Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

9 reviews

dukhtar's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

Massey's writing style usually isn't for me (overly descriptive) but I have always liked the Perveen Mistry novels for their plot. I enjoy the world bulding and research that she puts into her books, but this one didn't work for me because the mystery didn't feel like it came to a head till the last few pages, and then everything resolves far too quickly. 

The romantic arc, which I hoped would have some payoff in this instalment after a sufficiently long run up, makes little headway. There were too many red herrings, and the choppy pacing did not help. In all, I just didn't feel excited enough to solve this one alongside Perveen.
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skudiklier's review against another edition

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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? No

5.0

I've liked every book in this series and this was no exception! This one might have even been better than some of the others--there were so many moving pieces and factors but it never felt confusing or overwhelming. I was fully engaged the whole time. I love reading a series like this where they're definitely readable on their own but reading them all together gives you more insight into the characters and the progression of their relationships.
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knitterscasket's review against another edition

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

4.5

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tamara_joy's review against another edition

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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? No

4.0

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kimveach's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this fourth book of the Perveen Mistry series. She always focuses on the restrictions imposed upon women in 1920s India. In this case, the book dealt with women's obstetric health and how a man could assault a woman in his household without recrimination. Fascinating information and characters I loved.
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arcookson's review

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

2.5

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veereadstoomuch's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative inspiring mysterious sad fast-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

4.0

I love the Perveen Mistry series and always look forward to the next installment. While there were parts of this I loved, there were parts that weren’t as strong. 

The descriptions of people and places, food and clothing, and social rules - spoken and unspoken  - are the most interesting. There is so much about this era in India that I don’t know, and I always want to learn more. I really enjoyed this book up to the last few chapters which I felt were weaker. 

As we get to the end of the book, the tension ramps up. There’s a dramatic scene at a ball but it seems contrived rather than naturally flowing from the plot. The final chapter, in which everything is laid out and explained, redeems the earlier section. 

I’m also mystified by two things. One is that the subject of the title really isn’t that dominant a character. I think The Ayah of Bhatia House would have been a more relevant title. Also, without revealing too much, an offstage character is mentioned as being alive and well but in an earlier book it appeared that character was dying in a hospital. While not addressed in this book, that discrepancy is relevant to Perveen’s life and needs to be clarified in the next book. 

Overall this is a wonderful book full of information and inspiration, and I will always look forward to reading about Perveen. This just wasn’t the best in the series. 
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medini_l's review against another edition

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

3.75

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