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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
Firstly I would like to say that I enjoyed this book and want to give it a solid 3.5 Stars! This story is fast paced and very twisted, I didn't anticipate the extremely dark twist of the plot, at times it was even gruesome.
Sometimes I found it a little rushed and the family ties were quite complex and far fetched, but that is often a key element of sensation novels so it didn't bother me too much! I found Rebekah and Hester engaging and enjoyable to read about, their relationship made the story for me.
This is a book for those who enjoy Victorian crime and books such as The House At Riverton by Kate Morton and The Unseen by Katherine Webb.
Sometimes I found it a little rushed and the family ties were quite complex and far fetched, but that is often a key element of sensation novels so it didn't bother me too much! I found Rebekah and Hester engaging and enjoyable to read about, their relationship made the story for me.
This is a book for those who enjoy Victorian crime and books such as The House At Riverton by Kate Morton and The Unseen by Katherine Webb.
Set in the 1800s The Wicked Cometh follows Hester White, a girl that bad look seems to follow. She finds herself taken in by a kind wealthy doctor after being struck by his carriage.
As far as historical mysteries go this was incredibly fast paced. The story line was complex but yet easy to follow and it featured a wide ranging cast of characters. At point I did find the plot somewhat unbelievable and incredibly convenient, which goes against the serious atmospheric Dickensian, and there were so many background characters that appeared in the main plot it was difficult to keep track of them all.
However, the writing was wonderful and I really enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as the blossoming romance. This is a great book as long as you don't take it to seriously.
As far as historical mysteries go this was incredibly fast paced. The story line was complex but yet easy to follow and it featured a wide ranging cast of characters. At point I did find the plot somewhat unbelievable and incredibly convenient, which goes against the serious atmospheric Dickensian, and there were so many background characters that appeared in the main plot it was difficult to keep track of them all.
However, the writing was wonderful and I really enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as the blossoming romance. This is a great book as long as you don't take it to seriously.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It’s easy to see the influences in this novel, Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Sarah Waters loom large but everything is rather flimsy. The characterisation is flat and despite all the grubby trappings of Victorian London the historical period feels like a wobbly, two-dimensional stage-set. The convoluted and coincidence-dependent plot is straight out of the Victorian melodramas but Carlin’s writing sadly lacks the strength and bravura to pull it off.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
if you asked me around the middle of the book i would’ve said it would probably earn 4 stars from me but oh dear lord the millions of subplots that get revealed in the second half of the book just made me dizzy with how unnecessary most of it was, the bar for lesbian romances is on the fucking ground
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Murder
Excellent historical book with twists and turns, this kept me reading late into the night and love the dark side to this novel. Hope to read a lot more from this author!
So I feel very very mixed about this book. I read it in a matter of hours, & I couldn't put it down. For the majority, I thought I was going to give it 5 stars -- it's a wonderfully immersive historical novel, & also there are lesbians, what's not to love?
But then I got towards the climax of the book, and all the revelations got very confusing? to the point that I'm not even sure I fully got all the ins & outs of it.
And then there's the part that made me nearly throw the book down and stop reading. The reader is made to believe that It is sudden, it is descriptive, it was shattering. It was honestly so affecting that I nearly tossed the book down in anger, without reading the last 10 pages or so. It's revealed a few pages from the end that what was implied is not true, but honestly the hurt of believing that soured my whole experience with the book.
If it hadn't had those two problems of clarity and betrayal, I would've given it at least 4 stars. But alas, it did not. Still a good book, & I'm glad I read it, but I'm not certain that I'd recommend it.
But then I got towards the climax of the book, and all the revelations got very confusing? to the point that I'm not even sure I fully got all the ins & outs of it.
And then there's the part that made me nearly throw the book down and stop reading. The reader is made to believe that
Spoiler
a lesbian has been murdered.If it hadn't had those two problems of clarity and betrayal, I would've given it at least 4 stars. But alas, it did not. Still a good book, & I'm glad I read it, but I'm not certain that I'd recommend it.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I listened to the audiobook on Audible and really enjoyed it! The level of detail sucked me in. Highly reccomend!