Getting a glimpse into the world of competitive Scrabble, and into life in Malaysia, was cool, the main character was compellinThree and a half stars.
Getting a glimpse into the world of competitive Scrabble, and into life in Malaysia, was cool, the main character was compelling, and I thought the book handled mental illness well. But there were aspects of the mystery and the secrets that were uncovered that didn't quite hold together.
(view spoiler)[Obviously, there's not One True Way people behave, but the reveal that Josh was supposed to have been in love with/had a crush on Trina just didn't work for me. There was just no hint, nothing to suggest he had that kind of feeling. But I would have believed a reveal that she mattered to him as a rival.
Trina was also given enough different things on her last morning that it feels somewhat open as to whether that contributed to her death, but the story seems to just dismiss the possibility with Yasmin's dismissal. Certainly the other characters do. But young, healthy people don't just drop dead, at least not without having some previously unknown health problem. So that ends up feeling like a weird hanging thread. Did all of that contribute, unintentionally, to her death? Did she have a heart defect of some kind? Even an acknowledgment that Najwa and her friends will never know for sure would feel more like closure, in a narrative sense. (hide spoiler)]
This had some fun moments, and all the clues are there, but the murderer's motive was somewhere between opAh, mysteries, why can't I stop reading you.
This had some fun moments, and all the clues are there, but the murderer's motive was somewhere between opaque and unbelievable. Despite the clues, it felt rather like the author picked a name out of the hat toward the end, rather than really setting the character up as plausibly the killer.
And I say that despite (view spoiler)[ knowing it had to be one of the other secretaries when Miss Chittering was killed, because she wouldn't have greeted anyone else the way she did (hide spoiler)]. The motivations just weren't there, particularly for the second murder. I'm also not 100% anyone would've remembered the fatal clue.
Oh well, it's an all right mystery. It's just got the usual puzzler issues....more
The story idea is solid, but the execution needed work. The clues were a little too easy, it's got some fridge logic moments around what people knew aThe story idea is solid, but the execution needed work. The clues were a little too easy, it's got some fridge logic moments around what people knew and didn't know (particularly what the authorities did and didn't know), and the dialogue was stilted in places. The characters were likable, though, and there was a good sense of place.
It's also the author's first novel and mysteries are not an easy genre. I expect the series will improve as it goes....more
I'd remembered liking this author better than I do, possibly because Inspector Littlejohn is a pleasant enough detective, but this series is far too "I'd remembered liking this author better than I do, possibly because Inspector Littlejohn is a pleasant enough detective, but this series is far too "of its time." Though, to be honest, I had a hell of a time remembering when this was supposed to be set as it felt of an earlier time, despite references to things that were current when it was written (the 1960s).
It has the problem that a lot of mysteries have of the suspects being a bunch of unlikable people. (view spoiler)[ Though I do think the guilty party managed to be the most unlikable. (hide spoiler)] So you're basically stuck spending time with awful people (aside from the detectives).
Sigh. Mostly I've just succumbed to thinking I like mysteries. Again....more
This was an odd book that never quite succeeded at any of the things it wanted to do/be. I'm the wrong person to judge the romance (I'm aro/ace), but This was an odd book that never quite succeeded at any of the things it wanted to do/be. I'm the wrong person to judge the romance (I'm aro/ace), but it didn't feel convincing. Like, there's all this suggestion of a past relationship and past issues, but somehow the emotion is missing. (Which might have worked if it were from Mossa's point of view, but it wasn't.) The mystery isn't one that the audience can really follow along with, both for sci-fi reasons and because I'm pretty sure one of the main villains never appeared before the climax of the book. Even the butler doing it would be more fair play than that. And the sci-fi is a mix of compelling and "wait...what?"
The ideas are interesting. Trying to mix romance, mystery, and sci-fi, and give it a kind of old-timey feel is interesting. The results just didn't land for me.
