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cross_a16's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was my first book by this author and I just have a feeling she’s not for me.
This isn’t an inherently bad story. However, I do not enjoy convoluted plots. And this is the definition of a convoluted plot. There were SO many characters, and many of them were simply introduced as red herrings and were mostly completely irrelevant to the story.
The characters had no depth at all in my opinion. Character development was thrown out the window for an overly complicated plot.
I had a really hard time paying attention to this book, and honestly when the murderer was revealed, I didn’t even know who they were. There were so many characters that I couldn’t keep any of them straight at all.
Also, honorable mention that the title of this book was said WAY too many times in inorganic ways.
Overall, this is just not my kind of mystery.
This isn’t an inherently bad story. However, I do not enjoy convoluted plots. And this is the definition of a convoluted plot. There were SO many characters, and many of them were simply introduced as red herrings and were mostly completely irrelevant to the story.
The characters had no depth at all in my opinion. Character development was thrown out the window for an overly complicated plot.
I had a really hard time paying attention to this book, and honestly when the murderer was revealed, I didn’t even know who they were. There were so many characters that I couldn’t keep any of them straight at all.
Also, honorable mention that the title of this book was said WAY too many times in inorganic ways.
Overall, this is just not my kind of mystery.
carwin_53's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Easy simplistic read. Character background sparse. Good fluffy thriller.
bookish_aly_cat's review against another edition
mysterious
4.0
This was such an enjoyable mystery read! I’ve recently learned I like this author and I think this is one of my favorites I’ve read so far. This book kept me guessing until the very end and I really liked the over all plot surrounding the “dancing shoe murderer”. I recommend this one.
Thank you Simon Books for sending me a gifted copy.
devonforest's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I've read a Mary Higgins Clark book, but I enjoyed her books in middle school/high school so I figured I'd try to read some more of her stuff. The plot was a bit creepy and a lot of the whole "don't trust who you meet on the Internet (or well the personal ads since this is the 90s)". I knew who she wanted me to think the killer was, but my gut told me it wasn't him and I was right. There's a lot of hints to people it might be except for the person that it actually was. I guess that should've been my hint that it was him.
The whole main characters finding love at the end was a bit annoying. It's not realistic that everyone is going to find a boyfriend while solving a murder case. Maybe if only one of them found love I could deal with it better. But both of them? Come on now, that's a little ridiculous.
But overall enjoyable and fairly quick read.
The whole main characters finding love at the end was a bit annoying. It's not realistic that everyone is going to find a boyfriend while solving a murder case. Maybe if only one of them found love I could deal with it better. But both of them? Come on now, that's a little ridiculous.
But overall enjoyable and fairly quick read.
namnam84's review against another edition
3.0
A quick airplane/ weekend read. Don't expect literary brilliance, and you won't be disappointed. The mystery was a bit predictable - if you're careful or used to reading thrillers then you will figure out who did it half way through. Yet Clark keeps up the pace till the end, and it turns out to be a fast, no-stress read.
dancingchemprof's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I had to force myself to put it down so I could get enough sleep to teach my classes! I'm looking forward to reading more novels by Mary Higgins Clark!!
bookgirlsolutions's review against another edition
3.0
My first Mary Higgins Clark novel. Clever and moved fast. I was entertained and intrigued.
_lilbey_'s review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I like the wide variety of suspects and the lack of a love interest taking over the story. I felt, as usual, that there were many coincidences and some things fell too neatly together REALLY close to the end, but at least the murderer didn't explain his process.
My book also had an interview with MHC at the end, which I enjoyed. Almost 30 years after the fact, I really enjoy that she claimed when she writes about "the young generation, it has a ring of truth," and I learned the saying, "many a man was lost at sea that night that one was born."
I like the wide variety of suspects and the lack of a love interest taking over the story. I felt, as usual, that there were many coincidences and some things fell too neatly together REALLY close to the end, but at least the murderer didn't explain his process.
My book also had an interview with MHC at the end, which I enjoyed. Almost 30 years after the fact, I really enjoy that she claimed when she writes about "the young generation, it has a ring of truth," and I learned the saying, "many a man was lost at sea that night that one was born."