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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
“For Ginevra Ex, bloody, murdered bodies were par for the course. ”
Here are reasons to read the thriller book:
- Train trip - Rory is taking a trip on the Orient Express
- Main Character - that she was gift by a famous author who studied her as the main character in her book
- Mystery - but Rory arrives to find her brother, her best friend, and her ex-boyfriend along with a LOT of secrets
When I found out this book was an Agatha Christie homage, I had to pick it up. The first part of the book was very interesting in how it sets up the trip, the descriptions of Italy, and the promise of a thrilling mystery. But the book kind of falls apart in the middle where the present chapters are interspersed with a lot of background and exposition about the author’s life. When you find out about the secrets of all the people involved at the end, it lands a bit flat for me because of the promise of a really good mystery. Unfortunately, I really ended up wanting more.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ll never say no to a book set in Italy and I was very excited to receive an ARC of this one. The setting did not disappoint and I would love to take a journey on the Orient Express. I really enjoyed learning about the Jewish experience, especially as someone living in the Societ Union in the 80s. Otherwise, I was a bit let down with the character and this moved just a little too slow. I did like how the big mystery unfolded.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was drawn to this book based on its beautiful cover, intriguing description, and luxury train setting, but it wasn't quite what I expected. Noted as a "modern homage to Agatha Christie," the book did not live up to "Murder on the Orient Express." I did enjoy the underlying mystery, and there were certainly many unexpected twists and turns. There were also some very interesting flashbacks to the Jewish experience in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. The pace was quite slow, though, and I struggled to get through some of the book. And even with its slow pace, the ending seemed abrupt, and there were a few loose ends that weren't tied up. I didn't necessarily dislike this book, but it just wasn't what I was expecting, and I would still like to read more from the author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Once you recognize that this book is NOT like Murder on the Orient Express and NOT much like an Agatha Christie story, you are free to enjoy a book that is both predictable and surprising at the same time. I loved the odd way Ginerva finds the basis for her books and thought that was a unique way to develop the characters for the reader. Along with lots of twists, both expected and unexpected, this kept the story moving along, making this a great escapist read! (And, yes, gotta say how much I love the cover!)
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
It was clunky, it was a mess, and it felt like a chore having to keep reading. Disappointing...
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.
This one just fell flat for me. I really enjoyed The Chateau and was looking forward to this one.
However, 25% in the characters are awful. The plot holds my attention little and this is just not for me.
This one just fell flat for me. I really enjoyed The Chateau and was looking forward to this one.
However, 25% in the characters are awful. The plot holds my attention little and this is just not for me.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
After thoroughly enjoying The Château, I was very excited to check this one out but I'm sorry to say it didn't land for me at all.
I don't want to be facetious or snarky in my review but I do have to say that I actively disliked 97% of the novel.
The characters felt mostly one dimensional with first person dialogue/POVs that ended up clunky and inauthentic. The plot itself... confusing, complex but also repetitive with very little happening until the final few chapters.
The main character mentions about 693 times how her three day train ride was the longest ride of her life and I'm sorry to say that's definitely how I felt reading this, just didn't jive with it at all.
In spite of the fact I didn't care for it, I am incredibly thankful to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest (sorry) review.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes