hlawona99's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't finish it fast enough just to get it done. It dragged on and on when you clearly find out who did it in the first half of the book.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
2.0
When Carlene Arness is found dead after drinking tea laced with cyanide while hosting the monthly meeting of the book club she co-founded with Hazel Rose, the members are horrified and puzzled by her death. Though a suicide note is found next to her body, none of them believe she was the type to take her own life and Hazel is determined to prove it.
There are a lot of suspects, maybe even too many, as Hazel discovers that Carlene, married to Hazel's first husband, hid a dark past. The book club members too keep secrets that give almost all of them, including Hazel, the motive to want Carlene dead. Sex, blackmail, politics and vengeance are all part of the affray.
Murder at the Book Group has all the ingredients for a good mystery - a layered plot, an interesting cast with plenty of secrets and a great setting for book lovers (the murder takes place during a book club meeting whose membership includes several published and aspiring mystery writers). Unfortunately I never really connected with the main character, Hazel Rose, and since the story is told in the first person I found my attention wandering more often than it should have.
Murder at the Book Group was just barely an 'okay' read for me.
lberestecki's review against another edition
1.0
This book just wasn't for me. I think it might appeal more to an older audience. The writing style didn't appeal to me, and I felt like there was a bit too much going on. I also felt the author went a bit overboard with politics - that's not necessarily something I expect to see in a cozy mystery. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, but I could see how someone older could identify with Hazel. I do think the main relationship could have been a bit better developed, but I did like Vince.
Received from NetGalley.
Received from NetGalley.
drey72's review against another edition
I was really intrigued by the premise of a murder occurring in the midst of a book club meeting, which shouldn't be a surprise considering how much I love books... Not that I've ever participated in a book club or group, but I have been curious. So I was looking forward to inhaling Murder at the Book Group.
And I'm so sorry to say I didn't get into it at all. I gave it the 50-page try (actually, 76 pages), but didn't connect with any of the characters or with the story. The main character wants to know more - about her friend Carlene, about Carlene's death - but is a bit too washy-washy to be forthright and come right out and ask. The other book club members are straight from a casting call, from the overly-obnoxiously-opinionated to the secretive to the suspicious.
It's been a long time since I inhaled all available Agatha Christies, and Murder at the Book Group brings to mind the style in prose and telling. It's just that Hazel is no Poirot.
drey's rating: Did not finish
This review was originally posted on drey's library
And I'm so sorry to say I didn't get into it at all. I gave it the 50-page try (actually, 76 pages), but didn't connect with any of the characters or with the story. The main character wants to know more - about her friend Carlene, about Carlene's death - but is a bit too washy-washy to be forthright and come right out and ask. The other book club members are straight from a casting call, from the overly-obnoxiously-opinionated to the secretive to the suspicious.
It's been a long time since I inhaled all available Agatha Christies, and Murder at the Book Group brings to mind the style in prose and telling. It's just that Hazel is no Poirot.
drey's rating: Did not finish
This review was originally posted on drey's library
jcbmathcat's review against another edition
3.0
I had access to a preview copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m sure there is a sub genre within mysteries that includes romance with the mystery. I am not one who enjoys a lot of romantic entanglements as part of the plot. That being said, I still enjoyed King’s book; I tried to ignore the descriptions of hair, makeup, clothing, and romance.
However, romantic and sexual encounters did actually play a part in the storyline, so it was difficult to ignore all of it.
Hazel Rose and her friend, Carlene Arness, started a book group of fellow readers and writers who would critique books read and also assist each other in their own efforts. At one gathering, Carlene dies during the meeting, at a point when the members were coming and going from various rooms in her house.
When the cause of death is determined to be cyanide poisoning, Hazel begins her own investigation into what the police initially determine to be suicide (a handwritten note was found near Carlene’s body). Assisted, or hindered, by friends and family, Hazel finds out that people are often not who they appear to be.
I had trouble getting through the initial chapters, but at some point, I realized that I was invested and wanted to find out who had murdered Carlene. Even though I did find the physical descriptions of hair, makeup, and clothing distracting, I did enjoy the plot and am sure this book will find a good home among readers who like a large dose of romance with their mysteries.
I’m sure there is a sub genre within mysteries that includes romance with the mystery. I am not one who enjoys a lot of romantic entanglements as part of the plot. That being said, I still enjoyed King’s book; I tried to ignore the descriptions of hair, makeup, clothing, and romance.
However, romantic and sexual encounters did actually play a part in the storyline, so it was difficult to ignore all of it.
Hazel Rose and her friend, Carlene Arness, started a book group of fellow readers and writers who would critique books read and also assist each other in their own efforts. At one gathering, Carlene dies during the meeting, at a point when the members were coming and going from various rooms in her house.
When the cause of death is determined to be cyanide poisoning, Hazel begins her own investigation into what the police initially determine to be suicide (a handwritten note was found near Carlene’s body). Assisted, or hindered, by friends and family, Hazel finds out that people are often not who they appear to be.
