The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
thatclaregirl's review against another edition
1.0
I only read a couple of chapters but even with my lack of books on my travels I still couldn't be bothered reading anymore, it was too bad.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
--Recommended by Haley
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbeautiful+place+to+die+nunn__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbeautiful+place+to+die+nunn__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
stacysmom's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book as a teenager and it really had a profound impact on me. I plan on rereading it and leaving a better review but even after 15ish years the book truly stands out in my mind from the 1000s of books I’ve read in my lifetime.
terese_utan_h's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
myrdyr's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars. This was my first novel by Nunn and my first set in South Africa. It was an excellent first novel. Both the storyline and the setting were fascinating. I can't wait to read her next novel in this series.
cmrams's review against another edition
4.0
This was my favorite out of the random 5 books I picked up at the library the last time I was there. An intriguingly complex murder mystery set in South Africa in the 1950's, I felt this novel gave me the most insight into another culture, country, and history than any of the other books so far in my Books From Around the World challenge. There was never a moment I got bored or felt the story to be in a lull period. I also enjoyed the writing style of [a:Malla Nunn|1288231|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1288565696p2/1288231.jpg]. Sophisticated yet smoothly paced, there was just something 'natural' to reading this one. I never felt as though I were forcing myself to get through another X number of pages (which I feel like I've done a lot of recently.)
[b:A Beautiful Place to Die|8416874|A Beautiful Place to Die|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275961579s/8416874.jpg|3022332] also brought attention to the inequalities and extreme, complicated racial prejudices and segregation in South Africa at the time, without 'shoving it down your throat' so to speak. It was there always, racial tensions a constant factor in everything, which drove me mad and added a whole other level to the novel instead of just another murder mystery/crime novel. The backgrounds of several characters, the protagonist Detective Emmanuel and the Old Jew mainly, were also frequently hinted to but always kept in shadow. I am intrigued and want to know more about how the Jewish Doctor came to be living in South Africa after WWII and who this Scottish Sergeant-Major's presence in Emmanuel's subconscious is.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading [b:A Beautiful Place to Die|8416874|A Beautiful Place to Die|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275961579s/8416874.jpg|3022332] and look forward to reading more by [a:Malla Nunn|1288231|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1288565696p2/1288231.jpg].
[b:A Beautiful Place to Die|8416874|A Beautiful Place to Die|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275961579s/8416874.jpg|3022332] also brought attention to the inequalities and extreme, complicated racial prejudices and segregation in South Africa at the time, without 'shoving it down your throat' so to speak. It was there always, racial tensions a constant factor in everything, which drove me mad and added a whole other level to the novel instead of just another murder mystery/crime novel. The backgrounds of several characters, the protagonist Detective Emmanuel and the Old Jew mainly, were also frequently hinted to but always kept in shadow. I am intrigued and want to know more about how the Jewish Doctor came to be living in South Africa after WWII and who this Scottish Sergeant-Major's presence in Emmanuel's subconscious is.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading [b:A Beautiful Place to Die|8416874|A Beautiful Place to Die|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275961579s/8416874.jpg|3022332] and look forward to reading more by [a:Malla Nunn|1288231|Malla Nunn|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1288565696p2/1288231.jpg].
bgg616's review against another edition
3.0
This is 3 and a half for me due to a few of the details in the plot that I found unnecessary, superfluous, and detracking from the story. But the details of life in South Africa of the time were interesting, and the main character Emmanuel Cooper, sufficiently interesting to read further books by this author.
dlmoldovan's review against another edition
3.0
This book offers mystery upon layer of mystery, and a haunted lead character that's still recovering from WWII while trying to solve the case. Throw in racial, religious and societal differences, and a little communism and torture and that'll add some spice to the mystery. Yes, I found the story dragging on in a couple of places, but once I started reading I couldn't put it down. The author also did a good job of introducing the beginning of apartheid in the South African society. The characters needed some more development, but they were entertaining nonetheless. I will probably pick up the next on in the series.