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themichellegray's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The premise of this story grabbed my attention more than anything in the actual book did.
There were far too many characters. Actually, each time you grasped who everyone was at least 2 more characters would be introduced. The writing style seemed to jump all over the place and constantly switched between perspectives making it extremely difficult to follow, especially via audiobook. I frankly didn't even care about the mystery or even bother guessing 'whodunit' because I was trying to constantly comprehend everything previously mentioned. Once all was revealed, it wasn't even impactful due to my constant confusions (and it of course featured multiple villainous monologues).
While I really didn't enjoy my overall experience reading this, I did manage to appreciate a few things which bumped my rating up to a 2. The humous tone helped to carry the story along and made a fairly dark book more light-hearted. I did enjoy the dynamic of the four main club members and specifically Elizabeth's shenanigans. And although the topics of death and grief could be heartbreaking I appreciated some of the conversations surrounding it.
I spent the majority of this audiobook wanting it to be over and if I hadn't been listening along with my husband it would've been an easy DNF. It's safe to say I won't be continuing on in the series.
There were far too many characters. Actually, each time you grasped who everyone was at least 2 more characters would be introduced. The writing style seemed to jump all over the place and constantly switched between perspectives making it extremely difficult to follow, especially via audiobook. I frankly didn't even care about the mystery or even bother guessing 'whodunit' because I was trying to constantly comprehend everything previously mentioned. Once all was revealed, it wasn't even impactful due to my constant confusions (and it of course featured multiple villainous monologues).
While I really didn't enjoy my overall experience reading this, I did manage to appreciate a few things which bumped my rating up to a 2. The humous tone helped to carry the story along and made a fairly dark book more light-hearted. I did enjoy the dynamic of the four main club members and specifically Elizabeth's shenanigans. And although the topics of death and grief could be heartbreaking I appreciated some of the conversations surrounding it.
I spent the majority of this audiobook wanting it to be over and if I hadn't been listening along with my husband it would've been an easy DNF. It's safe to say I won't be continuing on in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Death and Grief
te_ss_i's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Dementia, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Suicide
lifewithjoce's review against another edition
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Fatphobia, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
revafisheye's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Charming cozy mystery set in an upscale retirement community. Aside from the murder-mystery aspects, it touches on grief and loss in ways I was not expecting. I have already recommended it to several friends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide, Grief, Murder, Fatphobia, and Ableism
Minor: Domestic abuse
scritchley's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The fatphobia stuff was distracting, but I loved the characters otherwise.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The characters were lovely. I imagine I will pick up the next in the series at some point because I thought it was a charming read, even though it wasn't my usual cup of tea.
Also, I know it's a murder mystery but I wasn't expecting so much casual death. Was a bit grim at times.
Also, I know it's a murder mystery but I wasn't expecting so much casual death. Was a bit grim at times.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Bullying, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Infidelity, Murder, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Trafficking, Alcohol, Animal death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Sexism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Suicide
luciferin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
PLEASE read and heed the trigger warnings for this book. I didn’t, and I can only tell you that if I had, I probably would’ve hesitated reading it, because that one specific warning TRIGGER WARNING suicide isn’t just something mentioned in passing in the book, MILD SPOILER WITHOUT SPOILING MUCH it happens, repeatedly, and more or less graphically.
Anyhow. This book made me laugh, then cry, then laugh again, then stare melancholically into the distance, then cry again. It made me gasp and question the whole plot I just read, it made me root for people I maybe shouldn’t root for (but always will, because I LOVE. MORALLY GREY CHARACTERS. Always have, always will. Because life is fucking morally grey. And I both LOVE the ending and dread its implications.) I really like all of the characters and I cannot wait to see where their paths will take them.
The dialogues are incredibly funny and so very British, the pop culture references were so good and there were quite a few plot twists (both storywise and in the development of one character or another) that I didn’t see coming, which rarely happens. It was a very enjoyable read, and a mystery slash crime that didn’t try the absolute hardest (while failing) to be sooo inventive and new and what have you. But it still manages exactly that. It’s a fresh-ish view (sometimes it kinda feels like visiting all of Agatha C‘s figures in the retirement home they live in together, but in a nice, old memories way, not in the way of plagiarism) of crime solving with a group of people that have seemingly lived their lives with spouses and children and careers and such, who now still have just as much fun in using their different abilities (I love Ibbsy and Joyce and Bogdan especially) to solve murderous puzzles.
I also like how it alludes to things they have done before coming to CC and I‘m really excited to learn more about Elizabeth‘s past at some point, even though I have a hunch about her vocation. I like how the author often sets us on wrong tracks until we suddenly understand what exactly is happening or who is involved; it often made me notice that I am still, unfortunately, thinking in a very socially normative (not to say heteronormative, able-bodied, ageist kind of way, because I pride myself on AT THE VERY LEAST noticing if I do and correcting myself; so rather in a pop culturally normalised) way, MILD UNSPOILERYfor example with Donna and Chris. I never would have thought of THAT. And I LOVE IT. I love when books do that.
I also like how it alludes to things they have done before coming to CC and I‘m really excited to learn more about Elizabeth‘s past at some point, even though I have a hunch about her vocation. I like how the author often sets us on wrong tracks until we suddenly understand what exactly is happening or who is involved; it often made me notice that I am still, unfortunately, thinking in a very socially normative (not to say heteronormative, able-bodied, ageist kind of way, because I pride myself on AT THE VERY LEAST noticing if I do and correcting myself; so rather in a pop culturally normalised) way, MILD UNSPOILERY
Also, please be aware that while this IS indeed a book about murder old and new, it also talks about lot about transience in life, loss, the pain of living itself, loneliness, estrangement from family members and or friends or lovers, the impact of being oneself on the life one gets to live. Characters are desperate, lonely, tired of living, ill, slowly slipping from their loved ones‘ grasp. It is FULL of heavy topics, so if these things are not something you want with your lighthearted crime solving, skip this. And again, HEED THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.
Still, even though none of these are topics I actively seek out and or enjoy or usually read willingly if I can avoid them, the descriptions of the TMC‘s members‘ lives actually weirdly give me hope. I am not scared of aging: it is very much a privilege which only few of us get to enjoy. But seeing those wonderful elderly people with all of their pasts and aches and losses just having fun with their friends, accomodating their lives to what they can do and how, and joking about it. I want to be like that later on.
So yeah, I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Oh and also, Joyce and Donna teaching Elizabeth how to be modern and and correct and inclusive in her way of speaking? Love.
Oh and also, Joyce and Donna teaching Elizabeth how to be modern and and correct and inclusive in her way of speaking? Love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Murder, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, and Fatphobia
Minor: Animal death
katietregs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it took me a while to get into it. If I hadn’t been reading it for a book club, I might have even given up around page 100.
The murder mystery aspect does have good payoff, and the characters are rich and lovable. I think it suffers from too many POV characters up front and not enough storyline events to justify the story’s overall complexity.
I also think the suicide of Bernard felt unnecessary, and rushed. And the priest’s story was supposed to be sympathetic, but it made him seem like a weird creep to me. If the nun was going to run off with him… why did she hang herself? and why did Bogdan send the picture to Jason?
That said, it’s an impressive first novel from Osman with good mystery and great characters.
The murder mystery aspect does have good payoff, and the characters are rich and lovable. I think it suffers from too many POV characters up front and not enough storyline events to justify the story’s overall complexity.
That said, it’s an impressive first novel from Osman with good mystery and great characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Fatphobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
Minor: Bullying and Eating disorder
bean_book's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Fatphobia