A review by bookivore
Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds by John Everson

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A prestigious music school housed in an older building makes for a wonderful setting for this book. And the string of mysterious murders certainly has a classic movie feel.
I didn't connect with this book as well as I have with others I've read by the author, though. Maybe it was from the pacing. The murders are shown in full vibrant violence, but the interspersing passages are perhaps a little too life-as-normal. For me, the contrast was so stark I had difficulty handling the violent parts (especially one murder in particular). Or maybe it's because a lot of the horror I read has some paranormal aspect and can therefore be more easily shelved in my mind as fiction that couldn't actually happen.
It's a good read, overall. I was never quite sure who was responsible until the reveal. If you don't mind some graphic violence in your horror/mystery reads, it's worth picking up.
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