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bookwoman1967's review
3.0
This is the first book I won in a Goodreads giveaway and I was looking forward to receiving it. Unfortunately my timing was off as it arrived at the end of a very busy school year, but once I got to it I was glad I’d requested it. I’d consider it an enjoyable start to a cozy/traditional mystery series.
The historical murder is appealing and the cold case aspect fascinating. The mystery in the present is believable, with just enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing without being overwhelming. The culprit’s motive was a tiny bit questionable, but as I said, still within the realm of possibility. I also enjoyed the setting in a small college in the modern south.
My one quibble is in the area of character development. The author does a lot of “telling rather than showing” in this regard, explaining the main character’s motivations and background rather than letting them appear naturally in the course of events. This might be because it’s the first novel in the series; it would be interesting to see if this changes as the series develops. I will say that author’s sense of humor was one of the things that appealed to me: “It was not my intent to drive around a residential neighborhood in a semiconscious state and hit a stone wall.”
Overall, a good, solid first effort in a promising mystery series.
The historical murder is appealing and the cold case aspect fascinating. The mystery in the present is believable, with just enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing without being overwhelming. The culprit’s motive was a tiny bit questionable, but as I said, still within the realm of possibility. I also enjoyed the setting in a small college in the modern south.
My one quibble is in the area of character development. The author does a lot of “telling rather than showing” in this regard, explaining the main character’s motivations and background rather than letting them appear naturally in the course of events. This might be because it’s the first novel in the series; it would be interesting to see if this changes as the series develops. I will say that author’s sense of humor was one of the things that appealed to me: “It was not my intent to drive around a residential neighborhood in a semiconscious state and hit a stone wall.”
Overall, a good, solid first effort in a promising mystery series.
tribefan33's review
5.0
I LOVED this book! It was wonderful!!! It was the closest mystery I've read to imitate real life and real feelings and real actions. I highly recommend this book to all who like cozy mysteries!!!
soniapage's review
3.0
A mystery with a college history professor solving a very cold (seventy years) case.
judyward's review
3.0
Tenured history professor Simon Shaw teaches at small, private Kenan College in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has published an award winning book , is newly divorced, and is fighting depression and anxiety. Dr. Shaw is also an expert on the history of Bloodworth House which is owned by the college and when one of his faculty friends unearths a body during an archeological dig in one of the outbuildings behind Bloodworth House, Shaw is called to the scene. He realizes that the body has probably been buried for over 70 years and he decides that he needs to find out what happened and why. There were several aspects of this book that I really enjoyed. First, I live a little more than an hour away from Raleigh and love the city. I particularly like books where I am familiar with the setting and reading this was like taking a trip down to Raleigh and visiting some of my favorite locations. Also, after working as a college instructor for over 30 years, the descriptions of college politics and the tensions that can exist among faculty members in a department over teaching schedules, committee appointments, office space, etc. were very familiar. However, a major disappointment was the end of the book. While the plot was building in an enjoyable way through the first 90% of the book, the ending seemed rushed and out of character with the rest of the plot. Even even with that, this was a very enjoyable read.
aquaflame64's review
5.0
I won this book in a good reads contest. I love mystery books. This one sounds extremely interesting. I can't wait to read it.
rainnbooks's review
3.0
A very interesting past mystery, and a very nice sweet detective who is a historian. Loved the southern settings of the story.
annarella's review
4.0
It was a Kindle free download. Cozy and entertaining. Currently reading the rest of the series
mystereity's review against another edition
4.0
The first book in the Simon Said series, and I liked to so much that I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The first part of the book had too much detail in some parts and not enough in other parts. The author spent a lot of time detailing the setting, every character's appearance and history, etc. But just a few pages later, the protagonist went home, turned on the shower and opened a can of Coke. It took me a few sentences before I realized the guy was actually in the shower drinking the can of pop. I chalk it up to one of those things where the actions of a character are clear in the author's mind and didn't translate well to the reader. But it's a relatively minor deficiency. Minor spoiler:
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While the conclusion was fairly predictable (figured out both plots well before the end) I still enjoyed following the story to its conclusion. One of the better books I've read this year, I really enjoyed it.
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I was also a little confused about the relationship between Anna, Adam and the father. I wasn't sure if it was just kissing cousins or what until later in the book when it was explained that Adam was Anna's cousin.Bigger spoiler:
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The whole subplot of the main character's depression was a little cloying after awhile, in large part because it wasn't set up well enough. All we're told is that he's hung up on his wife who walked out on him. There was little or nothing to hang some sympathy on, so after a while all I could think about was this guy needed to get laid. Seriously, get over it already. But the whole depression thing was rehashed over and over and over and it got really tiring after awhile.While the conclusion was fairly predictable (figured out both plots well before the end) I still enjoyed following the story to its conclusion. One of the better books I've read this year, I really enjoyed it.