naluju's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
anetq's review against another edition
3.0
It wasn't the best detective novel, but it wasn't the worst either - it felt like a first try and a little too close to Agatha Christie or just episode 527 of Midsomer Murders. I found it strange that the detective was so weak, and hardly in focus any of the time (and seemingly pretty bad at anything but charming the village ladies into dangerous detecting?) I hope the series picks up, I'm willing to give it another try, as Cleeves' Shetland books are really good.
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, and Suicide
shallowgal00's review against another edition
4.0
thank goodness Cleeves’ writing improves. Ramsay is barely a character in this first book of the series. The story, however, is interesting. I was actually thinking of not going on, but I've read other reviews that are encouraging me to move on to at least the 2nd book.
ETA: hmmm..... not available at any of my local libraries. Looks like I'll stick with Vera & Shetland Island.
ETA: hmmm..... not available at any of my local libraries. Looks like I'll stick with Vera & Shetland Island.
nonna7's review against another edition
I had only read the Shetland Island series when I decided to give this one a try. This is one of Ann Cleeves' earlier series. There were six in the series. This is the first. Like most writers (or most any other profession), Ms. Cleeves improved as she wrote. The story was a good one with quite a few twists and turns.
A very nasty school headmaster is found hanged, wearing his academic gown that he kept hanging on a peg of his office door. Nobody liked him including his wife, Kitty. It soon is established that he has been murdered. Inspector Ramsay is convinced that his wife did it. He arrests her although it soon becomes obvious to him that she might be innocent.
The school custodian, Jack Robson, was once in love with Kitty and is convinced that she is innocent. He convinced his daughter Patty to help him. Patty is bored and is at loose ends with no children at home and no job for which she is really suited. When Kitty commits suicide, Inspector Ramsay becomes an object of derision. Already a lone wolf, he becomes even more withdrawn from the other police officers.
There are a lot of obvious suspects, but the writing style of the book doesn't really develop any of them enough. Kitty doesn't seem in the least interested in helping herself although she does deny that she killed her husband. Why does she commit suicide? That really isn't explored, just dropped.
Ramsay is unpopular. However, the reader doesn't get into the "skin" of the character to know what's going on. There is a lot that is simply not developed. This was a first novel, though, and that sort of thing does happen. If I can find the later ones in the series, I might see if things changed. Having read all of the books in the Shetland Island series, there is definitely a lack of passion in these books that is more evident in that series.
A very nasty school headmaster is found hanged, wearing his academic gown that he kept hanging on a peg of his office door. Nobody liked him including his wife, Kitty. It soon is established that he has been murdered. Inspector Ramsay is convinced that his wife did it. He arrests her although it soon becomes obvious to him that she might be innocent.
The school custodian, Jack Robson, was once in love with Kitty and is convinced that she is innocent. He convinced his daughter Patty to help him. Patty is bored and is at loose ends with no children at home and no job for which she is really suited. When Kitty commits suicide, Inspector Ramsay becomes an object of derision. Already a lone wolf, he becomes even more withdrawn from the other police officers.
There are a lot of obvious suspects, but the writing style of the book doesn't really develop any of them enough. Kitty doesn't seem in the least interested in helping herself although she does deny that she killed her husband. Why does she commit suicide? That really isn't explored, just dropped.
Ramsay is unpopular. However, the reader doesn't get into the "skin" of the character to know what's going on. There is a lot that is simply not developed. This was a first novel, though, and that sort of thing does happen. If I can find the later ones in the series, I might see if things changed. Having read all of the books in the Shetland Island series, there is definitely a lack of passion in these books that is more evident in that series.
charity_froggenhall's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
bergamint's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the series of books that Ann Cleeves has written. I loved the Shetland and Vera series but found this to be rather medicore and did not grip me as her writing usually does. It is the first in the series so I will read the next book to see if I enjoy more.