Reviews

Beast In View by Margaret Millar

sumsayyah's review against another edition

2.5

An odd and rather grimy-feeling mystery with a psychological twist that is easy to guess at the beginning and makes the already stunted ending all the more anticlimactic. The central mystery is interesting enough, but the writing and story is definitely a product of its time and hard to engage with in the 21st century (the niche references to 1950s NY, homophobia, weird unexplained inferences on dysfunctional WASP family dynamics). If you find the the early/mid-20th century mystery a fun genre to read (which I often do), it could make the cut for plane rides and vacation days (but not much else).

emilybryk's review

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is a hard one to review. For one thing -- and for one <i>important</i> thing! -- the writing is an absolute joy to read. Full of snarls and wit, and a whole crew of unspeakably unlikeable characters. This alone made me ready to make it a full five stars. However, after a creepy-as-hell start, it turns into a slog of a plot. Dang it.

stranger_song's review against another edition

2.0

This book is terrible and you can see the twist coming from the first chapter.

revenant_tomato's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

fantasmariana's review against another edition

4.0

La protagonista de esta historia es una millonaria excéntrica que vive encerrada en un cuarto de hotel porque no soporta a su familia. Una vez dicho eso, resulta un poco más comprensible porqué habría de recibir una llamada extraña y amenazadora de una mujer misteriosa.

Este hecho, desencadenada la trama del libro. Helen, al no tener ni un solo amigo en el mundo, decide recurrir a su abogado para que le ayude a identificar a esta persona que la está llamando para decirle que va a morir en formas horribles.

Este libro que ganó el Premio Edgar a mejor novela en 1956, es un verdadero agasajo. Quizá varios de ustedes vean venir el plot twist de la historia con anticipación, pero debo de decirles que a mí me tomó desprevenida y por sorpresa -cosa que hizo que disfrutara bastante el final.

Reseña completa: https://vikingalectora.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/la-bestia-se-acerca-margaret-millar/

writermattphillips's review against another edition

3.0

A slow reveal, but very well done.

bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition

4.0

Set in L.A. in the fifties, this taut and fast-paced suspense novel has a noirish feel about it. The psychological aspects are perhaps a little clumsily dealt with, but it's a whole lot more enjoyable than most modern thrillers dealing with fragmented personalities. Would have made an excellent movie in the right hands.

katie_konneker's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

striver's review against another edition

4.0

Had me glued to my chair.

lisalotte's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0