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rachelsread's reviews
247 reviews
Murder at the Allotment by Julie Wassmer
mysterious
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? Yes
2.0
I didn't entirely enjoy this book as I found it difficult to really care about the characters and I thought the ending was rather "blah" instead of being the dramatic grand reveal it was supposed to be. It was easy to learn who everyone was despite this being part of a series that I hadn't otherwise read, which was a pleasant surprise. The victim was predictable, as was the suspects list, and I struggled to care about who killed who given that all of the characters were one-dimensional and none really stood out.
Citizen Orlov by Jonathan Payne
funny
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this book although I can't quite put my finger on why. It was a sarcastic, cynical take on the stereotypical Big Brother Motherland and read like a post-war comedy of errors. I loved the main character; especially his development from the clueless man at the start not making anything of his life, to what he becomes in the end. The plot was just the right level of ridiculous yet still terrifyingly possible, and I enjoyed the various awkward situations that Orlov got himself to. I will definitely be reading it again!
The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was definitely an interesting book and had a unique premise which is what drew me to it in the first place. It gave me a great insight into the lives of Sicilian women during the early 1900s and I found the blend between the past and modern day well-done. My only criticism was the book's predictability as I foresaw the ending from a mile away, and didn't experience any shocking moments or "grand reveals" that mystery books typically excel at.
What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
I honestly only picked up this book because it was set in Ireland and that's not representation that I usually get, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Part of that is definitely because it was set in Ireland, so naturally I had no problem understanding the Dublin accent or any slang. The characters were interesting and mostly well-developed, although one or two were somewhat flat and felt more like fillers than anything else. The LGBT+ representation was definitely appreciated as well! The plot was also interesting, but I felt like it left many questions unanswered and I found the ending unsatisfying since the group's "solution" could easily have been done on purpose many years ago, which would have saved a lot of trouble (and lives!)
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
4.0
I really enjoyed this novel and it was definitely a unique story. I found it difficult to get into it initially but I'm glad I continued because there were many twists and turns in the plot that I only half-saw coming. The characters are all well-developed and interesting, and the different narrators truly did a tremendous job in portraying their personalities - especially the narrator for Eddie, who perfectly captured the character's fear and panic at multiple stages throughout the story. I loved the majority of the characters, even those who I hated just as much which is always a sign of wonderful writing! The only aspect I didn't like was the predictability of who some characters actually were and how they were related to each other, as well as the ending. Although it was mostly satisfying and I'm glad that the novel ended the way it did, I feel terrible for Eddie and how he now has to live his life, but overall, this is definitely a book I would recommend!
Jericho's Dead by William Hussey
dark
mysterious
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
I don't know how, but William Hussey has done it again. After reading Killing Jericho I was as disappointed as much as I loved it because I - incorrectly - thought that I would never read anything so brilliant again and that the sequel could never live up to the original. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong before. I loved every single second of this audiobook and Damian Lynch did a fantastic job narrating it! The characters were just as wonderful and realistic as in the first book and I adored seeing Jericho and Harry's relationship, especially since it wasn't perfect, just like it should be given everything that happened previously. I especially loved seeing the travellers' reaction to Harry and I laughed out loud more than once at how they constantly "chose" Harry over Jericho, considering just how worried Jericho had been, thinking that his father would never accept Harry. DCI Tallis being aro/ace was just a cherry on top of an already delicious cake, and I have no idea why I'm so surprised by it considering that this entire series has given me the most realistic representation of queer characters that I've ever read! The murders themselves were also just as gruesome and fascinating as in Killing Jericho, which was certainly no small feat, and once again, I didn't have even the slightest suspicion as to who the killer was until the grand reveal at the end. Needless to say, this series is without a doubt the best book series that I have ever read, and both books are easily within my top five favourite novels of all time!
Eleven Huskies by Philipp Schott
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a surprisingly interesting murder mystery set in remote Canada. Although part of a series, I found it easy to read as a stand-alone novel and aside from one or two brief mentions of past mysteries, everything still made sense. The characters were well-developed and each had their own motives and backgrounds. The murder mystery itself was perfectly balanced with the "vet" side of things and the injured huskies, and I found this unique approach to the detective novel intriguing. The killer didn't become obvious until the last few chapters but everything happened quickly enough that the realisation didn't bore or annoy me. Definitely would recommend to animal lovers with a preference for murder mysteries!
Eliza Mace by Jem Poster, Sarah Burton
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
This was an interesting and unique take on the murder mystery genre, set in 1870s Wales. At first, I was worried that the murder was going to take place almost immediately, which I personally dislike as it is difficult to care about the victim without getting to know them first, but I was glad to realise that this wasn't the case. Eliza Mace was a refreshing character to listen to; a headstrong teenager fighting for independence from her controlling and manipulative parents. The detective, Dafydd Pritchard was also an interesting character, and I cannot express how relieved I was to find out that they didn't end up together at the end, given Eliza's age. Thankfully, there was very little romance throughout the novel and the main focus was on finding the killer, who just as thankfully, wasn't entirely obvious until the end of the story.