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alixv's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sarah_graham's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
tcm_62's review against another edition
4.0
Feisty heroine, great 'whodunnit' plot and still enjoyable despite some elements feeling 'dated' - this novel was written in the early 1990s. (Anyone out there still using floppy discs?!) Still, chasing down the bad guys remains the same, right? Characterisation, plot and pace of the writing still very relevant, including the moments of humorous banter and witty retorts from the enigmatic Kate Brannigan. I enjoyed this enough to read the next in the series.
gemlobz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marais90's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
genizah's review
3.0
The whole plot turns on early '90s technology, so the narrator keeps hilariously stopping to explain things like "what is Tetris" and "how do modems".
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
3.0
It is so weird reading a book that was written in the 'now' of 1992.
There are things it assumes are common knowledge (like fashion trends), which just aren't known to a 2022 audience, and things that it assumes are niche (like how Tetris works) that just aren't.
Moreover, this is a book that is heavily reliant on the technology of the day with regular references to the main character needing to find a phone or her far-sightedness in bringing floppy-discs with her.
All in all, being written in the era of the smartphone would have altered this plot significantly, although it wouldn't have ruined the solution.
However, the solution is not particularly clever. The murder victim is the obvious option and the murderer turns out to be the suspect that would be least painful for the detective to accuse. And has an utterly inadequate motive.
I really loved the main character's relationship with her boyfriend and that with the secretary/receptionist at her office.
There are things it assumes are common knowledge (like fashion trends), which just aren't known to a 2022 audience, and things that it assumes are niche (like how Tetris works) that just aren't.
Moreover, this is a book that is heavily reliant on the technology of the day with regular references to the main character needing to find a phone or her far-sightedness in bringing floppy-discs with her.
All in all, being written in the era of the smartphone would have altered this plot significantly, although it wouldn't have ruined the solution.
However, the solution is not particularly clever. The murder victim is the obvious option and the murderer turns out to be the suspect that would be least painful for the detective to accuse. And has an utterly inadequate motive.
I really loved the main character's relationship with her boyfriend and that with the secretary/receptionist at her office.
lauraellis's review
3.5
Finally! I find a copy of the first in the Kate Brannigan series—in my parents house. So happy, as I’ve been looking for this one for awhile. She gets wrapped up in trying to sort out who is responsible for a murder in a rock singer’s entourage. I love Kate Brannigan—I think she’s wonderful.