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A review by blueskygreentreesyellowsun
The Flanders Panel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
2.0
I'm conflicted about this book. Most of it was SO GOOD but the ending was absolutely awful. How should one feel? Is the journey more important than the destination?
From there it got even worse. I despise when mystery writers resort to having the villain or detective walk us back through the book, explaining who how why at each twist and turn. It is just so corny! Lazy! Shame shame shame. And not only did this eye-roll of a scene exist, but the author DRAGGED IT OUT. Two full pages describing how the killer puts out one cigarette and lights another one during his confession - give me a fucking break. Just end it already, put us out of our misery.
The biggest sin, however, is that the plot just doesn't make sense. Cesar has some disillusioning episode involving chess, and then seeing this painting triggers him to go on a killing spree? What about the mystery in the painting, about the duke and duchess and knight - all we get are Julia's weird drunken fantasies? Hugely disappointing.
Spoiler
For me, the story was spoiled when Julia decides to go to the room that the killer tells her to go to, instead of getting the hell out of there. A killer has been stalking her, it seems that he is in the building with her, and she doesn't get the hell out of there?! Bull. Shit. That is not feasible, I don't care how strongly she identifies with Wendy or Peter Pan or whoever. This hack writing device came out of nowhere; it made me lose respect for the writer, and also for the story.From there it got even worse. I despise when mystery writers resort to having the villain or detective walk us back through the book, explaining who how why at each twist and turn. It is just so corny! Lazy! Shame shame shame. And not only did this eye-roll of a scene exist, but the author DRAGGED IT OUT. Two full pages describing how the killer puts out one cigarette and lights another one during his confession - give me a fucking break. Just end it already, put us out of our misery.
The biggest sin, however, is that the plot just doesn't make sense. Cesar has some disillusioning episode involving chess, and then seeing this painting triggers him to go on a killing spree? What about the mystery in the painting, about the duke and duchess and knight - all we get are Julia's weird drunken fantasies? Hugely disappointing.