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thegabecole's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Homophobia, and Racism
knitterscasket's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Murder, and Homophobia
firefly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia and Rape
Minor: Abortion, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
rynn82's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm sure it's possible for someone to write a murder mystery that is more exactly suited to my tastes, but I'm not sure it's probable. I told myself "I'll finish reading this on my lunch break" and then took my life into my own hands by finishing it on my walk in to work instead. It's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, with some cool twists.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gaslighting, Rape, Homophobia, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Death, and Classism
Minor: Alcohol
mallorypen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
Uggggghhhhhh I just love KJ Charles. I love her.
The strength of this novel is twofold - the absolutely stunning character study of seven different people in a relatively mid-length novel, and the way you both believe than any one of the suspects could have killed Toby and you know in your heart of hearts who really did it all along.
It's not small feat to have seven voices in one novel and to have them all come across as unique without relying heavily on tropes or caricatures, and while there is a small element of that (Hugo as the holier-than-thou, upper crust House of Lords figure) none of the characterizations felt flat. Even where there wasn't as much page time to really get to know someone, like with Ella and Pru, it was in the context of Jem not knowing them as well as the others in the Seven Wonders. The whole friggin' mystery (including the build up of the friendship group, its breakdown with Toby in the middle, and the intervening ten years wherein no one was able to get away from the ripple effects of the murder) unfolded in such a believable way. Jem's desperation to finally close out the chapter of his life that ought to have been his triumph made perfect sense from the outset, but as we learned more - that he'd been in love with Nicky, that Nicky had been pining over Toby, and even that Nicky had fallen somewhat sideways into love with Toby only to be unspeakably cruel to him (no matter how noble his reasons had been) - his motivations made even more sense.
I also love KJC's ability to really deliver on a third act twist and this novel was no exception - we learned as Jem did about all the sordid details of the friend group, and it really did feel like everyone had a very good motive to want to kill Toby. But, even after it was revealed that Nicky had committed the murder half in self defense, and half in agonized betrayal, the twist of Hugo's crimes feeling almost more reprehensible than actual murder ... and JEM COMING IN WITH THE THREAT OF PINNING EVERYTHING ON HIM ... I could have cheered. UGH it was so well written!!
Also, has a setting ever felt more setting-y than the incredibly immersive descriptions of Oxford? I have the benefit of having been in the city and have poked around the university, but I felt like I could taste the fog and feel the stone beneath my fingertips with the gorgeous level of description. I loved the little details - like how Jem would slap his hand on the glass of a ground-floor window to get his friends' attention.
Also also - Jem. I adore how KJC writes about people with disabilities - it isn't ignored, but his disability isn't treated preciously or like it makes him somehow less in any way. It's just so beautifully human in how he's portrayed.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is because though it was magnificently plotted, there were a few spots that felt a little slow. And, even though it made sense in the context of Jem not knowing Pru and Ella as well, I would have liked a little more on Pru's part to round out her character. But overall, this is how you write a fucking murder mystery, people. This is it.
The strength of this novel is twofold - the absolutely stunning character study of seven different people in a relatively mid-length novel, and the way you both believe than any one of the suspects could have killed Toby and you know in your heart of hearts who really did it all along.
It's not small feat to have seven voices in one novel and to have them all come across as unique without relying heavily on tropes or caricatures, and while there is a small element of that (Hugo as the holier-than-thou, upper crust House of Lords figure) none of the characterizations felt flat. Even where there wasn't as much page time to really get to know someone, like with Ella and Pru, it was in the context of Jem not knowing them as well as the others in the Seven Wonders. The whole friggin' mystery (including the build up of the friendship group, its breakdown with Toby in the middle, and the intervening ten years wherein no one was able to get away from the ripple effects of the murder) unfolded in such a believable way. Jem's desperation to finally close out the chapter of his life that ought to have been his triumph made perfect sense from the outset, but as we learned more -
I also love KJC's ability to really deliver on a third act twist and this novel was no exception - we learned as Jem did about all the sordid details of the friend group, and it really did feel like everyone had a very good motive to want to kill Toby. But, even after
Also, has a setting ever felt more setting-y than the incredibly immersive descriptions of Oxford? I have the benefit of having been in the city and have poked around the university, but I felt like I could taste the fog and feel the stone beneath my fingertips with the gorgeous level of description. I loved the little details - like how Jem would slap his hand on the glass of a ground-floor window to get his friends' attention.
