koprivan's review against another edition
3.0
Disappointing. Father Max seems to have become little bit more formulaic in terms of character (how many times do we need to be reminded that he loves his wife & son?), presumably to allow for the development of other characters, in particular D.C. Cotton. However, we don't learn much more about Cotton than we already knew, and Awena and the rest of Nether Monkslip are incommunicado since this mystery is set, mostly, just offshore from the village. These flaws do not diminish the essentially fine quality of the writing. Malliet's narrator's good nature, as well as her gently humorous observations about human behavior, are flawlessly executed. Some of the minor characters are great fun, too.
lorimichelekelley's review against another edition
3.0
Audible version: This is a super light cozy series that I enjoy for its little village of Nether Monkslip and Father Max. As before, the women are SO beautiful and Max remains incredibly handsome, but most of the rest of the book isn't that ridiculous (well, every time Awena is mentioned it is ridiculous). This one doesn't bring in the other characters from Nether Monkslip, but we do get an update on Awena and the baby. The mystery takes place on a boat and could not have been solved just by listening to clues. For me that works, as I don't always listen with full attention. Maybe I should go down to 2 stars, but I really do enjoy these and love the narrator, so I'm sticking with 3.
bibliobabe94's review against another edition
2.0
A let down compared to the other books in the series, but still finsihed it.
nonna7's review against another edition
4.0
G.M. Malliet's crime novels have something of an old fashioned feeling about them even though they are grounded in the present. There's Max a Vicar, but he's VERY handsome -movie star handsome!- AND a former MI6 agent who has agreed to go back to work when needed. Max is married to the beautiful Awena, something of a Pantheist who hosts a cooking show using ONLY local ingredients. They have an 8 month old son, Owen, who is, Max knows, a certified genius.
However, in this book MI6 calls and Max, per agreement, goes dutifully forward to help solve the case of a movie star - Margot- who has been found floating in the sea near the dock where the yacht in which she was a guest has recently sailed in. The yacht is owned by Romero, a director of bad movies that make money. He is in the process of casting a film, one in which Margot wants a part, but NOT the kind of part that Romero has in mind: mother of one of the gladiators. (Yes, it's THAT kind of movie.)
There is a cast of characters including a 30 something handsome young Baron and his Baroness who, because of the Barton's lack of funds, spend their days sponging off various wealthy and titled friends. There is a temperamental chef and his assistant. There is a yoga instructor as well as the current girlfriend of Romero's who is already apparently getting the bum's rush. Max, an old friend, of Margot's a a well known makeup artist is also on the trip. Plus there is a getting close to middle aged actor who is with Margot almost in a buddy role and a young screenwriter who is trying to write a biography of Margot.
One of the characters is Patrice, a woman with whom Max had a fairly long affair. She is pregnant with no intention of marrying the father. Meanwhile, Cotten, Max's friend and the DI in charge of the case is smitten.
Well, all's well that ends well. There is a final chapter called "It's A Wrap" which tells us about the fate of the different characters. There are a few surprises there. We also learn about the next mystery which I happen to have waiting in the wings: In Prior's Wood.
However, in this book MI6 calls and Max, per agreement, goes dutifully forward to help solve the case of a movie star - Margot- who has been found floating in the sea near the dock where the yacht in which she was a guest has recently sailed in. The yacht is owned by Romero, a director of bad movies that make money. He is in the process of casting a film, one in which Margot wants a part, but NOT the kind of part that Romero has in mind: mother of one of the gladiators. (Yes, it's THAT kind of movie.)
There is a cast of characters including a 30 something handsome young Baron and his Baroness who, because of the Barton's lack of funds, spend their days sponging off various wealthy and titled friends. There is a temperamental chef and his assistant. There is a yoga instructor as well as the current girlfriend of Romero's who is already apparently getting the bum's rush. Max, an old friend, of Margot's a a well known makeup artist is also on the trip. Plus there is a getting close to middle aged actor who is with Margot almost in a buddy role and a young screenwriter who is trying to write a biography of Margot.
One of the characters is Patrice, a woman with whom Max had a fairly long affair. She is pregnant with no intention of marrying the father. Meanwhile, Cotten, Max's friend and the DI in charge of the case is smitten.
Well, all's well that ends well. There is a final chapter called "It's A Wrap" which tells us about the fate of the different characters. There are a few surprises there. We also learn about the next mystery which I happen to have waiting in the wings: In Prior's Wood.
bibliozabs's review
3.25
One of the better ones b/c you guessed it, barely any Awena + Max. The setting was interesting. Max and Cotton are interesting together. And I'm so far into the series (there's only one book left) so I'm going to finish. But these books are solidly mediocre. There's A LOT of telling and not showing. Like suddenly Cotton is living with someone and has a baby after 5 books of singledom and in this book zero interest in the person he is now living with? And there were weird turns of phrases that I think were trying to be clever but were repeated, which a decent editor would have caught (but a good writer wouldn't have attempted). And yet, b/c of Max and Cotton, there's something compelling enough that I keep reading or listening. To be fair, I was really sick during this one and I listen to the audio on 1.5....but still I am going to complete the 7 book series.
fawngutz's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
bookscatsbikes's review
4.0
A fast, engaging mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie. "Devil's Breath" is a bit of a locked-room mystery but instead of the locked room the murder occurs on a yacht. One character acknowledges that it might not be a true locked-room mystery because you know, pirates. About the first third of the book is a series of chapters setting up the guests and crew on the yacht, each one getting their own chapter. We know who dies from page one and after the suspects are introduced the body is found so the investigation can begin.
Max Tudor, a current vicar and former MI5 agent, is called in to help the investigation, as he has done in previous installments apparently. The rest of the book focuses on the interviews he conducts with the suspects and the construction of the victim's life leading up to the murder. Anything forensic or research-oriented happens off screen. We learn about test results or research findings through Max and the police updating each other. This makes the book a fast read because information just keeps showing up.
I was suprised by the killer and am not sure if I missed the clues or if the structure of the novel kept me from following the clues. I don't recall anything that was discussed that would have pointed me in that direction and there's a long wrap-up conversation explaining who the killer really is and their motive.
Either way, it was a fun, light read for a Saturday afternoon.
Max Tudor, a current vicar and former MI5 agent, is called in to help the investigation, as he has done in previous installments apparently. The rest of the book focuses on the interviews he conducts with the suspects and the construction of the victim's life leading up to the murder. Anything forensic or research-oriented happens off screen. We learn about test results or research findings through Max and the police updating each other. This makes the book a fast read because information just keeps showing up.
I was suprised by the killer and am not sure if I missed the clues or if the structure of the novel kept me from following the clues. I don't recall anything that was discussed that would have pointed me in that direction and there's a long wrap-up conversation explaining who the killer really is and their motive.
Either way, it was a fun, light read for a Saturday afternoon.
verityw's review
3.0
Not my favourite of the Max Tudor series - but still an interesting mystery and cast of characters. It took a while to get everyone straightened out in my head, but once I had it was fine. I missed Awena and the villagers in this, but appreciate that not all the books can be set there other wise it would start to feel like Midsommer. Fun, but not the best in this series.