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joannalouise's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
relaxing
fast-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
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Cancer, Murder, Rape, and Toxic relationship
laura_keoski's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the previous DI Harbinder Kaur books, and I’m excited that we get to see her story carry on now that she has relocated to London. I also think “Bleeding Heart Yard” works well as a standalone novel if you haven’t read the first two novels in the series.
This novel reminded me of all the things I enjoy about British procedurals: A not-quite-cozy murder mystery centered around a group of people whose lives are deeply interwoven, dark & dry humor, and familiar tropes that can lull you into believing you know the characters better than you do.
The plot felt a little slow in the second half, and several of the minor characters were underdeveloped. The ending didn’t necessarily surprise me, but the motives for all of the murders, especially the original murder 21 years prior, felt forced and hard to believe, especially because the murderer’s backstory as an obsessively jealous partner wasn’t laid out.
Still, I enjoyed it, and hope that we got more in the DI Harbinder series!
This novel reminded me of all the things I enjoy about British procedurals: A not-quite-cozy murder mystery centered around a group of people whose lives are deeply interwoven, dark & dry humor, and familiar tropes that can lull you into believing you know the characters better than you do.
The plot felt a little slow in the second half, and several of the minor characters were underdeveloped.
Still, I enjoyed it, and hope that we got more in the DI Harbinder series!
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Murder
There are discussions of PTSD, dissociation, and the exploration of recovered memories as plot points in the story,frogautumn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, and Rape
lyonmir16's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexual harassment, Cancer, Sexism, Infidelity, Drug use, Death of parent, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
fivecatsinacoat's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
I could not have loved this more! Griffiths is a master at crime writing and the police procedural. My only regret is how quickly I devoured this book, since it'll be a while until a new Harbinder comes out!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book.
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Classism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Infidelity and Bullying
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