Reviews - The Thirty Nine Steps

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983 reviews for:

The Thirty Nine Steps

John Buchan

3.28 AVERAGE

juani92's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

glowe2's review against another edition

4.0

mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

felicity_willow's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

adamwiz97's review against another edition

3.0

kennykun's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

dua_liepard's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

A snappy, classic spy thriller with a propulsive plot. Prose was surprisingly good. Most of the finer details of the plot/intrigue went over my head.

It’s a product of its time for sure. The bold and casual anti-Semitism of the 1910s is so disturbing.

Had to suspend my disbelief more than I’d care to - most of the book is a series of unlikely coincidences and good fortune. The protagonist is also uncommonly smart and fast for an ordinary guy, succeeding where trained spies failed.

Good to tick it off though, as I’ve had it on my shelf for about six years in four places 😅