lindseypeapod's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
saraheholtom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
wendoxford's review
3.0
A compulsive diverting read. That said, I think the material for this volume for this family has racked up beyond the suspending belief level.
I prefer the storylines that are quirky rather than gratuitously violent; happenstance rather than solving every aspect of every story.
Just think the volume has been put up too much
I prefer the storylines that are quirky rather than gratuitously violent; happenstance rather than solving every aspect of every story.
Just think the volume has been put up too much
ljwrites85's review
5.0
Ah, it's lovely to be back with the Skelfs again, it's a bit like visiting old friends. Dysfunctional old friends, mind you, but highly entertaining at the same time.
This is the third book in the series and I would highly recommend reading the previous books to get a better understanding of the characters and they just happen to be fantastic too!
You know when you read a book and think, where does the author come up with these amazing ideas from? That's exactly how I felt while reading The Great Silence.
As usual, there are several investigations going at once during the novel. Dorothy discovers a dismembered foot while out walking her dog Einstein. Jenny is busy looking for her ex-husband, who escaped police custody. Hannah is investigating a case where her colleague thinks he's getting messages from outer space. This is all while running their funeral directing business and dealing with their usual family dramas along the way.
Like the previous books, the storylines are expertly woven together, grabbing you from the outset and making you want to read to the very last page.
Of course, like the other books in the series, there's some dark themes, i.e. abuse and suicide, but they're handled with sensitivity by the author.
I heard this might be the last we see of the Skelfs, which I hope is not the case! If it is, then I will say it was a satisfying ending for the trilogy, but I'm crossing my fingers for more stories featuring Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah.
The Great Silence is a captivating and original read that I honestly couldn't get enough of.
This is the third book in the series and I would highly recommend reading the previous books to get a better understanding of the characters and they just happen to be fantastic too!
You know when you read a book and think, where does the author come up with these amazing ideas from? That's exactly how I felt while reading The Great Silence.
As usual, there are several investigations going at once during the novel. Dorothy discovers a dismembered foot while out walking her dog Einstein. Jenny is busy looking for her ex-husband, who escaped police custody. Hannah is investigating a case where her colleague thinks he's getting messages from outer space. This is all while running their funeral directing business and dealing with their usual family dramas along the way.
Like the previous books, the storylines are expertly woven together, grabbing you from the outset and making you want to read to the very last page.
Of course, like the other books in the series, there's some dark themes, i.e. abuse and suicide, but they're handled with sensitivity by the author.
I heard this might be the last we see of the Skelfs, which I hope is not the case! If it is, then I will say it was a satisfying ending for the trilogy, but I'm crossing my fingers for more stories featuring Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah.
The Great Silence is a captivating and original read that I honestly couldn't get enough of.
liseyp's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
The very first thing I did after finishing The Great Silence was visit Doug Johnstone’s website to check (and breathe a sigh of relief) that there will be a Skelfs book four. The ending to this one could well have been a perfect wrap to a brilliantly plotted trilogy. Thankfully the most recent post on his blog shows that he completed the first draft of book four in November, making The Great Silence another perfect instalment in my favourite crime series.
In The Great Silence funeral directors/ private investigator family the Skelfs are still dealing with the fallout from book two in the series. But, there are plenty more cases on their plate, from the Beast of Bruntsfield to a missing girl.
There’s a lot of plot in here. Cases which overlap and interlink with personal challenges and different perspectives from the three generations of Skelf women. But, it’s all handled masterfully, interweaving and coming together in a way that never feels forced. The cases range from the deadly serious to the seemingly ridiculous (are aliens pranking a research student).
While there’s a lot of dark humour in moments of the story there’s also a real respect for individual human experiences. No character is two dimensional, even those who commit objectively abhorrent acts, are still shown as complex humans who can have had a positive role for someone as a spouse, a parent, sibling or a child. All this adds to the depth of the story and the enjoyment as a reader. I look forward to many more Skelfs books in the future.
fionaaaaaa's review against another edition
3.0
This is the 3rd book in the series. I hadn't read the other 2, it might be a good plan to read them as the story seemed to refer back to things previously, that had happened. For me it was middle of the road kind of book. Quite alot packed into this story but it didn't quite do if for me.
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