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wanderingwonderbread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
readerette's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? N/A
0.5
I watched some Aurora Teagarden mysteries last winter because they're cozy and a good distraction from the cold. This winter, I decided I'd read one.
Maybe the others in this series are better, but there is no redeeming quality to this book except that the story moves at an appropriate pace.
It can't decide if it's a bloody thriller about a town full of semi-psychopathic people, or a low-stakes cozy mystery with a love triangle. The writing is exceedingly simplistic. There's little characterization and no scene-setting unless you count constantly describing Roe's fashion choices and makeup. The dialogue and monologues leave much to be desired. Any interest generated by the mystery plot is overshadowed by everything that's wrong with this book.
Oh, and it's unironically racist and homophobic to boot. At one point, Roe points out that because no black candidate is running for mayor the candidates are getting to focus on the issues. 😶 And one of the male side characters has a male friend that Roe can't resist italicizing and mentally sneering passive-aggressively about multiple times, wondering if "friends" is really all they are. 🤦♀️ Is either of these things relevant to anything else in the book? Nope. I'm sure the author has become more aware of this over time, but in this book, she had not been conscious of bias, or how to make these judgments seem like a character's rather than her own that she just couldn't help inserting into the text.
The movies are pretty cute (even for someone who's not really a Hallmark fan), and really have none of the above problems. Maybe just watch those.
Maybe the others in this series are better, but there is no redeeming quality to this book except that the story moves at an appropriate pace.
It can't decide if it's a bloody thriller about a town full of semi-psychopathic people, or a low-stakes cozy mystery with a love triangle. The writing is exceedingly simplistic. There's little characterization and no scene-setting unless you count constantly describing Roe's fashion choices and makeup. The dialogue and monologues leave much to be desired. Any interest generated by the mystery plot is overshadowed by everything that's wrong with this book.
Oh, and it's unironically racist and homophobic to boot. At one point, Roe points out that because no black candidate is running for mayor the candidates are getting to focus on the issues. 😶 And one of the male side characters has a male friend that Roe can't resist italicizing and mentally sneering passive-aggressively about multiple times, wondering if "friends" is really all they are. 🤦♀️ Is either of these things relevant to anything else in the book? Nope. I'm sure the author has become more aware of this over time, but in this book, she had not been conscious of bias, or how to make these judgments seem like a character's rather than her own that she just couldn't help inserting into the text.
The movies are pretty cute (even for someone who's not really a Hallmark fan), and really have none of the above problems. Maybe just watch those.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
brennap6's review
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
I went in expecting a cozy mystery and it wasn’t quite that, had the tone but was a bit gruesome. Overall a good read though and the audiobook narrator is excellent!
A bit dated, I enjoyed that when it came to the technology but not the way the character thought about other women, which felt very of a time. At one point she honestly thinks “she hates me because she resents that I’m short and she’s tall and unfeminine.” The heroine also dates two men at once and plans fo introduce them both to her 6 year old brother on the same day, which seems like a weird way to handle the situation.
A bit dated, I enjoyed that when it came to the technology but not the way the character thought about other women, which felt very of a time. At one point she honestly thinks “she hates me because she resents that I’m short and she’s tall and unfeminine.” The heroine also dates two men at once and plans fo introduce them both to her 6 year old brother on the same day, which seems like a weird way to handle the situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Stalking
libraryladylife's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Great book, good mystery, and little too gruesome for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
kibbles15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a cute murder mystery that I found out about due to the Hallmark Series of the same name. While I enjoyed the book, I found it to be a bit wordy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror and Confinement
paperknotbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Cuter than expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
lakea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
a_alves00's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
atrevin12's review against another edition
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
3.5
Quick, enjoyable read. The mystery surrounding the murders was really interesting and plenty of characters to suspect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
It's hard not to enjoy Charlaine Harris' writing. It's light, fluffy, and simple enough to read quickly for something lighthearted. For a book about gruesome murders, that's what this book was - lighthearted and funny at times. It wasn't amazing, but it also wasn't awful. It was a fun read and a solid three but I don't think I'll be reading any more of the series.
My comments on the mental illness aspect of the book are in the spoiler.
My comments on the mental illness aspect of the book are in the spoiler.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Kidnapping, and Murder
The portrayal of mental illness in this isn't fantastic, but it's certainly not terrible. I was happy she didn't make the mentally ill character the murderer and instead chose to show him getting help.