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themarinabox's reviews
191 reviews
The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
4.0
Despite what the summary (book description above) says, the open grave is definitely not the strangest feature of the case.
I thought that this book was going to be boring. I don’t know, a golf course setting really did not spark any interest in me. Boy I was wrong. This book has so many layers to it! It made me confused at times but trust me, just enjoy the journey and everything will make sense. It’s worth it.
Unlike the first Poirot book (The Mysterious Affairs at Styles), I thought that the characters in this book are far more interesting even if a couple of them, I find quite irritating. But irritating is better than boring :)
Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
a full review on my blog
I thought that this book was going to be boring. I don’t know, a golf course setting really did not spark any interest in me. Boy I was wrong. This book has so many layers to it! It made me confused at times but trust me, just enjoy the journey and everything will make sense. It’s worth it.
Unlike the first Poirot book (The Mysterious Affairs at Styles), I thought that the characters in this book are far more interesting even if a couple of them, I find quite irritating. But irritating is better than boring :)
Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
a full review on my blog
Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes
4.0
I’m writing this review after just finishing the book last night and I’m trying to find the right words to describe how I feel about it. Let me preface this by saying, I loved You but Hidden Bodies felt like it had more substance. It was resfreshing, it was captivating, it was just more.
I will admit that there were a teeny bit of draggy parts but damn, Ms Kepnes hits you with some eye-popping scenes after that. There are brilliant twists and turns that I did not see coming. I had a major roller coaster ride of feelings reading this.
If you’ve read [b:You|20821614|You (You, #1)|Caroline Kepnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411958102s/20821614.jpg|39913517], pick this book up and you'll see what I mean.
Full review on my site : here
I will admit that there were a teeny bit of draggy parts but damn, Ms Kepnes hits you with some eye-popping scenes after that. There are brilliant twists and turns that I did not see coming. I had a major roller coaster ride of feelings reading this.
If you’ve read [b:You|20821614|You (You, #1)|Caroline Kepnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1411958102s/20821614.jpg|39913517], pick this book up and you'll see what I mean.
Full review on my site : here
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old by Hendrik Groen
5.0
This book. You get to see Hendrik Groen's world, including his close friends and other people in this care home, through his eyes. His diary provides me with smiles, laughter and sadness. It's very realistic and found myself falling for the book the more I read. I felt myself caring more about Hendrik and his friends.
Hendrik also touches on other important subject matters like euthanasia, Alzheimer's and funding for the elderly. But most importantly, personally, he reminds me how important loyal friendships are and don't be afraid to enjoy and experience life while we still can.
By the end of the book, I realise that Hendrik Groen has my heart. I hope to remember to reread this book when I get older.
Full review on my blog.
Hendrik also touches on other important subject matters like euthanasia, Alzheimer's and funding for the elderly. But most importantly, personally, he reminds me how important loyal friendships are and don't be afraid to enjoy and experience life while we still can.
By the end of the book, I realise that Hendrik Groen has my heart. I hope to remember to reread this book when I get older.
Full review on my blog.
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
4.0
Personally, I don't usually pick up a book with a collection of short stories and I was pleasantly surprised that I was really enjoying this one.
I have the version of the book that includes 14 stories. They aren't all about solving a murder case but there are other mysteries that you get to solve with Poirot and Hastings. The variety of cases make it enjoyable to read. I'm sure you can read them all in one sitting but I quite like the idea of reading about a "full" case before I sleep.
My favourites are The Adventure of the "Western Star", The Tragedy at Mardson Manor, The Adventure of the Cheap Flat, The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim, The Veiled Lady and The Chocolate Box.
Join Poirot and Hastings in solving these mysteries and it's even perfect for people who might not have the time to read a full novel and would like to indulge themselves with a bit of mystery every now and then.
Full review on my blog.
I have the version of the book that includes 14 stories. They aren't all about solving a murder case but there are other mysteries that you get to solve with Poirot and Hastings. The variety of cases make it enjoyable to read. I'm sure you can read them all in one sitting but I quite like the idea of reading about a "full" case before I sleep.
My favourites are The Adventure of the "Western Star", The Tragedy at Mardson Manor, The Adventure of the Cheap Flat, The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb, The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim, The Veiled Lady and The Chocolate Box.
Join Poirot and Hastings in solving these mysteries and it's even perfect for people who might not have the time to read a full novel and would like to indulge themselves with a bit of mystery every now and then.
Full review on my blog.
The Missing Girl by Shirley Jackson
3.0
This book consists of 3 short stories : The Missing Girl, Journey With A Lady and Nightmare. And out of the 3, my favourite story has got to be the second one, Journey With A Lady. Having not read any of her other works, I’m unable to compare but after reading these stories, I find myself quite drawn her writing. It gives me this eerie feeling that I’m unable to properly explain. I’m definitely putting “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” on my TBR list.
