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pannapark's review
5.0
4.5 I found it took me a quite a while to get into this book given the large number of characters. I also found it more difficult to keep track of the characters because I read it as an ebook. However, I soon got pulled into the plot and found I really wanted to know what happened to each of the characters, despite having a bit of reservation about the paranormal, spiritualism and Conan Doyle aspects of the mystery. I will definitely do a catch up and read earlier books in the Merrily Watson series.
tracey78's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
Merrily Watkins is a vicar who is part of the Delivery Ministry, part of which means she performs exorcisms, when needed. Her daughter has a weekend job at a Victorian hotel which exploits the Sherlock Holmes stories and the fable of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Strange goings-on get Watkins involved. A winter blizzard adds to the atmosphere. I like Watkins, and despite her late vocation, she seems genuinely committed to her job, despite occasional doubts that she is capable. These novels are well crafted, although very long. Listening to these novels is a good alternative to carrying around an oversized book. Recommended for readers who like a mystery that is full of spirits and not a cozy.
evapalhay's review
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nettebuecherkiste's review against another edition
4.0
Ich habe mich lange davor gedrückt, die Rezension zu diesem Buch zu schreiben – weil mir klar war, dass das verdammt schwierig werden würde. Normalerweise beschreibe ich ja kurz den Inhalt eines Buchs, bevor ich meine Meinung dazu schreibe, aber bei diesem Buch ist das … nicht ganz einfach, denn es ist wahnsinnig vielschichtig und man weiß nicht recht, wo man anfangen soll. In jedem Fall ist es – anders als ich zunächst gedacht hatte – kein klassischer Krimi um eine Ermittlerin. Bis ein (aktueller) Mord geschieht, ist man über die Hälfte des Buchs hinweg. Es ist mehr Mystery mit etwas Krimi, sehr stimmungsvoll, aber auch sehr ausführlich. Der Besitzer eines kleinen Hotels an der Grenze zu Wales veranstaltet Krimiwochenenden mit selbstausgedachten neuen Fällen für Sherlock Holmes. Das Ganze hat den Hintergrund, dass der Hotelbesitzer, der ursprünglich aus dem TV-Business kommt, die Theorie hat, dass eines der berühmtesten Bücher von Arthur Conan Doyle, “Der Hund von Baskerville”, seinen Ursprung nicht in Dartmoor, sondern hier in Herefordshire hat. Lokale Legenden berichten von einem Hund, der eine bestimmte Familie verfolgte und ein Todesbote für denjenigen war, der ihn sah. Dazu kommt, dass Conan Doyle ein überzeugter Anhänger des Spiritismus war, was eine große Rolle in dem Buch spielt. Zufälligerweise arbeitet Jane, die Tochter der Pfarrerin Merrily Watkins, am Wochenende in dem Hotel – und das Ganze weckt natürlich ihr Interesse. Dann ist da noch Natalie, die vor Kurzem mit ihrer Tochter in einem Wohnmobil in der Gegend angekommen und bei dem Farmer Jeremy geblieben ist. Auch sie arbeitet im Hotel, und das Rätsel ihrer Identität ist ein weiterer Aspekt des Buchs. Aber es kommt noch mehr dazu. Das Buch ist wie gesagt sehr vielschichtig, aber alles hängt irgendwie zusammen.
Es hat mir Spaß gemacht, das Buch zu lesen, auch wenn es etwas langatmig ist. Die ein bisschen gruselige Atmosphäre ist toll. Und mir hat es gerade deswegen gefallen, weil es kein klassischer Krimi ist. Und ich denke, ich werde nun die übrigen Bände der Reihe auch auf meine Wunschliste setzen. Sorry für die chaotische “Rezension”, aber bei diesem Buch ist das Rezensieren echt nicht leicht.
