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laurajordensharris's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
singalana's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This is a decent crime novel about an elderly lady solving a series of murders that have left the police puzzled.
I’d call it almost a cosy crime book because there isn’t much violence, and the tone is quite mellow and friendly. The protagonist is a 77-year-old woman who makes crosswords and, in her spare time, solves puzzles. When her neighbour is murdered, she gets involved in a police investigation and finds new friends along the way.
It’s quite refreshing to read a book with an older woman protagonist. In fact, all of the main characters in this book are women. The mystery is quite cleverly built, and the end resolution is satisfactory, in my opinion, even though I might have started to guess the solution towards the end.
I have one small criticism regarding this book: there was quite a lot of explaining towards the end. Other than that, this is a very decent novel, and I intend to continue with the series. I listened to it as an audiobook, and the narrator, Nicolette McKenzie, was a good fit for the role.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
fivecatsinacoat's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
Thank you NetGalley, Libro.fm, and the publisher for an advanced review/listening copy of this book.
This was a very tame murder mystery and I never really felt much tension. I would have liked to see the police process a little more, which felt rushed. I did like that the 3 MCs were older and that they used that to their advantage!
The narrator was wonderful!
This was a very tame murder mystery and I never really felt much tension. I would have liked to see the police process a little more, which felt rushed. I did like that the 3 MCs were older and that they used that to their advantage!
The narrator was wonderful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Infidelity
ell_n's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
angelbabe_cj's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this book. It was a pretty quick read, and fast paced. I definitely liked the main characters and the idea that if a follow up is written there will be more to discover about their characters. They were a decently quirky mix.
That said although I didn't work out the specifics of the solution ahead of the reveal I definitely worked out some of the twists. I always find that a little disappointing even if I'm always working at it. I'm not sure if I've simply seen and read enough mysteries to predict that sort of thing, or if the breadcrumbs weren't deftly enough placed.
I definitely appreciate that the police weren't portrayed as incompetent, and were able to make some advances of their own, just not able to get all the pieces together. When police officers in a modern setting fail to be at least competent at their jobs en masse.
That said although I didn't work out the specifics of the solution ahead of the reveal I definitely worked out some of the twists. I always find that a little disappointing even if I'm always working at it. I'm not sure if I've simply seen and read enough mysteries to predict that sort of thing, or if the breadcrumbs weren't deftly enough placed.
I definitely appreciate that the police weren't portrayed as incompetent, and were able to make some advances of their own, just not able to get all the pieces together. When police officers in a modern setting fail to be at least competent at their jobs en masse.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Blood
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