maisiejayne's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chadjames312's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
emilygrace220812's review
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bethwhite's review against another edition
5.0
Mr Alex Smith you have a new huge fan of the DCI Kett series! This is a fantastic beginning to a new series with a great mystery and story to not only this book but what I assume will be a running theme through the upcoming novels. Absolute page turner and kept me reading into the night more than once to get to the answers I wanted!
Aside from the main story itself the main characters are also well developed and realistic with both floors as well as endearing qualities that make you sympathetic towards them - you can’t help but smile and like them. The author also does a fantastic, and one of the best I’ve read, jobs of adding comedy into the book. Literally laugh out loud and sometimes proper dad humour comedy but in the perfect places which bring the much needed light relief whilst also not detracting from or being disrespectful of some pretty harrowing subject matters.
I would also say of a lot of books of this nature, Alex Smith does a great job with the detail of the scenes and crimes with enough information that we get the point and it isn’t exactly light reading to say the least. But at the same time nor does he go over the top to the point where it becomes the horror I have seen other books turn into. His storyline and writing is good enough that he can rely on that rather than the gore to keep a reader’s attention. Fantastic read and definitely one I recommend!
Aside from the main story itself the main characters are also well developed and realistic with both floors as well as endearing qualities that make you sympathetic towards them - you can’t help but smile and like them. The author also does a fantastic, and one of the best I’ve read, jobs of adding comedy into the book. Literally laugh out loud and sometimes proper dad humour comedy but in the perfect places which bring the much needed light relief whilst also not detracting from or being disrespectful of some pretty harrowing subject matters.
I would also say of a lot of books of this nature, Alex Smith does a great job with the detail of the scenes and crimes with enough information that we get the point and it isn’t exactly light reading to say the least. But at the same time nor does he go over the top to the point where it becomes the horror I have seen other books turn into. His storyline and writing is good enough that he can rely on that rather than the gore to keep a reader’s attention. Fantastic read and definitely one I recommend!
vesper1931's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
DCI Robert Kett and his three young daughters have moved to Norwich trying to find peace. But he is soon embroiled in the case of the missing paper girls. Can the police find them in time.
An entertaining well-written modern mystery with its likeable characters. A good start to this series.
An entertaining well-written modern mystery with its likeable characters. A good start to this series.
librarylucy's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.25
mrsbooknerd's review
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed the start of this series, and I already want to read the next one.
If you are looking for a 'proper' police procedural which follows and in-depth investigation then this won't hit the brief, instead it is character driven and follows the investigation more broadly. I thought the balance was well-struck. There was enough detail and enough development of the paper girls plot to keep it moving and interesting, but the progression of Kett and his family was equally as compelling.
There was a lovely sense of humour running throughout the book that made me smile several times. The team were well-introduced and I already want to spend more time with them, even hairy nosed Clare.
Definitely going onto my 'read-the-whole-back-catalogue-as-soon-as-possible' list.
If you are looking for a 'proper' police procedural which follows and in-depth investigation then this won't hit the brief, instead it is character driven and follows the investigation more broadly. I thought the balance was well-struck. There was enough detail and enough development of the paper girls plot to keep it moving and interesting, but the progression of Kett and his family was equally as compelling.
There was a lovely sense of humour running throughout the book that made me smile several times. The team were well-introduced and I already want to spend more time with them, even hairy nosed Clare.
Definitely going onto my 'read-the-whole-back-catalogue-as-soon-as-possible' list.
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