carireads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sopaphlmieer's review against another edition
4.0
read this in a couple of days, just could not put it down
I’m adoring the Frieda Klein series sm. If I had one suggestion for our dear psychotherapist it would be to try and give her digestive system something to munch on. Something, anything. If it’s not Number 9, it’s a cup of tea and half a grain of rice - god only knows how she finds the energy to run after those killers all day long!
I’m adoring the Frieda Klein series sm. If I had one suggestion for our dear psychotherapist it would be to try and give her digestive system something to munch on. Something, anything. If it’s not Number 9, it’s a cup of tea and half a grain of rice - god only knows how she finds the energy to run after those killers all day long!
lgeorgie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nle2004's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite crime series, gripping, almost plausible, the characters have become familiar and friendly. The series has a strong J.K.Rowing vibe. Yes, I know it's a rather bold statement, but i'm in love with Robin and Strike books, so I'm happy I get more 4 books in FK series to keep me entertained.
bgg616's review against another edition
3.0
As soon as I finished this book, I said "annoying" aloud. There were many things that annoyed me about this book. I read the first in the series, but not the second, and a lot happened in this book that was based on book two. I was continuously annoyed at how untogether the main character, psychotherapist Frieda, was. Yes, she is recovering from a trauma but seems completely unable despite her profession to get help for herself while inserting herself unnecessarily into the lives of others. A enemy tricks a group of psychology professionals into meeting with phony clients in order to denounce them as incompetent. I found this premise totally ridiculous. Then Frieda latches onto one detail of a story from the interview and goes off to find the people involved. Completely unbelievable. She also flies back and forth to the US at times overseas at times normal flights don't go and WALKS from the airport (which would have to be JFK) into the city where a friend lives. This is nearly impossible. I gave this 3 stars because in the end I actually did want to know who had committed the original murder.
not_a_real_wombat's review against another edition
2.0
There's too many stories and characters in this book for no apparent good reason. The suspension for the slightly scary things doesn't really reach a nice climax. All in all not a book I recommend picking up if you hadn't already on accident.
johnnyb1954's review against another edition
3.0
I still really enjoy Nicci French’s writing and the characters leading these books. Ok, so Nicci French is really two people. It’s still good writing that matters. This book brings chaos into Frieda’s orderly home and life. It is used for both humor and drama (and trauma). The combination of police procedural with Frieda’s psychological insights are still strong.
This time there are two crime threads going, with a new character, a investigating journalist leading one of them.
Again, like the previous books, there are too many characters.
Frieda’s boyfriend remains the least interesting main character and is hard to see why Frieda’s cares for him - she’s not even sure.
The solutions to both crimes seemed obvious to me early on.
Frieda’s path to meeting up with the journalist and connecting to his investigation is kind of absurd.
Is the last point that made this 3 stars for me instead of 4.
It is beginning to seem that the series is really about Frieda’s own mental journey (with the symbology of constantly tracing streams and hidden rivers) that will presumably resolve when we get to Sunday.
This time there are two crime threads going, with a new character, a investigating journalist leading one of them.
Again, like the previous books, there are too many characters.
Frieda’s boyfriend remains the least interesting main character and is hard to see why Frieda’s cares for him - she’s not even sure.
The solutions to both crimes seemed obvious to me early on.
Frieda’s path to meeting up with the journalist and connecting to his investigation is kind of absurd.
Is the last point that made this 3 stars for me instead of 4.
It is beginning to seem that the series is really about Frieda’s own mental journey (with the symbology of constantly tracing streams and hidden rivers) that will presumably resolve when we get to Sunday.