delaneyyyw's reviews
694 reviews

Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

dark 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

4.25

La Novia de Matisse by Manuel Vincent, Manuel Vicent

3.0

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

A Lady's Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

The Duke Who Knew Too Much by Grace Callaway
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

Wasn't feeling the FMC's naivety and MMC's domineering douchiness. I thought I'd give it a chance but the way the characters were introduced just underlined my distaste.

The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

I was reading the Gamache series in order, but this book stopped me in my tracks. The Peter and Clara storylines in the previous books had bored me to tears, so I didn't want to read yet another book focusing on their relationship. Took me two years, but I finally picked it up so I could continue with the rest of the series.

It started slow, but once the crew of Gamache, Beauvoir, Clara, and Myrna started on their trek up north, I was glued to the pages. I loved seeing different characters flex their investigative muscle (Reine-Marie and Ruth visiting the professor was a highlight), and Gamache ceding control to Clara was a great change of pace. Penny does character so well. And I'm including Quebec as a character...she knows how to bring a place to life like no other. A lot of people love her works for the Three Pines of it all, but I think she shines most when she takes her characters out of their comfort zone and gets to enmesh them in a completely new setting.

I was struck by the theme of artists and their muses (and nurturing talent vs letting it wither) on a personal level--particularly Ruth's assertion that the "lump in the throat" which drives the true artist comes from the meeting of the head, where fear dwells, and the heart, home of courage. Her assessment of Peter's artistic struggles truly fascinated me. And I don't think I would have connected with this book quite so much had that throughline not resonated.