Reviews

Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer

pinecone_mushroom's review against another edition

4.0

The mystery was easy to solve, but I enjoyed it all anyway.

tillybh's review

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

 I won't say that Georgette Heyer should have stuck with Regency romances. I will however say that this was about a third longer than it needed to be, I think Golden Age mystery writers should have taken a cue from their queen Agatha and kept themselves to 250 pages or less. Instead, here we are forced to read many versions of the same conversation, among some combination of the same five or six participants, all seeming to exist just to show how clever and hilarious and unique the main characters are.

Still, it was entertaining enough, and three cheers for the character of Giles. No idea why there was an inspector in this story at all. Maybe he'll accomplish something in book #2. 

pencils's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The narrator Matt Addis lends Superintendent Hannasyde a John Nettles vibe, helps you enjoy Heyer’s outrageous adverbs, and shows you how Kenneth and Roger are essentially the same person with different vices. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder

maplessence's review against another edition

5.0

This is the cover picture of the copy I read but it was a cheap edition - small font, closely spaced, only 174 pages. Through no fault of GH's, this made it quite a tiring read.

On to my review! This was my favourite of GH's mysteries when I first read it, & all these years later it still is. I probably wouldn't like Kenneth much in real life (in fact I probably wouldn't be able to stand him) but the dialogue between him & his sister as they argue that they could each of them have been the murderer just crackles with wit. Only a writer as gifted as GH could have made their callousness appealing!

There is one general criticism I have of GH's mysteries

Spoiler

there are always some characters, usually the romantic interests that the reader just knows won't be the murderer. However, the disreputable, but likeable Roger becoming a victim is unusual. But all characters in a Christie are fair game & this is one of the reasons why GH will never be considered as good a murder mystery writer as her.

My only other criticisms are that the solution is quite poorly written. & there isn't enough Hemingway!

But just put your brain in neutral & enjoy!

cakereads's review against another edition

3.0

Gods, I wanted to kill most of the Verekers at one point in the story. They are all so odious. An enjoyable read, although the murderer was fairly obvious 25% into the book.

swfountaine's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

judythereader's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

litspinster's review

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

4.5

jobinsonlis's review against another edition

4.0

I wasn’t a huge fan of the last Georgette Heyer book I read but I really liked this one. I love a group of upper class bozos having lots of catty conversations with each other about the murder case that’s inconveniencing them. Very fun.