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A review by mallorypen
Death In The Spires by KJ Charles
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Uggggghhhhhh I just love KJ Charles. I love her.
The strength of this novel is twofold - the absolutely stunning character study of seven different people in a relatively mid-length novel, and the way you both believe than any one of the suspects could have killed Toby and you know in your heart of hearts who really did it all along.
It's not small feat to have seven voices in one novel and to have them all come across as unique without relying heavily on tropes or caricatures, and while there is a small element of that (Hugo as the holier-than-thou, upper crust House of Lords figure) none of the characterizations felt flat. Even where there wasn't as much page time to really get to know someone, like with Ella and Pru, it was in the context of Jem not knowing them as well as the others in the Seven Wonders. The whole friggin' mystery (including the build up of the friendship group, its breakdown with Toby in the middle, and the intervening ten years wherein no one was able to get away from the ripple effects of the murder) unfolded in such a believable way. Jem's desperation to finally close out the chapter of his life that ought to have been his triumph made perfect sense from the outset, but as we learned more - that he'd been in love with Nicky, that Nicky had been pining over Toby, and even that Nicky had fallen somewhat sideways into love with Toby only to be unspeakably cruel to him (no matter how noble his reasons had been) - his motivations made even more sense.
I also love KJC's ability to really deliver on a third act twist and this novel was no exception - we learned as Jem did about all the sordid details of the friend group, and it really did feel like everyone had a very good motive to want to kill Toby. But, even after it was revealed that Nicky had committed the murder half in self defense, and half in agonized betrayal, the twist of Hugo's crimes feeling almost more reprehensible than actual murder ... and JEM COMING IN WITH THE THREAT OF PINNING EVERYTHING ON HIM ... I could have cheered. UGH it was so well written!!
Also, has a setting ever felt more setting-y than the incredibly immersive descriptions of Oxford? I have the benefit of having been in the city and have poked around the university, but I felt like I could taste the fog and feel the stone beneath my fingertips with the gorgeous level of description. I loved the little details - like how Jem would slap his hand on the glass of a ground-floor window to get his friends' attention.
Also also - Jem. I adore how KJC writes about people with disabilities - it isn't ignored, but his disability isn't treated preciously or like it makes him somehow less in any way. It's just so beautifully human in how he's portrayed.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is because though it was magnificently plotted, there were a few spots that felt a little slow. And, even though it made sense in the context of Jem not knowing Pru and Ella as well, I would have liked a little more on Pru's part to round out her character. But overall, this is how you write a fucking murder mystery, people. This is it.
The strength of this novel is twofold - the absolutely stunning character study of seven different people in a relatively mid-length novel, and the way you both believe than any one of the suspects could have killed Toby and you know in your heart of hearts who really did it all along.
It's not small feat to have seven voices in one novel and to have them all come across as unique without relying heavily on tropes or caricatures, and while there is a small element of that (Hugo as the holier-than-thou, upper crust House of Lords figure) none of the characterizations felt flat. Even where there wasn't as much page time to really get to know someone, like with Ella and Pru, it was in the context of Jem not knowing them as well as the others in the Seven Wonders. The whole friggin' mystery (including the build up of the friendship group, its breakdown with Toby in the middle, and the intervening ten years wherein no one was able to get away from the ripple effects of the murder) unfolded in such a believable way. Jem's desperation to finally close out the chapter of his life that ought to have been his triumph made perfect sense from the outset, but as we learned more -
I also love KJC's ability to really deliver on a third act twist and this novel was no exception - we learned as Jem did about all the sordid details of the friend group, and it really did feel like everyone had a very good motive to want to kill Toby. But, even after
Also, has a setting ever felt more setting-y than the incredibly immersive descriptions of Oxford? I have the benefit of having been in the city and have poked around the university, but I felt like I could taste the fog and feel the stone beneath my fingertips with the gorgeous level of description. I loved the little details - like how Jem would slap his hand on the glass of a ground-floor window to get his friends' attention.
Also also - Jem. I adore how KJC writes about people with disabilities - it isn't ignored, but his disability isn't treated preciously or like it makes him somehow less in any way. It's just so beautifully human in how he's portrayed.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is because though it was magnificently plotted, there were a few spots that felt a little slow. And, even though it made sense in the context of Jem not knowing Pru and Ella as well, I would have liked a little more on Pru's part to round out her character. But overall, this is how you write a fucking murder mystery, people. This is it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, and Racism
Minor: Rape and Abortion