roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
An actually quite convoluted Morse, whose alcohol capacity never ceases to amaze. A good read for a plane.
conprimo's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sophiedons's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
oftalone90's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
2.0
Classic Morse - it all comes together in the end. Nice short chapters; an easy read.
jessmanners's review against another edition
3.0
More of a two star situation, but I think that's a me problem rather than the book's problem. I just couldn't stay focused on this one. I think it was partially because I had a hazy memory of the TV version (although I swear I've only seen like a single episode, and what are the odds it'd be the same?!).
I just could NOT keep the cast of character's straight, so I had no real idea who was doing what or what was being revealed about whom...and then I miiiight have gotten a bit sleepy during the big reveal at the end. So, like I said, more of a me problem than anything else.
I do think it's sort of funny that Dexter spends so much time insisting that Morse is a genius 10,000 steps ahead of everyone else, and he's so incredibly confident that he's cracked it, and then he's just...wrong? repeatedly? I assume that's the point...
I just could NOT keep the cast of character's straight, so I had no real idea who was doing what or what was being revealed about whom...and then I miiiight have gotten a bit sleepy during the big reveal at the end. So, like I said, more of a me problem than anything else.
I do think it's sort of funny that Dexter spends so much time insisting that Morse is a genius 10,000 steps ahead of everyone else, and he's so incredibly confident that he's cracked it, and then he's just...wrong? repeatedly? I assume that's the point...
david611's review
3.0
The ninth in the Inspector Morse Mysteries, where he has to solve the mystery of the theft of a historically-valued jewel, and two dead bodies. Good one,and quite complicated to solve.
The Inspector Morse books have kept on becoming better since its first book. Although I have given this a three-star, it is still a strong one.
Very much readable, but certainly not as great as the previous book in the series. :)
The Inspector Morse books have kept on becoming better since its first book. Although I have given this a three-star, it is still a strong one.
Very much readable, but certainly not as great as the previous book in the series. :)
llythia's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book from the library because I'm a big fan of two of the TV series based on these novels-- Inspector Lewis and Endeavour. (I haven't seen the original series based on the books -- Inspector Morse -- but I'll get around to it eventually!) In the end, I actually really liked this book. It kept me guessing until the end without feeling like the solution was random for the sake of being random, and were I basing my rating on the second half of the book, I probably would have given it four stars. Unfortunately, the first 80 or so pages of the book were less good, and I nearly gave up reading it. A giant cast of characters (the pool of suspects) and frequently changing points of view made it quite difficult to get into the story. I'm glad I stuck it out, but the exposition certainly could have been better.
msmandrake's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Inspector Morse. Since I'm familiar with the characters from the TV versions, I didn't think it mattered that it wasn't in order. Of course that means I have no way of making a comparison to others in the series. But it was just complicated enough...although some of the American characters blurred together a bit and I had to reread some, but that could be my fault.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is my latest read from the library, book 9 in the Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter. This is textbook Morse, as he sits and drinks his way to a conclusion for the case. There are lots of false starts, red herrings, and conflicting stories from all the possible suspects. The jewel of the title is a famous artifact that was bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum by its owner. The woman carrying the jewel dies and her purse containing it disappears. Morse and Lewis work through a list of suspects displaying varying motives, alibis, and lies.
This was a good mystery with quite a bit to puzzle through, but I would say this was not my favorite Morse in the series. There is a different feel, as in author’s voice, to this book than the other Morse novels I have read so far. I think this has to do with the development of this particular book. Apparently, the TV episode for this particular story came first and then the novel was written. This is different from the other books in the series in which the novels were written first.
This was a good mystery with quite a bit to puzzle through, but I would say this was not my favorite Morse in the series. There is a different feel, as in author’s voice, to this book than the other Morse novels I have read so far. I think this has to do with the development of this particular book. Apparently, the TV episode for this particular story came first and then the novel was written. This is different from the other books in the series in which the novels were written first.
bernab's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed it while reading it but it was not a page-turner like many good mysteries that I have read.