There's also some strange use of words/language, which (I think) was intended to give it more of an alien setting--look, even our language has changed! But even that didn't quite land. Ah well....more
I wanted to like this book better than I did. Part of it is the common problem with historical fiction (perhaps especially historical mysteries) whereI wanted to like this book better than I did. Part of it is the common problem with historical fiction (perhaps especially historical mysteries) where there's a disconnect between the experiences of the main characters and the experiences of everyone around them. I don't like reading stories where it feels like the main characters are surrounded by red shirts, if you get what I mean.
The other problem took me a little longer to realize: the main characters don't solve the mystery so much as stumble into a solution. I'm more okay with Mary's interactions with various people ending up bringing clues to her, and she is very new at this, but it still felt like there wasn't enough figuring out happening for a mystery. (Though this is far from the worst book I've read as far as that problem goes.)
I might give the series another try, though, and see if the second book is more satisfying. This wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be....more
I almost want to give this two stars because the idea was fine, the message that you shouldn't let grief destroy your life is a good one, and some of I almost want to give this two stars because the idea was fine, the message that you shouldn't let grief destroy your life is a good one, and some of the storytelling was all right. Unfortunately, the writing was pretty abysmal, the characters were wooden, and the attempts at humor make sitcoms seem funny. I also didn't realize it was Christian fiction. (My own fault for not noticing the publishing imprint.) The clunky shoehorning of God into conversations didn't exactly help things.
(I have read books with religious characters who talked about God and it felt natural and fitting. Everything here felt like: "LOOK, I AM MENTIONING GOD, I AM GETTING AN A IN CHRISTIANITY." Maybe that's normal for Christian fiction, but it struck this heathen reader as awkward and unconvincing.)
But, hey, I'm super not the intended audience for this, so take my bad review with a grain of salt.
This was not quite what I expected when I put it on hold after hearing a couple of my coworkers talking about it. It's suspense more than mystery, whiThis was not quite what I expected when I put it on hold after hearing a couple of my coworkers talking about it. It's suspense more than mystery, which means that solving the question of what's going on gets rather sidetracked by the problem of a magical curse. And my main worldbuilding gripe is that I'm not at all sure why this is a secret world situation. It doesn't feel like there's an actual in-universe reason, just the out-of-universe reason that books of this type usually have a secret world set up. (I also can't speak to the romance. I am very aro/ace. If you like sex scenes, there are a few. The romance seemed reasonably well integrated with the plot, though, so this isn't a romantic plot tumor situation.)
I found the magic interesting enough, the mystery suspenseful enough, and the characters likable enough. Am I sure everything would stand up to careful inspection? No. Could some of the characterization have been tighter/solider? Yes. Still, i enjoyed it. Well enough to have put the rest of the trilogy on hold. ...more
Way too many coincidences and at least one clue that would have worked more plausibly in a visual medium. Also, it's a late Christie, which means thatWay too many coincidences and at least one clue that would have worked more plausibly in a visual medium. Also, it's a late Christie, which means that no one is likable because her prejudice against changing times oozes into everything. There's also too much classism and xenophobia especially when discussing the possible supernatural elements.
Actually, I'm not even sure this thing deserves two stars. *edits*
Note to self: You only like Christie in theory most of the time and late Christie is a hard no....more
Somewhere along the line, this series grew on me, going from "that damned historical mystery series that drives me up the wall, but which I can't stopSomewhere along the line, this series grew on me, going from "that damned historical mystery series that drives me up the wall, but which I can't stop reading" to "I still have some reservations, but I actually do like these." I think it was a combination of Hero becoming more involved in the cases and the divide between how things worked for the main characters and everyone else narrowing.
Oh, the series is still rather dung ages, but somewhere in there it went from being grimdark (the world is unfixably terrible and bad things happen to good people all the time) for everyone but the protagonists to nobledark (the world is still a shit place, but people can make a difference, even if it's only a tiny difference, even if it's only for a person at a time).
