Reviews

The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins

fruitkate's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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

3.75

athos's review against another edition

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dark mysterious

3.5

Love a spooky Victorian read. Despite a good story, the hopping from different characters perspectives (e.g. the doctor in the opening chapters that we never saw again) made it harder to focus on the characters that mattered (like Agnes and Henry)

murakamikarakteri's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

3.75

mcleary's review

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3.0

A fun little gothicy ghost story with an interesting enough premise.

sarahcoller's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted mysterious fast-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

4.0

This was another fun read by Wilkie Collins --- even though the ending is very abrupt. Even though there's really not any explanation for the ultimate creepy event. Even though we don't really understand the role of the courier. Even though there are enough plot holes to crumble a palace-turned-hotel. Even though... he's still one of my favorites. 

Almost last line: <i>"Let it be recorded that Mrs. ____________ never again attempted to persuade her husband into betraying his secrets. Other men's wives, hearing of this extraordinary conduct... naturally regarded her with compassionate contempt (and) as 'rather old-fashioned'."</i>

Hahahahahaha!

One thing I especially love about Collins is his use of form. He often tells his stories with multiple narrators. With this one, we get the third person narrator but it is still told in such a way as to think we are getting different points of view. Then, to top it all, the entire part of the story that had been hidden from us throughout is told near the end in the form of a manuscript for a play. Genius.

lilykennedy's review

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

dark_library_'s review

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No

2.5

martareader's review against another edition

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2.0

more like 2.5

evelutza's review

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dark mysterious 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? No

3.5

quantum_singularity's review against another edition

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4.0

Honestly, this would have been three stars for not really landing on the side of paranormal explained OR supernatural.

But then Collins is like, oh, u wanna know what the mystery was? How about u tell me the mysteries of life and death huh? Are ghosts real? U tell me, bitch

And I had to give an extra star for being a shitlord who argues that a bug is a feature and tbh same