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spiraljester's review against another edition
5.0
enjoyed being in nora's brain. this book was creepy and i loved how it unfolded. wasnt that into it at first but as i got further in i could not put it down. i especially loved the supernatural elements of it and the obsessive nature of the mc.
mrsb86's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
quasimodo_dragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wiggssama's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thereadingmum's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was initially attracted by the cover of the book and that it seemed to be a cosy murder mystery. Yet I was surprised to find such a low overall rating for the book here. I read a few of the reviews and they mention that the story is darker than they expected. So even though I would really rate this a 4, I'm giving it 4.75 to help even out the bad press. It makes me reconsider all the low ratings I've given for bad marketing and wrong expectations because that's not the author's fault at all and honestly, it should just remain unrated or dnf if you don't fancy the genre.
On to the review proper. There is a murder mystery, but there is also a touch of the supernatural and folklore. It's more psychological thriller than mystery and definitely gothic. So no likeable characters and overly harmful relationships. I also realised after flipping to the author info, that I've read her previous book, The Thief on the Winged Horse, which is similar in feel, and I loved that one too.
I must say that Mascarenhas paints a very different England than anyone else. Even given the time period. Her Birmingham feels more like a small town in another European city. I imagined Switzerland or Austria. I loved the setting of an art-deco hotel serving absinthe and with a wishing well in the basement.
I was intrigued by the Nora's Asperger-ish interactions and thought processes. It made the story more stark and added more to the gothic flavour. She's quite clearly an unreliable narrator from the start. Due to my love for Agatha Christie and her Poirot, I guessed the murderer before the reveal, but I still enjoyed their confrontation with Nora. The climactic scene was a bit gory but there was enough satisfaction in the come-uppances to overcome that.
There was a bit too much vagueness and innuendo in the ending for my liking, though I can see the artistic merit of it.
On to the review proper. There is a murder mystery, but there is also a touch of the supernatural and folklore. It's more psychological thriller than mystery and definitely gothic. So no likeable characters and overly harmful relationships. I also realised after flipping to the author info, that I've read her previous book, The Thief on the Winged Horse, which is similar in feel, and I loved that one too.
I must say that Mascarenhas paints a very different England than anyone else. Even given the time period. Her Birmingham feels more like a small town in another European city. I imagined Switzerland or Austria. I loved the setting of an art-deco hotel serving absinthe and with a wishing well in the basement.
I was intrigued by the Nora's Asperger-ish interactions and thought processes. It made the story more stark and added more to the gothic flavour. She's quite clearly an unreliable narrator from the start. Due to my love for Agatha Christie and her Poirot, I guessed the murderer before the reveal, but I still enjoyed their confrontation with Nora. The climactic scene was a bit gory but there was enough satisfaction in the come-uppances to overcome that.
There was a bit too much vagueness and innuendo in the ending for my liking, though I can see the artistic merit of it.
efags's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
1929 fancy hotel in Birmingham, a psychoanalyst with a confusing past (Nora) arrives and gets trapped during a snow in. She meets several guests who may or may not be related to her past, also people are going missing, there might be ghosts, and did someone say mythological creatures? Or perhaps it's just Nora's mind playing tricks. Also, there's a dog.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow to get into at first, but after the first few chapters, I couldn't put it down. Kate Mascarenhas is a phenomenal writer who can meld character study and plot development with sci-fi and humour so well. I didn't enjoy it as much as her first novel, but I will still happily recommend it to friends. There was definitely something for everyone, although I'm not sure it has as strong a reread appeal as 'Psychology of Time Travel' does. Overall, it was a good read with a very tidy yet open to interpretation ending.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow to get into at first, but after the first few chapters, I couldn't put it down. Kate Mascarenhas is a phenomenal writer who can meld character study and plot development with sci-fi and humour so well. I didn't enjoy it as much as her first novel, but I will still happily recommend it to friends. There was definitely something for everyone, although I'm not sure it has as strong a reread appeal as 'Psychology of Time Travel' does. Overall, it was a good read with a very tidy yet open to interpretation ending.
_lookingforsilber_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gus_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly don't know how to talk about this book without spoiling anything, but let me say: what a ride. I was pleasantly surprised... and disturbed.
Before starting it, I expected a typical closed-space murder mistery with a slightly creepy touch. Then, when I started reading it, I thought it would probably end up being a novel like "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" (which I really liked). And indeed it was similar to Evelyn Hardcastle, but way more disturbing (in the best of ways) and less complicated. Reading Evelyn Hardcastle and keeping up with all the characters and changes. In this book, however, there's a good balance between mistery, details and action.
When I had read only like 50 pages I felt like I had already read like 200. The book is fast paced, with just the right amount of descriptions and details. You won't like the main character as a person: from moment one you will suspect her intentions, doubt her point of view and question her morals. That's what makes her so interesting as a character and a narrator. The psychology of all the main characters is very well developed, but in Nora's case that's specially true because the whole book's purpose is to make the reader know her. In the end, you want her to success, whatever she chooses to do, because you understand her.
The plot is intriguing, and makes you want to keep reading from the first chapter because you need to know what's going on. The author makes you feel that there's something off, something hidden, something you are missing. To me, that's the most important quality in a thriller(ish?) book: the ability to keep you intrigued and interested. And this book definitely does that. But it also adds a touch of horror, or maybe gothic fantasy? I don't know why genre to classify this in.
I really liked it. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but if you liked "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" or "The Shining" movie (I have not read the book, shame on me) you will probably enjoy this one. PLUS, it's quite short (<300 pages), so even if you don't like it as much as I did, it will be an entertaining short read.
Finally, when you read the author's note, you can see how thorough the documentation process for the novel was. I specially liked the insight on female psychoanalysts.
I will definitely check other books by this author. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the eARC!
Merged review:
I honestly don't know how to talk about this book without spoiling anything, but let me say: what a ride. I was pleasantly surprised... and disturbed.
Before starting it, I expected a typical closed-space murder mistery with a slightly creepy touch. Then, when I started reading it, I thought it would probably end up being a novel like "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" (which I really liked). And indeed it was similar to Evelyn Hardcastle, but way more disturbing (in the best of ways) and less complicated. Reading Evelyn Hardcastle and keeping up with all the characters and changes. In this book, however, there's a good balance between mistery, details and action.
When I had read only like 50 pages I felt like I had already read like 200. The book is fast paced, with just the right amount of descriptions and details. You won't like the main character as a person: from moment one you will suspect her intentions, doubt her point of view and question her morals. That's what makes her so interesting as a character and a narrator. The psychology of all the main characters is very well developed, but in Nora's case that's specially true because the whole book's purpose is to make the reader know her. In the end, you want her to success, whatever she chooses to do, because you understand her.
The plot is intriguing, and makes you want to keep reading from the first chapter because you need to know what's going on. The author makes you feel that there's something off, something hidden, something you are missing. To me, that's the most important quality in a thriller(ish?) book: the ability to keep you intrigued and interested. And this book definitely does that. But it also adds a touch of horror, or maybe gothic fantasy? I don't know why genre to classify this in.
I really liked it. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but if you liked "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" or "The Shining" movie (I have not read the book, shame on me) you will probably enjoy this one. PLUS, it's quite short (<300 pages), so even if you don't like it as much as I did, it will be an entertaining short read.
Finally, when you read the author's note, you can see how thorough the documentation process for the novel was. I specially liked the insight on female psychoanalysts.
I will definitely check other books by this author. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the eARC!
Before starting it, I expected a typical closed-space murder mistery with a slightly creepy touch. Then, when I started reading it, I thought it would probably end up being a novel like "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" (which I really liked). And indeed it was similar to Evelyn Hardcastle, but way more disturbing (in the best of ways) and less complicated. Reading Evelyn Hardcastle and keeping up with all the characters and changes. In this book, however, there's a good balance between mistery, details and action.
When I had read only like 50 pages I felt like I had already read like 200. The book is fast paced, with just the right amount of descriptions and details. You won't like the main character as a person: from moment one you will suspect her intentions, doubt her point of view and question her morals. That's what makes her so interesting as a character and a narrator. The psychology of all the main characters is very well developed, but in Nora's case that's specially true because the whole book's purpose is to make the reader know her. In the end, you want her to success, whatever she chooses to do, because you understand her.
The plot is intriguing, and makes you want to keep reading from the first chapter because you need to know what's going on. The author makes you feel that there's something off, something hidden, something you are missing. To me, that's the most important quality in a thriller(ish?) book: the ability to keep you intrigued and interested. And this book definitely does that. But it also adds a touch of horror, or maybe gothic fantasy? I don't know why genre to classify this in.
I really liked it. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but if you liked "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" or "The Shining" movie (I have not read the book, shame on me) you will probably enjoy this one. PLUS, it's quite short (<300 pages), so even if you don't like it as much as I did, it will be an entertaining short read.
Finally, when you read the author's note, you can see how thorough the documentation process for the novel was. I specially liked the insight on female psychoanalysts.
I will definitely check other books by this author. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the eARC!
Merged review:
I honestly don't know how to talk about this book without spoiling anything, but let me say: what a ride. I was pleasantly surprised... and disturbed.
Before starting it, I expected a typical closed-space murder mistery with a slightly creepy touch. Then, when I started reading it, I thought it would probably end up being a novel like "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" (which I really liked). And indeed it was similar to Evelyn Hardcastle, but way more disturbing (in the best of ways) and less complicated. Reading Evelyn Hardcastle and keeping up with all the characters and changes. In this book, however, there's a good balance between mistery, details and action.
When I had read only like 50 pages I felt like I had already read like 200. The book is fast paced, with just the right amount of descriptions and details. You won't like the main character as a person: from moment one you will suspect her intentions, doubt her point of view and question her morals. That's what makes her so interesting as a character and a narrator. The psychology of all the main characters is very well developed, but in Nora's case that's specially true because the whole book's purpose is to make the reader know her. In the end, you want her to success, whatever she chooses to do, because you understand her.
The plot is intriguing, and makes you want to keep reading from the first chapter because you need to know what's going on. The author makes you feel that there's something off, something hidden, something you are missing. To me, that's the most important quality in a thriller(ish?) book: the ability to keep you intrigued and interested. And this book definitely does that. But it also adds a touch of horror, or maybe gothic fantasy? I don't know why genre to classify this in.
I really liked it. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but if you liked "The seven deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" or "The Shining" movie (I have not read the book, shame on me) you will probably enjoy this one. PLUS, it's quite short (<300 pages), so even if you don't like it as much as I did, it will be an entertaining short read.
Finally, when you read the author's note, you can see how thorough the documentation process for the novel was. I specially liked the insight on female psychoanalysts.
I will definitely check other books by this author. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the eARC!
theaurochs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
greenwillow77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25