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tangleroot_eli's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Three people I know recommended this book to me. If they'd led with how funny it is, I might've read it sooner. On the other hand, if they'd led with how corpse-strewn and emotional it is, I might've read it sooner, too. (Basically, what I'm saying is, if you're going to recommend a book to me, please tell me why you think I'd like it. No matter how much I like you, just telling me, "I liked it" won't convince me.) Anyway. This is a funny, emotional, corpse-strewn mystery, and I liked it a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Graphic: Ageism Moderate: Nonconsensual drug use, Euthanasiadisasterdump's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Murder
brieoqueijo's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was SO GOOD! Honestly, an amazing surprise, I love all the main character and the resolution of “who did it?” actually surprised me, which is quite hard to do these days. I laughed out laud, cried (twice) and gasped multiple times. I’d run to my roommate to tell her about it and even call my mom. Now I’m giving it to my mom so we can gossip about it. I’m super excited to read the second book and I hope there are more to come!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Deportation
lunep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
This book affected me quite a bit I think. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to continue it because the writing style was A Choice and I was kinda confused (probably because I tried to start it while there was a bunch of conversation around me), but I'm glad I stuck it out until everything started to make sense (I only needed a couple of chapters until the different plot-lines started to mesh tbf)
This book was...so lovely. I didn't remember the cast was a bunch of elderly people, but they were so funny and lovable, I have to admit I have a soft spot for elderly people. One would think murder mysteries deal a whole lot with making sense of our own mortality, but I think I haven't found one that really does it until this one, and it's not even because these octogenarians are solving a murder, but because they are octogenarians
The plot was full of twists and I didn't even try to figure out who was the murderer (ok maybe just a little, at first I was sure it had been Father Mackie but I even wrote in my note that it seemed to obvious, and for a moment there at the end I was scared it might be Joyce), and to be honest I wouldnt have gotten it, I for sure did not see it coming, but I've come to realize these kind of books dont give enough information to figure it out yourself anyway, so I don't mind never figuring it out, I enjoyed the ride nonetheless tho I did end up a little confused about Ian's murderer reveal. The first story John told the thursday murder club made sense, because they said he worked around there I think? My ipad is charging, I might need to check it later, so like, it checks out that the body they found could have been that guy whose horse John put to sleep; but when they reveal it was actually that asshole from the murder they were investigating when Elizabeth roped Joyce into the club, that Penny had killed...I can believe that, but did they live around there, then? Coopers Chase didn't exist yet, it was stil a convent...so why did Penny bury him in the Garden of Eternal Rest? And then did she decide they should move there to keep an eye out? Like John had said? But John also mentioned something about always going to sit by the hill and then Penny made them stop...idk, that part was confusing to me, if someone reads this and understood better, pls explain?
Also I think the fact that they're 70+ year old pensioners adds to the story, of course, it could work if they were younger and, say, working in the police, like Donna and Chris, but the fact that they're 4 old men and women, who have backgrounds that can help, and whose age definitely helps butter people up...it just makes it funner I think, it also allows, of course, for the characters to have experience to draw from, and that kind of wisdom that comes with age, and I think it elevates the book from just a fun murder mystery (like a Poirot, no shade to Agatha Christie ofc) to a book that also leaves some important insights and messages
I also loved the secondary characters, Donna and Chris, who I already mentioned (I was scared for a moment there that Osman would make them an age-gap couple, but I really enjoyed what he did with their relationship instead), and also Bogdan (who I think is my favorite, he's such a sweetheart in his own way) and Father Mackie, I think Osman did a great job adding them to the POV roster to give more insight into their characters (also? I ended up finding the writing style hilarious, how it can go from one theme to another and it's still easy to follow, it felt kinda like my head) through their backstory, making them maybe not fully fleshed out characters yet, but definitely more than props/means-to-an-end
Also Ian Ventham was a insane character, every time we got his POV I couldnt help but laugh out loud at how much of a horrible human being he was
I think this book definitely became a new favorite, and I might look for it in spanish so my mom can read it
This book was...so lovely. I didn't remember the cast was a bunch of elderly people, but they were so funny and lovable, I have to admit I have a soft spot for elderly people. One would think murder mysteries deal a whole lot with making sense of our own mortality, but I think I haven't found one that really does it until this one, and it's not even because these octogenarians are solving a murder, but because they are octogenarians
The plot was full of twists and I didn't even try to figure out who was the murderer (ok maybe just a little, at first I was sure it had been Father Mackie but I even wrote in my note that it seemed to obvious, and for a moment there at the end I was scared it might be Joyce), and to be honest I wouldnt have gotten it, I for sure did not see it coming, but I've come to realize these kind of books dont give enough information to figure it out yourself anyway, so I don't mind never figuring it out, I enjoyed the ride nonetheless
Also I think the fact that they're 70+ year old pensioners adds to the story, of course, it could work if they were younger and, say, working in the police, like Donna and Chris, but the fact that they're 4 old men and women, who have backgrounds that can help, and whose age definitely helps butter people up...it just makes it funner I think, it also allows, of course, for the characters to have experience to draw from, and that kind of wisdom that comes with age, and I think it elevates the book from just a fun murder mystery (like a Poirot, no shade to Agatha Christie ofc) to a book that also leaves some important insights and messages
I also loved the secondary characters, Donna and Chris, who I already mentioned (I was scared for a moment there that Osman would make them an age-gap couple, but I really enjoyed what he did with their relationship instead), and also Bogdan (who I think is my favorite, he's such a sweetheart in his own way) and Father Mackie, I think Osman did a great job adding them to the POV roster to give more insight into their characters (also? I ended up finding the writing style hilarious, how it can go from one theme to another and it's still easy to follow, it felt kinda like my head) through their backstory, making them maybe not fully fleshed out characters yet, but definitely more than props/means-to-an-end
Also Ian Ventham was a insane character, every time we got his POV I couldnt help but laugh out loud at how much of a horrible human being he was
I think this book definitely became a new favorite, and I might look for it in spanish so my mom can read it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Suicide, Xenophobia, Dementia, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, and Pregnancy
carina_dreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
Está foi uma leitura conjunta com a Bestie e emprestado por ela.
