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bemyguest93's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
holdenkillfield's review
2.0
This is a pretty digestible book to pass the time with. Not much happening in this story overall. A lot of information is superficial and not much depth. A lot of the reveal happens in the last 2 chapters. It’s not atmospheric at all and I would of enjoyed a little more description of the rooms since they are iconic in the Clue-verse. Overall, a flat, uneventful story about the stereotypical trope of rich kids with everything and poor townie kids with nothing. Again, a book to pass the time.
kmosie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookswithange's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.5
rubarb05's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
books4susie's review
3.0
I was intrigued to start this new series based on the Clue board game. I played the game as a child but I don’t really remember much of the movie. I really liked the premise of the book but I had trouble keeping my mind on the story with the continued switching viewpoints between all of the characters. I thought that I had the murderer pegged but that story thread turned out to be the cliffhanger setting up the second book.
kathlgpa's review
3.0
I have to preface this by saying Clue is my favorite movie of all time. I was both excited and scared to read a book based upon the game.
However, it was a very enjoyable and easy read. There were several quotes that only movie fans would recognize that made me quite happy.
I don't think it was outstanding by any means as the characters and writing seemed run-of-the-mill YA literature. But I liked it and am glad I did read it.
It seems like the author is setting it up to be a series which I don't think I will continue. Maybe the premise of the sequel will intrigue me enough to try, who knows?
However, it was a very enjoyable and easy read. There were several quotes that only movie fans would recognize that made me quite happy.
I don't think it was outstanding by any means as the characters and writing seemed run-of-the-mill YA literature. But I liked it and am glad I did read it.
It seems like the author is setting it up to be a series which I don't think I will continue. Maybe the premise of the sequel will intrigue me enough to try, who knows?
esdeecarlson's review
2.0
2.5 stars
A serviceable little snowed-in murder mystery, which unfortunately cemented that YA murder mysteries are Not My Thing.
The mystery itself was pretty decent in terms of who- and why-dunnit, but I wasn’t enormously impressed by the execution. Namely, that it’s obvious who did it if you just look at the chapter headings and see the only Clue character who doesn’t get a POV chapter.
Furthermore, I didn’t like the fact that most of the murderer possibilities were outside characters (a janitor who left the premises, townie looters, a twin brother) because, well, this is a Clue mystery—the whole point is that the murderer is one of the named characters at the table with you.
One of my favorite things about an isolated murder mystery is the way that every character has *something* to hide, some secret they don’t want getting out, and all of this is uncovered throughout the plot. This is true for In the Hall with the Knife, but it didn’t satisfy me because for many characters we are given the fact that they have a dark secret but not the intricacies of it (i.e. Vaughn’s twin brother, Orchid’s stalker, Mustard’s past at military school). It seemed to me that this was because the author was ‘saving’ a more satisfying exploration of those secrets for plot fodder in later books in the series, which was just disappointing; I wanted new secrets in later books, not drawn-out elongations of the ones we’ve already heard about.
Furthermore, Clue as a game has the potential for excellent characters; they’re full of possibility, allowed to be a little larger than life. I remember inventing complex interweaving relationships for them when I played with the board game as a child. Yet, these kids bored me. They didn’t feel like fully rounded characters, and I didn’t care for or about them.
I will not be continuing with the series.
A serviceable little snowed-in murder mystery, which unfortunately cemented that YA murder mysteries are Not My Thing.
The mystery itself was pretty decent in terms of who- and why-dunnit, but I wasn’t enormously impressed by the execution. Namely, that it’s obvious who did it if you just look at the chapter headings and see the only Clue character who doesn’t get a POV chapter.
Furthermore, I didn’t like the fact that most of the murderer possibilities were outside characters (a janitor who left the premises, townie looters, a twin brother) because, well, this is a Clue mystery—the whole point is that the murderer is one of the named characters at the table with you.
One of my favorite things about an isolated murder mystery is the way that every character has *something* to hide, some secret they don’t want getting out, and all of this is uncovered throughout the plot. This is true for In the Hall with the Knife, but it didn’t satisfy me because for many characters we are given the fact that they have a dark secret but not the intricacies of it (i.e. Vaughn’s twin brother, Orchid’s stalker, Mustard’s past at military school). It seemed to me that this was because the author was ‘saving’ a more satisfying exploration of those secrets for plot fodder in later books in the series, which was just disappointing; I wanted new secrets in later books, not drawn-out elongations of the ones we’ve already heard about.
Furthermore, Clue as a game has the potential for excellent characters; they’re full of possibility, allowed to be a little larger than life. I remember inventing complex interweaving relationships for them when I played with the board game as a child. Yet, these kids bored me. They didn’t feel like fully rounded characters, and I didn’t care for or about them.
I will not be continuing with the series.
asigler03's review
4.0
**I 4-starred each book in this series but, overall, it is a 5-star series for me**
I really cannot, by any means, say this is a great book. This is not a masterpiece. But oh my gosh, did I enjoy it? I really have not been this captivated by a series since I was in middle school. I bought the first book on a whim because I was obsessed with Clue (and the Clue movie) when I was younger. I got so instantly hooked. Are the characters pretty annoying? Yes. Are some of the plot twists ridiculous? Definitely. But I just had so much fun.
I didn't have service for a few days after buying this book, so I counted down the moments after finishing this book to read book 2. A total recommend if you're looking for a fun read, and especially if you like the Clue movie.
I really cannot, by any means, say this is a great book. This is not a masterpiece. But oh my gosh, did I enjoy it? I really have not been this captivated by a series since I was in middle school. I bought the first book on a whim because I was obsessed with Clue (and the Clue movie) when I was younger. I got so instantly hooked. Are the characters pretty annoying? Yes. Are some of the plot twists ridiculous? Definitely. But I just had so much fun.
I didn't have service for a few days after buying this book, so I counted down the moments after finishing this book to read book 2. A total recommend if you're looking for a fun read, and especially if you like the Clue movie.