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emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I just loved this. It was absolutely bonkers and all over the place, so I didn’t predict the ending and the reveal seemed to come out of nowhere, but it didn’t matter. I was nervous going into this because of my love of the Thursday murder club and I wasn’t sure how this would live up to it. However, there was no need to worry as it gave me the same vibes as the first book in that series but with more travel and more money. This was brilliant and would highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
These topics come up a lot as it is a murder mystery but I would not say it is explicit or in any way gorey or detailed in any of it.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Murder
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thought I'd give Richard Osman's books another try after not loving the Thursday Murder Club. Honestly, I had the exact same reading experience with this one, so he's very consistent. Again, I would heartily recommend this to many people. I appreciated Richard's trademark humour and light touch. I had fun! However, I just think his books aren't for me: I feel no sense of investment into his characters and really prefer more tension in my crime. This one also had too many names and locations to keep track of. I got a bit of whiplash. I'm sure I'll end up reading another of his books in the future (maybe next time he starts a new series...) but certainly not for a while. He's a remarkably appealing, likeable man, and that translates in his writing too, but he definitely has a schtick. And his schtick isn't going to change any time soon!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Murder
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a tough one to review. I was expecting Thursday Murder Club, and this obviously isn't that. The pace was almost frenetic; 100 short chapters, a LOT of characters throwing the story back and forth, setting constantly changing. Frankly, it was a bit hard to keep up. And because of the pace it lacked depth, it didn't have the character development I was anticipating. It had some, and it was good, but it wasn't deep. It almost felt like something written for TV or movie rather than a book. It does tie things up quickly and without a lot of tedious details which I liked. And then the very end got me and I thought, man, I might have to read the next one. Mind you, that was after saying to myself not 30 pages prior, I guess I'll just give this a miss and wait for more Thursday Murder. Once you reach the end the entire book turns into a very long prequel. I think the best and most developed character is Rosie. Mixed feelings..... But give it a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Delightful thriller / mystery. Reminded me of some of Donald Westlake’s best (that’s high praise from me.) I’m a fan of Osman’s other books, especially his inclusion of older characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief
Moderate: Gun violence
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
No
I love Richard Osman's writing so much, he's so effortlessly funny and relatable. And I love these new characters!! I can't wait for more stories with them. My only disappointment was not enough Adam (and no ment on of him in the epilogue) because he seemed really sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Death, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail