Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

15 reviews

aecherry's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Miscarriage, and Suicide

sarahflanders's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Murder, Gore, Grief, Stalking, Death, Miscarriage, Gun violence, Infertility, and Suicide attempt

mtnest's review

adventurous emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Classism, War, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Suicide, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Miscarriage

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

This was an absolutely charming book, captivating and funny, with compelling characters and a very serious undertone to the humor. I enjoyed this book SO much and I’m grateful to a friend for suggesting it. 

At first both women are caricatures, both completely wacky in their own, very different ways. As we learn more of the back story of Margery and Enid, they become sympathetic characters, each having desperation and tragedy in their lives. Their friendship forms gradually as each comes to rely on the other, and they see the real person beneath each other’s shell. 

This novel blends madcap adventure with a love story of friendship, and I loved it. One caveat: I felt the subplot of Mr Mundic was a distraction from the real story of Margery and Enid. He deserves a book all to himself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Torture, War, Animal death, Colonisation, Pregnancy, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, Classism, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Stalking

hrob76's review

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense 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? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Stalking, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Animal cruelty

There's some PTSD in this book but, oddly, that's not available as a content warning

thatokiebird's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful reflective tense 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? No

4.75

Miss Benson's Beetle is a historical fiction novel by Rachel Joyce which follows the adventure of two polar-opposite women, Miss Benson and Miss Pretty, who find themselves together traveling "halfway across the world" in search of a golden beetle that does not yet exist. I enjoy Rachel Joyce's writing immensely, and this book is high up there in her strongest works. 

Throughout the book, we delve into the world of entomology, 1950's London and post-war culture, stalking and crime, and above all the friendship between two women. The fact that this book was not a love story but instead based its main relationship on a friendship makes it so intriguing and strong. We listened to the audiobook version narrated by Juliet Stevenson and she did a stellar job at really embodying each individual character - just as well as Rachel Joyce did at writing their individual voices. 

Personally I could have done without the subplot of the POW character dealing with all-consuming inner demons while stalking Miss Benson to her destination. It all just seemed like a fairly unnecessary way to add a thriller element to the journey. Especially considering how the ending transpired. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Miscarriage, Murder, Stalking, Death of parent, and Mental illness

motleybooksandtea's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Infertility

Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, War, Stalking, Animal death, and Fatphobia

Minor: Blood

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful sad 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

4.0

This was essentially a female version of the odd couple adventure story which is, disappointingly, a rarity. The (platonic) relationship between the two main characters is really at the heart of this book and both of them were so well realised as were some of the secondary characters like Mrs Poe. While the plot was a bit farfetched, it was fun and engaging. I laughed, I cried, I had a great time devouring this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Murder, Fatphobia, Animal death, Blood, and War

cassielaj's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

This book is delightful. There’s so much more to the story than the blurb suggested — nuanced characters and universal themes wrapped up in a wildly entertaining story. Loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Blood, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Miscarriage, War, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Colonisation, and Animal death

Moderate: Suicide, Colonisation, Excrement, Death, Death of parent, and Cursing

leonardo_jules's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful sad slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Suicide and Murder