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laurenfai 's review for:
The Deep End
by Julie Mulhern
Do not read if rich, emotionally constipated people's problems, such as wives making more money than their husband, country club reputation and finding the right housekeeper, make you roll your eyes. Also do not read if writing clichés such as quirking eyebrows, deep breaths and sighs and people hearing sobs then realizing it's their own has the same effect on you. Also also do not read if you don't understand people's obsession with coffee (and why they would include six or seven whole scenes of drinking it in a single book).
Do read if you love hearing about golf, gossip, expensive cars and fancy alcoholic drinks. (I do.) Also do read if you find it refreshing when the heroine is not the liberated, risk-taker one among the oh-so-boring others but a normal person who won't trade her values for some bedroom or country club cred. Also also do read if you have a controlling mother and/or a dick of a husband and wished you did something about it.
Overall the book was a pleasant read, with some nice passages and characters. I do have to say that at some point I became really scared it would turn into Fifty Shades of Grey's murder-riddled cousin. Don't cross it out yet, it doesn't. The main character is relatable enough, and you can't help but cheer her on in some parts. In others, you want to slap the idiocy out of her. Every decision she makes is justified, though.
Now, three side grievances I have about this book and the reasons why it's not 3 stars:
1. Why is it set in the 70's?
There are a few mentions in passing of Nixon, the Watergate and singers and actors of the time but, other than that and a single use of the yellow pages, everything else could have taken place in modern day. Ah, except not being able to call the police because the land phone line is jammed. Is that the real reason why we went back in time? To fill a plot hole?
2. The investigation is near nonexistent.
There is no way the main character would be left alone and roaming free with everything that ties her to the things happening, even back then. The police is barely there to take note of what happens and question a person or two, that's it, which is ridiculous. And the detective on the case comes off as passive and unprofessional. Granted, police investigation is not the focus here, but a bit of research in that domain would have helped with credibility.
3. The editing.
A character is supposed to impress with his perfect knowledge of French but there are two mistakes in his sentence. Hell, there are mistakes throughout the whole book:
"un crêpe de jambon et fromage" instead of "une crêpe au jambon et au fromage" (p.28)
"créperie" instead of "crêperie" (p.28, 34, 91, 220)
"Hermés/Hermes" instead of "Hermès" (p.63, 69, 78)
With internet at your fingertips, this is inexcusable. Call me anal if you will, but it broke the whole bunch-of-rich-people-who-know-their-rich-people-stuff spell for me.
Bonus round: "She shook her glass, swirling the contents of her glass." (p.115)
Do read if you love hearing about golf, gossip, expensive cars and fancy alcoholic drinks. (I do.) Also do read if you find it refreshing when the heroine is not the liberated, risk-taker one among the oh-so-boring others but a normal person who won't trade her values for some bedroom or country club cred. Also also do read if you have a controlling mother and/or a dick of a husband and wished you did something about it.
Overall the book was a pleasant read, with some nice passages and characters. I do have to say that at some point I became really scared it would turn into Fifty Shades of Grey's murder-riddled cousin. Don't cross it out yet, it doesn't. The main character is relatable enough, and you can't help but cheer her on in some parts. In others, you want to slap the idiocy out of her. Every decision she makes is justified, though.
Now, three side grievances I have about this book and the reasons why it's not 3 stars:
1. Why is it set in the 70's?
There are a few mentions in passing of Nixon, the Watergate and singers and actors of the time but, other than that and a single use of the yellow pages, everything else could have taken place in modern day. Ah, except not being able to call the police because the land phone line is jammed. Is that the real reason why we went back in time? To fill a plot hole?
2. The investigation is near nonexistent.
There is no way the main character would be left alone and roaming free with everything that ties her to the things happening, even back then. The police is barely there to take note of what happens and question a person or two, that's it, which is ridiculous. And the detective on the case comes off as passive and unprofessional. Granted, police investigation is not the focus here, but a bit of research in that domain would have helped with credibility.
3. The editing.
A character is supposed to impress with his perfect knowledge of French but there are two mistakes in his sentence. Hell, there are mistakes throughout the whole book:
"un crêpe de jambon et fromage" instead of "une crêpe au jambon et au fromage" (p.28)
"créperie" instead of "crêperie" (p.28, 34, 91, 220)
"Hermés/Hermes" instead of "Hermès" (p.63, 69, 78)
With internet at your fingertips, this is inexcusable. Call me anal if you will, but it broke the whole bunch-of-rich-people-who-know-their-rich-people-stuff spell for me.
Bonus round: "She shook her glass, swirling the contents of her glass." (p.115)