kemilyh1988's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amberzieg's review against another edition
3.0
Better than the first in the series, with a wider cast of characters and perspectives.
victoria27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
rivercat0338's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? No
3.75
catebutler's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mojoshivers's review against another edition
5.0
I love that, aside from the main two characters of Ruth, a feisty and intelligent forensic archaeologist, and DCI Nelson, a stubborn and diligent inspector, one of the recurring secondary characters is this hippie Druid called Carthbad. He goes around in a purple robe everywhere, spouting New Age and Enlightened philosophy, and may or may not know magic but definitely gets premonitions and has a knack for showing up at the right time everywhere.
It’d be like if Law and Order or NCIS just had a random wizard like Harry Potter or Gandalf on as a consultant on some cases. And what’s more, it doesn’t feel out of place. I mean—with all the religious rituals, pagan sites, and Old World mythology that archaeology in rural England entails, a modern day man calling himself a Druid wizard kind of fits.
It also provides brief moments of levity to the otherwise gruesome murders. I mean—when the case of the book involves a five-year-old girl found decapitated under an old Catholic school doorway and her missing head found in well a quarter mile away, having a purple cloaked Druid assisting is refreshing. When someone is leaving creepy notes for Ruth, as well as baby dolls and taxidermy animals, at her home and at her job, it’s kind of awesome that there’s a somewhat magical dude showing up to assist seemingly randomly and out of nowhere.
Like the characters in the book, even DCI Nelson, you just stop questioning Carthbad showing up just as Ruth gets into trouble. You stop questioning how Carthbad just intuits where to go and the quickest way to get there. You stop questioning how he just has a sense for these things. It’s just Carthbad being Carthbad, you know?
I’m loving this series. Even the awkward love triangle is handled in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s not soap opera-ish or melodramatic in the least. It’s very much what I think happens in real life where romantic relationships are messy but not always destructive. It’s very mature that they take an awkward situation and try to keep it, if not low-key, at least medium key. After all, solving a murder and catching a murderer should take priority, and let the other love drama work itself out as fate would have it I say.
It’d be like if Law and Order or NCIS just had a random wizard like Harry Potter or Gandalf on as a consultant on some cases. And what’s more, it doesn’t feel out of place. I mean—with all the religious rituals, pagan sites, and Old World mythology that archaeology in rural England entails, a modern day man calling himself a Druid wizard kind of fits.
It also provides brief moments of levity to the otherwise gruesome murders. I mean—when the case of the book involves a five-year-old girl found decapitated under an old Catholic school doorway and her missing head found in well a quarter mile away, having a purple cloaked Druid assisting is refreshing. When someone is leaving creepy notes for Ruth, as well as baby dolls and taxidermy animals, at her home and at her job, it’s kind of awesome that there’s a somewhat magical dude showing up to assist seemingly randomly and out of nowhere.
Like the characters in the book, even DCI Nelson, you just stop questioning Carthbad showing up just as Ruth gets into trouble. You stop questioning how Carthbad just intuits where to go and the quickest way to get there. You stop questioning how he just has a sense for these things. It’s just Carthbad being Carthbad, you know?
I’m loving this series. Even the awkward love triangle is handled in a way I haven’t seen before. It’s not soap opera-ish or melodramatic in the least. It’s very much what I think happens in real life where romantic relationships are messy but not always destructive. It’s very mature that they take an awkward situation and try to keep it, if not low-key, at least medium key. After all, solving a murder and catching a murderer should take priority, and let the other love drama work itself out as fate would have it I say.
erikabrooks11's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaileycool's review against another edition
3.0
We’ll see how far I go with this series. I liked the first one, and this one was okay, but I do feel like the murder mystery took backseat to a kind of Mary Sue-ish love triangle where everyone is obsessed with the safety of the main character for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. I’ll try the next one to see if the mystery is more prominent.