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bookward's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
The year is 1957 and Detective Inspector Strafford has been summoned from Dublin to investigate a murder in County Wexford. The local priest has been found dead in the estate of the Osborne family. The Osborne family are the local aristocrats and not very open about outsiders poking into their business. As Strafford conducts his investigation despite local resistance he uncovers many local secrets and in the process his young deputy who was helping in the investigation goes missing.
This reads like a classic cozy mystery but with a much darker twist. It is all set during the time when the Catholic Church ruled Ireland with a heavy hand and there are tensions between Strafford and the locals since he is not only an outsider but also a Protestant. It's all set amidst winter snow storms at an old Irish manor. Very atmospheric! Banville did a stellar job with this one! I recommend this one to anyone looking for a dark, mysterious winter read.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This reads like a classic cozy mystery but with a much darker twist. It is all set during the time when the Catholic Church ruled Ireland with a heavy hand and there are tensions between Strafford and the locals since he is not only an outsider but also a Protestant. It's all set amidst winter snow storms at an old Irish manor. Very atmospheric! Banville did a stellar job with this one! I recommend this one to anyone looking for a dark, mysterious winter read.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
skconaghan's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
geeyouknit's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia and Child abuse
robin57's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
mawalker1962's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
coffeeandbooked's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book for a book club and I thought this was an interesting murder mystery but this wasn’t for me.
First posted on my blog here.
I thought the story could have been told better, it felt more like a story of a priest who sinned than a full murder/crime novel. I found it interesting as a whole but something didn’t quite click with me fully.
The mystery parts of the plot seemed to be sprinkled in amongst the rest of the story, parts of the story felt thrown in there because they were mentioned at the beginning but not again.
The author used an interlude, to explain who the murderer was without actually giving the name but this interlude completely gives the game away, because of all of this, you end up finding out the ending and working it out before the big reveal.
I will give this author another go.
First posted on my blog here.
I thought the story could have been told better, it felt more like a story of a priest who sinned than a full murder/crime novel. I found it interesting as a whole but something didn’t quite click with me fully.
The mystery parts of the plot seemed to be sprinkled in amongst the rest of the story, parts of the story felt thrown in there because they were mentioned at the beginning but not again.
The author used an interlude, to explain who the murderer was without actually giving the name but this interlude completely gives the game away, because of all of this, you end up finding out the ending and working it out before the big reveal.
I will give this author another go.
ameliareeve's review against another edition
2.0
I was genuinely shocked to find that this was published in 2020, as it used and reused mystery formulas with no new angle or fresh breath at all. This is especially true of the women, all of whom are "not classically pretty, but something in the strangeness of her features is alluring," a trope which has been thoroughly exhausted. Of course they all without fail throw themselves at the protagonist despite his having minimal personality or interest. Very frustrating. Murderer obvious by 50% through. Expected better of John Banville.
ztkatch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0