and details of the crime are accurate and taken directly from actual sources. There are some sexual scenes described that could have been left out of the story. The reader should also beware that the author describes the crimes in detail and they are somewhat horrific.
Phillips tells the story from various perspectives, most commonly the newspaper woman who covered the story. While she injects her own dialogue and perspective, many of the letters, trial, and details of the crime are accurate and taken directly from actual sources. There are some sexual scenes described that could have been left out of the story. The reader should also beware that the author describes the crimes in detail and they are somewhat horrific.
rah's review
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
swampgoblin97's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
booksandbosox's review against another edition
2.0
I really need to give myself more permission to quit books that I'm not particularly enjoying. There is nothing ostensibly wrong with this book; it's just not terribly interesting. It is told very matter-of-fact and blandly - I didn't connect with the characters at all. Also, it is much less about the murder of the Eicher family and subsequent trial of their killer. It is mainly the story of the female reporter who is covering it. The romance is exceedingly odd and out of place and there is absolutely zero chemistry. I'm just not sure what this book wanted to be but it didn't succeed at being much of anything.
janp's review
4.0
Historical fiction at it's best. Jayne Anne Phillips did a wonderful job of blending fact and fiction in a compelling and descriptive story. Imagine "In Cold Blood" (the fact: multiple murders committed by one man) reported by a sensitive female newspaper correspondent (the fiction) who takes a personal interest in the story and aids the investigation. Actual event took place in 1931. Hard to put down.
jooniperd's review
3.0
this might be more of a 3.5-star rating (if we could do that), because the last ΒΌ just didn't work as well as the first ΒΎ of the book did. it got awfully tidy and sentimental-ish near the end, and i found myself wondering abut the motivations driving the character of emily thornhill. she has an impressive moral compass, that's for sure! (save for her one of her own personal situations...which is quite a contrast to her other actions.) i also felt like we didn't quite get enough of harry powers - or enough to make him a well-rounded character.
but phillips did a wonderful job creating an evocative and sensitive story. the novel is based on real events and while imagination was certainly employed well, many of the actual players and facts of the case, and a few photographs, made it into the story.
pre-read note:
21 aug 13: received an ARC of this novel today and the cover design is amazing...you think you are being pulled into something beautiful with the flowers and the soothing tones...but it's a trick!! that's an intent mob gathered around two fighters...who may, or may not be, holding sticks. i say...there's trouble afoot!
(and i totally sounded like foghorn leghorn right there. :/ )
but phillips did a wonderful job creating an evocative and sensitive story. the novel is based on real events and while imagination was certainly employed well, many of the actual players and facts of the case, and a few photographs, made it into the story.
pre-read note:
21 aug 13: received an ARC of this novel today and the cover design is amazing...you think you are being pulled into something beautiful with the flowers and the soothing tones...but it's a trick!! that's an intent mob gathered around two fighters...who may, or may not be, holding sticks. i say...there's trouble afoot!
(and i totally sounded like foghorn leghorn right there. :/ )
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