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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have mixed feelings about this one
I enjoyed the mystery overall, but I did not care one bit for the Crete/Andreas sub plot. Susan was so cool in the first book but I hated that she just threw her career and her passion away to follow someone elses dream at the end of the first one. She was so unhappy there, but then for some reason she ends up going back again? I don't know about that.
On another note, I really loved James Taylor's character in the first book, but he felt like a completely different guy in this one. Maybe that was due the change in narrators in the audiobook though
Honestly I'd be content just reading an Atticus Punth novel instead
I enjoyed the mystery overall, but I did not care one bit for the Crete/Andreas sub plot. Susan was so cool in the first book but I hated that she just threw her career and her passion away to follow someone elses dream at the end of the first one. She was so unhappy there, but then for some reason she ends up going back again? I don't know about that.
On another note, I really loved James Taylor's character in the first book, but he felt like a completely different guy in this one. Maybe that was due the change in narrators in the audiobook though
Honestly I'd be content just reading an Atticus Punth novel instead
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
tense
medium-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
If you love analysing crime novels, trying to spot the murderer, this novel is for you. Me? I'm more interested in the characters and the setting and, although I keep a sharp eye out, I'm mostly content to let Poirot or Brunetti or Holmes do the sleuthing for me. For that reason, this didn't engage me--there was too much discussion of the nuts-and-bolts of crime novel writing.
The other thing I didn't like was the novel-within-a-novel concept. I was annoyed when the main story stopped abruptly so we could "read" the Atticus Pund book along with the heroine. A few chapters in, I realised I had no idea how the characters mapped onto the characters in "real life" and that I'd need pen and paper to work it out. Too much effort. Besides, I'd already spotted the murderer, so I skipped to the end and got back to the main storyline.
What was really annoying was that in the end,
I love all of Horowitz's film and TV work, and his Holmes and Bond books are clever too. These Christie tributes are not my thing, though.
The other thing I didn't like was the novel-within-a-novel concept. I was annoyed when the main story stopped abruptly so we could "read" the Atticus Pund book along with the heroine. A few chapters in, I realised I had no idea how the characters mapped onto the characters in "real life" and that I'd need pen and paper to work it out. Too much effort. Besides, I'd already spotted the murderer, so I skipped to the end and got back to the main storyline.
What was really annoying was that in the end,
Spoiler
reading the other story provided NO clues as to the murderer in real life. The clue was not in the story at all. So I was very glad I hadn't wasted my time reading it.I love all of Horowitz's film and TV work, and his Holmes and Bond books are clever too. These Christie tributes are not my thing, though.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The sequel to Magpie Murders. Really excellent mystery within a mystery. Enjoyed this book as much as the first in the series. Rich characters and excellent writing.