Reviews

The Way Through The Woods by Colin Dexter

cami19's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

conprimo's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I don't understand why Colin Dexter would possibly think that a woman who has been raped or nearly raped, would upon being rescued by a complete stranger, near enough immediately want to have sex with that stranger.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexism

Moderate: Alcoholism

roshk99's review against another edition

3.0

Morse somehow does it again, with everyone else trying and failing to keep up with his random leaps of intuition.

oftalone90's review against another edition

dark 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? Yes

4.0

Classic Morse. A few twists and turns to keep it interesting. An easy and satisfying read 

bookishdragon's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sarahpottenger's review against another edition

2.0

I picked up this Inspector Morse mystery because I had watched Inspector Lewis on PBS and fell in love with him and with Sergeant Hathaway. Lewis and Morse were partners, and Hathaway is Lewis' new partner. Lewis was great in the book. I liked him a lot. Hathaway, I'm sad to say, is an invention of the TV show. He's not in the books at all.

mosodott's review against another edition

3.0

Lettlest krim, liker Morse-serien. Litt vel mye unødvendig seksualisering av alle de kvinnelige karakterene imo.

angrygreycatreads's review against another edition

5.0

This is book 10 in the Morse series by Colin Dexter and it may have been my favorite so far! Lots of wordplay and puzzles much of it going back and forth through the newspapers as Morse is on vacation. The central crime is the disappearance (and assumed murder) of a “Swedish Maiden” some years prior. Morse is on vacation as the case is reopened through clues being published in the newspaper.

Morse’s curmudgeonly personality shines through here and we get to see him as he “enjoys” his holiday and works on a case outside of “proper” channels. Lewis also has to stand on his own two feet while Morse is away coming to some realizations about the relationship he has with Morse and how it is viewed (perhaps envied) by others. Finally, Morse and Max’s relationship is given some bittersweet attention here, allowing the reader to see another side of Morse and bringing real depth of emotion to the character.

I am enjoying this series of books greatly and will be sad to reach the end.

ruthiella's review against another edition

3.0

This was a suitably complex mystery about a young Swedish tourist who went missing in 1991 from Oxford. A year later, the case has stalled out; the clues have led nowhere and no corpse has been found. While Morse is on vacation, however, a cryptic letter pertaining to the missing woman is sent to the police and subsequently published in the Times which sparks the public’s assistance in solving the disappearance (and presumable murder) of whom the press dubs “The Swedish Maiden”.

I liked it as I have liked all Inspector Morse books. They are maddeningly convoluted but interesting to read and so very British, but in a completely different way from other mystery writers such as Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers. My only real issue is why is Morse such a perv?

theelliemo's review against another edition

5.0

Definite influences from the TV series coming into the books now; Morse, while still curmudgeonly, has become a little less obnoxious. Meanwhile, the twists and turns of the investigation, and the little clues dropped along the way make for a good procedural.