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adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Fatphobia, Murder
Minor: Abortion
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Dementia, Murder
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
For a mystery. It was alright. As a novel, I think it was quite wonderful.
I won't be singing it's praises and there were a few times I was like "oh dear lord just get to the flipping point" but it was okay.
I'm just saying. When Mackie was confessing and looking at the grave. I was so excited for the possibility of a trans story line. Like how cool would it have been for Sister Margaret to actually be Matthew and the bones in the grave be the Father that Matthew adopted the identity of? Hello?? Im just saying.</spoiler
Another I also really didn't appreciate was Chris being body shamed all the time both by himself and others? Like come on?Why is him getting a girlfriend the cure all for his insecurity. Like it's fine if you're fat just as long as you're in a relationship? I don't think so - totally unnecessary and deeply annoying to read
I won't be singing it's praises and there were a few times I was like "oh dear lord just get to the flipping point" but it was okay.
Another I also really didn't appreciate was Chris being body shamed all the time both by himself and others? Like come on?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Eating disorder, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder
Minor: Gun violence, Pregnancy
dark
lighthearted
I buddy read this with my mom and stopping every 40 chapters to discuss who we think did it is now my favorite way to read murder mysteries.
I'll definitely be picking up the sequel.
I'll definitely be picking up the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is a work of art taking the perspective of older folks and all the different POVs of people, the twists of the mystery/plot, the jaw dropping moments, and emotions that you feel in your soul.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Dementia
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
No
Such fun, with the heart-wrenching realities of aging sprinkled in lol I absolutely adored all of these characters, and the writing was so lovely. The mystery was fun, too! Lots of fun twists and turns.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy
There are two very brief moments where the readers witness the inner narrative of someone losing their grip on reality: once is due to age and once is due to a drug overdose . The rest of the time when we see dementia or the like, it's played out in other people. The main narrators do not suffer from anything more than mild memory lapses that naturally come with age.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
I was strongly debating on DNFing at the 100 page mark. The first 40 pages are so dedicated to world-building that it failed to grip me, so it wasn't a strong start. The narrative style of the first 100 pages was very erratic, shifting perspectives and tones suddenly. The writing style was also very British, which just wasn't for me, partially because they would make references to people and things I had never heard of. There is a certain charm to this, mostly from the found family aspect, which I think is the strongest element of the book (though the focus is very mild in the first half of the book, it makes the ending more enjoyable). Of the four main characters, being in Elizabeth or Joyce's perspective was the most fun as they stood out the most. I did enjoy Ibrahim and Ron as well, though. I also thought that the friendship between the club members and the police officers, Donna and Chris, was sweet (as well as Donna and Chris's friendship). My favorite parts of the book are when all six of these characters are together. The charming silliness of the club's meddling was what kept me reading (as well as the overall renown). However, the beginning was so rocky for me that I am not sure I could fully recommend it myself. I feel somewhat similar to how I felt about Legends & Lattes: it was fine; I might continue the series if the opportunity arises, but it is not a priority. The ending had so many twists (they really had me for a second thinking that Joyce was the murderer, which would have been good, but also would have prevented me from continuing the series if she was written out of it ). It was a bit jarring. I fluctuated my rating throughout the book: nearly DNF; then 2.5; then 3 stars towards the middle and getting towards the end; then, finally, 2.75 because all the twists and fake-out confessions and accusations (glad that Bogdan got away with it so that we can see him in other books; he was fun in a straightforward way) felt excessive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Pregnancy