Scan barcode
wimzie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and War
celiapowell's review
4.0
Oddly I read this right after "Wake" by Anna Hope, which is set in the time period and deals with similar issues. This was also excellent, although definitely a mystery novel, whereas "Wake" was more a reflection on relationships and the aftermath of war. Laurence agrees to look into the suicide of an old schoolmate, a fellow returned soldier, and finds much more than he expects. I need to find something cheerful to read next, I can't take any more sad young men being killed.
mm22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
maureenafred's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
shesnotthere's review
2.0
This book was on my "to read" list from it's excerpt from DearReader.com. The book starts out really strong, but it began losing steam quickly. I got about halfway through this book & just couldn't finish it. I don't know if it was the fact that there were a lot of characters, who all seemed to have last names that started with "B" or that it sort of plodded along in that British sort of way (which I normally don't mind). It just didn't click with me, which was disappointing. I would like to know what happens at the end, but I just don't have the patience to get there.
cjgmiranda220's review
2.0
I was following the book when I first started it. Then it started to drag introducing new characters, suspects, and back stories. It was really long, and I couldn't finish it.
krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-return-of-captain-john-emmett/
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-return-of-captain-john-emmett/
soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
Well-plotted, but had some direct similarities with the Maisie Dobbs series. My favorite character was the droll, mystery-reading Charles without whom I don't think the main character (Laurence) could have solved the mystery.
The narrator, Matthew Brenher, was very good but sometimes I couldn't tell when a new character started talking.
The narrator, Matthew Brenher, was very good but sometimes I couldn't tell when a new character started talking.
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
Laurence Bartram is living in London in 1920 and coming to terms with the death of his wife and son while he was away fighting in France. He receives a letter from Mary, the sister of Laurence's old school friend John Emmett. John had also fought in WW1, returning with shell shock, but appeared on the mend when he abruptly killed himself. Mary is hoping that Laurence can help her to understand why, and so he initiates an investigation into the final years of John Emmett's life.
Where this novel works very well is as a depiction of life in post war Britain and the lasting effects that WW1 had on both soldiers and civilians. Where it works less well - for me anyway - is as a mystery. Laurence's investigations are slow and drawn out and when everything is resolved at the end it feels like Speller just wanted to wrap it up quickly: Laurence stumbles on the solution rather than deducing it. It's a well written book and I enjoyed reading it, but I also got frustrated by the slow pace and it took me a week to read (which is a long time for me).
The novel reminded me in some ways of Maisie Dobbs, which is also a mystery involving shell shocked post WW1 veterans.
Where this novel works very well is as a depiction of life in post war Britain and the lasting effects that WW1 had on both soldiers and civilians. Where it works less well - for me anyway - is as a mystery. Laurence's investigations are slow and drawn out and when everything is resolved at the end it feels like Speller just wanted to wrap it up quickly: Laurence stumbles on the solution rather than deducing it. It's a well written book and I enjoyed reading it, but I also got frustrated by the slow pace and it took me a week to read (which is a long time for me).
The novel reminded me in some ways of Maisie Dobbs, which is also a mystery involving shell shocked post WW1 veterans.
milly_in_the_library's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars really..I'm feeling ungenerous!
This didn't grip me quite as much as I had hoped. I liked the idea behind the story, but didn't find myself totally loving the protagonist or other characters.
This didn't grip me quite as much as I had hoped. I liked the idea behind the story, but didn't find myself totally loving the protagonist or other characters.