n_t_sh_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
heathssm's review
dark
funny
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
4.0
jplayjames's review
3.0
Sometimes struggled to find the balance between "amusing" and "annoying" but overall pretty enjoyable.
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
3.5
The master of gory historical mysteries, populated by petty egotists, strikes again.
Our heroine isn't only battling to unmask an indiscriminate killer and against the sexist world of 1930s policing but also the pettiness of her family and colleagues.
Kasasian also includes some commentary on the way Britain treats immigrants, which I'm sure chimed clearly in the Brexit years but everything connected to WWII felt extremely pertinent in the sixth month of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Our heroine isn't only battling to unmask an indiscriminate killer and against the sexist world of 1930s policing but also the pettiness of her family and colleagues.
Kasasian also includes some commentary on the way Britain treats immigrants, which I'm sure chimed clearly in the Brexit years but everything connected to WWII felt extremely pertinent in the sixth month of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Medical content, Gore, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Antisemitism, War, Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Torture
Minor: Rape
jenpsz's review
5.0
Adding to another of my highly anticipated reads of 2018, Mr K will surely out do himself with this one. It will be full of humour and wit and sarcasm and probably death. Definitely add it to your TBR pile!! While you’re there, follow him on twitter just for a lark in the mean time.
N.B. He did not pay me anything (sadly) to write this review. He usually sends invoices rather than payments.
N.B. He did not pay me anything (sadly) to write this review. He usually sends invoices rather than payments.
fiona_with_the_cats's review
4.0
I've been listening to a lot of audio books recently due to issues with my hands (can't physically hold a book ☹️☹️). I thoroughly enjoyed this one, the story was extremely entertaining and the narrator brought the characters to life so well.
Kasasian always creates such fantastic characters. Betty Church has a very different voice to March Middleton even though she faces much of the same sexism. She's also surrounded by a plethora of eccentric characters. The book has some genuine laugh out loud moments amongst the blood and gore. I immediately downloaded the next in the series.
Kasasian always creates such fantastic characters. Betty Church has a very different voice to March Middleton even though she faces much of the same sexism. She's also surrounded by a plethora of eccentric characters. The book has some genuine laugh out loud moments amongst the blood and gore. I immediately downloaded the next in the series.
nicola22's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
krisandburn's review
4.0
I do love a mystery every now and then and this one was quite a fun one. There were a few things that I did not love about this book, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Betty Church, a savvy no-nonsense woman in her late thirties, was a great main character. I wish her actual character shone through a bit more, but I did like her a lot. However, why did all the side characters need to be so no-sensical? Pretty much every single one of them! I think that detracted a little bit for me.
I did love the humour in this book. I am a big fan of sarcasm and there was plenty of that in there. The tone of writing was right up my street.
I also thought the setting and time period were pretty good, with first the threat of war and then the actual war (WWII) going on. It was interesting to read what measures government was taking to protect the country from the characters’ point of view.
The mystery itself and its resolution was just ok for me. Much of it I already guessed unfortunately. However, that did not take away from the fact that as a whole I enjoyed this novel quite a bit.
Will I read the next Betty Church mystery when it comes out? Yes, I probably will.
Betty Church, a savvy no-nonsense woman in her late thirties, was a great main character. I wish her actual character shone through a bit more, but I did like her a lot. However, why did all the side characters need to be so no-sensical? Pretty much every single one of them! I think that detracted a little bit for me.
I did love the humour in this book. I am a big fan of sarcasm and there was plenty of that in there. The tone of writing was right up my street.
I also thought the setting and time period were pretty good, with first the threat of war and then the actual war (WWII) going on. It was interesting to read what measures government was taking to protect the country from the characters’ point of view.
The mystery itself and its resolution was just ok for me. Much of it I already guessed unfortunately. However, that did not take away from the fact that as a whole I enjoyed this novel quite a bit.
Will I read the next Betty Church mystery when it comes out? Yes, I probably will.
vesper1931's review
1.0
Betty Church in 1939 has been sent to Sackwater in Suffolk with a promotion to Inspector. Where she meets her motley crew of police officers but this is also the place where she grew up. It doesn't take long before she discovers her first body.
Unfortunately I just didn't get the humour of the book, I expect it would be enjoyed by most people but humour is subjectivec and I just found it tedious and trying.
So overall this new series is not for me.
A NetGalley Book
Unfortunately I just didn't get the humour of the book, I expect it would be enjoyed by most people but humour is subjectivec and I just found it tedious and trying.
So overall this new series is not for me.
A NetGalley Book