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wagmore's review against another edition
4.0
I'm surprised that the ratings are so low and that the reviews tend towards the negative for this book.
I thought it was a very engaging story and revealed quite a bit about English mores and manners at around the turn of the (20th) century.
There's a hard-boiled plot that starts with a disaster at sea. There's stolen gold and gun-play. There's suspense, there's a good guy, some really bad guys, and at least two complex characters who contain a modern amount of both good and bad. One of whom is a dame. Wait, I don't think that word came into fashion until a couple of decades after this book was written. But, still, it seems to fit. :)
What's not to like?
The only caveat is: the n-word is used several times in the book, so if it offends you, better go on to something else.
Recommended, especially for people who enjoy fiction that was fashionable in its day.
I thought it was a very engaging story and revealed quite a bit about English mores and manners at around the turn of the (20th) century.
There's a hard-boiled plot that starts with a disaster at sea. There's stolen gold and gun-play. There's suspense, there's a good guy, some really bad guys, and at least two complex characters who contain a modern amount of both good and bad. One of whom is a dame. Wait, I don't think that word came into fashion until a couple of decades after this book was written. But, still, it seems to fit. :)
What's not to like?
The only caveat is: the n-word is used several times in the book, so if it offends you, better go on to something else.
Recommended, especially for people who enjoy fiction that was fashionable in its day.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
4.0
A marvelous adventure story with plenty of twists and turns! The writing is great, and the plot moves quickly with plenty of hair-raising danger. Hornung is a master at painting lovable scoundrels and villains that you love to the point where you actually want them to succeed in their crimes and escape the police! Excellent characters balanced on the sides of good and evil!
I was disappointed in the portrayal of the one female character though. She was just a perfect porcelain doll with no color or life for most of the book.
I was disappointed in the portrayal of the one female character though. She was just a perfect porcelain doll with no color or life for most of the book.
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