katerino50's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
chloebarnett's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.5
alisonannk's review
3.0
Not your typical police procedural novel. most of the novel centred around the main character and her struggles with mental illness. the synopsis on the back states that the detective has a disconcerting familiarity with corpses. this statement is not backed up until right at the very end of the novel when her condition is revealed. as a result, I felt that it was misleading about the exact nature of her familiarity. That said, it was an enjoyable enough story. Not a page turner but good enough.
whatvictoriaread's review
2.0
It's rare that I really dislike a book but I couldn't stand this one and it's only my own stubbornness that made me finish it.
The central, female protagonist is the worst one I've ever come across and although I obviously realised what the author was trying to achieve in the last fifteen pages, the other 300 where hard going and not worth the final 'twist'
Suffice to say, I won't be reading another one.
The central, female protagonist is the worst one I've ever come across and although I obviously realised what the author was trying to achieve in the last fifteen pages, the other 300 where hard going and not worth the final 'twist'
Suffice to say, I won't be reading another one.
msliz's review
A police procedural set in Cardiff was something of a novelty, and my interest was piqued by the main character's rather odd demeanour and behaviour. However, I lost interest when it became clear that there was no way Fiona Griffiths would be working as a police officer - she was too erratic, frequently inappropriate in her interactions with suspects, witnesses and , and regularly disregarded protocols and orders to go off and do her own thing. The reason for this became clearer when I skim read to the end, but stretched credulity even further.
Spoiler
dead victims!Spoiler
It's also off-putting when all of the various separate investigations in a crime novel miraculously turn out to be linked and the protagonist solves the mystery through a series of implausible hunches.jresendez610's review
2.0
Unfortunately I found this book to be extremely slow and boring. I kept hoping it would pick up, but it never did and I had to force myself not to skim. There was good character development of the MC, but the plot and storyline were just not good. Fiona was so all over the place that I never understood what she was doing or why she was investigating certain people. Then I'd even forget the main plot mystery! Once she finally came around to mentioning the case I would think, "oh yeaahhh! I forgot we don't know who killed them yet." And not only would I forget, but I stopped caring. I had zero feelings towards the outcome and the resolution of the case. I also think that if her illness had been explained at the beginning, it wouldn't have been as hard to empathize with her. I knew something was wrong with her, she hinted at it a million times, but it was never explained (until the next to last chapter), and so through the whole book I just didn't get her character. I knew her actions had to do with whatever illness she had, but again, I stopped caring and just thought she was strange and gave up on ever finding out why. When it was finally explained, it was anticlimactic. On a small good note, I did enjoy the very last chapter and thought that it made sense to who she is.
han_cat's review
3.0
Hmm ... I really enjoyed the first 75% of this book so it's quite hard to rate it as an overall thing. I didn't mind that this isn't typically a crime book, it's written in the first person and is much more about the detective and her life. Actually Fi as a character is really engaging.
I just felt last 25% went a bit out of control, I can see why it was done but it just didn't have the same feeling as the rest of the book. Despite that I will give the 2nd book a go.
I just felt last 25% went a bit out of control, I can see why it was done but it just didn't have the same feeling as the rest of the book. Despite that I will give the 2nd book a go.
clockwatcher212's review
2.0
I read this based on a friend's recommendation, and could barely force myself to finish it. The mystery story was okay if a little cliched, but I hated the main character. Her actions were all completely ridiculous and not in any way believable, even with the undiagnosed PTSD or Asberger's she was meant to have...I wish I hadn't wasted my time on this one.
mvptp's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love police detective stories and I enjoy character development but i mostly read them for the cases. This book was mostly about character development. It was well written, with well developed characters but the case was sad,as they always are, but it was slow and boring. I finished it and I was interested enough to finish it but not enough to want to read more of this.
thebookbloglife's review
4.0
Read more of my reviews at - www.thebookbloglife.com
Talking to the Dead was a book that my best friend ranted and raved about from the moment I met her even to now. I definitely see why, if you have read my Crime Recommendation post you’ll know that crime is the one genre that I really struggle with, I always find the story to be predictable. I didn’t seem to have that issue with this one.
The one thing that I was really impressed with was how mental illness was handled in Talking to the Dead, it was an undercurrent throughout the entire story which was a great addition to the actual events happening. It was a really interesting part of the story and it made me keep reading and get to the end.
The murder in Talking to the Dead turned my stomach not only with how violent it was but also because it involved a small child. There was enough of a description to make me cringe but overall it was treated with sensitivity and respect. There was the shock factor without the added gore, and I really appreciated that, it meant that it wasn’t there for the sake of it. I definitely think it added to the story.
I think Fiona may be one of my favourite protagonists in any book let alone Talking to the Dead, she was the perfect mix of unlikeable but redeemable. She showed her vulnerability whilst also staying strong in her convictions and not being easily swayed. She is my definition of a strong female character. As a part of this her relationship status was introduced delicately but also really well into the plot. It never overshadowed her as a person and the story wasn’t sacrificed to make that into an important part of her life. I really appreciated reading a woman who wasn’t turned into someone new by the man in her life.
The only reason Talking to the Dead didn’t rate a five is that I got a little confused by the case at the end, and struggled to hold onto the details. But I’m not sure whether that says more about me as a reader than the book itself. I came out of the book loving all the characters but confused by how the case ended.
I would 100% recommend this book, I have already bought the second and I can’t wait to dive back in with Fi and see how another case works itself out.
Read more of my reviews here - www.thebookbloglife.com
Talking to the Dead was a book that my best friend ranted and raved about from the moment I met her even to now. I definitely see why, if you have read my Crime Recommendation post you’ll know that crime is the one genre that I really struggle with, I always find the story to be predictable. I didn’t seem to have that issue with this one.
The one thing that I was really impressed with was how mental illness was handled in Talking to the Dead, it was an undercurrent throughout the entire story which was a great addition to the actual events happening. It was a really interesting part of the story and it made me keep reading and get to the end.
The murder in Talking to the Dead turned my stomach not only with how violent it was but also because it involved a small child. There was enough of a description to make me cringe but overall it was treated with sensitivity and respect. There was the shock factor without the added gore, and I really appreciated that, it meant that it wasn’t there for the sake of it. I definitely think it added to the story.
I think Fiona may be one of my favourite protagonists in any book let alone Talking to the Dead, she was the perfect mix of unlikeable but redeemable. She showed her vulnerability whilst also staying strong in her convictions and not being easily swayed. She is my definition of a strong female character. As a part of this her relationship status was introduced delicately but also really well into the plot. It never overshadowed her as a person and the story wasn’t sacrificed to make that into an important part of her life. I really appreciated reading a woman who wasn’t turned into someone new by the man in her life.
The only reason Talking to the Dead didn’t rate a five is that I got a little confused by the case at the end, and struggled to hold onto the details. But I’m not sure whether that says more about me as a reader than the book itself. I came out of the book loving all the characters but confused by how the case ended.
I would 100% recommend this book, I have already bought the second and I can’t wait to dive back in with Fi and see how another case works itself out.
Read more of my reviews here - www.thebookbloglife.com