🔎 Este é um livro ideal para quem gostou da série "Only Murders in the Building" porque o enredo é composto por um grupo de reformados que vivem na mesma residência e têm reuniões nas quintas-feiras para rever casos arquivados, os quais eles tinham acesso por uma ex-membro do grupo foi da polícia e guardou-os, para tentarem descobrir os culpados.
🔎 Tanto eu como a Bestie gostámos das personagens. Cada um tem a sua personalidade definida, as dinâmicas entre eles são diferentes e cada um tem uma razão diferente para querer fazer parte da investigação.
🔎 Apreciei o espanto do livro abordar não um caso, mas três!! Um outro fator que não é normal eu apreciar no género criminal e aqui resultou é quando o motivo do crime é compreendido apenas no final. Normalmente, sinto que o autor quis atar as pontas soltas e escolheu o motivo só para desenrasque. Aqui, nós temos as vítimas e possíveis culpados bem definidos, mas não conseguimos adivinhar a verdadeira razão até nos ser revelado a verdade, mas é tudo feito satisfatoriamente. Só por isso estava disposta a dar 4⭐, porém...
🔎 As minhas preferências puxaram o rating para o patamar inferior. Eu, ao contrário da maioria, não gosto de capítulos curtos (imaginem o meu desespero quando encarada com 115 capítulos 😅) porque sinto que muda de perspetiva muito depressa e que nunca chega a dar-me uma quantidade satisfatória de informação.
O que me chateou mais foi que uma das personagens tinha claramente um antigo emprego que lhe fornecia informação e conexões que permitia os velhotezinhos estarem à frente da polícia e que foi quase batota do autor.
Rating:
Eu - ⭐⭐⭐.75
Bestie - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
🔎 Este é um livro ideal para quem gostou da série "Only Murders in the Building" porque o enredo é composto por um grupo de reformados que vivem na mesma residência e têm reuniões nas quintas-feiras para rever casos arquivados, os quais eles tinham acesso por uma ex-membro do grupo foi da polícia e guardou-os, para tentarem descobrir os culpados.
🔎 Tanto eu como a Bestie gostámos das personagens. Cada um tem a sua personalidade definida, as dinâmicas entre eles são diferentes e cada um tem uma razão diferente para querer fazer parte da investigação.
🔎 Apreciei o espanto do livro abordar não um caso, mas três!! Um outro fator que não é normal eu apreciar no género criminal e aqui resultou é quando o motivo do crime é compreendido apenas no final. Normalmente, sinto que o autor quis atar as pontas soltas e escolheu o motivo só para desenrasque. Aqui, nós temos as vítimas e possíveis culpados bem definidos, mas não conseguimos adivinhar a verdadeira razão até nos ser revelado a verdade, mas é tudo feito satisfatoriamente. Só por isso estava disposta a dar 4⭐, porém...
🔎 As minhas preferências puxaram o rating para o patamar inferior. Eu, ao contrário da maioria, não gosto de capítulos curtos (imaginem o meu desespero quando encarada com 115 capítulos 😅) porque sinto que muda de perspetiva muito depressa e que nunca chega a dar-me uma quantidade satisfatória de informação.
O que me chateou mais foi que uma das personagens tinha claramente um antigo emprego que lhe fornecia informação e conexões que permitia os velhotezinhos estarem à frente da polícia e que foi quase batota do autor.
Rating:
Eu - ⭐⭐⭐.75
Bestie - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia, Suicide, Medical content, and Dementia
hannah_the_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Blood
kajoreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
The beginning felt slow. Luckily it picked up some pace towards the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, and Pregnancy
izypup's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
jlaz_13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Blood, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
rowiash's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Thoroughly entertaining. Lures you in with comedy and mystery, punches you in the gut with reflections on loyalty, love, and the eventual death that comes for us all. The only thing bringing down the rating for me was a bit of off-screen mystery-solving by the gang, so the reader can’t pay careful attention and figure it out from what’s presented.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Dementia and Grief
Minor: Sexism