Reviews

Sorry for the Dead by Nicola Upson

hannahlgreen's review

Wasn’t in the right mood but will probably pick back up later this year!

happlepider's review

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The book focuses on a women's agricultural community in WW2 Britain, and the struggles of maintaining such a place intended for the positive development of women when the surrounding community is unsupportive and unwelcoming; this neatly dovetails in with the experiences of the lesbian characters, in particular providing new insight to the background of the series main character, Josephine Tey. 

leahbrink's review

emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The back-and-forth shift of time periods as well as narrators throughout was done really effectively in my opinion. It ensured that this was not a two dimensional mystery with outright villains and victims, but instead made you aware of the many inner turmoils that influenced the events that unfolded. This made it easy to empathise with characters, giving the book a very human, reflective feel. 

blackcatlouise's review

4.0

Despite a ridiculously long cast list and an extremely complicated plot set in three different periods of time I actually enjoyed this a lot!

We begin in 1948, then jump back to 1938 where we meet Josephine Tey and her partner Marta visiting Charleston and meeting the Bloomsbury group.
We skip back to when Josephine was a young teacher working at Charleston in 1915 where a young girl was killed.
Further action in all of these times finally brings us to the solution.
I had to make a diagram of which characters belonged in which time but it was worth it because it's a great story.
Also a moving portrayal of a lesbian love story in the first half of the 20th Century.

rdebner's review

4.0

I'm always interested to see what parts of history -- both political and cultural -- Nicola Upson will weave into this series, as well as which aspects of the characters' personal histories will appear. This one feels like a more personal story in some ways, as a lot of it is focused on Josephine's history.

ellietrying's review

3.0

I absolutely love this series but this wasn’t my favourite. Still intriguing as always though. Slightly sad not to have the usual interaction with Archie but it’s good to have a bit of variety.

rthpr's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape

ellenrhudy's review

4.0

Continuing to just read this series in whatever order the library gives them to me. This is another really well written mystery, with such a strong sense of place and time. It felt disjointed at moments, because we move back and forth through time so often, and there’s one large section from a different POV, which threw me a little.

trusselltales's review

4.0

I find the Josephine Tey series a bit hit or miss; I've loved some of Upson's books and not been keen on others, but Sorry for the Dead is great. Atmospheric, tense, I particularly liked the Summer 1915 sections.

I do need someone else to read it to discuss the ending with though!

terese_utan_h's review

mysterious 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

4.0