Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Blackhouse by Peter May

5 reviews

ran_sophia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The book is well written and I will definitely read the sequel.  The story is surprising and thrilling until the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Bullying, and Alcoholism

Minor: Domestic abuse, Cursing, and Sexual assault

theteaisaddictive's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed this book — it was a Christmas present from my sister, and not a genre I normally read at all. The unravelling of the mystery in the last hundred or so pages was extremely gripping to read, and childhood flashbacks which began as annoying and distracting soon became repositories of dramatic irony and tension. Just as interesting to read is the unpacking of masculinity and boyhood regarding the experiences of Lewismen of my parents’ generation — sometimes a toxic masculinity, sometimes an ode to the strength of the bonds that tie these communities together. Likewise, the role of the church: from the Revival of the 60s and 70s to the more relaxed attitude of the early 2000s (when I presume, based on the scant context clues, that this book is set). Very rarely do I get to read books set in my own country, so this was an especial treat for me. A solid 3-star read. Added 1/2 point on Storygraph for my personal enjoyment. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Bullying, Fatphobia, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse

In the last fifty or so pages, it is revealed that Fin and Artair were abused by Artair’s father for several years, beginning in childhood and extending to their teenage years. The precise nature of the abuse is never revealed, as Fin blocked out all memory of it as a trauma response, but it is strongly implied to be sexual in nature.

ochutchinson's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

The An Sgier stuff was really wonderfully done although the rest of the prose didn't do it for me. A good grizzled-cop-comes-home-to-small-town-to-investigate-murder, digs-up-old-ghosts tropey read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Animal death

Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Violence, and Medical content

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault

crouteurpro's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Excrement, Vomit, Bullying, and Cursing

julieviiii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Actually very good in terms of plot (the mystery, the murder and what really happened in the main character's childhood were really well told), but I'm not a fan of how women are portrayed in this. 
I loved the plot, the characters, the atmosphere was amazing but women either only have a role of a burden (Artair's mother after her heart attack), a seductress (Marsaili, all of Fin's girlfriends, Donna) or a one dimensional mother figure (Fin's  mother who was barely mentioned or his aunt who was just described as "eccentric and cold").
The men on the other hand were really well written  which makes me think this isn't just how the author writes characters, it's just how he writes women. (I'm hoping the rest of the trilogy isn't as male-based). 
Other than this, I loved everything except the ending which felt flat and easy compared to the rest of the plot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Moderate: Car accident, Cancer, Pedophilia, Rape, and Child death