Like, the end of this book has things go so much better for some minor characters than would have happened early in the series. And that makes it much easier to enjoy the literary popcorn....more
While the actual supernatural mystery and the unraveling of the events of the past are compelling, I didn't care for the beginning of the book or the While the actual supernatural mystery and the unraveling of the events of the past are compelling, I didn't care for the beginning of the book or the general attitude toward mental health and mental health professionals. I know that's partially probably a product of when it was written, but even when it was written, plenty of educated professional people knew therapy was a real thing. The mom comes off less like a logical no-nonsense person and more just plain abusive. Medical professionals tell you your daughter has a phobia, so your solution is to just keep pushing swim lessons? Sorry, but that just makes you an awful person.
(It doesn't help that none of that was actually necessary. She could've gone to her father's for a break because of the traumatic pool incident.)
(view spoiler)[I also just realized we never get an explanation of the traumatic pool incident. It can't be explained by Hob wanting revenge because there's never evidence that he did. So WTF? (hide spoiler)]
I'm pretty sure I read this as a kid/teen. I've always been fascinated by stories, supernatural or otherwise, where someone in the present is trying tI'm pretty sure I read this as a kid/teen. I've always been fascinated by stories, supernatural or otherwise, where someone in the present is trying to figure out what happened in the past. (And I swear there were so many haunted dollhouse books in the late '80s-early '90s.)
I don't remember what I thought of it then, but reading it now, it seems like a sold kid's suspense-horror book. It does have strong themes of child abuse, though, if that's something a potential reader might find upsetting....more
Reviewing this is difficult because I knew the twist already. It's something of an "it was his sled" in the mystery community. Also, I'm pretty sure IReviewing this is difficult because I knew the twist already. It's something of an "it was his sled" in the mystery community. Also, I'm pretty sure I saw the David Suchet adaptation at some point. This means I can't judge whether it's an effective twist.
It's still better than some of the Poirots I've read in the past few years. While the cast of characters still are mostly not very likable, they're unlikable at a level that they're fine as characters, you just wouldn't want to actually be stuck interacting with them. (As opposed to the books where the best ending would be Rocks Fall, Everybody Dies.)
That said... (view spoiler)[I feel like it should've been obvious something was up with the narrator. His reaction to the letter is just too weird for someone who's supposedly uninvolved in the whole thing. But I can't be 100% sure I don't feel that way because I did already know. (hide spoiler)]...more
This is a classic case of it's me, not the book. I think that's clear enough from all the 4 and 5 star reviews. This is a perfectly competent historicThis is a classic case of it's me, not the book. I think that's clear enough from all the 4 and 5 star reviews. This is a perfectly competent historical mystery; I just didn't vibe with it.
I could try to elaborate on why, but I prefer to do that when I think my subjective opinion is based on objective things, not when it all feels entirely subjective. I just didn't connect with the characters and, as you can see from other reviews on my mystery shelf, mystery is a genre that I want to like, and did like at one point in time, but just doesn't work for me as well as I want it to these days. That's not the book's fault or the author's fault....more
So I got curious about whether my issue with Christie's Poirot stories is a POV issue and decided to read one narrated by Hastings.
I mean, I got my anSo I got curious about whether my issue with Christie's Poirot stories is a POV issue and decided to read one narrated by Hastings.
I mean, I got my answer (possibly), but oh boy is Hastings an obnoxious dude to be trapped in the head of. Even though the narrative clearly knows he's an ass and basically proves him wrong about everything at every turn, it's still not the best place to be.
Either early Christie comes off less cynical or following Poirot at a greater distance makes the stories less cynical. It also feels less classist than a lot of her work, as we've got several cross-class romances that are seen as positive here.
On the less good side, it's got a very convoluted plot, and a bit too much random chance going on. It's not quite so complicated that it doesn't make sense, but it's complicated enough to feel more than a little like a soap opera. I'm also a little uncomfortable with the way Poirot talks about his detecting. He really is mostly drawing conclusions from things he notices, even as he derides that as a detecting method, but the whole being smarter and knowing more about people than anyone else thing just makes me feel like Christie had a poor understanding of what actually gets people falsely accused of crimes. ...more
I've read this before, though apparently not since I started putting things on Goodreads.
Agatha Christie's assorted mysteries about Bright Young ThingI've read this before, though apparently not since I started putting things on Goodreads.
