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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. I keep reading the books because I like the world and characters, but damn Ben, can you actually wrap up a mystery for once? People keep getting killed and shit happens and I know as little about the motives at the end of the book as at the beginning. Give me something! Anything!
See y'all for the next installment.
See y'all for the next installment.
I thought this one wasn't as exciting and witty as the previous books. The ending was good but it took a long time to get there. Hopefully, the next builds on the surprise ending.
I think this is probably a 3.5 for me, but I'm going to bump it up to 4 for that ending.
I loved the setup of Broken Homes, how it starts out with about three different seemingly unrelated crimes and the reader has to wait and see how they're all connected. I did feel, however, that the mystery could have been quite a bit tighter. While still a quick and enjoyable read, the pacing feels a bit off to me, particularly in the middle of the book. The procedural elements have always been a big part of this series and I generally like them, but there were a few times when I almost felt like they were getting in the way of the mystery itself. Which sounds contradictory, I know, but I'm presently having a hard time coming up with a better way to describe it.
Regardless, I still love the voice and the humor in these books. The prose is so damn funny, sometimes. I'm entirely envious. And Peter's such a great protagonist. Maybe most especially, I love the little moments when he reacts emotionally to, you know, actual emotional things. Especially fear. Male protagonists, especially cops, detectives, and superheroes, are so rarely allowed to show fear that I really take notice when they do.
I won't say much about the ending, only two things: one, I love that, with this book, the series has returned to having endings that advance the story in seriously interesting ways, and two, I HAVE TO READ THE NEXT BOOK. I'm not fully sure on how I feel about something that happened yet--I think I need to see how it will play out first--but I absolutely plan to pick up Foxglove Summer this year to make up my mind.
I loved the setup of Broken Homes, how it starts out with about three different seemingly unrelated crimes and the reader has to wait and see how they're all connected. I did feel, however, that the mystery could have been quite a bit tighter. While still a quick and enjoyable read, the pacing feels a bit off to me, particularly in the middle of the book. The procedural elements have always been a big part of this series and I generally like them, but there were a few times when I almost felt like they were getting in the way of the mystery itself. Which sounds contradictory, I know, but I'm presently having a hard time coming up with a better way to describe it.
Regardless, I still love the voice and the humor in these books. The prose is so damn funny, sometimes. I'm entirely envious. And Peter's such a great protagonist. Maybe most especially, I love the little moments when he reacts emotionally to, you know, actual emotional things. Especially fear. Male protagonists, especially cops, detectives, and superheroes, are so rarely allowed to show fear that I really take notice when they do.
I won't say much about the ending, only two things: one, I love that, with this book, the series has returned to having endings that advance the story in seriously interesting ways, and two, I HAVE TO READ THE NEXT BOOK. I'm not fully sure on how I feel about something that happened yet--I think I need to see how it will play out first--but I absolutely plan to pick up Foxglove Summer this year to make up my mind.
This series is so great. The author is incredibly specific in his descriptions of setting and ethnicity, and he's not so impressed with his system of magic that he has to tell you all about it all the time. The mysteries are satisfying, no one is a superlatively talented detective, and the male narrator is capable of occasionally being attracted to women without coming off as creepy and gross. Highly recommended.
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
More goodness from Peter Grant and the mysterious Nightingale. Can't wait to get to Foxglove Summer.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Another fun read. I got a bit bogged down in the middle for some reason, but it picked up towards the end.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No