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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Omg if I could give this book more stars I would, I cannot remember the last time I was this engrossed and addicted to a novel (that's no detriment to recent books, but a testament to how truly fantastic this is!)
This post may be less of a review and more of a word-vomit gush because IMO this is perfection.
This post may be less of a review and more of a word-vomit gush because IMO this is perfection.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There are a lot of characters in this book and I'm not going to pretend that they all sunk in. Even near the end I'm still asking myself who that character is again and not understanding the difference in the command roles. I did however enjoy the mystery and pretty much followed the story. I would probably benefit from a reread but who has time for that! I'm not sure I was fully satisfied by the reveal but it was good enough to be enjoyable.
This was an insane rollercoaster and I was literally glued to the audiobook from the second I started. Stuart Turton once again writes a crazy mystery with no way to predict the ending and it's incredible. Definitely super long and a bit confusing (having the physical copy with the passenger list in the front would have been super helpful) but so so worth the read. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery with endearing characters that make you want to stay forever.
More like 3.5, but gave it 4 because I'm a fan of mystery and like callbacks. Was really excited to read this one after reading Evelyn Hardcastle, and the start of this book was exciting as well. Pulled me right in as I was expecting. However, it was a rough read from about midway through til the end.
Throughout the middle third of the book the plot began to unfold and at first it was exciting to listen to the events going on, but boy does it last for a long time. Lots of discussion, lots of events that don't really have an impact on the ending of the book, lots of theorizing with no real resolution for those theories. And then the ending! What I was expecting to be a big breakthrough, a huge mystery revealed, was something I suspected all along. I wasn't a fan of how Sammy just changed as a character/person at the end of the book going from a caring and intelligent man to someone so conniving and cruel. Arent put it well. The motive for Sammy and Creesjie wasn't my favorite either but I guess revenge is a powerful motivator for most crimes.
I didn't dislike the book and was entertained throughout, but was definitely expecting more. Might come back to this review as I process over the next day.
Throughout the middle third of the book the plot began to unfold and at first it was exciting to listen to the events going on, but boy does it last for a long time. Lots of discussion, lots of events that don't really have an impact on the ending of the book, lots of theorizing with no real resolution for those theories. And then the ending! What I was expecting to be a big breakthrough, a huge mystery revealed, was something I suspected all along. I wasn't a fan of how Sammy just changed as a character/person at the end of the book going from a caring and intelligent man to someone so conniving and cruel. Arent put it well. The motive for Sammy and Creesjie wasn't my favorite either but I guess revenge is a powerful motivator for most crimes.
I didn't dislike the book and was entertained throughout, but was definitely expecting more. Might come back to this review as I process over the next day.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
bro cannot keep doing this (writing what is for all accounts and purposes a really interesting mystery with a lot of great characters involved and then completely rushing into an ending that isn't given nearly enough time to settle or reflect for emotional impact)
Mystery thrillers that keep making you turn pages and read into the depths of the night are the best ones.
This one was a very intriguing tale that didn't let me put my book down until i was finished. And i was gasping, squealing, sereaming with surprise and shock throughout the read. All 700 pages of it.
The world’s greatest Detective Samuel Pipps is being taken to Amsterdam for execution, for a crime he may not have committed. His friend and Arent Hayes is responsible to get him there, under the orders of General Jan Haan, who is also aboard the Sardaam with his wife Sara Wesel, travelling from Botavia to Amsterdam. With a handful of Noblefolk onboard, a hoard of seamen and a devil amidst them, a murder triggers Arent to take his friends place in ferreting out the criminal or rather the devil. With ominous symbols showing up and a leper who is long dead being the prime suspect, the tale is gripping to the very end.
I had a blast of a time reading this.
This one was a very intriguing tale that didn't let me put my book down until i was finished. And i was gasping, squealing, sereaming with surprise and shock throughout the read. All 700 pages of it.
The world’s greatest Detective Samuel Pipps is being taken to Amsterdam for execution, for a crime he may not have committed. His friend and Arent Hayes is responsible to get him there, under the orders of General Jan Haan, who is also aboard the Sardaam with his wife Sara Wesel, travelling from Botavia to Amsterdam. With a handful of Noblefolk onboard, a hoard of seamen and a devil amidst them, a murder triggers Arent to take his friends place in ferreting out the criminal or rather the devil. With ominous symbols showing up and a leper who is long dead being the prime suspect, the tale is gripping to the very end.
I had a blast of a time reading this.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My book club generally meets half way through the novel we're reading, which is particularly fun for mysteries because it allows us to make predictions. Two things:
(1) The pacing of this book is way off. Halfway through we weren't completely sure what the scope of the mystery was. It's not that there were major twists left to come, it was that the "locked door murder" part of the story hadn't happened yet.
(2) Despite that, we completely predicted who the culprits were. So, we felt good about that, but I'm not sure it reflects well on the book?
I'm also not sure how good of an idea it is to have two "detectives" (the book bounces between two perspectives). It both eliminates an extra character from consideration and results in the same information being relayed to the reader multiple times, which is...not great.
Overall, we were disappointed because we really enjoyed Turton's first novel (issues with the ending notwithstanding). I'd still be willing to give his next one a go based on the strength of the last one, but...yeah, this one isn't great.
(1) The pacing of this book is way off. Halfway through we weren't completely sure what the scope of the mystery was. It's not that there were major twists left to come, it was that the "locked door murder" part of the story hadn't happened yet.
(2) Despite that, we completely predicted who the culprits were. So, we felt good about that, but I'm not sure it reflects well on the book?
I'm also not sure how good of an idea it is to have two "detectives" (the book bounces between two perspectives). It both eliminates an extra character from consideration and results in the same information being relayed to the reader multiple times, which is...not great.
Overall, we were disappointed because we really enjoyed Turton's first novel (issues with the ending notwithstanding). I'd still be willing to give his next one a go based on the strength of the last one, but...yeah, this one isn't great.