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nickmasters's review against another edition
2.0
Blake Pierce's name and his books seem to be appearing everywhere in recent times so I thought, hey, let me give one a shot. Alas, I should maybe have paid more attention to key descriptive words like 'charming' and 'cozy' and realised this book was not something I would normally read. That was certainly my fault, and no reflection on the author.
Often though, when you select a book you wouldn't ordinarily select, you are pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately this wasn't one of those occurrences.
The narrative felt unnatural to me, the story all too constructed, and large parts of the book and interactions mundane.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Often though, when you select a book you wouldn't ordinarily select, you are pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately this wasn't one of those occurrences.
The narrative felt unnatural to me, the story all too constructed, and large parts of the book and interactions mundane.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
konniesbb's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
This book did what it says on the tin: it was cosy and lighthearted and unchallenging. I enjoyed the writing style, which is simplistic but detailed in the way it follows the main character, London's, every move. I admit I guessed the culprit fairly early on, but wasn't sure quite how it would work out until the end. Sir Reginald was wonderful and by far the standout character.
In many ways this read more like a travel book than a mystery. The writer has obviously put a lot of effort into researching Hungary. The descriptions of the locations were great and really made me want to visit Hungary, so I really enjoyed that.
One thing that really annoyed me was the way non-native English speakers were written, and it's something I've noticed in other books. The characters have essentially perfect command of the language but, as though to remind the reader that they are non-native speakers, they will mix up a phrase such as saying 'toughcore' instead of 'hardcore'. This is extremely unrealistic for the way people actually speak as grammar is far more likely to be an issue.
My only other complaint was with the audiobook narrator. London Rose is American and yet the narrator was British, so I found that slightly strange. Moreover, the narrator wasn't the best at accents, and I found that pulling me out of the story. If I were to read more of these, I'd probably pick to read the ebook version.
In many ways this read more like a travel book than a mystery. The writer has obviously put a lot of effort into researching Hungary. The descriptions of the locations were great and really made me want to visit Hungary, so I really enjoyed that.
One thing that really annoyed me was the way non-native English speakers were written, and it's something I've noticed in other books. The characters have essentially perfect command of the language but, as though to remind the reader that they are non-native speakers, they will mix up a phrase such as saying 'toughcore' instead of 'hardcore'. This is extremely unrealistic for the way people actually speak as grammar is far more likely to be an issue.
My only other complaint was with the audiobook narrator. London Rose is American and yet the narrator was British, so I found that slightly strange. Moreover, the narrator wasn't the best at accents, and I found that pulling me out of the story. If I were to read more of these, I'd probably pick to read the ebook version.
katiya's review against another edition
4.0
Determined not to be stuck in a staid marriage, London Rose makes a slight career change and turns from American-based ocean cruise hostess to riverboat cruise director in Hungary.
I do enjoy a Blake Pierce book and this was no exception. London Rose is a unique personality - quite willing to head out into the world alone and look for her own adventures. Hungary is a new-t0-me location so it's very interesting to hear of the history and atmosphere of the area. The dog was such a card; for me, his antics absolutely made the book.
Looking forward to the next in this series.
I do enjoy a Blake Pierce book and this was no exception. London Rose is a unique personality - quite willing to head out into the world alone and look for her own adventures. Hungary is a new-t0-me location so it's very interesting to hear of the history and atmosphere of the area. The dog was such a card; for me, his antics absolutely made the book.
Looking forward to the next in this series.
christier87's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
I have a lot of heavy-ish books on the burner and upcoming, so I decided to borrow this cozy mystery, especially because I've enjoyed Blake Pierce's other mystery books, and this is their first cozy mystery (I think). This hit the spot, especially because I learned a little bit more about Hungary. I loved imagining being able to travel on a small river boat, learning the history and culture of the stops along the way, and making friends with other people on the tour. The main character could be annoying at times, as I often find amateur sleuths in cozies, but I still liked her, and the fact that she has a bit of wanderlust and a desire to find a satisfying career and life. I actually guessed the killer, which is unusual, since I rarely try hard to solve whodunnits, generally preferring to enjoy the ride. I still had fun reading this, though, and I'm glad that there is another one for me to pick up.
rowangazdewich's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
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