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tonymallinger's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fun.
It took me awhile to get behind the plot and the characters, except for Joyce. I fucking love Joyce, she's a bitch in every sense of the word. She knows what she wants and she gets it.
The multi-layered story is interesting to me. I fully understand why Tony was killed. But like it felt slightly unimportant to me. Like the main point of this book was laying heavy on the deaths of Ian and Peter. The whole point of the book felt centered around them and Osman through in the drug shit for Tony to fill up space. Which like whatever, just inflated the novel a bit too much for me.
I think Osman's style of writing is also just not my favorite. His cozy nature feels off, like Christie without the pizzazz I think. I mean it was a quick and easy read, so not the end of the world. I also enjoyed Penny just being a vigilante cop, I thought that was a fun twist. But I don't foresee myself reading any of the other books in this series, but maybe...ya just never know.
Overall: 2.8-3.0/5
It took me awhile to get behind the plot and the characters, except for Joyce. I fucking love Joyce, she's a bitch in every sense of the word. She knows what she wants and she gets it.
The multi-layered story is interesting to me. I fully understand why Tony was killed. But like it felt slightly unimportant to me. Like the main point of this book was laying heavy on the deaths of Ian and Peter. The whole point of the book felt centered around them and Osman through in the drug shit for Tony to fill up space. Which like whatever, just inflated the novel a bit too much for me.
I think Osman's style of writing is also just not my favorite. His cozy nature feels off, like Christie without the pizzazz I think. I mean it was a quick and easy read, so not the end of the world. I also enjoyed Penny just being a vigilante cop, I thought that was a fun twist. But I don't foresee myself reading any of the other books in this series, but maybe...ya just never know.
Overall: 2.8-3.0/5
lilyrebeccax's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sezzybreading's review against another edition
5.0
I did not expect to like this anywhere near as much as I did. This was such an interesting read. I was hooked from the first few chapters. The depth and connection between all the characters and the fact I was invested in all of them despite there being so many was really something. This felt like such a cozy read and I loved finding out how it all wrapped up. Keen to read the rest of the series.
angelampare's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
Honestly this was such a cool concept with a poor execution. Too long, too many characters that I just could not find the will to care about them.
gggr's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable book. A few twists and turns but I found myself not too interested in trying to figure it out in advance, instead happy to learn what was happening as it was presented. Very interesting cast of characters. Surprising amount of death for a book otherwise full of whimsy.
teaqueen's review against another edition
Audiobook
DNF at 24%
I was so ready to play detective with this one, I made notes of the characters and everything. But the more I listened the more I zoned out and the more bored I got. It was just boring. I expected more because it seems to be a book everyone was reading at one point but even after the first(?) murder I was not hooked enough. I wouldn't bother trying to read the physical book either because when I tuned back in the narration was a bit annoying - I know the characters are old and it was setting the "voice" of the characters but it was annoying having every little thing broken down like where the bloody rice in the meal was from (Joyce).
This book was just not for me.
DNF at 24%
I was so ready to play detective with this one, I made notes of the characters and everything. But the more I listened the more I zoned out and the more bored I got. It was just boring. I expected more because it seems to be a book everyone was reading at one point but even after the first(?) murder I was not hooked enough. I wouldn't bother trying to read the physical book either because when I tuned back in the narration was a bit annoying - I know the characters are old and it was setting the "voice" of the characters but it was annoying having every little thing broken down like where the bloody rice in the meal was from (Joyce).
This book was just not for me.
rkingston's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
stephenhunsaker's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Textbook cozy, fun holiday-read. It felt like it was written as a screenplay then adapted not the other way around. Reading up on the soon to be film adaptation though it feels perfectly fit for that medium.
perkybean's review against another edition
3.0
First off, I want to say that I loved the characters in this book. Their spunk and moxie and the sense of community and family they had was both humorous and endearing. That being said, I do feel like there were too many storylines happening in the book and it made it a bit overwhelming. I really wanted to like this book and I did, maybe just not enough to read the rest of the books in the series. Maybe... I am a sucker for 2nd chances...
miaovrogers's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.5