Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Killing Eve: Codename Villanelle by Luke Jennings

29 reviews

13oclockreads's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

"Codename Villanelle," which is the inspiration for the hit TV series "Killing Eve," ultimately proved to be a disappointment, falling prey to the fallacies of the quintessential male fantasy.
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heddyreading's review

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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dizz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-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

Short read. 

The show is better by miles but this was also interesting to read. I wouldn't recommend anyone reading this as a standalone because I'm afraid the characters didn't stick as much, asides from Eve and Villanelle. 

It was exciting to see more from Villanelle's pov though, and there's a lot more detail for her jobs than in the show—where it's a bit more mysterious. 

A lot of sex which is eh. 

Overall, this was a lot more plot driven, and handed to the reader on a plate, while in the show it flows more interestingly. I don't mean to compare too much though and the book was okay on its own. 
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cady_sass's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

This is literally so bad lol I can’t fathom that someone managed to write an incredible television series based on this book?! This is the epitome of men writing women as they behave in their imaginations vs how women actually behave in real life. 
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theabee's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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sxphierose's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

weird in a semi fun semi wtf way
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lucecanon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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msnew's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-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

2.5

At first I was pleasantly surprised that a story about women, written by a man, was well done. Then about halfway through I realized Jennings was fulfilling some kind of fantasy through Villanelle, sexualizing her to the point where it was just gratuitous. I think the show, especially season 1, does a better job of showing her sexuality in a way that doesn’t overwhelm the rest of her personality.

For a book about queer women and features other LGBTQ characters, there is some very problematic language about the trans women. In fact I won’t be reading anymore because of it. 
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theghostintheattic's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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emory's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
I feel like I can't give that accurate of a review as my interest came entirely from reading the inspiration for and comparing this to Killing Eve. 

A fine thriller with seemingly low stakes as the main characters do not ever actually meet in this installment. Each scene is thoroughly set with emblematic and grandiose details of whichever European country Villanelle's about to assasinste someone at any given point. This can come across as extraordinary mood setting or unnecessary and ostentatious simply depending on the scene. 

The fact that Villanelle's bisexuality is played as a moral failing and caused by sociopathy is a bit annoying, as are the pretty gratuitous sex scenes involving her, but what did I expect from a spy thriller that includes a female assassin? 

Very middle of the road read for me, but again, it's hard to think strictly about the books pacing and plot when you are already aware of most of its plot and are familiar with someone else's interpretation of the characters. Good way to kill a day if you need. 
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