gisele's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
jennfs10's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
smarkies's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
3.25
jenmat1197's review against another edition
2.0
This is a mystery book about two murdered on Singapore island. Two females have washed up on the shore and Aunty Lee knows them both. She tries to help the police solve the murders by talking to people who come to her restaurant and were the last people to see the women alive.
As Aunty Lee and the police talk to the people who knew the women and their families, she finds out more than she ever wanted to know about patrons of her restaurant. Aunty Lee who was a rich, lonely, widow becomes heavily involved in closing this case and helping bringing peace to the women's families.
Well - I didn't count Crazy Rich Asians as my book for Singapore in my Read The World challenge because I wanted something better. I didn't find it here. This book is fine. It isn't well written, and it isn't even that interesting. I did finish it because I did want to see who committed the murders, but getting to the end was a challenge. The story wasn't a good one. The ending felt rushed. The characters dull.
Sigh. I guess I will be looking for yet another book that takes place in Singapore for my challenge. This won't make the cut.
As Aunty Lee and the police talk to the people who knew the women and their families, she finds out more than she ever wanted to know about patrons of her restaurant. Aunty Lee who was a rich, lonely, widow becomes heavily involved in closing this case and helping bringing peace to the women's families.
Well - I didn't count Crazy Rich Asians as my book for Singapore in my Read The World challenge because I wanted something better. I didn't find it here. This book is fine. It isn't well written, and it isn't even that interesting. I did finish it because I did want to see who committed the murders, but getting to the end was a challenge. The story wasn't a good one. The ending felt rushed. The characters dull.
Sigh. I guess I will be looking for yet another book that takes place in Singapore for my challenge. This won't make the cut.
amandajeanne's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
keira_reckons's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Homophobia, Violence, and Sexual violence
madamzoohoo707's review against another edition
2.0
Yeesh. This was not very good. Cheesy airplane mystery read.
yasdnilr's review against another edition
4.0
I really love Aunty Lee but I don't much care who done it.
lilirose's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Un cozy mystery ambientato a Singapore e che al di la dell'ambientazione poco consueta non spicca sotto nessun aspetto.
La prima parte benché non originale si sviluppa in maniera piacevole; facciamo conoscenza con la protagonista un po' stereotipata ma simpatica (una miss Marple più ricca e più brava in cucina), veniamo introdotti nel suo mondo e gradualmente, in maniera naturale e non forzata, ci vengono presentati anche i futuri sospettati: tutto come nel più tradizionale dei gialli insomma. Poi qualcosa in questo meccanismo ben collaudato si inceppa e con l'inizio vero e proprio delle indagini il libro perde mordente: invece di concentrarsi sul mistero l'autrice perde tempo a darci lezioncine sui diritti lgbt+. Lodevole l'intento, ma poco appropriato per un romanzetto giallo senza pretese che infatti finisce per banalizzare la questione ed affogarla in un mare di buonismo da quattro soldi. Tra un coming out e una riconciliazione familiare la soluzione arriva quasi per sbaglio, non ci viene nemmeno spiegato come Aunty Lee abbia risolto il caso.
Non è tutto da buttare, infatti la scrittura è scorrevole l'ambientazione convincente: peccato per la trama gialla non all'altezza (e in un mystery non mi pare problema da poco).
La prima parte benché non originale si sviluppa in maniera piacevole; facciamo conoscenza con la protagonista un po' stereotipata ma simpatica (una miss Marple più ricca e più brava in cucina), veniamo introdotti nel suo mondo e gradualmente, in maniera naturale e non forzata, ci vengono presentati anche i futuri sospettati: tutto come nel più tradizionale dei gialli insomma. Poi qualcosa in questo meccanismo ben collaudato si inceppa e con l'inizio vero e proprio delle indagini il libro perde mordente: invece di concentrarsi sul mistero l'autrice perde tempo a darci lezioncine sui diritti lgbt+. Lodevole l'intento, ma poco appropriato per un romanzetto giallo senza pretese che infatti finisce per banalizzare la questione ed affogarla in un mare di buonismo da quattro soldi. Tra un coming out e una riconciliazione familiare la soluzione arriva quasi per sbaglio, non ci viene nemmeno spiegato come Aunty Lee abbia risolto il caso.
Non è tutto da buttare, infatti la scrittura è scorrevole l'ambientazione convincente: peccato per la trama gialla non all'altezza (e in un mystery non mi pare problema da poco).