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stacialithub's review against another edition
2.0
I read this one for my book club. What a grim book. I did not like it.
The premise of the book is stated in the first sentence, "Eunice Parchmann killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write."
The Coverdales didn't seem very likeable in the beginning (other than Giles, an introverted teen), but I had warmed to them somewhat by the end of the book. Really, though, their story was a depressing march toward death because you already knew what was coming. (Is watching their march toward a gruesome death supposed to be compelling reading? It's not. It's just dark & grim.)
The text itself was too repetitive. Thankfully, the book is under 200 pages. (Another gripe. The title. I'm having a hard time connecting it to the story.)
The only "mystery" part of the book was the police involvement (last 20 or 30 pages), a red herring of two other suspects (who had never been seen or heard from in the entire book up to that point -- a huge issue I have with many mystery writers), & whether or not the police would figure out who committed the killings.
This book is seen as one of Rendell's better works? Not my cup of tea, thanks.
P.S. If you want a mystery where you know "who done it" at the beginning & want to know if the police can figure it out, I would instead suggest [b:The Devotion of Suspect X|8686068|The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #3)|Keigo Higashino|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312051518s/8686068.jpg|13558363] by Keigo Higashino.
The premise of the book is stated in the first sentence, "Eunice Parchmann killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write."
Spoiler
Rendell overworked & pounded the illiteracy angle too much. It was tiresome. (I'm a huge literacy advocate, but this was ridiculous.) It also simplifies the killing in that there were two murderers, one definitely unhinged, egging each other on. And, Eunice herself had already been a blackmailer (of acquaintances) and murderer (of her father) long before she ever knew of or killed the Coverdales. So while illiteracy might have been a latent factor, it was not the only one.The Coverdales didn't seem very likeable in the beginning (other than Giles, an introverted teen), but I had warmed to them somewhat by the end of the book. Really, though, their story was a depressing march toward death because you already knew what was coming. (Is watching their march toward a gruesome death supposed to be compelling reading? It's not. It's just dark & grim.)
The text itself was too repetitive. Thankfully, the book is under 200 pages. (Another gripe. The title. I'm having a hard time connecting it to the story.)
The only "mystery" part of the book was the police involvement (last 20 or 30 pages), a red herring of two other suspects (who had never been seen or heard from in the entire book up to that point -- a huge issue I have with many mystery writers), & whether or not the police would figure out who committed the killings.
This book is seen as one of Rendell's better works? Not my cup of tea, thanks.
P.S. If you want a mystery where you know "who done it" at the beginning & want to know if the police can figure it out, I would instead suggest [b:The Devotion of Suspect X|8686068|The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo #3)|Keigo Higashino|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1312051518s/8686068.jpg|13558363] by Keigo Higashino.
klyon's review against another edition
5.0
Another wonderful mystery from Fred Vargas, this time with Matthias, Marc, and Lucien: three down-on-their-luck historians, the "Three Evangelists"--and one cunning ex-flic, who struggle to find a missing neighbor and to misdirect the police at the same time. In addition to wonderful portraits and a great whodunit, Vargas' fascination with the psychology of problem solving (feeling, intuiting, obsessing, sleepwalking to the truth) pushes at the boundaries of the genre and makes for a great read.
You didn't wake up a sleepwalker, because apparently it will make them fall over. Whether that was true or false he didn't know, but it was certainly true of Marc. You shouldn't wake Marc up when he was launched, trance-like, into his research. Or he too would fall over. The Three Evangelists
dorsetreader's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Blood, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
layl's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
amelienoemiee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
This is the most boring book I’ve ever read.
marystevens's review against another edition
4.0
The story behind the murders of a nice family on Valentine's Day is another wonderful psychological thriller. We know the murderers on the first page but why did they do it? Such a nice warm family, so appreciative of their maid's excellent work, so kind and accommodating to her.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5) The craftsmanship (craftswomanship? craftsfolkship?) Ruth Rendell uses to write this nasty little thriller is exquisite. From the opening pages, you know what's going to unfold but it's the HOW that makes this book so good. Even in the brief time you see them, you get a deep sense of who the characters are which makes the plot turns more satisfying.
gmafts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes