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drannieg's review against another edition
3.75
Fantastic concept, reasonably well executed (the second/blue half better than the first, not least as less attempt to render an Essex accent on the page - just say the character is accented and write it normally please). Twists obviously from a mile off. Enjoyable though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Police brutality, Medical content, and Death of parent
zuza_w's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Animal death
chrisscorkscrew's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Animal death
aunticles's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was a real disappointment. The concept of the tete-beche book is a clever one and kudos to the author for attempting something so challenging. Sadly, in my opinion, he doesn't pull it off. Neither book stands alone. The characters are ciphers in service to the plot so I didn't care what happened to any of them. Some of the descriptions of place and atmosphere are well done but the dialogue and characterisation was unconvincing, particularly in the 1930s section. The mystery in this section was far too obvious. And the Victorian mystery, such as it is, was solved by a lazy device. It's an easy read and fast paced but a missed opportunity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
Set in the 1880s, it sees Dr Simeon Lee arrive at the house of his cousin, Parson Oliver Hawes. Oliver is ill but believes he is being poisoned & there doesn't seem to be any shortage of suspects: is it the two servants, one of whom provides the food that Oliver eats, or is it one of the townsfolk in the neighbouring village who speak of Turnglass House with disdain, or is it Florence Hawes? Once married to Oliver's brother, James, Florence killed him in a rage over another woman & she now lives behind a glass wall in Turnglass House. How would she get out though to commit the crime?
There are several references to the second half of the story which is set in 1930s California & involves the death of Oliver Tooke & the appearance of a book about a young doctor named Simeon Lee. This book is written as a tête-bêche novel - two intertwined stories where you can read one then the other or read alternate chapters. I didn't realise it when requesting, but this was only one of the two parts to the story so obviously that choice was not open to me, but I didn't enjoy the story enough to read the second part. I found it a bit hard-going for some reason, can't quite put my finger on what I didn't like. Many reviewers seemed to really like it though, so don't let me put you off as it's something different in today's book world.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
There are several references to the second half of the story which is set in 1930s California & involves the death of Oliver Tooke & the appearance of a book about a young doctor named Simeon Lee. This book is written as a tête-bêche novel - two intertwined stories where you can read one then the other or read alternate chapters. I didn't realise it when requesting, but this was only one of the two parts to the story so obviously that choice was not open to me, but I didn't enjoy the story enough to read the second part. I found it a bit hard-going for some reason, can't quite put my finger on what I didn't like. Many reviewers seemed to really like it though, so don't let me put you off as it's something different in today's book world.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death
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