Also reviewed on my blog.
Also reviewed on my blog.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
3.0
This is my first Gillian Flynn book and I did not know what to expect. I will say that I’ve enjoyed the way she wrote this book. I, personally, felt that I could somehow feel how the characters were feeling from they way she wrote about each of them.
I’m a big fan of reading different POVs. But I'm not sure if I needed to read as much of Patty's parts as there is in the book. Ben's POV was really interesting even though he frustrates me at times.
Now, here's the part that knocked down a star for me. I appreciate the idea of how/why the murders happened but I felt a little disappointed by it. In a way, I felt a little cheated with what was said in the synopsis. Anyways, I am curious as to what other Gillian Flynn's book are like.
full review on my blog
I’m a big fan of reading different POVs. But I'm not sure if I needed to read as much of Patty's parts as there is in the book. Ben's POV was really interesting even though he frustrates me at times.
Now, here's the part that knocked down a star for me. I appreciate the idea of how/why the murders happened but I felt a little disappointed by it. In a way, I felt a little cheated with what was said in the synopsis. Anyways, I am curious as to what other Gillian Flynn's book are like.
full review on my blog
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
3.0
3.5 Stars
This book gave me something I needed after a heavy book. Easy-to-read, fast and a page-turner. But the ending! Ahhh, I am not in awe or rather, not satisfied with the ending. The reason for the murder felt a little flat, I don't know. Maybe it's just me. I really would have liked it to go a different route. But that doesn't mean I regret reading it.
I will say that avoid it if you don't like high-school drama but if you can let that not bother your reading experience, give it a go but don't go in with high expectations.
full review on my blog
This book gave me something I needed after a heavy book. Easy-to-read, fast and a page-turner. But the ending! Ahhh, I am not in awe or rather, not satisfied with the ending. The reason for the murder felt a little flat, I don't know. Maybe it's just me. I really would have liked it to go a different route. But that doesn't mean I regret reading it.
I will say that avoid it if you don't like high-school drama but if you can let that not bother your reading experience, give it a go but don't go in with high expectations.
full review on my blog
Crooked House by Agatha Christie
5.0
Funnily enough, I am actually finding it quite hard write a review for this one. So I'll just say this.
Minus the rather bland narrator, this was an absolute joy to read. It just kept going uphill with every page you turned until the very end. This is going to be in my top reads list for this year by far.
kind-of full review on my blog ;)
Minus the rather bland narrator, this was an absolute joy to read. It just kept going uphill with every page you turned until the very end. This is going to be in my top reads list for this year by far.
kind-of full review on my blog ;)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
5.0
I don’t know what to expect before reading this but a lot of people seemed to like this book and I was excited to see/read what all the fuss is about. And I can definitely say that I agree with the majority.
I was sad that Hastings isn’t narrating this but it was kind of refreshing. I like reading in the perspective of someone new talking about Poirot lol
Agatha Christie seems to always make me doubt my guesses and then surprised me at the end.
Of course the big reveal was just incredible but the way the book ended was my favourite so far out of all the Poirot books I’ve read (3 books excluding this).
All in all, brilliant book!
I was sad that Hastings isn’t narrating this but it was kind of refreshing. I like reading in the perspective of someone new talking about Poirot lol
Agatha Christie seems to always make me doubt my guesses and then surprised me at the end.
Of course the big reveal was just incredible but the way the book ended was my favourite so far out of all the Poirot books I’ve read (3 books excluding this).
All in all, brilliant book!
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
3.0
This is my first time reading a book by Ruth Ware and I was really excited. I received this advance copy from The American Book Center in exchange for my honest review.
I didn't know what to expect going in but I was looking forward to the unveiling of the secrets. Firstly, I have to say that this book got it hooked almost immediately. It was the kind of book that you could read easily and fast even though there were parts that I felt was quite repetitive. But I just had to know the answers and I was reading it faster than I thought I would.
There are lots of things I like about this book but I also have a few issues with it. Personally, I felt that the ending did not bring enough closure. I mean, the main secrets were revealed, of course, and I probably can make my own closure with some parts of the story but it would have been nice to read it.
Despite that, there's not a chance that you won't be surprised and that's why I think this book is worth the try.
Full Review on my blog
I didn't know what to expect going in but I was looking forward to the unveiling of the secrets. Firstly, I have to say that this book got it hooked almost immediately. It was the kind of book that you could read easily and fast even though there were parts that I felt was quite repetitive. But I just had to know the answers and I was reading it faster than I thought I would.
There are lots of things I like about this book but I also have a few issues with it. Personally, I felt that the ending did not bring enough closure. I mean, the main secrets were revealed, of course, and I probably can make my own closure with some parts of the story but it would have been nice to read it.
Despite that, there's not a chance that you won't be surprised and that's why I think this book is worth the try.
Full Review on my blog