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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I was so sorry to hear of Steiner's death earlier this month; I had enjoyed the first two of the Manon Bradshaw series and was looking forward to more in the series. Reading this after I knew of the author's death made this particularly sad. I really enjoy this imperfect detective, who will remind you of many other Everyman/woman detective: focused on justice, but also run ragged at home, willing to color a little outside the lines, but more often pulled up by those who play the rulebook to a fare-thee-well. Manon is a believable character, the plot is a little less so (how did Matis end up on the short end of the stick, when Lina is running the show?). But the case is less important than the protagonist's life, and I'll miss Manon.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another good book in the Manon Bradshaw series which had me turning the pages until late into the night. This time Manon is investigating the apparent suicide of a Lithuanian farm worker, an investigation which takes her into the world of workers forced to 'repay' their passage to the UK whilst living in slum conditions. This is pitted against a political movement that wants the workers gone. This is far more than a police procedural, with some satire and also social commentary thrown in. I really enjoyed it. And if you read it, please don't close the book at the end of the story, take the time to read the acknowledgments. My thoughts are with you, Susie.
(This is a review of a NetGalley edition provided free of charge in return for an honest review).
(This is a review of a NetGalley edition provided free of charge in return for an honest review).
So sad to learn that this author died at age 51 of a brain tumor. Sad for her and her family, and selfishly sad for the loss of future books featuring Manon. We were recently in Alnwick for a family wedding nearby and saw the wonderful bookstore she had apparently promoted. Sadly we didn't have time to visit (a necessary stop at the fly fishing Hardy museum between wedding events took priority.)
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
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
3.5 stars. I remember liking Manon (the detective) more than the story in #1, and that is definitely true here (I somehow missed book 2).
I love Manon and how refreshing she is as a character. She’s mid 40s with a small child and a partner, dealing with her now aging body and “middle carrier” issues. If you’re over 37, I think you’d enjoy Manon and her life. The thoughts in her head are 100. She feels so real!
The case is interesting. It is also well written with characters that aren’t flat, and has some light political commentary. It reminded me a little too much of West Side Story but I think I find anything with lovers from opposite cultures reminiscent. The case itself didn’t take my breath away, which is fine. I was happy to spend time with Manon and go to work with her occasionally. It did end curiously and originally, however. My lower rating is because it did drag at times and there was one part in the middle where a background story carried on so long it felt like a short story.
I’m going back to find #2 and will definitely read a #4 if Manon hasn’t retired to teach Zumba.
I love Manon and how refreshing she is as a character. She’s mid 40s with a small child and a partner, dealing with her now aging body and “middle carrier” issues. If you’re over 37, I think you’d enjoy Manon and her life. The thoughts in her head are 100. She feels so real!
The case is interesting. It is also well written with characters that aren’t flat, and has some light political commentary. It reminded me a little too much of West Side Story but I think I find anything with lovers from opposite cultures reminiscent. The case itself didn’t take my breath away, which is fine. I was happy to spend time with Manon and go to work with her occasionally. It did end curiously and originally, however. My lower rating is because it did drag at times and there was one part in the middle where a background story carried on so long it felt like a short story.
I’m going back to find #2 and will definitely read a #4 if Manon hasn’t retired to teach Zumba.
Very grim and depressing. The issues around the immigrants is very real, raises difficult questions, and exposes terrible abuses.
This is coupled with the main characters’ dealings with difficult relationships. That makes the relationship issues seem trivial in contrast to the real human suffering of the immigrants, but also just adds to the sad, downbeat tone of the book, giving very little balance and weighing down the narrative.
In addition, it seems that there was much less police work and more carrying on about relationships than in the previous two books. And the premise of the relationship talk is that no one is ever happy in a relationship. They all suck but it’s better than nothing. There’s also way too much time spent on Manon worrying about her weight and how much she’s eating; it’s just so redundant. (I feel the same way about the alcoholic detective where there is just scene after scene where they drink or resist drinking, over and over).
If I had read this first, I might not have read the other two.
This is coupled with the main characters’ dealings with difficult relationships. That makes the relationship issues seem trivial in contrast to the real human suffering of the immigrants, but also just adds to the sad, downbeat tone of the book, giving very little balance and weighing down the narrative.
In addition, it seems that there was much less police work and more carrying on about relationships than in the previous two books. And the premise of the relationship talk is that no one is ever happy in a relationship. They all suck but it’s better than nothing. There’s also way too much time spent on Manon worrying about her weight and how much she’s eating; it’s just so redundant. (I feel the same way about the alcoholic detective where there is just scene after scene where they drink or resist drinking, over and over).
If I had read this first, I might not have read the other two.