elizaeliza's review against another edition
4.0
I had been craving me some queer culture something shocking and I had an inkling that a murder mystery written by a lesbian featuring a lesbian detective might be just the ticket. I started with Val McDermid's 'Report for Murder', which was quite a gripping read but no where near lesbian enough for me.
This book, on the other hand, turned me into a total bore because I had an irrepressible need to haul up every lesbian I know and tell them in great detail just how lesbian (and thereby how awesome) this book is. Even though I consciously know that recounting a current book is as fascinating as describing that really weird dream you had, I couldn't help myself.
I loved it and I will certainly read more in this series.
This book, on the other hand, turned me into a total bore because I had an irrepressible need to haul up every lesbian I know and tell them in great detail just how lesbian (and thereby how awesome) this book is. Even though I consciously know that recounting a current book is as fascinating as describing that really weird dream you had, I couldn't help myself.
I loved it and I will certainly read more in this series.
angieinbooks's review
4.0
Drug trafficking, the Dixie Mafia, inheritance wars, and an assortment of queer characters leading the charge? Yes, please!
I'm not sure why I don't read more mystery/thriller books because I usually enjoy them when I do, and J.M. Redmann's Death by the Riverside is no exception. I liked the plot and the characters and the Louisiana setting. And I was really rooting for the romance, which has to be one of the craziest couplings ever (no spoilers), but I really liked watching it all develop.
Here's the thing, though. I really didn't like Micky Knight all that much. I rooted for her--don't get me wrong. I wanted her to solve the mystery and the crime and I definitely wanted her to get the girl, but I didn't like her all that much: aiming below her potential, hard and damaged and gruff, woe is me, etc. I just didn't like that she fit nicely into that P.I. trope I see in every novel where the P.I. is guy. I don't like reading about that guy, and changing him into a queer woman, it turns out, doesn't make me like her anymore. I did like the literary refences and the discussion on philosophy and her knowledge of classical music. I loved how she took every opportunity afforded to her to roast Thoreau (a character in the novel, not the author. LOL). So I didn't hate her by any means, I just wish she wasn't such a genre stereotype.
This series is 10 stories long at this point and that concerns me a bit for someone more invested in the romance than with the crime investigations, but I will definitely pick up the second book and see how far into this I go.
Also, it was super strange to read about the not-so-distant past where people had answering machines and no cell phones and no keyless start for cars. It added for a bit more suspense that way. And it's weird because I definitely lived in that analog world, but seeing it on the page was so odd. So a fair bit of warning for readers: this book can feel dated at times, and it's not due to the lack of technology but by the way queerness is understood and lived out. I'm probably not explaining that well, but I'm so glad it exists for that reason alone.
Last thing I'll say about this--without spoiling anything: The rattlesnakes! Genius.
I'm not sure why I don't read more mystery/thriller books because I usually enjoy them when I do, and J.M. Redmann's Death by the Riverside is no exception. I liked the plot and the characters and the Louisiana setting. And I was really rooting for the romance, which has to be one of the craziest couplings ever (no spoilers), but I really liked watching it all develop.
Here's the thing, though. I really didn't like Micky Knight all that much. I rooted for her--don't get me wrong. I wanted her to solve the mystery and the crime and I definitely wanted her to get the girl, but I didn't like her all that much: aiming below her potential, hard and damaged and gruff, woe is me, etc. I just didn't like that she fit nicely into that P.I. trope I see in every novel where the P.I. is guy. I don't like reading about that guy, and changing him into a queer woman, it turns out, doesn't make me like her anymore. I did like the literary refences and the discussion on philosophy and her knowledge of classical music. I loved how she took every opportunity afforded to her to roast Thoreau (a character in the novel, not the author. LOL). So I didn't hate her by any means, I just wish she wasn't such a genre stereotype.
This series is 10 stories long at this point and that concerns me a bit for someone more invested in the romance than with the crime investigations, but I will definitely pick up the second book and see how far into this I go.
Also, it was super strange to read about the not-so-distant past where people had answering machines and no cell phones and no keyless start for cars. It added for a bit more suspense that way. And it's weird because I definitely lived in that analog world, but seeing it on the page was so odd. So a fair bit of warning for readers: this book can feel dated at times, and it's not due to the lack of technology but by the way queerness is understood and lived out. I'm probably not explaining that well, but I'm so glad it exists for that reason alone.
Last thing I'll say about this--without spoiling anything: The rattlesnakes! Genius.
amcheri's review
5.0
Love this book! Re-reading it because we're featuring it on episode 18 of Cocktail Hour.
http://www.cocktailhour.c-spot.net/archives/72
http://www.cocktailhour.c-spot.net/archives/72
hannahboni's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ayaraj99's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lasiepedimore's review against another edition
4.0
Puoi trovare questa recensione anche sul mio blog, La siepe di more
Death by the Riverside è un giallo un po’ atipico, principalmente perché non si presenta come tale: inizia con incarico abbastanza semplice per la nostra protagonista, la detective privata Micky Knight, ma serve a noi per conoscere questa ricchissima famiglia, gli Holloway, dai traffici poco puliti. Il romanzo, poi, ci mette parecchio ad arrivare all’indagine vera e propria, che si rivelerà comunque avara di attività investigativa.
