Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

21 reviews

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

---

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. 

---

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

---

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. 

---

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. 

---

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Suicide and Murder

hollygon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, Murder, Blood, Medical trauma, Gun violence, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Sexual content, Torture, and Infidelity

alayamorning's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny and Grief

bobbijopmh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

“We are not the things that happened to us. We can be what we like.”

A story of adventure across the world and finding your true vocation. 

This novel was not quite what I expected. I expected a light ‘book club’ type women’s adventure. But it was much more substantial than that. It’s somewhere between a crime caper, and adventure story, and a meaningful feminist journey of self-discovery. It’s about taking a risk to find what truly makes you happy. 

I enjoyed this book and read it quite quickly (2 days). The characters are well developed. The locations are described well enough that they begin to come to life. There is humour, and emotion, and suspense in just the right measures. As a nature lover I certainly enjoyed the entomology references too. 

Overall an easy four star read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Gun violence, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicide, and Torture

hollyd19's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny sad 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? It's complicated

2.25

Miss Benson’s Beetle follows Margery Benson, a middle-aged domestic science teacher in post-war Britain. After a mental break loses her her job in one dramatic day, she decides to throw caution to the wind and go on an expedition to New Caledonia in search of a beetle she has been infatuated with her whole life. She puts a call out for an assistant, and ends up with a hot mess of a woman, Enid Pretty, accompanying her on her adventure.

Y’all, I wanted to love this book. It seemed charming and fun and has a totally-up-my-alley premise. But on the whole, I was pretty disappointed. 

First of all, this book has a lot more heavy themes than I expected given the synopsis and the various endorsements (words like “charming,” “brilliant,” and “marvelous”). I’ll put some content warnings at the bottom. Secondly, the character development felt spasmodic and inconsistent. Finally, there is a character called Mundic who I felt was an awkward, possibly even offensive, attempt at incorporating post-war PTSD into the narrative. Most of the chapters from his perspective left me unsettled and a little confused. 

Admittedly, I liked the second half better than the first. The two women found a bit more of a rhythm and their relationship took on a more believable tenor. That said, I cannot say I found it to be a satisfying to read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Self harm, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, and Infertility