sehellys's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
I found the story of the fledgling author turned surprise(d) sleuth a lot more interesting than the actual mystery itself. It was pretty clear who the murderer was
katiya's review
4.0
When you're at the point in your life when starting over feels right, the inheritance of a pretty cottage in the country is just the ticket. (Deliberate cliche! Here's my 10p.) Sophie leaves behind her freeloading and unsupportive boyfriend to take advance of the new life left to her by her great aunt. Trading in one lifestyle for another is not as easy as it seems and she's soon over-involved with her village and its activities. Oh yes, and then there's the murder, too.
The story was presented in media res, with the murder occurring quickly. It was an interesting choice of beginnings and, in this case, I found it worked really well. There was a fair build-up to the conclusion which then arrived rather suddenly and perhaps needed more description or detail in order to wind everything up.
Like Sophie, I'm at a crossroads so the premise of this story was quite appealing. As usual, I was drawn into the words and lived with Sophie as she worked her way through the difficulties of settling in. Best Murder in Show is a traditional cosy (which I love) and I particularly enjoyed reading Debbie Young's work because it stuck firmly to its roots.
The story was presented in media res, with the murder occurring quickly. It was an interesting choice of beginnings and, in this case, I found it worked really well. There was a fair build-up to the conclusion which then arrived rather suddenly and perhaps needed more description or detail in order to wind everything up.
Like Sophie, I'm at a crossroads so the premise of this story was quite appealing. As usual, I was drawn into the words and lived with Sophie as she worked her way through the difficulties of settling in. Best Murder in Show is a traditional cosy (which I love) and I particularly enjoyed reading Debbie Young's work because it stuck firmly to its roots.
tinyghoul's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
The way the author writes this 25-year-old drunk off of a bit of spiked tea is simply nauseating.
A lot of hoe the main character is treated by the author just disgusted me.
A lot of hoe the main character is treated by the author just disgusted me.
lisamlane's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely cosy mystery, set in a modern English village. Lots of emphasis on character -- the murder is in the preface, but isn't an issue till halfway through the book. It's more about a woman who has inherited the cottage of her famous travel-writing aunt, and now wants to be a writer herself. How she fits into village life, and the characters in the village, make this book special, and have me wanting to read more.
slferg's review against another edition
4.0
Sophie has inherited her aunt's cottage in the Cotswolds. Her aunt May was a travel writer and a very popular person in the village. Sophie ends a dead-end relationship and heads for the village and her aunt's house. Unfortunately, one thing her ex said sticks in her mind - "that people always get killed in little villages and he expects someone to murder her". So, on first meeting people she wonders if they are a murderer. It takes a while for her to shed that attitude and she is drawn into all the activities of the town. During the village Show, however, someone is murdered. At first assumed an accidental death, things begin to come out that seem to show it was no accident. And Sophie, with something else in mind, ends up in the middle.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and lighthearted, this is an entertaining read. As this is the first book in a series, there was a lot of time devoted to presenting the characters, which made the solving-crime bit be somewhat relegated to a second plane. As the background has now been dealt with, I have high hopes for the second in the series.
valedeortega's review
2.0
My edition has 198 Pages and there was no murder until pague 130 which for me is a bit much. I would have like to see some investigating going on way before that.
Also the character thinks everyone is out to get her during those 130 Pages for no reason whatsoever, nothing has happened that would make her feel that way.
I was tempted to drop it because it was so slow going and the character jumped to conclusiones that didnt make sense(like assuming her boss has an older lover because he is writing something called A Lover's Revenge?) But overall i am glad i stayed with it.
Also the character thinks everyone is out to get her during those 130 Pages for no reason whatsoever, nothing has happened that would make her feel that way.
I was tempted to drop it because it was so slow going and the character jumped to conclusiones that didnt make sense(like assuming her boss has an older lover because he is writing something called A Lover's Revenge?) But overall i am glad i stayed with it.