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shellystilger's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun to hear different Golden Age authors set each other up, handle curve balls, and come up with different solutions. Not to be read for the story itself, but for the joy of the interaction between authors.
ila_mae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
iarsb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
feliciar33ds's review against another edition
1.0
One of those things that sound better in theory - 1 mystery written, one chapter each, by several famous mystery writers. Convoluted and zzzzzzzzz.....
taylorelm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A fun idea for a story - each chapter written by someone else, with no idea of the original solution. I enjoyed some chapters more than others, but overall it was enjoyable and did really have a sense of fun about it. You could tell each author enjoyed writing their bit.
Also loved the different solutions at the end, and being able to see how the story and outcome changed through the process.
Also loved the different solutions at the end, and being able to see how the story and outcome changed through the process.
elmewhy's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
The Detection Club must have been the coolest club around.
A group of highly successful mystery writers getting together sharing their love of mysteries & detective fiction over regular dinners in London.
The idea of a group of the members each writing a chapter to a murder mystery was intriguing - & with writers as skilled as [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] & [a:Dorothy L. Sayers|8734|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519840173p2/8734.jpg] involved - what could go wrong?
Unfortunately quite a bit.
After [a:G.K. Chesterton|7014283|G.K. Chesterton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1365860649p2/7014283.jpg]'s introduction (which I have already forgotten) [a:Victor L. Whitechurch|1035041|Victor L. Whitechurch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] got the story off to a cracking start. & all the writer's kept to a similar tone. But [a:Milward Kennedy|610903|Milward Kennedy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363130100p2/610903.jpg] "read"completely different than the other writers. It really didn't flow well at all! Dorothy L. Sayers did her best to get the story on track, but unfortunately the writer that followed her, [a:Ronald A. Knox|17830840|Ronald A. Knox|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] followed with an incredibly dry list of questions & possible suspects. Able writing by the rest of the writers (including a wonderful twist from [a:Clemence Dane|425398|Clemence Dane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1473576863p2/425398.jpg]) couldn't save this book for me after that. I would recommend skipping Knox's chapter altogether. It does nothing but drag the book down. A problem with writing with your mates I guess. Sayers wasn't ruthless enough as an editor.
& the appendix where each writer gave their solution? Another disappointment as for me the most interesting person to hear from would have been the writer of Chapter 1, but Whitechurch & the writers of Chapter 2 (The Coles) didn't give their solutions. I would have loved to have read where he thought the story would go. & Knox gave another dull list before offering his solution. No surprise here but I liked Christie's ideas the best!
So in Whitechurch, Dane & [a:John Rhode|280354|John Rhode|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1320143165p2/280354.jpg] I have found new writers I want to try & others I will quite definitely avoid.
The Detection Club must have been the coolest club around.
A group of highly successful mystery writers getting together sharing their love of mysteries & detective fiction over regular dinners in London.
The idea of a group of the members each writing a chapter to a murder mystery was intriguing - & with writers as skilled as [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] & [a:Dorothy L. Sayers|8734|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519840173p2/8734.jpg] involved - what could go wrong?
Unfortunately quite a bit.
After [a:G.K. Chesterton|7014283|G.K. Chesterton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1365860649p2/7014283.jpg]'s introduction (which I have already forgotten) [a:Victor L. Whitechurch|1035041|Victor L. Whitechurch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] got the story off to a cracking start. & all the writer's kept to a similar tone. But [a:Milward Kennedy|610903|Milward Kennedy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363130100p2/610903.jpg] "read"completely different than the other writers. It really didn't flow well at all! Dorothy L. Sayers did her best to get the story on track, but unfortunately the writer that followed her, [a:Ronald A. Knox|17830840|Ronald A. Knox|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] followed with an incredibly dry list of questions & possible suspects. Able writing by the rest of the writers (including a wonderful twist from [a:Clemence Dane|425398|Clemence Dane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1473576863p2/425398.jpg]) couldn't save this book for me after that. I would recommend skipping Knox's chapter altogether. It does nothing but drag the book down. A problem with writing with your mates I guess. Sayers wasn't ruthless enough as an editor.
& the appendix where each writer gave their solution? Another disappointment as for me the most interesting person to hear from would have been the writer of Chapter 1, but Whitechurch & the writers of Chapter 2 (The Coles) didn't give their solutions. I would have loved to have read where he thought the story would go. & Knox gave another dull list before offering his solution. No surprise here but I liked Christie's ideas the best!
So in Whitechurch, Dane & [a:John Rhode|280354|John Rhode|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1320143165p2/280354.jpg] I have found new writers I want to try & others I will quite definitely avoid.
moreader's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
A murder mystery with each chapter written by a different mystery writer leading to the end when the killer is revealed.
adrianas's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.0