iris_cadaver's review against another edition
4.0
Mostly really enjoyed this (1960s Baltimore, yay) but struggled at first with the multiple POVs, then the ending just kind of fizzled for me.
kelbi's review against another edition
3.0
Lukewarm praise for this one. I couldn’t feel empathy with any of the characters and I need that. It is a clever story set in the 1960s. I haven’t read any others by this novelist and I believe this isn’t typical. May try others
dougbiv4's review against another edition
I couldn't keep track of the characters and their connection to the story
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4.5 STARS
2019; William Morrow/HarperCollins Canada
I started this novel as right away I am getting [b:Cop Town|18594594|Cop Town|Karin Slaughter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548251974l/18594594._SY75_.jpg|26341000]-vibe. Even though Cop Town takes place in 1970s, and Lady in the Lake is 1960s, there is the same tone of the time. You have strong women trying to right wrongs with everything being thrown at them. As I started the novel, I wasn't sure where it was going, but slowly it started building up and my curiosity turned into being hooked. While my feelings towards Maddie bounced all around, I was invested in her story and her stubbornness to find Cleo's (the lady in the lake) story. It wasn't just about what happened to her but who she was and she was loved. Cleo wasn't a throwaway. Oh, Cleo was also African-American woman which as we know did and do know get high profile status to be solved (ugh, going to stop there on that subject).
Once I get sucked into Lippman's standalone novels, I can't wait to see how it ends. She can really tell a story with characters that are realistic and that readers get invested into. I highly recommend this novel, and Lippman's backlog.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
2019; William Morrow/HarperCollins Canada
I started this novel as right away I am getting [b:Cop Town|18594594|Cop Town|Karin Slaughter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548251974l/18594594._SY75_.jpg|26341000]-vibe. Even though Cop Town takes place in 1970s, and Lady in the Lake is 1960s, there is the same tone of the time. You have strong women trying to right wrongs with everything being thrown at them. As I started the novel, I wasn't sure where it was going, but slowly it started building up and my curiosity turned into being hooked. While my feelings towards Maddie bounced all around, I was invested in her story and her stubbornness to find Cleo's (the lady in the lake) story. It wasn't just about what happened to her but who she was and she was loved. Cleo wasn't a throwaway. Oh, Cleo was also African-American woman which as we know did and do know get high profile status to be solved (ugh, going to stop there on that subject).
Once I get sucked into Lippman's standalone novels, I can't wait to see how it ends. She can really tell a story with characters that are realistic and that readers get invested into. I highly recommend this novel, and Lippman's backlog.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Maddie Schwartz, a Baltimore housewife in the ‘60s, decides one day she wants more out of life than what she got. So she leaves her husband and teenage son and gets herself an apartment in a questionable neighborhood and sets out to find herself. When she unwittingly discovers a body in a park, she decides journalism is the career for her and starts pursuing a byline with dogged efficiency. What she doesn’t understand is that insinuating herself into a crime isn’t the best way to solve it, and some murder victims don’t want to be avenged.
Female characters in mysteries so rarely get to be complicated, fully fleshed-out people, and even less often do they get to be unlikeable (unless they’re the villain, of course). That’s why I enjoyed Maddie as a character even as I raised my eyebrows repeatedly at her decisions. I also loved how the book was structured, with short vignettes from various characters interspersed between Maddie’s chapters.
Female characters in mysteries so rarely get to be complicated, fully fleshed-out people, and even less often do they get to be unlikeable (unless they’re the villain, of course). That’s why I enjoyed Maddie as a character even as I raised my eyebrows repeatedly at her decisions. I also loved how the book was structured, with short vignettes from various characters interspersed between Maddie’s chapters.
noelle_tofigh's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked Lady in the Lake. The sense of place is strong (and I know something about Baltimore and the surrounding counties because that's where I live) and the 1960s newspaper angle hooked me. Lippman did this thing that I loved but I've seen some reviewers complain about. She used odd chapters to highlight side characters, putting the reader in their POV. I thought it was a clever way to add layers to the story and I was never confused by the alternating POVs. In fact, I think it drew me more into the world Lippman was creating.
Now I'm looking forward to watching the limited series when it comes out on AppleTV.
Now I'm looking forward to watching the limited series when it comes out on AppleTV.
sueotwell's review against another edition
1.0
This book drug on so muc, I finally asked my coworker to spoil it for me so I coyld be done with it. To many characters and to drawn out especially for the way it ended.... if you make me drag through it give me a great ending.... not a favorite at all, totally fell short for me.
cfb49's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
aliencatl0rd's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this because I do like mysteries and thrillers, but I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable or interesting. It was just okay.
thatonebookishmama's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0