A review by swanne_h_
My Policeman by Bethan Roberts

reflective 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

2.5


I really wanted to give this book a chance. 
Normally, I don't enjoy books that talk about mundane aspects of life. Maybe that's why the first 280 pages weren't my favorite.
The characters are also anything but lovable. Maybe that's the point, but it's just not what I'm looking for in a book.
Marion seemed really arrogant to me.
At first I thought the character of Patrick would be better because of the way Marion describes him. But when it gets to Patrick's chapters, I struggled to see him as a genuinely nice person. He only behaved nice towards Marion to be able to keep meeting Tom. Even his relationship with Tom seemed more of a quest than out of genuine interest.
The only character who I was hopeful of liking (maybe because she was the only one besides Tom and Patrick that didn't radiate homophobia and/or misogyny) was Julia, but as soon as we learn that she is not as much of an asshole as Marion, she vanishes from the story.
The last 60 pages were really hard to get through. What ultimately made me not like the story was the concept of Marion feeling entitled to describe her side of the story after destroying all of their lives. I'm not saying she didn't have a valid reason to be hurt by Tom marrying her and lying to her, but ruining Patrick's life, not thinking in the slightest about how Tom feels in that moment and then expecting both of them to listen to her side of the story made me lose any remaining shred of sympathy I had for her.
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