Questa lentezza nel portare avanti la trama del giallo, ci permette di fare conoscenza con Micky Knight, una donna con scarsi mezzi finanziari, una gatta di nome Hepplewhite, un’insana passione per lo Scotch e poco incline alle relazioni a lungo termine. Sappiamo che ha un passato tragico (e nel corso del romanzo scopriremo quanto) e una zia bigotta e intollerante che l’hanno resa poco indulgente nei confronti del perbenismo, del razzismo e dell’omofobia.
Quindi nel romanzo non manca un’attenzione speciale alle tematiche queer e femministe: in particolare, queste ultime di sostanziano nel demolire l’ideale dell’uomo etero salvatore della pulzella. In Death by the Riverside non solo Micky è capace di salvarsi da sola, ma il tipico bravo ragazzo alla prova dei fatti si dimostra il personaggio più mediocre del romanzo. Forse anche troppo: oggi probabilmente preferiremmo una critica più sottile, ma è un romanzo del 1990, quindi glielo si perdona volentieri (soprattutto sapendo che gran parte degli uomini cis, allo ed etero ancora si crogiolano nei loro sozzi privilegi).
Probabilmente è un romanzo che farà storcere il naso ai puristi del genere: troppo focalizzato sulle vicende personali della protagonista e delle sue amiche/amanti e poco sugli intrighi e i misteri da risolvere. A me è piaciuto anche per questo e penso che sarebbe ottimo materiale per farne una serie tv (chi di dovere noti questa serie, grazie!).
Death by the Riverside è un giallo un po’ atipico, principalmente perché non si presenta come tale: inizia con incarico abbastanza semplice per la nostra protagonista, la detective privata Micky Knight, ma serve a noi per conoscere questa ricchissima famiglia, gli Holloway, dai traffici poco puliti. Il romanzo, poi, ci mette parecchio ad arrivare all’indagine vera e propria, che si rivelerà comunque avara di attività investigativa.
Questa lentezza nel portare avanti la trama del giallo, ci permette di fare conoscenza con Micky Knight, una donna con scarsi mezzi finanziari, una gatta di nome Hepplewhite, un’insana passione per lo Scotch e poco incline alle relazioni a lungo termine. Sappiamo che ha un passato tragico (e nel corso del romanzo scopriremo quanto) e una zia bigotta e intollerante che l’hanno resa poco indulgente nei confronti del perbenismo, del razzismo e dell’omofobia.
Quindi nel romanzo non manca un’attenzione speciale alle tematiche queer e femministe: in particolare, queste ultime di sostanziano nel demolire l’ideale dell’uomo etero salvatore della pulzella. In Death by the Riverside non solo Micky è capace di salvarsi da sola, ma il tipico bravo ragazzo alla prova dei fatti si dimostra il personaggio più mediocre del romanzo. Forse anche troppo: oggi probabilmente preferiremmo una critica più sottile, ma è un romanzo del 1990, quindi glielo si perdona volentieri (soprattutto sapendo che gran parte degli uomini cis, allo ed etero ancora si crogiolano nei loro sozzi privilegi).
Probabilmente è un romanzo che farà storcere il naso ai puristi del genere: troppo focalizzato sulle vicende personali della protagonista e delle sue amiche/amanti e poco sugli intrighi e i misteri da risolvere. A me è piaciuto anche per questo e penso che sarebbe ottimo materiale per farne una serie tv (chi di dovere noti questa serie, grazie!).
aubrey87's review
5.0
Micky is a great flawed character and I absolutely love her! I also adore that things with her and her love interest are not tied up in a neat little bow. Micky has room to grow and I look forward to reading the next one :)
lezreviewbooks's review
5.0
This book is in my recommended books of the month
https://lezreviewbooks.com/recommended-books-of-september-2018/
This is the start of the series of 9 books (so far) written by Ms. Redmann along three decades following the adventures of Private detective Micky Knight in the city of New Orleans. In this book, Micky attempts to expose a dangerous drug ring and meets the enigmatic Dr. Cordelia James. 4.5 stars.
https://lezreviewbooks.com/recommended-books-of-september-2018/
This is the start of the series of 9 books (so far) written by Ms. Redmann along three decades following the adventures of Private detective Micky Knight in the city of New Orleans. In this book, Micky attempts to expose a dangerous drug ring and meets the enigmatic Dr. Cordelia James. 4.5 stars.