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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
mysterious
I really enjoyed all of Barbara Vine's books. Mysteries, but so much more. This was my favorite.
A hard book to review. I disliked nearly all of the characters, and the ones I liked I found frustrating. But the writing kept me reading.
It's hard to give it a star rating, to be honest. The writing would get a pretty solid 4 from me, as would the story itself. But because I spent so much of my reading time frustrated and angry with the characters, it drops down.
It's hard to give it a star rating, to be honest. The writing would get a pretty solid 4 from me, as would the story itself. But because I spent so much of my reading time frustrated and angry with the characters, it drops down.
Another great yarn from a great writer. With the main character an author, the interlocking of a writer's life, and the written book is clever. Twists and turns, no character very attractive, but gripping and convincing. I really enjoyed this
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's got the intricacy that is Rendell's trademark -- this time there is a mystery without a crime.
Noted author Gerald Candless dies at 71, leaving an embittered wife and two adoring daughters, Sarah and Hope. Sarah is approached by her father's publisher with the suggestion that she pen a memoir of life with her father. When she begins to do research, however she finds that her father's very identity is a puzzle. The real Gerald Candless died when he was a small boy, so who was calling himself Gerald Candless for all these decades?
Pieces of the puzzle are revealed to the reader through Sarah's investigations, through the painful recollections of Candless's widow, Ursula, and finally through a manuscript submitted by another author.
Noted author Gerald Candless dies at 71, leaving an embittered wife and two adoring daughters, Sarah and Hope. Sarah is approached by her father's publisher with the suggestion that she pen a memoir of life with her father. When she begins to do research, however she finds that her father's very identity is a puzzle. The real Gerald Candless died when he was a small boy, so who was calling himself Gerald Candless for all these decades?
Pieces of the puzzle are revealed to the reader through Sarah's investigations, through the painful recollections of Candless's widow, Ursula, and finally through a manuscript submitted by another author.
I liked it quite well in the first half. It reminded me a lot of Rebecca (by Du Maurier) in the way the mystery was written. As the book wore on, I liked it less and less, until near the end I didn't really like it much at all. I enjoyed seeing Ursula change. Slightly ironic that she has her coming-of-age story when she's, what, 50 plus? I was happy to see her finally find love, or something close to it.
I bought this book because it described itself as 'chilling tales of psychological suspense'. I found it anything but. Instead, a large part was kind of an exploration of family and marriage dynamics which is not bad, but just not what I was expecting.
I bought this book because it described itself as 'chilling tales of psychological suspense'. I found it anything but. Instead, a large part was kind of an exploration of family and marriage dynamics which is not bad, but just not what I was expecting.
Another nice Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell read, though it felt a little anti-climatic... I figured out the ending early on and grew a little tired waiting for the characters in the book to individually piece everything together.
One of the best books I have ever read.
Everything was great, mainly the character development as it is one of the few books I developed a deep understanding and sympathy with one of the characters (Ursula).
The strength of the character development, however, did not hamper the story as I thought it was great.
Same goes with the writing style as I usually prefer a quicker pace but instead, this slow pace was great as I felt you got to know the characters well and the story well too.
Everything was great, mainly the character development as it is one of the few books I developed a deep understanding and sympathy with one of the characters (Ursula).
The strength of the character development, however, did not hamper the story as I thought it was great.
Same goes with the writing style as I usually prefer a quicker pace but instead, this slow pace was great as I felt you got to know the characters well and the story well too.