Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

11 reviews

j_squaredd's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Good plot, but the characters never really feel fully-fledged 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ell_n's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rachaelbunny's review

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

atamano's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sarasreading's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious 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? No

3.5

 The characters were cute and enjoyable, and I was glad I didn't guess the final whodunit. However, I guessed literally every other twist without even trying, often eons before they were revealed. 

It was also a bit annoying that the characters took ages to realize simple things. I often felt like I was 3 steps ahead. And there were enough completely unrealistic things that happened for the sake of plot, that would never happen in real life, that I was disappointed. I can only suspend disbelief so much. 

Those critiques aside, it was still enjoyable overall. I love The Thursday Murder Club gang, which is what drew me to this book. It's not as good as those books in my opinion, but it's perfect if you're in the mood for something similarly cozy. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

larareads's review

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

leandrathetbrzero's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 ↓ Similar Reading Experiences ↓
  1. Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club (2020)
  2. MC Beaton’s The Quiche of Death (1992)
  3. Agatha Christie’s The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) 

 
I received an ARC of The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood, published by Poisoned Pen Press, via Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.

Judith Potts wants for nothing in her independent lifestyle. At seventy-seven years old, Judith loves her job as a crossword setter, busies herself with jigsaw puzzles and swimming in the Thames River, and keeps certain memories in her past well-buried. She’s perfectly happy. That is, until she discovers her neighbor with a bullet in his head. And this is only the beginning.

I absolutely adore this dream team of amateur sleuths made up of a crossword setter, a dog walker, and the vicar’s wife. And D.S. Tanika Malik as an honorary fourth member. These characters are well-developed, diverse in their motivations and backgrounds, and brilliantly supportive of each other. None of this surprises me because the book’s author, Robert Thorogood, is the creator of Death in Paradise, one of my favorite detective TV series. The storylines and characters in this TV series are rich in their complexity, so naturally The Marlow Murder Club would be no different.

The dialogue is sprinkled with clever theories and epiphanies. And the characters are wicked funny throughout. I loved the many positive examples of women supporting women, and their growing friendships feel extremely believable. This is a book to read for the characters as much as it is for the murder mystery.

Speaking of the mystery, Thorogood is certainly no amateur! Each time yet another person is found murdered, the plot thickens and our protagonists are forced to dig a little deeper. Admittedly, I predicted the solution quite early on, but I had no problem reading until the end to be sure I was correct. Spoiler: Think 
SpoilerStrangers on a Train.
  In 2022, I have read way more mysteries than I have in past years, so I am beginning to wonder if I am simply growing accustomed to the genre’s twists and turns. (1) I already bought my physical copy, (2) I will 100% be recommending this book to fellow mystery lovers, especially those who loved The Thursday Murder Club, and (3) I fully intend to return to Marlow if/when Thorogood invites us with a sequel!

 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

tea_bex's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

prism_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

emlo's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted 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? It's complicated

3.5

I didn't enjoy this as much as the Thursday Murder club. For me this stretched credulity too far. There were a few too many farfetched plot contrivances. However, I liked the characters and it was a pleasant enough read. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings