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cari_33's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
addypap's review
4.0
Not sure it's if it's fair or not but enjoyed his first book more. This is solid, but maybe the new had worn off a bit. Still, looking forward to the next one.
booksaremysuperpower's review
3.0
(2.5 stars) I'm still a fan of Nils Shapiro but this second outing was a slight disappointment. The mystery itself wasn't the most interesting, I'm afraid, and there were a lot of working parts here and plot devices that just didn't come together for me in a plausible way at the end.
The big star of the novel is Minnesota itself! Goldman captures such a sense of place and Minnesota really does become its own character - one I like and want to get to know more.
Nils Shapiro, a charmer in the first book, GONE TO DUST, who carries sentimentality on his sleeve, shows up here as if on edge: he's harder, more cynical, less of an emotional wreck and more of an unfeeling asshole at times, and sad to say, less fun. That's not to say there weren't some moments of humor or feeling in this book but some of what made Nils spectacular and unique the first time around is missing here.
The side characters, however, that Nils stumbles across (NP Jameson White and ME Char Northagen) are terrific. Ellegaard, Nils' partner, shines a little less brightly here, but their pairing remains interesting.
I wish we could have had more insight into the two missing girls enough to care about them. No one else in the book cared about them very much, so why should we? It made the ending fall flat on its face with no emotional punch, which is a shame.
Does Nils need to go back to his shit-box of a home and start working for himself again to up the stakes? He didn't seem to have any stakes here. Hoping that the series ramps up in future books and gets back to form!
The big star of the novel is Minnesota itself! Goldman captures such a sense of place and Minnesota really does become its own character - one I like and want to get to know more.
Nils Shapiro, a charmer in the first book, GONE TO DUST, who carries sentimentality on his sleeve, shows up here as if on edge: he's harder, more cynical, less of an emotional wreck and more of an unfeeling asshole at times, and sad to say, less fun. That's not to say there weren't some moments of humor or feeling in this book but some of what made Nils spectacular and unique the first time around is missing here.
The side characters, however, that Nils stumbles across (NP Jameson White and ME Char Northagen) are terrific. Ellegaard, Nils' partner, shines a little less brightly here, but their pairing remains interesting.
I wish we could have had more insight into the two missing girls enough to care about them. No one else in the book cared about them very much, so why should we? It made the ending fall flat on its face with no emotional punch, which is a shame.
Does Nils need to go back to his shit-box of a home and start working for himself again to up the stakes? He didn't seem to have any stakes here. Hoping that the series ramps up in future books and gets back to form!
leebeeloves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Cursing, Addiction, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Deportation, Drug abuse, and Drug use
allielippe's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookmason's review
3.0
Interesting, very fast read.
Loved the setting in Minnesota and how well the author was able to bring the people and setting into the tale.
Will look for the first by Goldman and any future books.
Loved the setting in Minnesota and how well the author was able to bring the people and setting into the tale.
Will look for the first by Goldman and any future books.
mackenzie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first book featuring private investigator Nils Shapiro, Gone to Dust. You do NOT need to read Gone to Dust to read Broken Ice, they are very much standalone novels feathering the same main character. Broken Ice was entertaining, but not very memorable. I was completely surprised with every reveal, but there were SO many characters that the characters and their interconnecting plot lines were hard to keep track of, which decreased my enjoyment of the book. Plus as a Minnesotan, the narrator of the audiobook constantly mispronouncing the towns of Warroad and Wayzata made me want to claw my ears off. However, I will still read the next two books featuring Nils Shapiro!