robinwalter's reviews
1638 reviews

challenging informative mysterious medium-paced

4.75

A month before reading this book, I read a famous best seller about the history of maritime horology. It was AWFUL. The 'storyline' was a godsend for any wrter looking to write an exciting, thrilling tale of actual events. Instead, the author seemed determined to dessicate the material and render the action-packed saga of intrigue and determination even deader than the centuries-dead characters involved. I expected a gripping yarn, I got a dry, dusty academic treatise. Finishing it was a chore, the writer manged to make it a bore.

Imagine my trepidation, then when I started ANOTHER book by an academic on an historical tale of criminality and detection - this one set in the riveting and drama-filled world of BIBLIOPHILES? The subject matter was LITERALLY dry as dust, and yet this book was a true "page turner"

Right from the start, the author brought the story to life, making sure that all the characters - antagonist, protagonists, side characters and all - were presented as real people, not bibliographic entries. The sheer scale of the fraud, the staggering, sublime chutzpah of the 'baddie' and the dogged determination of the 'detectives' made for a truly riveting tale.

The various historical coincidences that peppered the story, like the fact that the nerve centre for the investigators was basically NEXT DOOR to the Detection Club, were further proof of the old saw that real life is stranger than fiction. The author made sure that I simply HAD to keep reading, in the hope of seeing justice done.

I should add that I read ONLY ebooks, and have absolutely ZERO interest in the (to me) manic fixation with the physical objects that bibliomaniacs (or bibliophiles, if one is kinder than I) obsess over. A book to me is its content, not its medium. I collect nothing at all, and cannot grok the collector's mindset. All of which simply makes it all the more remarkable that Dr Hone had me completely hooked with his telling of this tale, one set in an alien world and populated by characters further from me than the Sun is from cold. READ IT!

A Momentary Marriage by Candace Camp

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emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

A better story than the first in the series, with a great blend of romance and mystery. I also enjoyed the way the leads stayed true to themselves even while growing closer.

In a Dark House by Deborah Crombie

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Outstanding! After a couple of feeble entries, the series righted itself with this one. Non-stop action, multiple storylines all on the go at once, not all of them connected - it felt very realistic. It was literally unputdownable for me, the tension and stress were gripping. The developments in the characters' lives were well-pesented too.

A Perfect Gentleman by Candace Camp

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

The ML is unspeakably horrible to the FL from the prologue through to at least halfway and yet never seems to have any awareness of how much he hurt her. Another reviewer said "poor character development" and that seems very fair

Now May You Weep by Deborah Crombie

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emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Barely better than the preceding book in the series. I skimmed over all the incredibly long "flashback" timeline bits, and skimmed the main story solely to find out the developments in the Kincaid/James family. REALLY not a fan of the woo-woo creepnig back in either.

Harlequin Historical June 2021 - Box Set 2 of 2 by Janice Preston, Louise Allen, Jeanine Englert

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 70%.

The final 2 stories did not gel with me

Harlequin Historical September 2022 - Box Set 1 of 2 by Virginia Heath, Eva Shepherd, Ella Matthews

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

First story ok, only made it halfway through the second, all the characters just too annoying

Harlequin Historical November 2022 - Box Set 2 of 2 by Christine Merrill, Diane Gaston, Melissa Oliver

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 70%.

Only the first story worked for me in this set.