duskk_novels's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
'...she was his consolation from God.
And every time he faltered in his undertaking, every time he fretted for his soul, he realized he had nothing to fret over.
God had taken her. God had nothing more to claim from him'
Through the whimsical narrative of police constable, Gus Landor, we are immersed into the harrowing yore of October 1830, where a US cadet, Leroy Fry has been found swinging from a noose near the Hudson river. A devastating suicide that rendered the US military academy incapable of protecting its young men. And it seems the dead do not fair well here either, as Fry's body had been stolen...and found with his chest hacked open and his heart brutally carved out
Tasked with solving this unfathomable act of savagery, Landor dives into the haunting past of Leroy Fry and uncovers the deadly secrets that once harboured in this heartless, mangled mass of decay. And enlisting the assistance of another cadet, the soon to be famous poet Edgar Allen Poe, they tear down the Academy's subterfuge and find multiple unforgiving, silent shows of inhumanity concealed underneath
A gut-churning murder mystery with mystifying characters, dark imagery and intrigue that thickened as the plot unfolded. Built with a majestic, lyrical prose that gave it the ambiance of a Charles Dickens classic. Its most striking feature to me was its elegant, atmospheric writing that made me feel like I was reading a novel produced in the 19th century. I relished every word and had my soul crushed with the diabolical plot twists that came with it. I have never read a novel that contained so many dark twists and truths, transforming the entire book and plunging me into a deeper and more disturbing perspective
Landor was my favourite and I loved his calm and mysterious demeanour and the undying, immeasurable love he had for his child. His way of explanation and description of events were absorbing and understanding his deep-rooted relevance to the whole plotline was overwhelming
Definitely one for the murder mystery, classics and thriller fans !
And every time he faltered in his undertaking, every time he fretted for his soul, he realized he had nothing to fret over.
God had taken her. God had nothing more to claim from him'
Through the whimsical narrative of police constable, Gus Landor, we are immersed into the harrowing yore of October 1830, where a US cadet, Leroy Fry has been found swinging from a noose near the Hudson river. A devastating suicide that rendered the US military academy incapable of protecting its young men. And it seems the dead do not fair well here either, as Fry's body had been stolen...and found with his chest hacked open and his heart brutally carved out
Tasked with solving this unfathomable act of savagery, Landor dives into the haunting past of Leroy Fry and uncovers the deadly secrets that once harboured in this heartless, mangled mass of decay. And enlisting the assistance of another cadet, the soon to be famous poet Edgar Allen Poe, they tear down the Academy's subterfuge and find multiple unforgiving, silent shows of inhumanity concealed underneath
A gut-churning murder mystery with mystifying characters, dark imagery and intrigue that thickened as the plot unfolded. Built with a majestic, lyrical prose that gave it the ambiance of a Charles Dickens classic. Its most striking feature to me was its elegant, atmospheric writing that made me feel like I was reading a novel produced in the 19th century. I relished every word and had my soul crushed with the diabolical plot twists that came with it. I have never read a novel that contained so many dark twists and truths, transforming the entire book and plunging me into a deeper and more disturbing perspective
Landor was my favourite and I loved his calm and mysterious demeanour and the undying, immeasurable love he had for his child. His way of explanation and description of events were absorbing and understanding his deep-rooted relevance to the whole plotline was overwhelming
Definitely one for the murder mystery, classics and thriller fans !
clarebyfield's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carstensena's review against another edition
3.0
A slow read, but enjoyable enough, especially the West Point setting. I became impatient with it about 2/3 through, but the ending was well worth the wait.
(Read for a bookgroup discussion.)
(Read for a bookgroup discussion.)
msmithr's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 read via eBook. Murder. Whodunit. West Point. What’s not to like? Lots of twists and turns. Playful author and writing.
mglen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
4.0
peterthelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting mystery (really my first genre mystery) set at 1830s West Point. The cast of characters includes a young Edgar Allen Poe, who in life briefly attended West Point from July of 1830 to February of 1831. Poe is enlisted by retired NYC constable Gus Landor to assist him in a secret investigation of an academy cadet who is found dead and who's body is subsequently and bizarrely mutilated. Poe takes to his duties most enthusiastically, and his reports to Landor foreshadow his later works of poetry and fiction. Although I am not a Poe aficcionado, I still enjoyed the setting and the Poe allusions. I can't quite give it four stars, but I'd give 3 1/2.
odearime's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
quinndm's review against another edition
3.0
The actual writing style is the thing that elevates this murder mystery into a full experience of the crimes and of the period— it feels like you are reading a historical account of crimes committed centuries ago. There were a few plot holes that stood out for me, but it kind of made sense at the end (but I had to suspend disbelief a little to buy into all the twists). I would have loved the Poe notes to read more like the letters they were and not have the same style as the rest of the book—those two different styles would have added another beautiful layer to this good book. It was a fun read, and I understand why Netflix wanted to turn it into a film. Now I’m going to watch the movie…