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kraley's review against another edition
4.0
I am continuing to enjoy this series. Poor Rowland Sinclair didn’t get to paint much in this book and there wasn’t as much subterfuge, but the characters are lovely and the story is engaging.
elnell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
3.5
bookchantment's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
local_hat's review against another edition
It's. So. Glacially. Slow. And so much is taken up with rich person faffing about and nonsense. Allegedly the hero and his friends are leftist enough to have "gotten in trouble with the fascists" but we don't actually see any of that on the page? There's a lot of keeping up appearances and "let's hide the nudes so we're respectable" stuff though. There's allegedly a mystery we're investigating but there doesn't seem to be a lot of investigating happening.
Also the hero and his male friends are one big muddle of young wealthy dude, even after it says one came from poorer circumstances. And they're all referred to as "the poet" or similar. I know who "the sculptress" is because she's the only woman in the group. I could not tell you the rest of them.
I just cannot do it.
Also the blurb is wrong? And misleading; that death is not the first we see AND it doesn't happen until halfway through the book.
Also the hero and his male friends are one big muddle of young wealthy dude, even after it says one came from poorer circumstances. And they're all referred to as "the poet" or similar. I know who "the sculptress" is because she's the only woman in the group. I could not tell you the rest of them.
I just cannot do it.
Also the blurb is wrong? And misleading; that death is not the first we see AND it doesn't happen until halfway through the book.
river_55555555's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
novel_nomad's review against another edition
4.0
This series keeps jumping from strength to strength. I was dubious if this book could really be as excellent at the first - but it squashed all my doubts with intense mystery and excellent character development. I truly love Rowland and his friends, they make a strong unit and always support each other - it is probably what makes this such a strong second book. The mystery elements were excellent and I could hardly begin to speculate before another spanner was through in the works, I even fell for the red herring.
All in all, bring on book three!
All in all, bring on book three!
wendycherie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
3.0
stofkochic's review against another edition
2.0
I went into this thinking this was similar to a locked room mystery, except it's happening on a cruise, so they're all stuck on this boat while people are dying. Then, once I started reading and getting to know the characters, it felt like it could be similar to a Jeeves/Bertie Wooster type of book.
I was wrong on both counts.
Yes, the book takes place on a boat and people are dying. However, not even halfway through the book, the characters debark the boat, leaving random things to happen on land.
I was already struggling to get into the book, but when there was the second death on board, I finally had an interest. Then a chapter or so later, they leave the boat to do a bunch of boring things, and I completely lost interest again.
The book was just so boring. I kept waiting for it to pick up, to get exciting, and want to keep reading. It felt like the excitement was just out of reach. I was so close to reaching that balloon of interest, but it kept floating away from me.
Finally, as I mentioned above, it felt like this book was trying to be as funny and entertaining as P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster series. Rowland Sincalir and his cronies don't come anywhere close to the entertainment and hilarity that is Bertie Wooster and friends.
I was wrong on both counts.
Yes, the book takes place on a boat and people are dying. However, not even halfway through the book, the characters debark the boat, leaving random things to happen on land.
I was already struggling to get into the book, but when there was the second death on board, I finally had an interest. Then a chapter or so later, they leave the boat to do a bunch of boring things, and I completely lost interest again.
The book was just so boring. I kept waiting for it to pick up, to get exciting, and want to keep reading. It felt like the excitement was just out of reach. I was so close to reaching that balloon of interest, but it kept floating away from me.
Finally, as I mentioned above, it felt like this book was trying to be as funny and entertaining as P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster series. Rowland Sincalir and his cronies don't come anywhere close to the entertainment and hilarity that is Bertie Wooster and friends.
pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Technically speaking, a significant improvement on Gentill's first novel. Much better plot construction (there's an actual plot and a real mystery with clues and suspects this time, instead of just a sequence of events) and more capable character work.
I don't think this series is for me, though. I had hoped for something more from a mystery with this historical setting than an amiable romp that just uses the history for set dressing and a source of colourful supporting characters.
I don't think this series is for me, though. I had hoped for something more from a mystery with this historical setting than an amiable romp that just uses the history for set dressing and a source of colourful supporting characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism
v_v_v's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75