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rosa_inverno's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
3.5
I want to say enjoyable mystery, but the reveal is horrifyingly grim. I called it (kind of when Sarah mentioned that Mina had been pulled out of school before her sister's birth, I knew Mina was Alicia's mother, at least ) pretty early on, but when it actually happened it was - more awful than I thought. Yipes.
I liked the main characters, I appreciated the lack of romance, though it'll probably end up there because it always does 🙃 Loved the setting. It's one of my favorite historical fiction time periods. I will be reading on in this series.
I liked the main characters, I appreciated the lack of romance, though it'll probably end up there because it always does 🙃 Loved the setting. It's one of my favorite historical fiction time periods. I will be reading on in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
flowerowl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A classic murder mystery set in old times, yet not too much gore, and with the twist of the female protagonist that is before her time. I did like it but was also looking something of the sort, not a fantastic or creative book, not in writing or in plot but a good read or listen away book with a grows twist in the end that you kind of feel coming but still shocked
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction
gurofl's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The book was OK until the last 10%. Then it quickly went downhill.
The "twist" was obvious from very early on in the book.
Just when you thought the story at the end couldn't get more melodramatic, it did again. And again.
I thought the characters' opinions and behaviour changed during the story in ways that were not believable. They just had to to drive the story on.
I don't think the main character was very believable as a midwife.
This was definitely not a cozy read. Full of tropes and clichés. Laughable dramatic ending. Pretty dumb and unlikeable main characters. The ending should have a major content warning all over it.
The "twist" was obvious from very early on in the book.
Just when you thought the story at the end couldn't get more melodramatic, it did again. And again.
I thought the characters' opinions and behaviour changed during the story in ways that were not believable. They just had to to drive the story on.
I don't think the main character was very believable as a midwife.
This was definitely not a cozy read. Full of tropes and clichés. Laughable dramatic ending. Pretty dumb and unlikeable main characters. The ending should have a major content warning all over it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, and Misogyny
varian_ross's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars. Not as engrossing of a mystery as I normally like, but an enjoyable read anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Incest
Moderate: Dementia, Abortion, Abandonment, and Classism
thesubwayreader's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There's something about reading about the city you live in, but through a historical lens. This book is set at the turn of the century. Sarah Brandt is a young widowed midwife turned detective when a body is found in the building where she is visiting a patient. Sarah is a daughter of a Knickerbocker family, but she has parted ways with her family and chooses to work with the poor. Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is investigating the murder. He and Sarah team up because of Sarah's persistence. He's not enthusiastic or at all willing to work with her. I enjoy their dynamic. The story is engaging and it's written well. I have high hopes for the other books in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
wraithofbooksandbones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Incest
emkeddyhector's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
1.0
I found this book to be really frustrating and pretty misogynistic. The two main characters were also frustratingly oblivious when it came to figuring out the mysteries, and there were several times where it was really obvious what was going on, and they took stating the obvious to get it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Blood
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