marlisenicole's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
loud_purrbox's review
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
This is a fun little curio. It was interesting to see the different writers style and abilities. I liked that the introduction lets you know not to expect a great mystery but a peak into the craft. And it was instructive that the authors‘ proposed endings were included. A shame that Whitechurch and the Coles didn’t give a solution.
Chapter 8 by Knox should have been left out it’s that bad and has nothing of any value to the story in it.
Aside from that I think Christie, Sayers, Jepson and Berkeley can write and the rest sadly cannot.
Of those Christie and Jepson are my favorites. I’d never heard of Edgar Jepson so I’ll investigate him a bit further.
Sadly, Berkeley decided to flop the ending on the last half page. A bit weird and unnecessary but okay.
Christie’s proposed ending was the most fun after that you can see that they’re mostly struggling to make sense of everything and getting lost in the weeds. Which was mostly actually fun and interesting to see.
Sayers proposed ending was the only one I couldn’t finish because it was so boring and convoluted but it made it all the more interesting that her chapter was such a good read.
All in all, the best I can say for this book was that it was very interesting if not always actually a pleasure to read.
Chapter 8 by Knox should have been left out it’s that bad and has nothing of any value to the story in it.
Aside from that I think Christie, Sayers, Jepson and Berkeley can write and the rest sadly cannot.
Of those Christie and Jepson are my favorites. I’d never heard of Edgar Jepson so I’ll investigate him a bit further.
Sadly, Berkeley decided to flop the ending on the last half page. A bit weird and unnecessary but okay.
Christie’s proposed ending was the most fun after that you can see that they’re mostly struggling to make sense of everything and getting lost in the weeds. Which was mostly actually fun and interesting to see.
Sayers proposed ending was the only one I couldn’t finish because it was so boring and convoluted but it made it all the more interesting that her chapter was such a good read.
All in all, the best I can say for this book was that it was very interesting if not always actually a pleasure to read.
serenereader9's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
First of all the cover is gorgeous.
This book was really fun and I think if you’re already interested in the detection club and that era of detective stories you’ll appreciate it more(at least I did). I am already a fan of a few of these authors (Agatha Christie, Dorothy sayers, Anthony Berkeley)and liked all of their solutions. I also thought one of the authors in the appendix going through each of the previous chapter’s authors and where those clues pointed before giving his own solution was fun. Not gonna lie this was kind of hard to follow just because of all the clues and timelines and things to keep track of. I didn’t end up figuring it out. I also had no clue what we were supposed to get with the current and how long it takes to go upstream, downstream, when does the current change and go in the opposite direction etc.lol
This book was really fun and I think if you’re already interested in the detection club and that era of detective stories you’ll appreciate it more(at least I did). I am already a fan of a few of these authors (Agatha Christie, Dorothy sayers, Anthony Berkeley)and liked all of their solutions. I also thought one of the authors in the appendix going through each of the previous chapter’s authors and where those clues pointed before giving his own solution was fun. Not gonna lie this was kind of hard to follow just because of all the clues and timelines and things to keep track of. I didn’t end up figuring it out. I also had no clue what we were supposed to get with the current and how long it takes to go upstream, downstream, when does the current change and go in the opposite direction etc.lol
shellystilger's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun to hear different Golden Age authors set each other up, handle curve balls, and come up with different solutions. Not to be read for the story itself, but for the joy of the interaction between authors.
ila_mae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
iarsb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
feliciar33ds's review against another edition
1.0
One of those things that sound better in theory - 1 mystery written, one chapter each, by several famous mystery writers. Convoluted and zzzzzzzzz.....
taylorelm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A fun idea for a story - each chapter written by someone else, with no idea of the original solution. I enjoyed some chapters more than others, but overall it was enjoyable and did really have a sense of fun about it. You could tell each author enjoyed writing their bit.
Also loved the different solutions at the end, and being able to see how the story and outcome changed through the process.
