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A review by alibrarymouse
The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I like Ann Cleeves’ mysteries a lot, but Vera hits a little differently to her other detectives in a way that almost didn’t land? I liked the aspect of cozy mystery to this one with Rachel and her mother, but felt the investigation (while realistic) should have taken off a bit more than it had.
Instead, Vera felt a bit dismissive until things really started coming together. Ultimately, it’s accurate to how many investigations would have gone, but the characters weren’t likable enough that this was a bit easier to put down than others. However, it was very engaging and I’d find myself reading large chunks at a time when I did pick it up. So it was a well-balanced book with an interesting mystery and some likable characters, but it just didn’t exactly come together and the ending was a bit anticlimactic because she didn’t want to spoil the mystery too soon.
Instead, Vera felt a bit dismissive until things really started coming together. Ultimately, it’s accurate to how many investigations would have gone, but the characters weren’t likable enough that this was a bit easier to put down than others. However, it was very engaging and I’d find myself reading large chunks at a time when I did pick it up. So it was a well-balanced book with an interesting mystery and some likable characters, but it just didn’t exactly come together and the ending was a bit anticlimactic because she didn’t want to spoil the mystery too soon.