Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I had in so many places that this was one of Josephine Tey’s best novels and I have to agree
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it eventually but the characters involved were super annoying. It was still an OK read for me.
Firstly, I have to force myself to get into the mood to read these books and then once I do, I'm fine. For something that is 200-odd pages, it feels as though the plot sometimes meanders just to fill a word count. The plots in Inspector Grant novels, I feel, aren't always succinct and they go off in weird directions which I feel do not make sense. We get there eventually, but still.
Inspector Grant, his detective sidekick Williams and Marta are great characters and it would have been amazing to have them all team up on a theatre murder mystery.
Also, as a heads up, some of her characterisations of some characters who aren't British, upper-class does steer into stereotype and slightly offensive territory.
Firstly, I have to force myself to get into the mood to read these books and then once I do, I'm fine. For something that is 200-odd pages, it feels as though the plot sometimes meanders just to fill a word count. The plots in Inspector Grant novels, I feel, aren't always succinct and they go off in weird directions which I feel do not make sense. We get there eventually, but still.
Inspector Grant, his detective sidekick Williams and Marta are great characters and it would have been amazing to have them all team up on a theatre murder mystery.
Also, as a heads up, some of her characterisations of some characters who aren't British, upper-class does steer into stereotype and slightly offensive territory.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this despite Inspector Grant being mostly absent. There were some interesting comments around nature vs. nurture that were a bit black and white or outdated that caused me to do more reflecting than I had anticipated when picking this up. The way it ended was very satisfying but also as expected. Sometimes a comfort mystery is necessary.
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I didn't want to stop reading this book. The plot is interesting and the descriptions are vivid. I really cared about the characters and wanted them to be "all right".
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
While it is an interesting mystery, it mostly concerns the lawyer Robert Blair and his growth as a person and his asking of questions about the rut he's in.
The mystery at the centre, and the catalyst for change, is a accusation of beating and kidnapping on the part of two reclusive women, one of whom attracts Robert. But who is right and who is wrong? It's more racist than sexist but it is reflective of the time. I often tell people who wonder what life was like at a certain time to read contemporary fiction, it offers an insight into the psyche of the time that is often interesting and instructive.
The world it shows is quite stratified and quite strange to modern eyes and some of the description shows the bias of the author. But it was interesting, not as much for the mystery, but for the characters.
The mystery at the centre, and the catalyst for change, is a accusation of beating and kidnapping on the part of two reclusive women, one of whom attracts Robert. But who is right and who is wrong? It's more racist than sexist but it is reflective of the time. I often tell people who wonder what life was like at a certain time to read contemporary fiction, it offers an insight into the psyche of the time that is often interesting and instructive.
The world it shows is quite stratified and quite strange to modern eyes and some of the description shows the bias of the author. But it was interesting, not as much for the mystery, but for the characters.
I've never heard of this author so I'm really glad to have discovered her with this book.
This is a fantastic, historical mystery novel that has a great intrigue and endearing characters that makes it a really good cozy mystery.
I will definitely look up the other books written by this author.
This is a fantastic, historical mystery novel that has a great intrigue and endearing characters that makes it a really good cozy mystery.
I will definitely look up the other books written by this author.