A review by mira_fitz
The Sound of Murder by Rex Stout

funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

 This book is a very messy peek into the life of upper-class New Yorkers and their melodrama.It's literally a fast-paced narrative, within the timeline of the story, but because of how dense and dated the writing style is it feels very slow. There is a lot of filler and a lot of fluff to fill out the book that has no real bearing other than to contribute to the general ambiance, which I don't mind so much but I do understand why the majority of people would. The ending is satisfying enough and not completely predictable, but I'm sure it was very clever for its time. The final few chapters of the book are the best part, mostly it's because you've given the clear intentions of everyone rather than having to guess based on vague physical descriptions and implications in their old-timey statements. A dense read from another era that loops around to being charming and new in the end, ironically. 2.5/5 
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