Also also - Jem. I adore how KJC writes about people with disabilities - it isn't ignored, but his disability isn't treated preciously or like it makes him somehow less in any way. It's just so beautifully human in how he's portrayed.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is because though it was magnificently plotted, there were a few spots that felt a little slow. And, even though it made sense in the context of Jem not knowing Pru and Ella as well, I would have liked a little more on Pru's part to round out her character. But overall, this is how you write a fucking murder mystery, people. This is it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, and Racism
Minor: Rape and Abortion
estruch's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Rape
gilberik's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Once again a KJ Charles book that I devour in the speed of light and come out of the experience a changed person.
The characters are organic, the places palpable. The mystery is nice to figure out along with the main character. Their lives are so entangled with one another, it is very rewarding to tag along the story and sort through it all.
I will need a read of Cymbeline and then a reread of Death in the Spires, to actually see how deeply well crafted this book is.
The characters are organic, the places palpable. The mystery is nice to figure out along with the main character. Their lives are so entangled with one another, it is very rewarding to tag along the story and sort through it all.
I will need a read of Cymbeline and then a reread of Death in the Spires, to actually see how deeply well crafted this book is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Ableism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Rape and Ableism
cleo_reads's review
4.0
Edwardian mystery by KJ Charles, about an unsolved murder that happened at Oxford, 10 years earlier. I enjoyed this, although it wasn’t as immersive as I was hoping for.
I happened to have read Maurice earlier this year, so it was interesting to read another book about queer young men navigating Oxford in Edwardian England. Death in the Spires
I tend to focus on the characters and relationships when I read a mystery, rather than on solving the mystery and this book lends itself to that style of reading.
This is a mystery with a low key romance, but is definitely not a genre romance - the mystery, not the romance is central.
I happened to have read Maurice earlier this year, so it was interesting to read another book about queer young men navigating Oxford in Edwardian England. Death in the Spires
I tend to focus on the characters and relationships when I read a mystery, rather than on solving the mystery and this book lends itself to that style of reading.
This is a mystery with a low key romance, but is definitely not a genre romance - the mystery, not the romance is central.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Homophobia, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Rape
random_shoes's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
You meet Jem on a bad day, he is shown a letter that makes him turn to the past to find answers. On the way you learn who he is, and how he ended up where he is. You meet past friends of his, all of whom were broken in different ways by the murder of one of their own.
Are Jem's memories of his time at Oxford contain more fiction than fact? As Jem meets with his old friends he sees that they are just as followed by the past as he is.
Uncovering who killed Toby requires uncovering all that was happening around Jem and the rest of the "Seven Wonders".
Well written, and hard to put down. Building Jem's past brings all the characters fully into being and the world really finds form in their memories and their present. At some points you feel bad for Jem, other times you can't decide if you should trust him, or his memory.
Are the Seven Wonders what he remembers? And how did it all come crashing down?
Are Jem's memories of his time at Oxford contain more fiction than fact? As Jem meets with his old friends he sees that they are just as followed by the past as he is.
Uncovering who killed Toby requires uncovering all that was happening around Jem and the rest of the "Seven Wonders".
Well written, and hard to put down. Building Jem's past brings all the characters fully into being and the world really finds form in their memories and their present. At some points you feel bad for Jem, other times you can't decide if you should trust him, or his memory.
Are the Seven Wonders what he remembers? And how did it all come crashing down?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Homophobia, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Child death