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charlotte_hampson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
jevon_mommy's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as The Jigsaw Man but good! So much to keep track of but it kept me interested!!
julielb's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was an excellent police procedural. The main characters, the investigative team, are smart and fully developed characters with personal lives that are realistic but also don’t overwhelm the story. The only two detractions I have for this book are that 1) the source of the deaths, exorcisms to deal with mental illness is gruesome and abhorrent to read about and 2) there was a lot of reference to what happened in the first book, which I haven’t read yet and probably won’t read because I know whodunnit. But these aren’t enough to put me off the book and I eagerly await the next in the series!
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you Hanover Square Press for my review copy.
While reading this book I just knew I had it all figured out and Nadine Matheson politely humbled me.
While reading this book I just knew I had it all figured out and Nadine Matheson politely humbled me.
kirstym25's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, and Torture
Moderate: Racism, Confinement, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
whatchapterareyouon's review against another edition
5.0
Even better than the first book! Plenty of twists and turns and covers poignant themes. Looking forward to the third!!!
mackenzierm's review against another edition
4.0
Detective Anjelica Henley is called to investigate the murder of a popular preacher in his own church, whereupon she discovers a second victim who has been tortured and tied to a bed in an upstairs room of the church. This victim is alive but barely and his body shows signs of a dark religious ritual. Detective Henley has more questions than answers as the list of suspects grows. The case takes an upstroke of urgency when another body appears leaving Henley squarely in the crosshairs of this killer.
THE BINDING ROOM is the second instalment in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series, picking up a few weeks after book one (The Jigsaw Man) ends. I really loved that the author took the time to further develop the main characters making them feel relatable and realistic.
My biggest issue preventing a five star rating was that I found the story to be a bit drawn out while the investigations of the two cases were occurring. The investigative process is quite detailed, highlighting how each aspect of the case is developed, but this (for me) resulted in a diminished sense of tension and thrill as the chase for the serial killer evolved. That said, the two cases Detective Henley is investigating are complex, dark, and well-developed, leaving me guessing as to who was responsible. The ending was well done and certainly gave me ideas as to what may come in book 3 which is set to publish in August 2024.
THE BINDING ROOM is the second instalment in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series, picking up a few weeks after book one (The Jigsaw Man) ends. I really loved that the author took the time to further develop the main characters making them feel relatable and realistic.
My biggest issue preventing a five star rating was that I found the story to be a bit drawn out while the investigations of the two cases were occurring. The investigative process is quite detailed, highlighting how each aspect of the case is developed, but this (for me) resulted in a diminished sense of tension and thrill as the chase for the serial killer evolved. That said, the two cases Detective Henley is investigating are complex, dark, and well-developed, leaving me guessing as to who was responsible. The ending was well done and certainly gave me ideas as to what may come in book 3 which is set to publish in August 2024.
aundreaspencer's review against another edition
4.0
This is a brilliant thriller/British police procedural, with a perfect audiobook narrator. I can't wait for more Anjelica Henley!
Spoiler
I do wish we would have found out whether Olivier is alive or not. I wonder if he'll make a return in the future?!rainelle_barrett's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book tremendously. I thought that Henley and her partner were wonderful. I was blown away by the many twist and turns to get to the conclusion. I was very intrigued at how the writer explained the many jumps and cartwheels that the investigation needs to go through before the law even determines a subject. The graphics language used when it came to the villain and his victims was very exceptional. The book is a definite page turner that was very entertaining.
mweis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I picked The Jigsaw Man up on a whim last year after eyeing it at the library for ages and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it, though I remember my biggest issue with it being that it felt like a sequel. Now that The Binding Room is a sequel, the little nuggets of the characters past relationships and interactions made a lot more sense. I also think The Jigsaw Man leaned more into the thriller category, especially in the last half, where this is more police procedural, which is much more my jam.
The Binding Room starts off with a bang. There’s a preacher found murdered in his church but while combing through the crime scene, there’s a second man who has clearly been tortured. What follows is an investigation into who killed the preacher and how does the tortured man fit in?
I really like the way that Nadine Mathewson writes. The plot is slow to build but the way she builds characters and tension makes the payoff so fulfilling. I also appreciate how casually diverse the group of inspectors are and the way that informs their views of their job. One of the conflicts in this book is that the dead preacher is Black while the still living tortured man is white and how that plays into how the police choose to investigate and how the public perceives the investigation. We also have a murder victim who turns out to be a pretty awful human, so we see Anjelica and her coworkers struggle through wanting to solve the case while also acknowledging that whoever killed him probably had a good reason. I also found the conversation around mental health here to be fascinating. Mathewson writes about religion and racism and sexism and the stigma around mental health in a way that really makes the reader think.
I also just really enjoy this cast of characters and have just as much fun learning about their lives as I do trying to solve the cases. It looks like Book #3 The Kill List, is due out next year and I can’t to see what happens next. Will Anjelica ever leave Rob? How will Ramouter’s family adjust to living in London? Is Olivier actually dead?
The Binding Room starts off with a bang. There’s a preacher found murdered in his church but while combing through the crime scene, there’s a second man who has clearly been tortured. What follows is an investigation into who killed the preacher and how does the tortured man fit in?
I really like the way that Nadine Mathewson writes. The plot is slow to build but the way she builds characters and tension makes the payoff so fulfilling. I also appreciate how casually diverse the group of inspectors are and the way that informs their views of their job. One of the conflicts in this book is that the dead preacher is Black while the still living tortured man is white and how that plays into how the police choose to investigate and how the public perceives the investigation. We also have a murder victim who turns out to be a pretty awful human, so we see Anjelica and her coworkers struggle through wanting to solve the case while also acknowledging that whoever killed him probably had a good reason. I also found the conversation around mental health here to be fascinating. Mathewson writes about religion and racism and sexism and the stigma around mental health in a way that really makes the reader think.
I also just really enjoy this cast of characters and have just as much fun learning about their lives as I do trying to solve the cases. It looks like Book #3 The Kill List, is due out next year and I can’t to see what happens next. Will Anjelica ever leave Rob? How will Ramouter’s family adjust to living in London? Is Olivier actually dead?