Also loved the different solutions at the end, and being able to see how the story and outcome changed through the process.
elmewhy's review against another edition
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? No
3.25
maplessence's review
3.0
3.5★
The Detection Club must have been the coolest club around.
A group of highly successful mystery writers getting together sharing their love of mysteries & detective fiction over regular dinners in London.
The idea of a group of the members each writing a chapter to a murder mystery was intriguing - & with writers as skilled as [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] & [a:Dorothy L. Sayers|8734|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519840173p2/8734.jpg] involved - what could go wrong?
Unfortunately quite a bit.
After [a:G.K. Chesterton|7014283|G.K. Chesterton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1365860649p2/7014283.jpg]'s introduction (which I have already forgotten) [a:Victor L. Whitechurch|1035041|Victor L. Whitechurch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] got the story off to a cracking start. & all the writer's kept to a similar tone. But [a:Milward Kennedy|610903|Milward Kennedy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363130100p2/610903.jpg] "read"completely different than the other writers. It really didn't flow well at all! Dorothy L. Sayers did her best to get the story on track, but unfortunately the writer that followed her, [a:Ronald A. Knox|17830840|Ronald A. Knox|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] followed with an incredibly dry list of questions & possible suspects. Able writing by the rest of the writers (including a wonderful twist from [a:Clemence Dane|425398|Clemence Dane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1473576863p2/425398.jpg]) couldn't save this book for me after that. I would recommend skipping Knox's chapter altogether. It does nothing but drag the book down. A problem with writing with your mates I guess. Sayers wasn't ruthless enough as an editor.
& the appendix where each writer gave their solution? Another disappointment as for me the most interesting person to hear from would have been the writer of Chapter 1, but Whitechurch & the writers of Chapter 2 (The Coles) didn't give their solutions. I would have loved to have read where he thought the story would go. & Knox gave another dull list before offering his solution. No surprise here but I liked Christie's ideas the best!
So in Whitechurch, Dane & [a:John Rhode|280354|John Rhode|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1320143165p2/280354.jpg] I have found new writers I want to try & others I will quite definitely avoid.
The Detection Club must have been the coolest club around.
A group of highly successful mystery writers getting together sharing their love of mysteries & detective fiction over regular dinners in London.
The idea of a group of the members each writing a chapter to a murder mystery was intriguing - & with writers as skilled as [a:Agatha Christie|123715|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321738793p2/123715.jpg] & [a:Dorothy L. Sayers|8734|Dorothy L. Sayers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1519840173p2/8734.jpg] involved - what could go wrong?
Unfortunately quite a bit.
After [a:G.K. Chesterton|7014283|G.K. Chesterton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1365860649p2/7014283.jpg]'s introduction (which I have already forgotten) [a:Victor L. Whitechurch|1035041|Victor L. Whitechurch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] got the story off to a cracking start. & all the writer's kept to a similar tone. But [a:Milward Kennedy|610903|Milward Kennedy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363130100p2/610903.jpg] "read"completely different than the other writers. It really didn't flow well at all! Dorothy L. Sayers did her best to get the story on track, but unfortunately the writer that followed her, [a:Ronald A. Knox|17830840|Ronald A. Knox|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] followed with an incredibly dry list of questions & possible suspects. Able writing by the rest of the writers (including a wonderful twist from [a:Clemence Dane|425398|Clemence Dane|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1473576863p2/425398.jpg]) couldn't save this book for me after that. I would recommend skipping Knox's chapter altogether. It does nothing but drag the book down. A problem with writing with your mates I guess. Sayers wasn't ruthless enough as an editor.
& the appendix where each writer gave their solution? Another disappointment as for me the most interesting person to hear from would have been the writer of Chapter 1, but Whitechurch & the writers of Chapter 2 (The Coles) didn't give their solutions. I would have loved to have read where he thought the story would go. & Knox gave another dull list before offering his solution. No surprise here but I liked Christie's ideas the best!
So in Whitechurch, Dane & [a:John Rhode|280354|John Rhode|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1320143165p2/280354.jpg] I have found new writers I want to try & others I will quite definitely avoid.