Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
It was detrimental to my own enjoyment of this to listen to it in audio format... I lost the thread in several places, including the most interesting monologues by the main villain.
On the topic of the main villain, I was not convinced of her wickedness that all the characters seemed sure of, so that nagged at me throughout. I was not convinced of much of any of the characters at all really. Though it's mostly driven through dialogue and interactions, the characters aren't very strong. That may just be the large cast that seems so typical of older novels.
It was very beautiful and engrossing writing, and the dialogue is very charming. The ending was clever, but I feel like it was missing a lot of buildup. I wasn't aware that Wilkie Collins was a famous author when I picked this one up randomly, so I'm interested in reading his more well known works.
On the topic of the main villain, I was not convinced of her wickedness that all the characters seemed sure of, so that nagged at me throughout. I was not convinced of much of any of the characters at all really. Though it's mostly driven through dialogue and interactions, the characters aren't very strong. That may just be the large cast that seems so typical of older novels.
It was very beautiful and engrossing writing, and the dialogue is very charming. The ending was clever, but I feel like it was missing a lot of buildup. I wasn't aware that Wilkie Collins was a famous author when I picked this one up randomly, so I'm interested in reading his more well known works.
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wilkie Collins is one of the Victorian writers at the fore of mystery writing. The Haunted Hotel incorporates many of the Gothic elements I would have expected from Collins, while also making use of some of the more modern mystery elements.
Much of the story focuses on the mysterious Palace Hotel and whether there is more to the deaths/disappearances that seem to take place there. We are relayed the story by key characters on the outskirts of events, and this leads to a certain level of detachment that makes it hard to move past.
The characters are not particularly likeable, and though we are encouraged to feel for some more than others, the lack of development - and perhaps the social conventions of the time impacting their interactions - made this quite a hard story to really get involved in.
Much of the story focuses on the mysterious Palace Hotel and whether there is more to the deaths/disappearances that seem to take place there. We are relayed the story by key characters on the outskirts of events, and this leads to a certain level of detachment that makes it hard to move past.
The characters are not particularly likeable, and though we are encouraged to feel for some more than others, the lack of development - and perhaps the social conventions of the time impacting their interactions - made this quite a hard story to really get involved in.
A fun gothic read. While not his most famous book, it's completely enjoyable.
dark
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes
It was fine. I feel like it would be a pretty good movie, but as a book it was just okay.
Neat and clever horror story; easy to read and with a satisfyingly grisly ending.
I think I’ll come back to it. Just wasn’t in the mood for the vibe.
dark
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
The Haunted Hotel is a murder mystery although it does feature aspects of the supernatural alongside a gothic theme. The story dragged a bit in the middle but the ending more than made up for it. All in all a good mystery novel. I'm rather excited to try more of Collins' work.