Agatha Christie's assorted mysteries about Bright Young Things playing amateur sleuth feel pretty different from her Poirot and Marple stories. I'm not sure whether that's just the type and personality of the detective character(s) influencing things or if Christie wrote them in a different headspace. I feel like the Poirot stories in particular are really cynical about people and the world, and even Marple stories tend to have this undercurrent of everyone being one bad day away from becoming a multiple murderer. And then there are the screwball comedy adjacent books like this where slightly ditsy twenty-somethings bumble their way through a detective story.
There's much more of a sense that this is a story, with a bit of a wink at the audience and some leaning on the fourth wall. (Not just in this book, but in most of the ones like it.) It's still a fair play mystery and it's not quite a full comedy, but you're definitely not supposed to take it entirely seriously. There are also moments that play a little bit with the classism her stories tend to be steeped in. (One of the main characters pretending to be a servant at one point because no one pays attention to them, unlike people, (view spoiler)[one of the villains using societal prejudice to point suspicion a different way, even one of the villains being "clearly" of a higher class when that wasn't actually true... (hide spoiler)]) Though, on the flip side, this is the only book of hers I can think of where (view spoiler)[one of the killers gets away, and I can't decide if that's because of his class or because even Christie found him charming. It's painted like not a bad thing, even though he's a completely terrible person under that veneer of charm. (hide spoiler)] And yet I'm not left with a bad taste in my mind, unlike many of her stories.
I still think I like the adaptations of her work better than I actually like her works, but at least I don't regret rereading this....more
Very early locked room--or at least closed circle--mystery. Suffered not only from the rather boring melodrama of novels of its time, but from stickinVery early locked room--or at least closed circle--mystery. Suffered not only from the rather boring melodrama of novels of its time, but from sticking us in the head of a not-terribly-bright gentleman who is instantly and ridiculously besotted by the main suspect.
I think it could be fun in an adaptation, where the melodramatic shenanigans would shine and it would matter less that its really hard to care what happens to any of these people....more
I'm a bit too serious and quite a bit too old to be the intended audience for this book, but I'm pretty sure the intended audience would enjoy this a I'm a bit too serious and quite a bit too old to be the intended audience for this book, but I'm pretty sure the intended audience would enjoy this a lot. I'm also impressed at how well the author managed a fair play mystery in a very fairy tale fantasy world. Hell, writing mysteries in any sort of fantasy world is no easy trick, but making sure the information really is there for the reader? That's kind of the ultimate challenge for mystery writing.
It's a bit cartoony, but the main character is likable (as are some of the side characters), the mystery part is well done, and it manages to pull off a house full of people with secrets without making them intolerable to spend a book around. (Lots of mysteries for adults can't manage that one.) The pace is a little frenetic, but, eh, it's Clue (the movie) for the grade school set....more
A modern take on the gothic novel, reasonably well done, though I don't fully understand some of the choices the author made regarding the ending. (viA modern take on the gothic novel, reasonably well done, though I don't fully understand some of the choices the author made regarding the ending. (view spoiler)[It seemed like both Paul and Margaret were somewhat out of character in order to cut him from the happy ending. Was it somehow a bridge to far for a straight man to opt out of "normal" even though he already had in some ways, even to keeping the secret of the hall and its mistress? And there was no reason to have Margaret be pregnant and miscarry. That just seemed like too much drama, even for a gothic, particularly when it didn't really make any difference for the plot. (hide spoiler)]...more
I want to send this back in time to my teenage self.
I've liked books about people solving past mysteries since I was eleven or twelve and books about I want to send this back in time to my teenage self.
I've liked books about people solving past mysteries since I was eleven or twelve and books about friendship for longer still. As a teen, I read so many books where a teen solved some past mystery either on their own or with a group of friends, while dealing with other more realistic issues. But when I was a teen, none of those books were about queer teens.
Is it a perfect book? Frankly, I don't care, it's a book about a group of likable, mostly queer teens solving a mystery and becoming/being friends. And for all that bad things happened, the world of the book leans kind--there are good people in it and they can, and do, make a difference....more
Loading...
