Reviews

Rhode Island Red by Charlotte Carter

stephvatz's review against another edition

4.0

Charlotte Carter really amps up the camp in this series (written in the 1990s!) about a street-busking, sex-positive, murder mystery-solving, Francophile foodie and sax player named Nanette. The plot was interesting and had a number of twists and turns but the real charmer is the voice of Nanette: her spunk, charm and passion for life's small pleasures really carried the normally low-brow mystery genre (sorry if this is a hot take!) into something truly unique and interesting. Light enough to be a beach read but it's still got some subversive takes on complex topics like race and gender.

Would recommend if you like: delightful descriptions of food, quirky female leads, jazz music.

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Despite the strong character of Nanette, the tall sax busker with the shaved head, the story didn’t grab me as much as I’d hoped. I found the machinations of the plot complicated, and parts relied too much on random coincidence. 

What I did like was Nanette’s sassy attitude, her willingness to admit her weaknesses, her fearlessness in solving intractable problems, and her fresh look at a life I’d never see because I’m unfamiliar with jazz, the racial aspects of the story (I’m a suburban white woman), and NYC. . 

I think I’d enjoy the next two in the series better now that I know what to expect. I was led to believe this was historical fiction so was jarred by references to Grace Jones, Kate Moss, and hiphop. I believe I’d have been much more appreciative had I not been given the wrong idea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Gun violence, Murder, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Police brutality

victorycheers's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.0

irishannie's review against another edition

3.0

This is a take-off of "The Maltese Falcon."

numipig30's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.0

lil's review against another edition

mysterious

4.0

annettes's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious

2.75

randisworld's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

The best part of this mystery is the main character, Nanette. Nanette stumbles into quite the interesting situation when a man she just met is murdered. I love the inclusion of all the art, music, and culture into this book. Nanette is wonderfully written and the characters are colorful. The construction of the mystery and unraveling of that mystery itself could have been tighter but I did enjoy parts of this story. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder

peterjambrown's review

funny mysterious tense 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

3.75

keisha_w's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0