franksreads's review against another edition
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? Yes
joshster142's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
1mpossiblealice's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really enjoying this series and finding them very easy to read, which is interesting because some other reviewers say they're difficult. I'm also really enjoying that they are shorter than many crime novels - she can do everything in fewer words. The writing is very good, and there are definitely clues dropped so you could work out the ending if you wanted to. I really like Burden too, he's my favourite character so far.
robinwalter's review against another edition
Just too dull. I slogged throguh the first two, but this one was too much of the same old sluggishness
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite the page-turner I was hoping for, but I feel that my knowledge of Rendell is severely limited and, thus, it's good to get a few under the proverbial belt. I'm curious enough that if anyone reading this is a big fan and you have a favorite, I'm keen to hear what it is.
ncrabb's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of the early Wexford novels, and it shows. It’s just not the kind of writing you get from Rendell as this series matures.
Initially, Wexford’s supervisor tells him he has no case. After all, they don’t have a body, and they don’t have much data. A helpless self-absorbed artist insists his sister is missing, but there’s some indication that someone murdered her.
They get an anonymously signed letter alerting them to the death of someone and to a dark killer. Still no body. The story painfully progresses to its conclusion. The interesting part of this book was the sizzling electrifying romance between a super-ambitious cop and a shopgirl. It's a bit like touching a piece of equipment that's badly grounded. You don't exactly get a shock, but there's that weird tingle that goes through your hands if you rub that piece of equipment. This is how that romance felt as I read it. It played an integral part in the book. You could see here how the author would develop her ability to provide you with psychological twists that would become a hallmark of the later books in this series. Incidentally, I think it's safe to let you know that they do indeed find a body, but it's not that of the missing woman.
Initially, Wexford’s supervisor tells him he has no case. After all, they don’t have a body, and they don’t have much data. A helpless self-absorbed artist insists his sister is missing, but there’s some indication that someone murdered her.
They get an anonymously signed letter alerting them to the death of someone and to a dark killer. Still no body. The story painfully progresses to its conclusion. The interesting part of this book was the sizzling electrifying romance between a super-ambitious cop and a shopgirl. It's a bit like touching a piece of equipment that's badly grounded. You don't exactly get a shock, but there's that weird tingle that goes through your hands if you rub that piece of equipment. This is how that romance felt as I read it. It played an integral part in the book. You could see here how the author would develop her ability to provide you with psychological twists that would become a hallmark of the later books in this series. Incidentally, I think it's safe to let you know that they do indeed find a body, but it's not that of the missing woman.
lorkay's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bucherca49's review against another edition
3.0
Although the plot has some interesting twists, it did not interest me. This novel lacked the humanity of Wexford #2 and the characters are largely unsympathetic. The epigrams and quotes are largely taken from The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, and since I do not know that work, I did not understand the connection to the story. I also found this novel hard to follow and not well edited. On a more positive note, I think I am beginning to see a pattern. Burden works out interesting hypotheticals that explain the evidence and fit his assumptions, while Wexford understands the psychology of the people involved and draws different conclusions.
gifflesnooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
4.0
There's no body - and I mean for the majority of the book which is unusual for a murder mystery. But clearly someone has been killed, nothing else could leave that large a blood stain on the carpet of a rented room.
The ending caught me off-guard. I didn't see the twist coming, even though I certainly should have. There were enough clues, but I was looking at things the wrong way.
You can see my whole review at my blog, Carol's Notebook.
The ending caught me off-guard. I didn't see the twist coming, even though I certainly should have. There were enough clues, but I was looking at things the wrong way.
You can see my whole review at my blog, Carol's Notebook.