Reviews

The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong -Mo

figgyflake's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

allenos's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.0

thejoshdenk's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dia_arca_mina's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

taleswithaelia's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

2.5

geauxgetlit's review against another edition

3.0

The synopsis of this book hooked me…I love reading about women in older generations than your stereotypical 20s and 30s in literature.

Imagine a badass woman in her 60s still active in a killer for hire agency! The plot was a bit one dimensional as it related to her age and chosen career. I thought the characters could have been more finessed; however, this is a translated book and I’m sure some fine tuning will get lost in translation.

Overall, this book was a really quick read. Get this if you like strong female characters where age has no limits

Thank you Hanover Square #htpbooks & NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review

kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition

There is a wonderfully strong feeling of the culture in which it is set, with the food, the markets in town, the mannerisms and the style of Korea seeping into everything. It's also a universal story of aging, and frailty, and the reflection that comes as there is less in front than behind somebody. Hornclaw's not, however, anybody's victim and if nothing else, a lifetime as an assassin has taught this woman a few things about planning and survival. It's just that the events around her present are possibly teaching her about emotions and connections more than has ever happened in her past. All in all, unexpected, engaging and oddly life-affirming, surprisingly so really, what with the aging and the killing ... 


https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/old-woman-knife-gu-byeong-mo

whatsup24601's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

chaotic_wholesome's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.0

clacksee's review against another edition

funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Very strange and confusing