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arkwen452's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
While I find it admirable that she is trying to clear the McCarthy's murders, I don't think she's being smart. And for someone who is a doctor even though it's in music, she's not being smart at all. I think that she has a wealth of knowledge, in terms of music and composition, and a very good ear for music and tune, but the amateur detecting takes over her life and the story. And I don't think she votes enough time to the high school music orchestra that she is meant to be teaching. It becomes an afterthought to the entire narrative. I would prefer more of a balance, even though this is written in a style that is more , UK/British I feel that the author, and then story could give more to the readers.
Moving onto the central core motivation, for the basically the protagonist, and the story, it comes down to mental health; this is always a red flag when it comes to stories, because yes, a person can be mentally influenced or emotionally charged for their actions, but it doesn't always have to be linked to some mental illness or mental instability. And I really dislike that the author links to familial ties of people who had a mental instability as the cause for their actions. Because they have this in common with a relative obviously, it must mean that they are the killer; the writer presents the reader as a everything has been neatly wrapped up and tied into a bow and presented to us in the story so we don't have to question or doubt, or take a pause for the fact that it's been revealed that person with a mental illness suddenly psycho crazy serial killer.
And also trouble me that Gethsome is pulling all of these traits of amateur sleuth and amateur psychologist and amateur person reader and amateur knowledge of all things just because her sister married a judge for example, or her mother was a psychiatrist, for example, etc. etc. Just because these people are in her lives, doesn't mean she has all the knowledge or the insights as they do.
With the final confrontation between Gethsame and the serial killer, it's upsetting to see my previous thoughts on the matter of mental illness and the main character being inconsistently stitched together with characteristics of others be proven true.
I think the only characters I liked from this book were Emmon and the maths teacher Francis 🫤.
The book is a strong written story with excellent detail but I will not be rushing to read the next book.
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt
kappafrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
laffi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Many questions left unanswered.
All in all it was nice, I guess.
Although Gethsemane did not feel like someone who "lived music" . Tchaikovsky felt a lot like ~NLOG.
Cuz she special. duh.
I also felt like there were too many side characters, couldn't tell most of 'em apart.
Don't think I'm gonna read on.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Blood, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
ashleycmms's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy
kwaeisig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity
phantasmaboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I think that this is a cozy murder mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s face-paced plot also keeps you on your toes and there really isn’t a dull moment. That being said, the book fell flat to me in terms of character and plot development. The plot for the orchestra and the murder investigation fight with each other for space to the point where neither are very fully developed. It seems like the main character does little to accomplish either one and we are left to fill in the gaps ourselves. Furthermore, it seemed like everyone in this small town was involved at some point, and it quickly became hard to tell who was who and who was doing what. None of the characters were developed beyond some basic-level characteristics.
Finally, I found the ableism against people with mental illnesses to be quite alarming. Without spoiling, I can say that the author heavily stigmatizes those with mental illnesses and uses derogatory language to refer to them. While this is a trope, I believe it to be an outdated one at best, and the ending left me feeling quite disgusted for how the main character talks about those individuals. Perhaps with more character and plot development, it would have felt more purposeful, but really it just came off as cruel.
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Suicide, and Murder
henrismum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: I found this on a list of recommended mysteries. I put it on my TBR pile in summer and its number finally came up.
Will I read more of the series / author?
The narrator was Jessica Carroll. Her voice was a little baby-ish in some points. I hope she gets better.
Minor: Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
le_mur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
fourfootedbeasts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
thelizzielibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol