Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

36 reviews

kitpotter's review against another edition

challenging mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It's an interesting and intricate plot. Just not 100% convinced with the motive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Murder

Moderate: Suicide, Child death, and Mental illness

tinkerlinn's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Sexism

a bit of "independent career woman who in the end really needed a man"

renpen's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

thedistortionist's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Animal death

Minor: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Fire/Fire injury

dogearedbooks's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

corriejn's review against another edition

3.75

A whodunnit mystery within a whodunnit mystery-- the first half of the book is a murder mystery story set in small town England in the 1950s, and is presented as a manuscript an editor is reading. The second half reverts back to modern times and the editor-- with a new set of characters and storylines to get to know, which I found a bit jarring. I didn't enjoy the second half as well as the first, and found it dragged a bit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Blood

angela005's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death and Suicide

Minor: Racism and Fire/Fire injury

anagspereira's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I loved the premise and its execution, although the ending of the modern day/ real side of the story within a story was a bit disappointing. It was overall a very fun experience and I loved annotating the book with my own comments/ theories throughout the read. 

 

I thought the romantic sub-plot in the modern day era was unnecessary, plus it overall cheapened the story with the whole “will the workaholic woman forgo everything she cares about for romance?” clichê. Specially since by the end she had lost agency to even decide on the matter.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Suicide, Animal death, Child death, and Classism

____emily____'s review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Cancer

Moderate: Child death and Animal death

kateea7536's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

Would give this so far beyond 5 stars if I could. A spell-binding, gripping book that really plays with and comments on murder mysteries as a genre whilst also crafting a thrilling and interesting plot. I have never read anything like it and was enthralled from start to finish. I was disappointed when the extract from the author within the story was over because I was enjoying it so much, but then the rest of the book ramped up in intricacy and excitement and I was completely wrapped up in the new angle of the story. I also wished that the whole of the Atticus Pünd series was real, as I’d love for read more!!! I could write a significant amount on this book and how much I enjoyed it, it really did blow me away and subverted and manipulated many of the tropes from this genre. I love Anthony Horowitz’s writing, and, in my opinion, it just cannot be beaten!! Wow.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness