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A review by captainolyareads
The Agathas by Liz Lawson, Kathleen Glasgow
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
[Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an e-ARC of The Agathas, available everywhere now].
Last summer, Alice Ogilve's boyfriend, Steve, dumped her. Shortly after, she pulled an Agatha for five days and disappeared. No one knows what happened or where she went. With school back in session, it's all anyone can whisper about. Until, that is, another one of Steve's girlfriends vanishes after a fight. Everyone is convinced Brooke is pulling an Alice/Agatha but Alice isn't so sure. Calling in for reinforcements, she's able to enlist the help of Brooke's grandmother to put pressure on the local police force. Convinced Steve is their prime suspect, they're not much help. Using the substantial reward money Brooke's grandmother is offering, Alice talks Iris, her tutor, into helping her find out where Brooke went. The purpose of their mission soon changes, however, when Brooke's body is discovered at the bottom of the cliff. Now their focus is more on the who is responsible and why. They'll soon learn that Castle Cove has its own secrets and not everyone in the town wants them digging around.
The novel had an intriguing premise but ultimately, failed to deliver. Lengthy, drawn-out, and bogged down by too many extraneous details, I soon found myself skimming the pages. The characters felt similar as well. The way that they treated law enforcement, the entitlement that they felt to access certain information and "pitch in" with the case. Not even references to Agatha Christie and her novels helped keep my interest.
Last summer, Alice Ogilve's boyfriend, Steve, dumped her. Shortly after, she pulled an Agatha for five days and disappeared. No one knows what happened or where she went. With school back in session, it's all anyone can whisper about. Until, that is, another one of Steve's girlfriends vanishes after a fight. Everyone is convinced Brooke is pulling an Alice/Agatha but Alice isn't so sure. Calling in for reinforcements, she's able to enlist the help of Brooke's grandmother to put pressure on the local police force. Convinced Steve is their prime suspect, they're not much help. Using the substantial reward money Brooke's grandmother is offering, Alice talks Iris, her tutor, into helping her find out where Brooke went. The purpose of their mission soon changes, however, when Brooke's body is discovered at the bottom of the cliff. Now their focus is more on the who is responsible and why. They'll soon learn that Castle Cove has its own secrets and not everyone in the town wants them digging around.
The novel had an intriguing premise but ultimately, failed to deliver. Lengthy, drawn-out, and bogged down by too many extraneous details, I soon found myself skimming the pages. The characters felt similar as well. The way that they treated law enforcement, the entitlement that they felt to access certain information and "pitch in" with the case. Not even references to Agatha Christie and her novels helped keep my interest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse