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dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this up at the used bookstore and went in with 0 expectations, just trying to get out of my comfort zone. I can say that was a success because I've never read a book like this before.
Typically I stay away from mystery because I don't find the tropes or structure of this genre that compelling. (Although my reading is limited to Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and a little Agatha Christie I read as a kid, so sorry if what I'm saying is based on a wrong impression.) I would say that this is a good mystery book for non-mystery fans because largely the focus is on the characters, the relationships they build with each other, and the way they see the world. The clues and investigation are a vehicle to support this and not the point themselves.
What was unexpected and most enjoyable for me is the (for lack of a better word) quirkiness of this book. Every single character has a number of odd qualities and the narration focuses on weird, mundane things that never get pointed out in other books I've read. (E.g. several paragraphs, in the middle of a manhunt for the murder suspect, describing one character mending his pants hem and another character telling him he's doing it wrong). Usually "quirkiness" in fiction comes off twee and forced, but here it just feels like a natural extension of the world and the author's voice. It invites the reader to notice the beauty in all the strange yet everyday things in life, which I think is this book's real power.
Talking about the end, I don't name the killer but there's a big hint so skip if you want to go in blind:
I didn't like the sudden switch in the end. The pace got much faster, the focus was entirely on plot and discovering clues, basically everything that's normally spread out in a mystery story happened in the last couple chapters. It's not just that i dislike "mystery stuff" but I think this weakens the book as a whole, makes the ending feel rushed. It would be better if the end had the same pace as the rest or if the Plot Events had been spread more evenly throughout the book. But 90% of this book is a good experience and I got through the conclusion in about an hour so it doesn't ruin the book in my opinion.
What does bother me about the end is that it falls into transphobic/transmisogynist tropes. Seeing yet another representation of gender-crossing behavior used for duplicity, crime, and murder does not make me feel great.
Also, can we talk about how Charles Reyer is clearly closeted with a crush on Adamsberg? That chapter was insane. This book is from 1996 so I have little hope but now I want to read the other Adamsberg books to see if Charles comes back and figures his shit out. I liked his character quite a bit.
Typically I stay away from mystery because I don't find the tropes or structure of this genre that compelling. (Although my reading is limited to Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and a little Agatha Christie I read as a kid, so sorry if what I'm saying is based on a wrong impression.) I would say that this is a good mystery book for non-mystery fans because largely the focus is on the characters, the relationships they build with each other, and the way they see the world. The clues and investigation are a vehicle to support this and not the point themselves.
What was unexpected and most enjoyable for me is the (for lack of a better word) quirkiness of this book. Every single character has a number of odd qualities and the narration focuses on weird, mundane things that never get pointed out in other books I've read. (E.g. several paragraphs, in the middle of a manhunt for the murder suspect, describing one character mending his pants hem and another character telling him he's doing it wrong). Usually "quirkiness" in fiction comes off twee and forced, but here it just feels like a natural extension of the world and the author's voice. It invites the reader to notice the beauty in all the strange yet everyday things in life, which I think is this book's real power.
Talking about the end, I don't name the killer but there's a big hint so skip if you want to go in blind:
What does bother me about the end is that it falls into transphobic/transmisogynist tropes. Seeing yet another representation of gender-crossing behavior used for duplicity, crime, and murder does not make me feel great.
Also, can we talk about how Charles Reyer is clearly closeted with a crush on Adamsberg? That chapter was insane. This book is from 1996 so I have little hope but now I want to read the other Adamsberg books to see if Charles comes back and figures his shit out. I liked his character quite a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Stalking
Moderate: Transphobia, Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death