chirson's review
4.0
I just love a good mystery from time to time. This is more weird and fantastical than the average crime story, but the mood was great and the investigation was well-done. And Allan is just such an impressive writer, so good at her craft, so clever and thoughtful. I wish there were many more novels of hers for me to immerse myself in.
caitsidhe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A well-written slow and thoughtful story about memory, trauma, and love. Those expecting a straight-forward murder mystery/thriller or something with supernatural themes will be disappointed.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
I’ll say from the beginning that I love this cover, it’s interesting and has so many little details that are related to the plot that after reading I look at it with different eyes.
I have to say that if you start reading this book it will be impossible to put down till you arrive at the end, I started reading it one day when I wasn’t feeling well and I thought I would be able to read a little and then sleep; what a joke! I read it in one sitting and I didn’t sleep at all!
This is a slow paced story, told by Cath’s perspective, a young woman who searches for answers of who killed her best friend when she was young. She never accepted that her best friend’s father, John Craigie, killed all the family and then had an accident leaving the Isle of Bute. She always felt guilty of not knowing what was really happening at Shirley’s home or knowing that her father was so dangerous. Now, she thinks she can make a photograph exposition about the house of the crime and maybe, discover why everything happened.
The story is addictive and the mystery has a few twists, and it was interesting reading about folk tales around the fairies. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing supernatural about the case, but it has an important part showing John Craigie character and how it affected the whole the story.
It’s interesting how the book shows us that we don’t never really know anyone, even the ones we love most and that they can always surprise us, for good or bad…
If you are looking for a well plotted page turner book, believe this is a great choice!
Are you ready to discover “The Good Neighbours”?
I have to say that if you start reading this book it will be impossible to put down till you arrive at the end, I started reading it one day when I wasn’t feeling well and I thought I would be able to read a little and then sleep; what a joke! I read it in one sitting and I didn’t sleep at all!
This is a slow paced story, told by Cath’s perspective, a young woman who searches for answers of who killed her best friend when she was young. She never accepted that her best friend’s father, John Craigie, killed all the family and then had an accident leaving the Isle of Bute. She always felt guilty of not knowing what was really happening at Shirley’s home or knowing that her father was so dangerous. Now, she thinks she can make a photograph exposition about the house of the crime and maybe, discover why everything happened.
The story is addictive and the mystery has a few twists, and it was interesting reading about folk tales around the fairies. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing supernatural about the case, but it has an important part showing John Craigie character and how it affected the whole the story.
It’s interesting how the book shows us that we don’t never really know anyone, even the ones we love most and that they can always surprise us, for good or bad…
If you are looking for a well plotted page turner book, believe this is a great choice!
Are you ready to discover “The Good Neighbours”?
missmelia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
hannah5833mcintosh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
aliceairey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
umbrellaladyreads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
beckylouise2904's review against another edition
3.0
A slow burn but interesting story, crime mystery with a lovely bit of fairy folklore mixed in.
cerim's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up in the library as the blurb sounded intriguing and I’m a sucker for a book set in Scotland. Setting wise, the author did a good job of recreating Bute however there were word choices that a Scottish person just would not use and it irritated me more than it should have!
The story itself started off promisingly but by the end of the book I found myself willing it to be finished. There were some lovely sections describing scenery but I found the characters to be unbelievable and unlikeable.
Not sure if I would read more from the author.
The story itself started off promisingly but by the end of the book I found myself willing it to be finished. There were some lovely sections describing scenery but I found the characters to be unbelievable and unlikeable.
Not sure if I would read more from the author.