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books_inthewild's review against another edition
2.0
I think this one is meant for lovers of cozy mystery, Agatha Christie, “Clue murder mystery” type books- but it just didn’t work for me.
It was far too slow moving, sooooo many long drawn out explanations of totally unnecessary and unrelated people/stories/setting whatever. And I just kept waiting for the “fictional novel” to end, so we could get to the editor & the real world & how it was all going to tie in. I felt it was too drawn out, and I felt myself skimming.
It was far too slow moving, sooooo many long drawn out explanations of totally unnecessary and unrelated people/stories/setting whatever. And I just kept waiting for the “fictional novel” to end, so we could get to the editor & the real world & how it was all going to tie in. I felt it was too drawn out, and I felt myself skimming.
heather_boo's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely surprise: a mystery within a mystery! I fully realize that my 5 star review is biased by my preference for a clever mid century mystery replete with an English manor house in a cozy English village with characters who all have a motive. Only a cat on my lap would’ve made this experience any better.
noodle_sage's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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
4.0
A brilliant and complex mystery only held back by a bit of over-explanation and a couple of outstanding loose threads at the end.
katieagenbroad's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kaebirdie's review against another edition
3.0
While I loved the premise, and the story-within-a-story was fairly excellent, I hated the ending of this and thought it had a lot more potential than came out. I felt a little like the author just tossed it away without any logical steps from the character he'd built, and I was left feeling very flat.
Edited to add: reread this book and although the audiobook was excellent, the ending still baffles me. Does Susan learn literally nothing from whodunits and mysteries that she herself edits?! Why on earth she sits there, confronting the murderer and walking thru all the steps and then expecting him to turn himself in, I just...what. The stupidity is beyond, and Susan didn't strike me as a stupid character, so I just really hate the ending of this still. I was hoping there was something I'd missed the first time but nope. Horowitz could have done better by her than having her make the most bush league of mistakes (laying it all out then saying she told no one else), having her get bashed on the head, AND THEN having a man save her. I'm glad at least the book ends with the missing chapters instead of that debacle.
Edited to add: reread this book and although the audiobook was excellent, the ending still baffles me. Does Susan learn literally nothing from whodunits and mysteries that she herself edits?! Why on earth she sits there, confronting the murderer and walking thru all the steps and then expecting him to turn himself in, I just...what. The stupidity is beyond, and Susan didn't strike me as a stupid character, so I just really hate the ending of this still. I was hoping there was something I'd missed the first time but nope. Horowitz could have done better by her than having her make the most bush league of mistakes (laying it all out then saying she told no one else), having her get bashed on the head, AND THEN having a man save her. I'm glad at least the book ends with the missing chapters instead of that debacle.
pipsy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
stineym's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.0
bailey_love_mcgill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed this book! Great beach read, I thought it was similar to Agatha Christie books and even the silent patient, great pacing that kept you interested without being overly suspenseful with plenty of characters and small details! i loved the details of the rhyme with the birds and how it ended up being a mystery, within the mystery. Definitely was not expecting the publisher to try to kill the editor! And the last line about being the detective, then being the one to have pushed him over the edge, “I think I liked it more” WOW!! Great ending.
sofia1535's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
izzatiidrus's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5 stars
My sister had been trying to get me to read this for years and I kept refusing to pick it up simply because I didn't want to give her the satisfaction ;) However, she managed to persuade our mutual friend to pick it up and the friend suggested that we buddy read, so we did. But I think I'm glad that I only read it now because I just finished reading all of Agatha Christie's mystery novels (as well as all of Sherlock Holmes some years back) so any references to them made it all even more relatable and satisfying!
I was very impressed with the book and totally understand the hype around it. An unfinished murder mystery novel within yet another murder mystery? You mean to double my reading satisfaction? Hell yes! When it comes to mystery novels, I mostly look at 3 things: the red herrings, the reveals and the character building. I thought Horowitz did very well in all, although I did feel slightly disappointed in the reveals because they were too predictable for me. I was hoping for something more shocking and dramatic, I suppose. But that's just me.
I strongly recommend you to read the book, even if you're not normally a mystery reader. This one I think appeals to a wider audience than just mystery readers. But if you love mystery, puzzles, and mystery novels and novelists, this is THE book for you! Horowitz made so many nods to Agatha Christie that it was hard for me not to think of a bobble-head number #1 fanboy. He also mentioned a lot of other well-known mystery authors, books and famous mystery stories. The amount of times I smiled that one-sided smile of satisfaction while reading was creepy that I'd like to think nobody saw me reading the book...
My sister had been trying to get me to read this for years and I kept refusing to pick it up simply because I didn't want to give her the satisfaction ;) However, she managed to persuade our mutual friend to pick it up and the friend suggested that we buddy read, so we did. But I think I'm glad that I only read it now because I just finished reading all of Agatha Christie's mystery novels (as well as all of Sherlock Holmes some years back) so any references to them made it all even more relatable and satisfying!
I was very impressed with the book and totally understand the hype around it. An unfinished murder mystery novel within yet another murder mystery? You mean to double my reading satisfaction? Hell yes! When it comes to mystery novels, I mostly look at 3 things: the red herrings, the reveals and the character building. I thought Horowitz did very well in all, although I did feel slightly disappointed in the reveals because they were too predictable for me. I was hoping for something more shocking and dramatic, I suppose. But that's just me.
I strongly recommend you to read the book, even if you're not normally a mystery reader. This one I think appeals to a wider audience than just mystery readers. But if you love mystery, puzzles, and mystery novels and novelists, this is THE book for you! Horowitz made so many nods to Agatha Christie that it was hard for me not to think of a bobble-head number #1 fanboy. He also mentioned a lot of other well-known mystery authors, books and famous mystery stories. The amount of times I smiled that one-sided smile of satisfaction while reading was creepy that I'd like to think nobody saw me reading the book...