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robinwalter's Reviews (1.87k)
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The last few Bruno stories have been a bit OTT, this one was better for being more low-key and therefore more credible. More geopolitics than single-handed superhero, especially in the climax
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Great fun and also surprisingly thoughtful at times. I especially liked the balance between the two leads, unusual for the genre.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A very dark and rather depressing tale, this police mystery is grimly realistic. The descriptions of Venice and Brunetti's family life were the bright spots in the bleakly believable tale of corporate and governmental malfeasance
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Mr Mead's second Spector mystery is a real delight. A twisty, complex series of interconnected "impossible murders" that are ultimately unravelled in a way that shows meticulous devotion to the Golden Age "Fair Play" ethos.
One of the things I most enjoyed about the book was the way it highlighted the difference between Mr Mead's books and those of his idol John Dickson Carr. It's all about character.
I don't read mysteries to try to crack them, and ESPECIALLY not mysteries as complex and convoluted as Mr Mead's or Carr's. I know that solving them is beyond me,so I don't even try. As an example, in this story there is a name that was instantly and obviously meant to be an anagram. I knew that but did not even try to unscramble it.
Rather than read to crack the puzzle, I read to be entertained and Spector does, while Fell does not. Carr's works leave me cold because I find Fell tedious at best, odious at worst. Spector on the other hand is genuinely entertaining. Not necessarily any more LIKEABLE than Fell, but a helluva lot more FUN. Nowhere is that better illustrated than in the "twist in the tail" - the VERY end of the story when Mr Mead threw me by finishing with a frankly terrifying and (to me) very Dahlesque swerve. Magnificent!
One of the things I most enjoyed about the book was the way it highlighted the difference between Mr Mead's books and those of his idol John Dickson Carr. It's all about character.
I don't read mysteries to try to crack them, and ESPECIALLY not mysteries as complex and convoluted as Mr Mead's or Carr's. I know that solving them is beyond me,so I don't even try. As an example, in this story there is a name that was instantly and obviously meant to be an anagram. I knew that but did not even try to unscramble it.
Rather than read to crack the puzzle, I read to be entertained and Spector does, while Fell does not. Carr's works leave me cold because I find Fell tedious at best, odious at worst. Spector on the other hand is genuinely entertaining. Not necessarily any more LIKEABLE than Fell, but a helluva lot more FUN. Nowhere is that better illustrated than in the "twist in the tail" - the VERY end of the story when Mr Mead threw me by finishing with a frankly terrifying and (to me) very Dahlesque swerve. Magnificent!
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A very satisfying end to the series. The lead pair are cute, the mystery elements are well constructed and all loose ends are neatly wrapped up. Well, all except one. The main antagonist inflicts actual bodily harm on both leads on multiple occasions, and in the end suffers ZERO consequences, I mean literally none at all, for their persistent criminal violence. That complete absence of any kind of consequence for the villain (who is indeed villainous) is why this gets 4. 25/5 from me
informative
reflective
medium-paced
An uncomfortable read, this book exposes the reality of today's "post-truth" world by presenting a very meticulously researched and detailed counterpoint to the version of the Frank Abagnale story. Highly recommended
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
A very satisfying end to the series. Happy endings all round and the mystery element was a particular pleasure. Since the outcome of the romance was never in doubt, the resolution of the whodunit was important, and Ms Kingswood handled it well.
relaxing
fast-paced
The author claims that kiwi are extinct. This is not yet true.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great fun read from Mr Scalzi. An entertaining and very fast read, perhaps the highest tribute I can pay the book is to say that I have grown to hate cats for the incalculable carnage they inflict on Aotearoa's endangered native fauna and yet despite that, I liked the cats in this story