james1star's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The characters both in and out of the mystery are rather developed, mostly likeable, diverse and it’s enjoyable being in their company. There isn’t as much analysis due to the books length but overall a pleasant experience. With a young adult audience in mind, the characters are written with some juvenile aspects but it’s not done too much. The writing isn’t that amazing or developed but definitely readable and intriguing. I loved the mystery and investigating in this, trying to play along to figure out ‘who done it’ and Pippa’s theory was really well laid out - I was like Yass! Serve Pip!
This book wasn’t perfect but certainly a fun, entertaining, engaging read and I’m very likely to follow along in the series. I believe Pippa’s passion for investigating and doing so in the ‘real’ world would be more interesting and more explored in a full length book too. So I’m excited for more.
My hodgepodge of SPOILER FILLED notes:
Pippa going to murder mystery night with friends - not that interested at start
Murder of andie bell by bf Sal Singh grips town
Reginald Remy killed - pip is niece, 2 sons, one brothers wife, butler and cook there… who done it? Detective - secluded island so one must be the murder
Pip eagerly taking notes as give alibis but each alone so no one has one - all have the means and opportunity but what about motive?
Various clues
Safe broken into - motive??
Will stolen and ripped up - Bobbie left out
Year before mum died by ‘acident’ - Ralph flinched at that word thinking not the case
Ralph and reg had argument sort of about company apparent someone’s been stealing
At lunch reg said Lizzy (wife and owner of one casino) had sticky fingers - thief? Laughed it off
Bobby had gambling addiction - reg threaten to disinherit him if continue
Humphrey (but) said he wished reg was dead to cara (cook) - he said it but didn’t mean it blowing off steam annoyed as refused time off to visit daughter
Old cook quits out of blue, forced to do so - cara no good at cooking - why she there
Celia not heirness but a government spy to find evidence of money transfer by reg to communists, broke into safe and stole cheque book, taking in code when overheard ‘terminate’ used - was she told to kill reg if found ev of reason??
Ant (Bobbie) missing - left unexpectedly
A performance? Part of game? Apparently not
Banging on window but could only see reflection - tripped on flood light exposing ant
Lizzie and Bobbie affair!
Bobbie been going to rival Gaza casino and selling drugs - reg not found out apparently - cara/Dora also been seen there but is lowly cook??
Pip need to hide stolen cheque book from Bullard room so pretends to go loo - finds clue 4 but only skimmed as grabbed by cara from behind who took it
Reg paid 150k to Harris pick (saved reg in boer war) who was the communist agitator
Cara saw Celia stealing it - admits to it but claimed was looking for old photograph but only saw book and wanted to see how much reg was giving out
So cara wasn’t in the grounds, why was she going to the study? Spying on the family?
Murder will be revealed in personal letter - Celia not it
Pizza boxes been moved, found by the bin - final clue inside one
RR wrote that it’s not too late, they both want this and he does not deserve sympathy - Bobbie already wrote a note signed RR… Note of the affair?
2 killers? - Inspector says only 1
Will be revealed in dining room so all move to there
All signed leading to Bobbie - too many? Something missing?
Lights and music go off - shattered by a scream (Lizzie - Lauren) power cut? Broken fuse? Pip goes to find the box where she saw a man in the corner… shadow man was a pile of boxes with sheet over it - light on in cellar - envelope in stairs as going up ‘secret clue just for you’ stating doctor been visiting and reg has cancer dr paid money to keep quiet
Each have to give an answer to who the killer is and motive
Lauren - Dora undercover from rival casino there to steal business information and kill
Ant - Celia good girl gone bad
Zach - Bobbie never gave up gambling, mum found out so killed her, knew out of will so tried to destroy new and kill reg, note as an ‘alibi’ saying with lizzy
Connor - Celia as a Russia spy, hiding info, there to terminate reg
Cara - Bobbie as everything points to him
Pip - Who it wasn’t:
Dora there as a plant but nothing to gain from reg’s death
Lizzy - been stealing and having affair but not
Humphrey - hated him but daughter dying of smallpox, no chance to say goodbye
Celia - a spy, misguided evidence not furling communist agitator Pick only an old friend settling debts as knew dying
Bobbie & lizzy - have an alibi together
Ralph - killer but reg in on it - an elaborate plan with inspector Way to frame Bobby
Bobby killed Way’s partner and his mum but no justice
Reg Hatched plan to make sure he goes down for his death
Only 1 boat - so inspector came on that boat as knew it was gonna happen and been steering investigation towards Bobby
Ralph getting cold feet earlier but note was not from bobbi but reg to Ralph stating Bobby didn’t deserve sympathy - don’t different and matches initial invitation from reg
Jamie - that’s not the answer saying it was Bobby
Pip - No it can’t be it’s too obvious - getting annoyed stating there were too many holes
Ignited a passion for investigating
On way home saw Sal Singh’s face… no he was dead… his brother Ravi
Murder/case gripped the town - it was too easily concluded
She knew what to do her epq on
Moderate: Murder and Death
jessicaoreads67's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Blood and Death
kjm_x's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Terminal illness, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Murder
hi_there's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
em_davies7019's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Terminal illness, Addiction, Incest, Cancer, and Drug use
anielabooks's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Terminal illness, Drug use, Cancer, and Infidelity
Minor: Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Incest, Abandonment, and Classism
lilith_hmr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Moderate: Suicide, Death, Blood, and Deadnaming
binreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Perfect way to lead into A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or even if you read this after the trilogy, it’s so interesting to see how Pip got into everything before diving into her search into the case of Andie Bell. But oh boy to know what happens at the end of the trilogy then reading this is CRAZY!!!!!! Loved it.
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use
froggybex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer and Addiction
sweetsanchia's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Blood