I had trouble getting through the initial chapters, but at some point, I realized that I was invested and wanted to find out who had murdered Carlene. Even though I did find the physical descriptions of hair, makeup, and clothing distracting, I did enjoy the plot and am sure this book will find a good home among readers who like a large dose of romance with their mysteries.
carolsnotebook's review
2.0
I wanted to like this mystery. But it was all too much; too many (confusing) characters, too many potential motives, too much marrying/having affairs with each others exes. Maybe that was my main problem. Everybody was hooking up with everybody all the time, or so it seemed, but not in a romantic way, in a trashy way. The author also had a bit of an annoying habit of pointing out themes – like wow, Nazis keep coming up or lots of mothers and sons. Gee, I wonder if the solution has something to do with those two things.
You can see my whole review at Carol's Notebook.
You can see my whole review at Carol's Notebook.
aspygirlsmom_1995's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
Murder at the Book Group Club ( Hazel Rose Mysteries) is 2014 Gallery Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
A book club gathering designed for discussions about books apparently is more of a gossip and bitch session as well as an opportunity to expound upon one's personal political leanings. Very little discussion of books actually takes place. But, everyone did manage to think about how cyanide would really work as a murder weapon in a mystery novel. So, it's an odd coincidence when the host of gathering dies from ingesting cyanide.
The question then becomes: Was it suicide or murder? Most people that new Carlene are adamant she would never commit suicide, even though Carlene had been distracted the day of her death and she and her husband were separated. So, if it was murder... who hated Carlene enough to want to kill her? Well, apparently this group of oft married and divorced ladies certainly get around. Affairs, secrets and grudges and jealously are the order of the day leaving the door wide open on possible suspects.
In the whodunit style murder mystery, a wide array of characters is often used and few red herrings are thrown in to keep the reader guessing. I found it hard to keep up with all the people in this one. Who was married to who, having an affair, all the ex-husbands, boyfriends, lovers and so on. I lost the thread a few times because of all the relationship back and forths. I mean these ladies got around. Hazel herself has been married four times and has an on again, off again boyfriend who is a cop. To add to the mix, Hazel was married to Carlene's current husband, Evan at one time. Over time the women had managed to maintain a friendship, however. Hazel thought she knew Carlene fairly well, but has discovered since her death that maybe she never really knew her at all. Whew!
But, by the time I was about 40% into the book I had the characters figured out and the mystery began to really get interesting. Hazel is funny at times and her attempts at crime solving could be great at times. With the help of Vince and Lucy, Hazel finally begins to narrow down the suspects and the reader will not expect the outcome. The book ended on a really great note and by the time I had read the last page, I realized I had rather enjoyed the mystery even after getting off to a rather slow start.
Over all I will give this one a 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.
A book club gathering designed for discussions about books apparently is more of a gossip and bitch session as well as an opportunity to expound upon one's personal political leanings. Very little discussion of books actually takes place. But, everyone did manage to think about how cyanide would really work as a murder weapon in a mystery novel. So, it's an odd coincidence when the host of gathering dies from ingesting cyanide.
The question then becomes: Was it suicide or murder? Most people that new Carlene are adamant she would never commit suicide, even though Carlene had been distracted the day of her death and she and her husband were separated. So, if it was murder... who hated Carlene enough to want to kill her? Well, apparently this group of oft married and divorced ladies certainly get around. Affairs, secrets and grudges and jealously are the order of the day leaving the door wide open on possible suspects.
In the whodunit style murder mystery, a wide array of characters is often used and few red herrings are thrown in to keep the reader guessing. I found it hard to keep up with all the people in this one. Who was married to who, having an affair, all the ex-husbands, boyfriends, lovers and so on. I lost the thread a few times because of all the relationship back and forths. I mean these ladies got around. Hazel herself has been married four times and has an on again, off again boyfriend who is a cop. To add to the mix, Hazel was married to Carlene's current husband, Evan at one time. Over time the women had managed to maintain a friendship, however. Hazel thought she knew Carlene fairly well, but has discovered since her death that maybe she never really knew her at all. Whew!
But, by the time I was about 40% into the book I had the characters figured out and the mystery began to really get interesting. Hazel is funny at times and her attempts at crime solving could be great at times. With the help of Vince and Lucy, Hazel finally begins to narrow down the suspects and the reader will not expect the outcome. The book ended on a really great note and by the time I had read the last page, I realized I had rather enjoyed the mystery even after getting off to a rather slow start.
Over all I will give this one a 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.
krisrid's review against another edition
1.0
I don't know what it was about this, but everything about it came across as boring to me. Boring characters, boring setting, boring story. Even the murder was a big yawn to me.
I couldn't connect to anything in this book. I just didn't care about any of these people or what happened to them. I will be moving on to something else that will hold my interest.
I couldn't connect to anything in this book. I just didn't care about any of these people or what happened to them. I will be moving on to something else that will hold my interest.