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beatrizmagalhaes's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vnesting's review against another edition
4.0
A dark little tale of psychological suspense from a master of the genre, Minette Walters. A young girl is kept as a slave by the Songoli family. Muna is kept indoors at all times, not allowed to learn English, and is locked in the basement at night. But when one of their sons disappears and the police are called, the Songolis must treat the girl as a member of the family. As the family's troubles multiply, Muna's situation improves and soon the Songolis learn that the girl is far more clever than they imagined. This audiobook is narrated in a very matter-of-fact way that quietly but effectively conveys the horror of events as they unfold.
wordnerd's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put this one down. The ending left me shocked.
** Update - I cannot stop thinking about this book. I've been cycling between feeling sympathy for the girl and what has been done to her but then I feel guilty because I sympathize with a killer. And the ending left me very shocked and grossed out. She chopped the mummified bodies up into pieces and will keep them in the trunk under her bed. What?!?!?!
** Update - I cannot stop thinking about this book. I've been cycling between feeling sympathy for the girl and what has been done to her but then I feel guilty because I sympathize with a killer. And the ending left me very shocked and grossed out. She chopped the mummified bodies up into pieces and will keep them in the trunk under her bed. What?!?!?!
annika_katharina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
2.0
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I have just finished the audiobook of The Cellar. I've never read a book by this author before, though I have heard good things and this book lived up to the reputation.
It was quite a short novel and I wondered whether it would be long enough to sustain the promising premise. It very much did and I found myself listening to it with far more enthusiasm and concentration than I usually do with audiobooks.
It was very character driven and simply plotted but full of layering and development. It progressed at a good pace, though I feel like it did lose focus at times. This didn't diminish the overall pacing.
There was little way that you could like many, if any, of the characters but whatever I did feel it was very real and born from well described incidents and conversations.
At times it did rely on aggressive, gritty and graphic words and descriptions to create tension. I didn't feel that it needed this. The personalities and actions of the characters and the creepy setting was enough to sell the tension without those shocking elements.
I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a more concrete ending, but overall I enjoyed it.
It was quite a short novel and I wondered whether it would be long enough to sustain the promising premise. It very much did and I found myself listening to it with far more enthusiasm and concentration than I usually do with audiobooks.
It was very character driven and simply plotted but full of layering and development. It progressed at a good pace, though I feel like it did lose focus at times. This didn't diminish the overall pacing.
There was little way that you could like many, if any, of the characters but whatever I did feel it was very real and born from well described incidents and conversations.
At times it did rely on aggressive, gritty and graphic words and descriptions to create tension. I didn't feel that it needed this. The personalities and actions of the characters and the creepy setting was enough to sell the tension without those shocking elements.
I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't a more concrete ending, but overall I enjoyed it.
firstimpressionsreviews's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of Minette Walters’ novel, The Cellar, is all-consuming with a child’s disappearance, opening a Pandora’s Box of sorts.
Her captures, Ebuka and Metunde, known as Master and Princess to Muna are hard, bitter, and down right mean throughout the book’s entirety. It is very hard to shake. Although, as the plot progresses, despite getting his just desserts I began to feel sympathy for Ebuka and his new-found sorry state of circumstance.
At first, I felt sorry for Muna, trapped, beaten, raped and enslaved, but slowly, as the chapters turned so did my alliance with the girl. Muna, who comes off as poor and helpless at first, slowly starts to strip from this persona and changes into her evil ways. I soon began to breathe harder and jumped at the slightest creak, and like taking a shower after Psycho feared the basement stairs.
Walters’ writing was descriptive and cold with a calculated, psychological plot with eloquent pacing that gave me time to adjust to the dark.
Like the pan-out ending of The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Cellar is eerie and leaves the reader chilled, knowing that Muna’s task for justice is not yet complete.
Her captures, Ebuka and Metunde, known as Master and Princess to Muna are hard, bitter, and down right mean throughout the book’s entirety. It is very hard to shake. Although, as the plot progresses, despite getting his just desserts I began to feel sympathy for Ebuka and his new-found sorry state of circumstance.
At first, I felt sorry for Muna, trapped, beaten, raped and enslaved, but slowly, as the chapters turned so did my alliance with the girl. Muna, who comes off as poor and helpless at first, slowly starts to strip from this persona and changes into her evil ways. I soon began to breathe harder and jumped at the slightest creak, and like taking a shower after Psycho feared the basement stairs.
Walters’ writing was descriptive and cold with a calculated, psychological plot with eloquent pacing that gave me time to adjust to the dark.
Like the pan-out ending of The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Cellar is eerie and leaves the reader chilled, knowing that Muna’s task for justice is not yet complete.
melchk's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read a Minette Walters book since the late 90's. I remember really enjoying them, but this one not so much. It just wasn't as good as what I remember her books to be. Thank goodness it was a short novella.
curlybooks's review against another edition
3.0
Well that was a disturbing little read! I really did enjoy this book, and felt compelled the entire time to continue reading. Muna and the Songolis’ suburban nightmare was truly horrifying and I was eager to see where the author would take the story! Truly a fascinating look at what evil, cruelty, and hatred can do to people.