You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This book had some top notch dark humor. A lot of times with books like this feel like the humor is forced, but it’s really worked for me here. Can definitely see it playing out in like a Mel Brooks style movie. I didn’t pick up on the time frame at first, but it's really fun to picture this one in a postwar era, when tensions are higher and jobs are much more necessary.
The story follows 3 different students, but Cliff was by far my favorite. Cliff does not seem up to murdering at all. He’s too much of a nice guy, yet the book is written in such a way that you spend the entire time rooting for him to be able to murder someone. For some reason, the other two protagonists just couldn’t hold my attention once we moved outside of the school’s atmosphere. I don’t think Doria is supposed to be a likeable character, and maybe Gemma was too likeable. I guess Cliff was just the goldilocks of main characters for me lol.
The wrap up is really well done. There are some great twists and Excited that this is going to be a series
The story follows 3 different students, but Cliff was by far my favorite. Cliff does not seem up to murdering at all. He’s too much of a nice guy, yet the book is written in such a way that you spend the entire time rooting for him to be able to murder someone. For some reason, the other two protagonists just couldn’t hold my attention once we moved outside of the school’s atmosphere. I don’t think Doria is supposed to be a likeable character, and maybe Gemma was too likeable. I guess Cliff was just the goldilocks of main characters for me lol.
The wrap up is really well done. There are some great twists and
Spoiler
the murders are handled in very interesting ways—a little nod to The Princess Bride in one, I believe
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I loved listening to Neal Patrick Harris.
100/10 would recommend. Its funny in some parts, and suspenseful for the second half of the book. It's all laid out smartly and I can't wait for the sequel. Its not your run of the mill crime solving novel...its a how to commit crimes novel :)
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book started off really interesting and I was drawn in by the premise, but as I started reading, it just dragged on. I really wanted to like the the characters, but in all truth, they were trying to murder someone so it’s a little challenging. It’s a way too long for the characters to commit the crime after training at the school that I also lost interest.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
Spoilers-?
This was so high concept it was hard to get through- textbook of a secret murder school including 3 case studies one of which is told in journal entries, with asides from the book’s author-? Maybe at a less fraught time I would have had the bandwidth for this but it just felt to me like trying to braid spaghetti. A surprisingly large proportion of the book seemed to be just a vehicle for death/murder puns, and setting it in such an archaic time period (which was stated to be in the 60s but felt much more like the 40s with all the stilted speech and lack of any technology) provided too handy an ongoing excuse for the strategies to work. Basically: it was smashingly easy to get away with everything before ubiquitous cameras, dna testing, instant photo sharing between police departments, etc. which made the culminating achievements of the mcs feel a lot less spectacular.
All in all this book makes you trek a long way for its payoff, and the journey was too disjointed and belabored to feel worth it. Cute idea tho.
This was so high concept it was hard to get through- textbook of a secret murder school including 3 case studies one of which is told in journal entries, with asides from the book’s author-? Maybe at a less fraught time I would have had the bandwidth for this but it just felt to me like trying to braid spaghetti. A surprisingly large proportion of the book seemed to be just a vehicle for death/murder puns, and setting it in such an archaic time period (which was stated to be in the 60s but felt much more like the 40s with all the stilted speech and lack of any technology) provided too handy an ongoing excuse for the strategies to work. Basically: it was smashingly easy to get away with everything before ubiquitous cameras, dna testing, instant photo sharing between police departments, etc. which made the culminating achievements of the mcs feel a lot less spectacular.
All in all this book makes you trek a long way for its payoff, and the journey was too disjointed and belabored to feel worth it. Cute idea tho.
funny
lighthearted
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
I loveddddd this book. I did (funnily enough) read this on the way to and from work which was slightly awkward given I was very obviously in a suit on a weekday, but such a fun read! I liked the format a lot. There were moments where I was laughing, moments where you can’t put the book down because you need to know what happens next, and moments where you empathize with the main characters so much.
I thought all three characters were well developed and the overall plot was really cohesive and solid. I can’t wait for the next book in the series whenever it comes!
I thought all three characters were well developed and the overall plot was really cohesive and solid. I can’t wait for the next book in the series whenever it comes!
Loved it… so funny and diabolical “gallows humor”. It is a bit wordy, punny and over-clever which is why I know a number of my book friends would hate. Totally up my alley though. Had to reread a few sections just to catch all the “Sting” like elements. A very fun diversion from typical so serious books.