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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Really fun book. not quite sure what the category is ... detective? Really unlike anything I have read as the detective in the story (Alan Grant) is investigating the disappearance and likely murder of Richard the Third. The book is doubly interesting if the reader is curious about the War of the Roses. Solving a centuries old crime does not sound like a scintillating premise but she does it masterfully. Like most, my opinion of Richard is right out of Shakespeare, so I now have a much higher opinion of Richard than before, not that he cares.
Not a book to read in the audiobook version. Apart from the awful "American" accent of one of the characters, I think this is a book you need to be able to flip back and forth in to remember who that one guy was or what that one document said. Pretty confusing otherwise. And honestly I can't say I really care that much about Richard III. But as a researcher myself, I found it very relaxing to read a book that was all about old-school research, sending someone to the library for even the most minute fact instead of just googling it.
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
So this book literally combines two of my most favorite genres ever - historical fiction (specifically the War of the Roses!) and old classic mystery - into one. I saw another review say that this isn't really a novel, it's a vehicle for presenting a historical argument, and I kind of agree with that. It definitely isn't light reading, I found myself doing additional research and pausing to think and put things together. It took me longer than a 5 hour book should have. There's not really a plot, just Inspector Grant laying in a bed doing research on Richard III. But see, the thing is I love Richard III and I'm wholly in agreement that he is innocent of murdering his nephews. This book 100% proves that to me beyond a shadow of a doubt. It actually really frustrates me that it is such "common knowledge" that he was a monster and a murderer and a wicked person when the truth is, if you do just a little research, he was actually the opposite of all of that. I blame [b:Richard III|42058|Richard III|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328043960l/42058._SY75_.jpg|2913597]. Shakespeare and those darn Tudors muddying the waters. Just kidding, I love Shakespeare and I love the Tudors. But they did purposefully frame Richard III for their own crimes so. Who really is the monster?
Anyway, this book will definitely not be for everyone but I loved it. It definitely makes you think about the fact that history is written by the victors.
Anyway, this book will definitely not be for everyone but I loved it. It definitely makes you think about the fact that history is written by the victors.
Amazing book about England and the Prince back in the 1500s!! Definitely a must read if you love Historical Fiction!!
Reread this recently and really enjoyed Tey's take on history. I know that by the end of the book, I was convinced Richard III had not killed the princes in the tower. This is a book I would want to own so I could reread it whenever I wanted to.
"You have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story." -George Washington, Hamilton
"The winners write history."
This was a re-read for me. I read this for a class called History and Historians. I enjoyed the tale of an investigator who needed a project while he recooperated from a broken leg. Yay, times before internet! He decides to investigate the story of Richard III. It's surprisingly cool. It really did make my inner history nerd squee.
"The winners write history."
This was a re-read for me. I read this for a class called History and Historians. I enjoyed the tale of an investigator who needed a project while he recooperated from a broken leg. Yay, times before internet! He decides to investigate the story of Richard III. It's surprisingly cool. It really did make my inner history nerd squee.
I read this book because it was featured on an Indigo Blog after Richard III's remains were found under a car park. It was a very interesting - but at sometimes I found myself confused and over whelmed with the different players from history features.
If you are interested in History and Mystery Novels, then this is a book for you to read. It can be at bit pretentious at times, but I found the ending to be very satisfying. You do require an interest in the British Monarchy, since most of this book is just recounting who married who and why.