sarah_beth_12's review

3.5
funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

eecmonkey's review

2.5
adventurous dark funny mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

amberj40's review

5.0
challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emfisler's profile picture

emfisler's review

2.0
mysterious slow-paced

hornikkl's review

4.0
funny mysterious medium-paced

rellebellereads's review

4.0

Rating 3.5
Three writers, a castle, and … a murder, what could be better?

This story written by three writers about three writers writing a story starts out as a slow burn. Unlike many other stories that jump straight into the murder then provide the backstories, the reader is provided with the backstories first. Hang in and get through that and you're rewarded with a witty murder with interesting characters. 

This is story is about three writers pretending to be besties (not sure why that was important) going to a castle for a writer's retreat but that is not the real reason. While the themes running through are mature they are handled well and with a light touch. There are lighter moments interspersed to balance the drama (can we say pantaboots). 

Throughout, each chapter is from a specific point-of-view which helps keep track of what is going on. I like that the story was cohesive and didn't feel like it was written by three people. There are parts of the book summary that don't seem to fit and others that are spot on. 

Cassie - kept surprising me. She was a bit anxious and driving people nuts about not having good cellphone and wifi coverage to get in contact with her family (husband and six kids)
Emma - was very analytical and it turns out for good reason.
Kat - not nearly as shallow as she comes across in the beginning.

Their friendship became a self-fulfilling prophecy. As read about it, my mind casted back to how some of my friends and I became such. It was well written.

There are a few unexpected twists that in hindsight (it's 20-20 right) that were facepalm obvious but were enjoyable nonetheless. At one point, Kat comments how there was no Poirot (as in Hercule Poirot) moment where everything was explained. I get that as there were a couple of things that still now after rereading a few sections I am not 100% sure how they happened but have surmised enough to let it go.

As mentioned earlier this story has some mature themes but also some very poignant points and observations about society (Kat's book descriptions especially). It provides lots to contemplate while enjoying a well written whodunit in a castle haunted with sins of the past threatening to become sins of the present.

Power through the first third of the book and you won't regret it.

Happy Reading!
Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.

I really enjoyed the first third of this—a fun cozy mystery set in the Scottish countryside w three female writers staying at a castle retreat to work on a joint project.

By midway through, the same jokes were recirculating abt male anatomy and Scottish burrs. The plot was thickening a bit, though, and the characters showed hints of developing beyond their types.

By the conclusion, nothing is a surprise. Charming setting and a cute premise.

I think if this had been shorter and tighter, it would have worked better.

This just didn’t do it for me. The characters all seemed very cliche and, to be honest, I felt like much of what I read was poorly written. I liked the structure (police interview excerpt followed by one character’s view of the story that led to the need for the police interview, repeat), but that was about all I enjoyed.
adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

cmcrandell's review


I only made it eight chapters before I gave up. Every topic in this book was about sex or contain sexual innuendos to a comical yet unfunny degree. It's just not my type of book.