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whisperingdelirium's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
lowlife121's review against another edition
3.0
Ten Second Staircase is probably one of my least-favorite B&M novels. As much as I can suspend my disbelief, considering the previous installment which I enjoyed immensely, I was utterly disappointed by the outcome of this novel. It felt forced, like there's a better ending somewhere out there for this novel, but Fowler couldn't capture it.
Indeed, this mystery was fun though. The ideas put forth in this novel are actually thought-provoking. The idea that a murderous villain can quickly become a sort-of hero in the public eye seems a little too on the nose for our recent times in 2017. Although I did roll my eyes at the digs at reality-show celebs similar to the Kardashians and their ilk. It felt a little like Fowler was shaking his fist at society and telling them to get off his lawn.
So yes, the murders and the story are fun to read but the ending wasn't satisfying. I still enjoyed Bryant and his ramblings - this is always the highlight of a B&M novel. So unless you're a completionist like I am, you could more or less skip this installment.
Indeed, this mystery was fun though. The ideas put forth in this novel are actually thought-provoking. The idea that a murderous villain can quickly become a sort-of hero in the public eye seems a little too on the nose for our recent times in 2017. Although I did roll my eyes at the digs at reality-show celebs similar to the Kardashians and their ilk. It felt a little like Fowler was shaking his fist at society and telling them to get off his lawn.
So yes, the murders and the story are fun to read but the ending wasn't satisfying. I still enjoyed Bryant and his ramblings - this is always the highlight of a B&M novel. So unless you're a completionist like I am, you could more or less skip this installment.
meganstreb's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one. Full of enough history and far-fetched explanations to be fun.
And of course grumpy old men get to hate on modern celebrity culture.
And of course grumpy old men get to hate on modern celebrity culture.
dgrachel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is such a great series. Bryant, May, and all of the staff at the Peculiar Crimes Unit are well-developed, complex characters. The crimes they seek to solve are often bizarre, at least on the surface. There’s never a straight line to the solution, no matter how twisted or banal it may be.
jonathanrobert's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katerino50's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
Second tier celebrities are being killed in the most elaborate ways imaginable and one witness, a 12 year old schoolboy, insists that the perpetrator is a masked highwayman riding a black horse. Enter Arthur Bryant and John May, the 80 something detectives working in the Peculiar Crimes Unit, who not only solve the Highwayman case but also the decades old Leicester Square Vampire case. This particular book seems to be a delightful homage to the works of John Dickson Carr who specialized in seemingly impossible crimes. Highly recommended.
doodlebuginarug's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annarborelle's review against another edition
It is taking me longer and longer to get into the Bryant & Mays books, though I inevitably end up liking them. This one was my least fave so far - felt like it was treading water a bit and the characters had their heads up their own behinds a bit. Will take a bit of a break before moving on to the next one.
nichola's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I love Bryant and May. These two are just... wonderful and charming but the levels of social commentary and conversations always make me feel like the world is some much more interesting than I expect.
Also can I just this man, this man makes me have the tiniest bit of faith in men. Because this man has the occasional slip into privilege but overall he just writes humans like they have decency unless they have none and they are intentionally mean to show us something horrific. And just, yes.
He is by no means perfect BUT this has so much to say and it wildly underappreciated!
Spoiler side note:
Why did I so desperately want the bad guy to be the weird teacher?
Also can I just this man, this man makes me have the tiniest bit of faith in men. Because this man has the occasional slip into privilege but overall he just writes humans like they have decency unless they have none and they are intentionally mean to show us something horrific. And just, yes.
He is by no means perfect BUT this has so much to say and it wildly underappreciated!
Spoiler side note:
Why did I so desperately want the bad guy to be the weird teacher?