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jog2020's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.5
thislittlebook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
craigpwmoroney's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A good read which follows the standard Detective storylines. The characters though not completely likeable are well written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Hate crime, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Cancer, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Sexism
pattiillbee11's review
dark
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Another good one, filled with secrets and private tragedies. There was one disliked person who did not get his comeuppance, but we don't get to see everyone suffer consequences just because they are a bad person ... just have the satisfaction of the right person arrested in the end. Strings tie together, the snow clears up a bit, and almost everyone gets to go home and have a happy Christmas.
becden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
5.0
hkburke2's review against another edition
3.75
These are very consistent! This one had more to hold onto for me than the last.
merrynhughes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
3.0
To be reviewed
As a fan of the Shetland series by [a:Ann Cleeves|56067|Ann Cleeves|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1262915904p2/56067.jpg], I was eager to check out her DI Vera Stanhope series. This is the newest installment in the series, which will be widely available in the US in December. The story centers around a killing...a witness..and a secret. Vera's colleague Detective Joe Ashworth and his daughter Jessie discover a dead body on a crowded Metro car shortly before Christmas. The victim is an elegant, 70-ish-year-old woman, Margaret Krukowski, who was fatally stabbed. However, it is unclear how the murder occurred on the packed train and what the motive might have been. Joe and Vera are assigned to the case and travel to the small, quiet town of Mardle to investigate, but soon learn the residents are reticent about discussing certain aspects of life on Harbour Street. When a second woman is murdered days after their arrival, Vera redoubles her efforts to unearth the secrets that the residents of Harbour Street seem so reluctant to reveal. Small town secrets pervade the story but scratching a little beneath the seemingly pristine surface shows that not everything is as it seems. As is the case with the Shetland series, the prose elegantly evokes images of the people, place, and mood, drawing the reader in to Vera's world. This was an excellent introduction to the Vera series and I look forward to reading earlier offerings in the series.
As a fan of the Shetland series by [a:Ann Cleeves|56067|Ann Cleeves|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1262915904p2/56067.jpg], I was eager to check out her DI Vera Stanhope series. This is the newest installment in the series, which will be widely available in the US in December. The story centers around a killing...a witness..and a secret. Vera's colleague Detective Joe Ashworth and his daughter Jessie discover a dead body on a crowded Metro car shortly before Christmas. The victim is an elegant, 70-ish-year-old woman, Margaret Krukowski, who was fatally stabbed. However, it is unclear how the murder occurred on the packed train and what the motive might have been. Joe and Vera are assigned to the case and travel to the small, quiet town of Mardle to investigate, but soon learn the residents are reticent about discussing certain aspects of life on Harbour Street. When a second woman is murdered days after their arrival, Vera redoubles her efforts to unearth the secrets that the residents of Harbour Street seem so reluctant to reveal. Small town secrets pervade the story but scratching a little beneath the seemingly pristine surface shows that not everything is as it seems. As is the case with the Shetland series, the prose elegantly evokes images of the people, place, and mood, drawing the reader in to Vera's world. This was an excellent introduction to the Vera series and I look forward to reading earlier offerings in the series.