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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
It was so incredibly hard to read the first 60% of this book. I felt like every page was dragging. The introduction of multiple characters with personalities that only really became distinct halfway through the book meant that it was incredibly difficult to discern who was who and who was doing what throughout the book. Also I'm not a fan of historical fiction so that was my mistake for picking out this book. i felt like the entire stroyline didn't really begin until the 60% mark. I didn't understand why so much time was spent on the main character's addictive tendencies. As a black person there's something about reading about historical marginalization that really strikes me as a waste of my time, It's like reading a story over and over again of the last week of your life. The author is writing it to educate but you as an audience member not only live it everyday, you witness it everyday, and know the history of it's existence that affects you everyday. So I think if you are White then this book probably stands out to you more as eye-opening but that's my own stereotype and bias. For instance reading about the character's realizing their own oppression or their own indirect/direct support of an oppressive culture/system is not what I want to spend my time reading about. And the mystery aspect of the book didn't even end up being satisfying for me because it was occuring in a system and by people that are despicable. Finished the book, just not continung the series.
A thriller, a whodunit, a historical novel, with a damaged, often cynical, hero with a moral compass. Great dialogue, atmospheric writing. This is an enjoyable read at many levels.
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good introduction to the characters in this well paced series
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
reflective
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:
Yes
I really enjoyed the setting, both in time and place, of this story - Calcutta just after the First World War. And the characters were well drawn. Sometimes it felt as though the 'history' was tacked on rather clumsily - but it was interesting, nevertheless.
The plot was a bit slow moving and there weren't any really exciting or tense moments.
Overall, a good read and I am inclined to read others in the series.
The plot was a bit slow moving and there weren't any really exciting or tense moments.
Overall, a good read and I am inclined to read others in the series.
Bof.... Alors, je n'ai pas détesté, c'est un policier assez bien construit, avec une belle ambiance exotique, on plonge complètement dans l'Inde de début XXeme siècle. Par contre je n'ai pas trop aimé le côté politique de l'enquête et j'ai trouvé qu'il y a trop de longueurs, de descriptions pas très utiles.... mais la chose qui m'a vraiment dérangée c'est la façon dont sont décrites et traitées les femmes dans ce roman. Peut-être je n'ai plus la capacité de lire des livres écrits par des hommes cis hétéro ? Toutes les femmes sont très stéréotypées, surtout Mademoiselle Grant qui m'a fait penser à une femme fatale d'autrefois. Et la façon dont les hommes parlent d'elles et se comportent m'a mise mal à l'aise plusieurs fois. Voilà. Après bon, si vous cherchez juste un policier historique un peu viré politique, je suis sûre que vous allez aimer.
Quant à moi, je ne pense pas que je lirai la suite !
Quant à moi, je ne pense pas que je lirai la suite !
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes