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A review by theciz
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
A mystery/thriller with a very intriguing premise, let down by a very rote and mediocre execution. Two crime-fighting priests, experts in forensics and psychology, hunt for a serial killer of children in a notoriously poor neighbourhood in Manila - not your run of the mill set up.
Unfortunately, the characters are one dimensional (the two main characters being priests barely factors in to their personalities somehow, they banter the exact same as tv cops), the plot is incredibly predictable (the killer is obvious from a mile off), plot points and secondary characters drop off all over the place and there are numerous clunky info dumps about social issues in the Philippines. I didn’t really feel like I learned much about society or the church there that I couldn’t have already made an educated guess about, and the points being made by the author really aren’t subtle.
The writing also isn’t great - overall it just seemed like the author was mimicking the style of every generic 90s American detective thriller, rather than anything original.
Unfortunately, the characters are one dimensional (the two main characters being priests barely factors in to their personalities somehow, they banter the exact same as tv cops), the plot is incredibly predictable (the killer is obvious from a mile off), plot points and secondary characters drop off all over the place and there are numerous clunky info dumps about social issues in the Philippines. I didn’t really feel like I learned much about society or the church there that I couldn’t have already made an educated guess about, and the points being made by the author really aren’t subtle.
The writing also isn’t great - overall it just seemed like the author was mimicking the style of every generic 90s American detective thriller, rather than anything original.