thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Received for Review
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 3.75
First thought when Finished: That last half of this book was really well done and kept me riveted!
What I Loved: I can't really go into detail about what I loved about Before the Poison or the review would be full of spoilers. I will say there is a distinct point in the middle of the book where we start reading parts of Grace's journal that really, in my opinion, made the book start to sparkle. I was riveted and intrigued. I couldn't turn pages fast enough in an effort to learn what really happened!
What I Liked: I liked that there was a twist with the main protagonist that I just didn't seem coming. It did explain much of his behavior that I did not quite understand. The twist also tied together some things that I had been questioning the whole book.
What made me go HUH?: There were a few parts of the story I didn't like: the affair was a big one. I just didn't see the need for it but it didn't distract from the story for me. It did make me like the characters a little less though.
Final Thought: I think if you are a fan of Peter Robinson, you will like this stand alone novel. I also think if you are history/true crime buff you will enjoy it too. The crime isn't real but the way he hunts down the story reminds of investigation discovery.
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 3.75
First thought when Finished: That last half of this book was really well done and kept me riveted!
What I Loved: I can't really go into detail about what I loved about Before the Poison or the review would be full of spoilers. I will say there is a distinct point in the middle of the book where we start reading parts of Grace's journal that really, in my opinion, made the book start to sparkle. I was riveted and intrigued. I couldn't turn pages fast enough in an effort to learn what really happened!
What I Liked: I liked that there was a twist with the main protagonist that I just didn't seem coming. It did explain much of his behavior that I did not quite understand. The twist also tied together some things that I had been questioning the whole book.
What made me go HUH?: There were a few parts of the story I didn't like: the affair was a big one. I just didn't see the need for it but it didn't distract from the story for me. It did make me like the characters a little less though.
Final Thought: I think if you are a fan of Peter Robinson, you will like this stand alone novel. I also think if you are history/true crime buff you will enjoy it too. The crime isn't real but the way he hunts down the story reminds of investigation discovery.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended by Jane
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbefore%20the%20poison%20robinson__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbefore%20the%20poison%20robinson__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
Chris Lowndes, a grief-stricken widower, returns to England after living in the United States for 25 years and enjoying a successful career writing theme and atmospheric music for movies. He wants to move back to the Yorkshire dales where he grew up and he buys an old, neglected mansion called Kilnsgate House sight unseen. After moving in, he discovers that Grace Fox, once the mistress of Kilnsgate House, had been found guilty of poisoning her husband, Ernest, 50 years before and had been hanged. Chris becomes interested in the case and begins to search for information and talks to anyone who is still alive with memories of the events. The deeper he digs, the more he comes to realize that the case is much more complex than anyone realized. Robinson does an excellent job setting the scene and drawing the reader deeper into the unraveling mystery. However, this book also reminds readers that things are not always what they seem, jumping to conclusions can backfire, no one really knows what another person has experienced, and a single action can lead to a number of unexpected results.
malagajames's review against another edition
4.0
What a great surprise. I love the Bank series but this is so different and still thoroughly enjoyable.
namimerijaan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
bookcraft's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not at all sure how to describe this book. It's nothing like the murder mysteries I've been reading lately; the fact that the murder in question took place almost 60 years before the protagonist begins looking into it means that there isn't really a sense of urgency to his investigation, and that gives the whole narrative a freedom to be more of an immersive experience. The author takes advantage of that and does a beautiful job bringing the settings to life.
Usually, I'm very competitive about solving a mystery before the answer is revealed, but in this case — again, I suspect, because of the way it all unfolded like a beautiful origami flower unfolding — I was content to follow along and see where the protagonist's intuition took him. I couldn't help having my own ideas, of course, and they ended up being very much in line with the narrative, but I didn't feel like solving the puzzle was the entire point of the exercise, the way I often do with mystery novels. There was one well-done twist toward the end, though, that completely blindsided me.
Usually, I'm very competitive about solving a mystery before the answer is revealed, but in this case — again, I suspect, because of the way it all unfolded like a beautiful origami flower unfolding — I was content to follow along and see where the protagonist's intuition took him. I couldn't help having my own ideas, of course, and they ended up being very much in line with the narrative, but I didn't feel like solving the puzzle was the entire point of the exercise, the way I often do with mystery novels. There was one well-done twist toward the end, though, that completely blindsided me.
nickie184's review against another edition
1.0
Let me start by saying how much I have enjoyed all of the Inspector Banks mysteries. When it comes to English police procedurals, Peter Robinson is tops in my book (haha). However, I just did not like this story. Too many snide remarks about California, a totally unbelievable plot, and I really did not like out main character.
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
I'd give this book 4 1/2 stars. I was intrigued until the end. This is a departure from Peter Robinson's Detective Banks series, but even better. The main character Chris Lowndes moves back to England from Hollywood where he has worked as a movie soundtrack composer. Like the Banks books, music is central to the story and Robinson is detailed about the music the main character listens to, and why. Lowndes becomes intrigued with the story of a murder that occurred in the house 60 years before and investigates. The ending is both satisfying and a surprise.