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Spoilers, sweeties.
Having read an interview with Allende, in which she disparaged the crime genre after admitting she'd only read a few recent popular novels, I was prepared to dislike this novel. And there is a lot to dislike. In spite of all that it wrested three stars out of me, because I did continue to read it, and not just from intellectual curiosity.
It was interesting that she specifically singled out unlikeable characters with no possibility of redemption as a problem with the genre. Ripper was full of characters, so many that at times it got confusing as I couldn't always tell them apart. Irritatingly, the ones I could tell apart turned out to be the same person.
Amanda, the sixteen year old girl co-ordinating the Ripper game, was totally without emotional responses except on a couple of occasions. The other players were complete ciphers. The plot required her police chief father and her grandfather to allow her access to detailed police investigations of several murders, which was totally implausible.
Setting aside the lack of characterisation and the implausibility, however, it was an enjoyable read - a good romp, almost to the end, which was a real disappointment.
Maybe I am being too generous giving it three stars.
Having read an interview with Allende, in which she disparaged the crime genre after admitting she'd only read a few recent popular novels, I was prepared to dislike this novel. And there is a lot to dislike. In spite of all that it wrested three stars out of me, because I did continue to read it, and not just from intellectual curiosity.
It was interesting that she specifically singled out unlikeable characters with no possibility of redemption as a problem with the genre. Ripper was full of characters, so many that at times it got confusing as I couldn't always tell them apart. Irritatingly, the ones I could tell apart turned out to be the same person.
Amanda, the sixteen year old girl co-ordinating the Ripper game, was totally without emotional responses except on a couple of occasions. The other players were complete ciphers. The plot required her police chief father and her grandfather to allow her access to detailed police investigations of several murders, which was totally implausible.
Setting aside the lack of characterisation and the implausibility, however, it was an enjoyable read - a good romp, almost to the end, which was a real disappointment.
Maybe I am being too generous giving it three stars.