Poor plot development, ridiculous characterizations, and uneven pacing. The word that kept running through my head was "dreadful".
Abandoned on page 59Poor plot development, ridiculous characterizations, and uneven pacing. The word that kept running through my head was "dreadful".
Abandoned on page 59 Chapter 8
NOTE: I've been having some health issues, and it's probably thrown me into a bit of a funk. It is not helping matters that I seem also to be experiencing a major reading slump. So maybe it is just me and this book is not really that bad... but I don't think so. (less) [edit]
4**** EVIL IN SMALL PLACES by Lucy Foley 2** THE SECOND MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Val McDermid 1* MISS MARPLE TAKES MANHATTAN by Alyssa Cole 2** THE UNRA4**** EVIL IN SMALL PLACES by Lucy Foley 2** THE SECOND MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Val McDermid 1* MISS MARPLE TAKES MANHATTAN by Alyssa Cole 2** THE UNRAVELLING by Natalie Haynes 5***** MISS MARPLE’S CHRISTMAS by Ruth Ware 3*** THE OPEN MIND by Naomi Alderman 2** THE JADE EMPRESS by Jean Kwok 1* A DEADLY WEDDING DAY by Dreda Say Mitchel 1* MURDER AT THE VILLA ROSA by Elly Griffiths 1* THE MURDERING SORT by Karen M. McManus 1* THE MYSTERY OF THE ACID SOIL by Kate Mosse 2** THE DISAPPEARANCE by Leigh Bardugo
If this collection of short stories was supposed to pay homage to Miss Marple, I feel that most of them failed miserably. If you want to "introduce the character to a whole new generation", then just give them a Miss Marple story written by Agatha Christie....more
Hmm, I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first one. I thought it VERY weak on plot, and the characters were not nearly as well developed as iHmm, I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first one. I thought it VERY weak on plot, and the characters were not nearly as well developed as in the first story.
The story was much too short, and lacked charm. The ending felt very rushed, and left me feeling pretty unsatisfied.
I'm curious to see what #3 in the series will bring. Since I checked out a book bundle from the library (1 through 3), I'll continue on.
Audiobook Narrated by Nathaniel Parker Duration: 02:35:49...more
I adored 99.99% of this short audiobook. The narrator was absolutely marvelous, and had a different voice for each one of the characters. The story feI adored 99.99% of this short audiobook. The narrator was absolutely marvelous, and had a different voice for each one of the characters. The story felt very “old-timie”, but since the author had her characters using text messages and internet searches, it obviously was more current. I lapped this story up with a spoon, and plan to continue straight on with more of the series.
So what didn’t I like about it? The ending. It felt like the author threw a dart and randomly selected one of the suspects. There really were no clues to speak of, and it easily could have been any one of them.
NOTE: I saw ‘The Mousetrap’ in London about 20 years ago, and loved it. I remember the audience being sworn to secrecy, that we would never give away anything about the ending of the play. I was SO worried that this book was going inadvertently let something slip about it, but thankfully, it didn’t.
Audiobook Narrated by Nathaniel Parker Duration: 03:29:46...more
This audiobook does not require a lot of effort on my part - which is what I require at the moment.
Audiobook Narrated by Elizabeth Klett Duration: 07:55This audiobook does not require a lot of effort on my part - which is what I require at the moment.
Audiobook Narrated by Elizabeth Klett Duration: 07:55:28...more
I don't care for the narrator, and there are too many characters to keep track of. This is a book that is better read than listened to.
Audiobook NarratI don't care for the narrator, and there are too many characters to keep track of. This is a book that is better read than listened to.
Audiobook Narrated by Pearl Hewitt Duration: 05:23:27...more
I may have found a go-to series... something to read &/or listen to when I don't want anything too long and not too heavy. Even though the story was nI may have found a go-to series... something to read &/or listen to when I don't want anything too long and not too heavy. Even though the story was not "great", I enjoyed it and it fit the bill perfectly for the type of book I was looking for.
At the end of the story the author speaks about the large amount of research that she did prior to writing this novel, to insure that she got the period details just right. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that.
Be aware that the narrator uses a voice that is VERY posh! Sometimes I like that, sometimes I don't. This time it did not bother me at all.
Audiobook Narrated by Elizabeth Klett Duration: 07:20:38...more
I enjoyed my time spent this novel. It was my first novel by Peter Swanson, and I will definitely seek out more from him.
His "Acknowledgments" made meI enjoyed my time spent this novel. It was my first novel by Peter Swanson, and I will definitely seek out more from him.
His "Acknowledgments" made me smile:
Martin Amis, Jane Austen, Danielle Bartlett, Lawrence Block, Angus Cargill, Agatha Christie, Caspian Dennis, Victoria Dillman (thanks for the title), T. S. Eliot, Bianca Flores, Joel Gotler, John Grindrod, Kaitlin Harris, David Headley, David Highfill, Tessa James, Weldon Kees, Philip Larkin, John D. MacDonald, Louis MacNeice, Sara Paolozzi, Sophie Portas, Josh Smith, Nat Sobel, Muriel Spark, Virginia Stanley, Sandy Violette, Judith Weber, Dave Woodhouse, Adia Wright, and Charlene Sawyer....more
This book started off strong and descended into a convoluted mess.
It’s too bad, because I enjoyed the first half of the story. But the second2 ½ stars
This book started off strong and descended into a convoluted mess.
It’s too bad, because I enjoyed the first half of the story. But the second half was full of wild improbabilities, and suppositions that were pulled out of thin air and accepted as fact. All of the characters actions were suspect, and the murky explanations for their actions were mostly unbelievable. I had to keep backing up the audiobook because I was sure I had heard something incorrectly , or thought I had missed something.
I had a big problem with the Bridey character. Nothing about her felt real. Her wildly divergent reactions to Gigi were completely bizarre. And could Bridey really have been that stupid and gullible for that long? And since Bridey and Gigi barely knew each other and did not much like each other, where was all of this subsequent gut wrenching anguish coming from?
Don’t get me started on that ending –(view spoiler)[ it was truly awful. The thought that kept running through my mind for the last few chapters was that this was all compete BULLS**T. She ends up marrying a guy she feels absolutely NOTHING for? And then there's the whole thing with Gigi... (hide spoiler)] give me a break.
Oh, I should mention that Agatha Christie has next to nothing to do with this story. Most of the book is set at one of her homes – Greenway – and that is about it.
Audiobook Narrated by Moira Quirk Duaration 12:10:40...more
I am 40 minutes in and I am not enjoying anything about this story. There is NO WAY I am going to listen to this for over 17 hours.
Audiobook Imogen ChuI am 40 minutes in and I am not enjoying anything about this story. There is NO WAY I am going to listen to this for over 17 hours.
Audiobook Imogen Church - Narrator Duration: 17:09:16
I am so disappointed! I should have enjoyed this, but I didn't... at all. I was going to quit on page 73, but by that time I was halfway through, so II am so disappointed! I should have enjoyed this, but I didn't... at all. I was going to quit on page 73, but by that time I was halfway through, so I kept on reading. The only reason I finished it was because it was such a short book.
The writing was disjointed. I kept feeling like parts were missing. (view spoiler)[For example: All of a sudden Miss Seeton had psychic abilities? Where in the world did THAT come from? And how did Superintendent Delphick so easily discern that? (hide spoiler)]
The ending leaves you with a cliffhanger. I suppose that is to encourage you to read the next book in the series. I'll pass....more
Loading...
