soundy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
roses_reading_corner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
readingslug's review against another edition
1.0
It just didn't grab me. In fact it actively pushed me away. The past tense third person just grated on me and I thought Poe was....not Edgar Allen Poe? Like he was just another character or a poor imitation of Poe or something. I don't know, this book just rubbed me the wrong way and there's too many books in the world to waste my time on a book I don't enjoy reading.
jnicweb's review against another edition
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
4.25
Really liked this book and seeing eap come to life! I also liked Gus as the narrator and that twist! Holy cow! Lea creeped me out a little lol
boogiewonderland's review against another edition
4.0
Strong 4.5. Deeply immersive, dark, and captivating. A fun read, especially if you enjoy Edgar Allan Poe. Loved Poe’s characterisation, he was perfectly endearing.
olivercoast's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Murder, and Violence
abroadwell's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy this sort of historical pastiche. The parts that are written in the style of Edgar Allen Poe are quite good, and the author also captures something of the flavor of Victorian detective novelists like Wilkie Collins.
There is a scene in the ice house toward the end of the book that struck me as a big broadly written and over the top, but the twist at the end redeemed it for me.
There is a scene in the ice house toward the end of the book that struck me as a big broadly written and over the top, but the twist at the end redeemed it for me.
jaydoncornell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
duskk_novels's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
'...she was his consolation from God.
And every time he faltered in his undertaking, every time he fretted for his soul, he realized he had nothing to fret over.
God had taken her. God had nothing more to claim from him'
Through the whimsical narrative of police constable, Gus Landor, we are immersed into the harrowing yore of October 1830, where a US cadet, Leroy Fry has been found swinging from a noose near the Hudson river. A devastating suicide that rendered the US military academy incapable of protecting its young men. And it seems the dead do not fare well here either, as Fry's body had been stolen...and found with his chest hacked open and his heart brutally carved out
Tasked with solving this unfathomable act of savagery, Landor dives into the haunting past of Leroy Fry and uncovers the unforgivable secrets that once harboured in this heartless, mangled mass of decay. And enlisting the assistance of another cadet, the soon to be famous poet Edgar Allen Poe, they tear down the Academy's subterfuge and find multiple sickening, silent shows of inhumanity concealed underneath
A gut-churning murder mystery with mystifying characters, dark imagery and intrigue that thickened as the plot unfolded. Integrated with vivid poetry and built with a majestic lyrical prose that gave it the ambiance of a Charles Dickens classic. Its most striking feature to me was its elegant, atmospheric writing that made me feel like I was reading a novel produced in the 19th century. I relished every word and had my soul destroyed with the diabolical plot twists that came with it. I have never read a novel that contained so many dark twists and truths, transforming the entire book and plunging me into a deeper and more disturbing perspective
Landor was my favourite and I loved his calm and mysterious demeanour. His way of explanation and description of events were absorbing and understanding his deep-rooted relevance to the whole plotline was overwhelming
Definitely one for the murder mystery, classics and thriller fans !
And every time he faltered in his undertaking, every time he fretted for his soul, he realized he had nothing to fret over.
God had taken her. God had nothing more to claim from him'
Through the whimsical narrative of police constable, Gus Landor, we are immersed into the harrowing yore of October 1830, where a US cadet, Leroy Fry has been found swinging from a noose near the Hudson river. A devastating suicide that rendered the US military academy incapable of protecting its young men. And it seems the dead do not fare well here either, as Fry's body had been stolen...and found with his chest hacked open and his heart brutally carved out
Tasked with solving this unfathomable act of savagery, Landor dives into the haunting past of Leroy Fry and uncovers the unforgivable secrets that once harboured in this heartless, mangled mass of decay. And enlisting the assistance of another cadet, the soon to be famous poet Edgar Allen Poe, they tear down the Academy's subterfuge and find multiple sickening, silent shows of inhumanity concealed underneath
A gut-churning murder mystery with mystifying characters, dark imagery and intrigue that thickened as the plot unfolded. Integrated with vivid poetry and built with a majestic lyrical prose that gave it the ambiance of a Charles Dickens classic. Its most striking feature to me was its elegant, atmospheric writing that made me feel like I was reading a novel produced in the 19th century. I relished every word and had my soul destroyed with the diabolical plot twists that came with it. I have never read a novel that contained so many dark twists and truths, transforming the entire book and plunging me into a deeper and more disturbing perspective
Landor was my favourite and I loved his calm and mysterious demeanour. His way of explanation and description of events were absorbing and understanding his deep-rooted relevance to the whole plotline was overwhelming
Definitely one for the murder mystery, classics and thriller fans !