Es hat mir Spaß gemacht, das Buch zu lesen, auch wenn es etwas langatmig ist. Die ein bisschen gruselige Atmosphäre ist toll. Und mir hat es gerade deswegen gefallen, weil es kein klassischer Krimi ist. Und ich denke, ich werde nun die übrigen Bände der Reihe auch auf meine Wunschliste setzen. Sorry für die chaotische “Rezension”, aber bei diesem Buch ist das Rezensieren echt nicht leicht.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
The back of my copy of this book as a quote that says Rickman writes very good dialogue, and this is absolutely spot on.
This entry into the Merrily Watkins series finds Jane working at a hotel that draws people with a connection to Conan Doyle that may or may not be factual. The connection sis the source, or potential source, of the Hound of the Baskervilles. The hotel is struggling, and the owner, Ben, is determined to make it succeed by using his BBC connections. Doyle the mystery writer and Doyle the spiritualist both play a role in this novel.
Ben's wife, Amber, isn’t too happy about any of it. But she can cook.
While Jane is busy earning some money and making her boyfriend jealous by working with a camera, Merrily finds herself caught up in a family drama involving an accident and a death of a young boy.
And then there is the question of Lol and the sorting of his relationship with Watkins.
The dialogue in the book is so organic and works so well. Everyone speaks a certain way, and while Merrily and Jane are the center, Gomer and Lol get center stage in some chapters.
What makes the Watkins so good is how well Rickman writes women from the central characters done to the minor supporting cast. And the women usually don’t hate each other and always seen to be more than stereotypes. In this book, in particular, Rickman does an excellent job with the character of Brigid.
The other strong point is the use of belief and the otherworld. Rickman keeps it somewhat open ended, allowing a more mundane mystery to be separate from the spiritual mystery (which may or may not be spiritual depending on your view).
This entry into the Merrily Watkins series finds Jane working at a hotel that draws people with a connection to Conan Doyle that may or may not be factual. The connection sis the source, or potential source, of the Hound of the Baskervilles. The hotel is struggling, and the owner, Ben, is determined to make it succeed by using his BBC connections. Doyle the mystery writer and Doyle the spiritualist both play a role in this novel.
Ben's wife, Amber, isn’t too happy about any of it. But she can cook.
While Jane is busy earning some money and making her boyfriend jealous by working with a camera, Merrily finds herself caught up in a family drama involving an accident and a death of a young boy.
And then there is the question of Lol and the sorting of his relationship with Watkins.
The dialogue in the book is so organic and works so well. Everyone speaks a certain way, and while Merrily and Jane are the center, Gomer and Lol get center stage in some chapters.
What makes the Watkins so good is how well Rickman writes women from the central characters done to the minor supporting cast. And the women usually don’t hate each other and always seen to be more than stereotypes. In this book, in particular, Rickman does an excellent job with the character of Brigid.
The other strong point is the use of belief and the otherworld. Rickman keeps it somewhat open ended, allowing a more mundane mystery to be separate from the spiritual mystery (which may or may not be spiritual depending on your view).
pranavroh's review
4.0
A decent riff on Holmesian fiction with an intriguing backstory. The hattie legend is sure to make your skin crawl and its paralelles with real life murder are deftly woven. The pacing is uneven in an otherwise perfect novel. Also, Jane can get annoying:-)
rhodered's review
3.0
Quite wonderfully plotted in some ways because the actual murder which needs to be solved takes place in a mansion where a historic murder took place, which now acts as a stage for murder mystery weekends; while the subplot also involves multiple layers of old vs new murders. I most enjoyed getting an inside view to farmer's lives. And, I got a good laugh out of what the author thought of as a massive snow storm (i.e. Normal snow in many parts of the US, but of course Brits aren't used to it.)
It seemed to me this book itself is mostly about love. Love in all forms. Not just couples, although there are couples. Although it got a bit draggy in the middle (I am easily bored of Arthur Conan Doyle, family histories and ghosts), it ended beautifully and I was glad I had read it.
It seemed to me this book itself is mostly about love. Love in all forms. Not just couples, although there are couples. Although it got a bit draggy in the middle (I am easily bored of Arthur Conan Doyle, family histories and ghosts), it ended beautifully and I was glad I had read it.
mariopteris's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0