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claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
3.0
This is the book I least liked by this author.
Yes, the setting is interesting, the secondary characters are well portrayed as the suspects are. And the resolution was completely unexpected, at least for me which is always a huge bonus.
But I had serious problems following the ever-changing POVs and the way in which DS Andy McLoughlin changes completely just so he can be an adequate love interest for one of the suspects. Needless to say that the romance didn't work for me :P
But still, it's a good story and a good mystery nicely narrated by Jennifer Ness.
Yes, the setting is interesting, the secondary characters are well portrayed as the suspects are. And the resolution was completely unexpected, at least for me which is always a huge bonus.
But I had serious problems following the ever-changing POVs and the way in which DS Andy McLoughlin changes completely just so he can be an adequate love interest for one of the suspects. Needless to say that the romance didn't work for me :P
But still, it's a good story and a good mystery nicely narrated by Jennifer Ness.
ncrabb's review against another edition
1.0
Mostly meh with an occasional spark that ever-so-temporarily held my interest.
The three women live alone in the isolated house in the small English village. Villagers are sure they are either witches or lesbians, and most believe they are both. Never mind that neither is the case. The house belongs to Phoebe Maybury, but her two friends live there with her, and their adult children moved out before the book opens.
A neighbor finds a decomposed and ravaged body in a seldom used ice house on the property, and once again, Phoebe is the main suspect. I say once again because the cops were sure she murdered her husband 10years earlier. She insisted that he just left on his own.
I thought the author portrayed the cops in a largely unflattering way, and the three women were odd and rather off-putting for me. I didn’t much care for the NLS narration, although that’s the one I mostly used. The one I tried from my public library wasn’t any better. In fact, it was worse.
The three women live alone in the isolated house in the small English village. Villagers are sure they are either witches or lesbians, and most believe they are both. Never mind that neither is the case. The house belongs to Phoebe Maybury, but her two friends live there with her, and their adult children moved out before the book opens.
A neighbor finds a decomposed and ravaged body in a seldom used ice house on the property, and once again, Phoebe is the main suspect. I say once again because the cops were sure she murdered her husband 10years earlier. She insisted that he just left on his own.
I thought the author portrayed the cops in a largely unflattering way, and the three women were odd and rather off-putting for me. I didn’t much care for the NLS narration, although that’s the one I mostly used. The one I tried from my public library wasn’t any better. In fact, it was worse.
jumbleread's review against another edition
4.0
Easy and enjoyable and entertaining mystery with characters that are interesting. How did no one know about the ice house? That was what I couldn’t get over - oh well.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I read this. I know I thoroughly enjoyed it and went looking for more by Walters. But I was unable to finish any others by her.
zzzrevel's review against another edition
3.0
This starts off like a cozy mystery but gets
a bit unusual in the middle where you are
following not only the police but also
the suspects. Toss in a weird romantic
situation and you end up with a story
you have to stick with to find out how
it ends.
The author writes well (I previously
read "The Dark Room" by her also) and
despite the convoluted mystery this
novel held my interest.
Worth a try for mystery lovers.
a bit unusual in the middle where you are
following not only the police but also
the suspects. Toss in a weird romantic
situation and you end up with a story
you have to stick with to find out how
it ends.
The author writes well (I previously
read "The Dark Room" by her also) and
despite the convoluted mystery this
novel held my interest.
Worth a try for mystery lovers.
sabina625's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
noelletran's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Child abuse
jmxf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carlyque's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Love her darkness, shared with my mom!
annetteb's review against another edition
2.0
This was Minette Walters first book. It was not up to the standards of her subsequent books and was only ok. I think she gained skill as she kept writing and this book is a great argument for why publishers should help develop fledgling writers.