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clacksee's reviews
1166 reviews
What's the Matter with Mary Jane?: An Epitome Apartments Mystery by Candas Jane Dorsey
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I adored this weird little queer murder mystery set in Edmonton.
The Last Dog on Earth by Adrian J. Walker
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Holy crap! This starts off in south-east London. The streets are empty and at first it seems there’s been a pandemic. But it becomes apparent there’s something else going on.
There are fascists roaming the streets, testing people’s purity and killing anyone who doesn’t meet the grade. Very minor spoiler: it turns out the reason people fail the test isn’t quite what you might expect;it’s based on who they voted for in the final election .
This dark but (ultimately) uplifting may be a little on the nose for the times we’re living in.
Lineker lives butother dogs don’t .
There are fascists roaming the streets, testing people’s purity and killing anyone who doesn’t meet the grade. Very minor spoiler: it turns out the reason people fail the test isn’t quite what you might expect;
This dark but (ultimately) uplifting may be a little on the nose for the times we’re living in.
Lineker lives but
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Trafficking
Triple Strike: Threads of Fate by G.M. Gray
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A bit of light-hearted space opera with a dash of MM romance.
When Alan is taken hostage by alien space pirates, he expects to be released a few days later. That’s not what happens.
When Alan is taken hostage by alien space pirates, he expects to be released a few days later. That’s not what happens.
Network Effect (Dramatized Adaptation) by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is the first full-length Murderbot novel after a bunch of novellas and shorts. But it’s not just longer, it’s more complicated and with a gazillion characters.
I adore Murderbot, but I did find it tough to follow all the various threads and characters.
The full-cast narration was great, though Murderbot’s was too masculine.
I adore Murderbot, but I did find it tough to follow all the various threads and characters.
The full-cast narration was great, though Murderbot’s was too masculine.
Life Sentence by A.K. Turner
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I’m thoroughly enjoying this series with its twists and turns. Cassie and Phyllida are both intriguing characters. And the supporting cast are intriguing too. And just a little hint of the paranormal.
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one, but this is another outstanding anti-fascist, anti-unfettered-capitalist manifesto.
‘When the figure of the buffoon becomes central to public life, the problem is not only that they say foolish things, but also that everything they touch becomes foolish – including the powerful language we need to talk about them and what they’re doing.’
One of the key takeaways for me was around what the Right does really well. They Right lies people in, makes them feel welcomed and accepted, tells them it doesn’t matter what they used to believe, assures them that none of what their experiencing is their fault, and gives them a common enemy to fight against.
Meanwhile, the Left puts so much focus on ideological purity. If someone doesn’t do everything perfect, they must be evil. There’s no forgiveness for a past failing and there are no shades of grey. How often do you see Lefties tearing into one another?
We could learn from them. Not to tolerate intolerance – but to learn to meet people where they’re at. To work together to defeat injustice.
‘When the figure of the buffoon becomes central to public life, the problem is not only that they say foolish things, but also that everything they touch becomes foolish – including the powerful language we need to talk about them and what they’re doing.’
One of the key takeaways for me was around what the Right does really well. They Right lies people in, makes them feel welcomed and accepted, tells them it doesn’t matter what they used to believe, assures them that none of what their experiencing is their fault, and gives them a common enemy to fight against.
Meanwhile, the Left puts so much focus on ideological purity. If someone doesn’t do everything perfect, they must be evil. There’s no forgiveness for a past failing and there are no shades of grey. How often do you see Lefties tearing into one another?
We could learn from them. Not to tolerate intolerance – but to learn to meet people where they’re at. To work together to defeat injustice.
V.I. WarshawskiKilling Orders by Sara Paretsky
adventurous
mysterious
tense
4.0
Okay, I’m intrigued. VI is an intriguing character and apparently this series paved the way for more recent female-led detective novels.
But… This book was published in 1984 and it shows its age. I’m curious enough to read further in the series but I think I’ll skip ahead a few decades.
But… This book was published in 1984 and it shows its age. I’m curious enough to read further in the series but I think I’ll skip ahead a few decades.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Adorable queer cosy sci-fi murder mystery!
This is the book I was hoping for when I read The Mimicking of Known Successes.
This is the book I was hoping for when I read The Mimicking of Known Successes.
Her Name Is Knight by Yasmin Angoe
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is another author I discovered thanks to the Crime Writers for Trans Rights 2025 auction.
And I am hooked! Nina’s an assassin with a heart of gold. She’s been through hell. She couldn’t save her birth family but she’ll do anything to protect her chosen family. More please.
And I am hooked! Nina’s an assassin with a heart of gold. She’s been through hell. She couldn’t save her birth family but she’ll do anything to protect her chosen family. More please.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit
Liars: Falsehoods and Free Speech in an Age of Deception by Cass R. Sunstein
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I didn’t agree with everything in this book (especially the uncritical references to Robert Alito and Clarence Thomas). But I appreciated how it made me think about how truth and lies should be governed and by whom.