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lauurenshand's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
beccajbooks's review against another edition
5.0
The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton is fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At first glance, this doesn't look like my kind of thing - with witches and dark magic in the blurb. However, the way this is written makes this more believable than anything I've read of this genre for a little while.
Florence 'Flossie' Lovelady is a fresh-out-of-the-academy police officer, new to the area of Sabden, and new to the male-orientated Sadben police force. It's 1969, and someone is murdering teenagers and burying them in caskets in cemetaries. Larry Glssbrook subsequently confesses and is sent to prison until his death 30 years later.
Set against the backdrop of the witches of Pendle and rumours of dark magic, we follow Florence as she tries to solve the case and find her way in a world where men are in charge and women must follow behind.
Florence is lodging in the Glassbrook house and so is close to the action when Luna, one of the Glassbrook children, is the fourth teenager to be abducted in Sabden. Can Florence find Luna before it is too late and bring her home?
I found this book fascinating. As I've said before I don't read things that are supernatural and make believe. However, the way this is written, it reads more like the historical work that you read about actual witch trials of the time. And where we know that witches aren't real, we do know that people believed that they were and women, and men, were often persecuted for the crime of witchcraft.
Florence is a strong character. We jump back and forth between 1969, when the crimes are being committed, and 1999, when Florence comes back to Sabden with her son, for Larry's funeral. Sharon Bolton writes perfect length chapters and her writing flows so naturally that it is easy to read and you just get swept up in the story. The pace of this book is just right - there is no lull in the action at all and there is always something happening.
Avril and Daphne are awesome characters. They are the local witches that Florence befriends, and who are her main allies when she gets into a bit of trouble with the police.
The Glassbrook girls, on the other hand, I didn't like either of them. There is older sister Cassie and younger sister Luna. Cassie is the classic trouble making older sister, who doesn't like Florence and generally is just rude to her. Luna isb a young teenager, and gets into the usual trouble teenagers do.
Cassie isn't nice, she isn't friendly and if my sister said this to me, I would have a hard time sleeping for a very long time.
I recommend this book to any and everyone. Give it a read, you will get lost in the beautiful hills of Lancashire and swept up in the magic of witches.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
No one was getting out of a Larry Glassbrook casket once they were shut inside. In fairness, very few people tried.
Florence 'Flossie' Lovelady is a fresh-out-of-the-academy police officer, new to the area of Sabden, and new to the male-orientated Sadben police force. It's 1969, and someone is murdering teenagers and burying them in caskets in cemetaries. Larry Glssbrook subsequently confesses and is sent to prison until his death 30 years later.
Set against the backdrop of the witches of Pendle and rumours of dark magic, we follow Florence as she tries to solve the case and find her way in a world where men are in charge and women must follow behind.
That's the patriarchy for you. It's what men do when they're afraid and they feel helpless and out of control. They turn on the outsider, usually a woman, and they blame her for everything that's going wrong. You've become the witch my dear.
Florence is lodging in the Glassbrook house and so is close to the action when Luna, one of the Glassbrook children, is the fourth teenager to be abducted in Sabden. Can Florence find Luna before it is too late and bring her home?
I found this book fascinating. As I've said before I don't read things that are supernatural and make believe. However, the way this is written, it reads more like the historical work that you read about actual witch trials of the time. And where we know that witches aren't real, we do know that people believed that they were and women, and men, were often persecuted for the crime of witchcraft.
Florence is a strong character. We jump back and forth between 1969, when the crimes are being committed, and 1999, when Florence comes back to Sabden with her son, for Larry's funeral. Sharon Bolton writes perfect length chapters and her writing flows so naturally that it is easy to read and you just get swept up in the story. The pace of this book is just right - there is no lull in the action at all and there is always something happening.
Avril and Daphne are awesome characters. They are the local witches that Florence befriends, and who are her main allies when she gets into a bit of trouble with the police.
The Glassbrook girls, on the other hand, I didn't like either of them. There is older sister Cassie and younger sister Luna. Cassie is the classic trouble making older sister, who doesn't like Florence and generally is just rude to her. Luna isb a young teenager, and gets into the usual trouble teenagers do.
One by one he steals them away and nobody knows when he's going to pounce next. Check under the bed tonight Luna.
Cassie isn't nice, she isn't friendly and if my sister said this to me, I would have a hard time sleeping for a very long time.
I recommend this book to any and everyone. Give it a read, you will get lost in the beautiful hills of Lancashire and swept up in the magic of witches.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
gandygeorgia's review against another edition
4.0
Found it so hard to rate this book as I really enjoyed it but there was just something that prevented that fifth star . Was delighted when I realised witchcraft played a massive part in this novel as I love anything about witches.
The sexism that the protagonist faces from her colleagues and the community gave a great insight to what females dealt with back in the 60’s too!
The writing was great, the only thing that let this book down for me was the fact the culprit of the murders was named on the very first page and then we was led to believe that over 200+ pages of the story was devoted to how they caught him. It took me a lot longer to get through the book because i didn’t feel like any tension or suspense could be built knowing who the murderer was already. Even though there was a twist, you don’t know that till you get to it.. so I wish the author wouldn’t of named Larry!
The sexism that the protagonist faces from her colleagues and the community gave a great insight to what females dealt with back in the 60’s too!
The writing was great, the only thing that let this book down for me was the fact the culprit of the murders was named on the very first page and then we was led to believe that over 200+ pages of the story was devoted to how they caught him. It took me a lot longer to get through the book because i didn’t feel like any tension or suspense could be built knowing who the murderer was already. Even though there was a twist, you don’t know that till you get to it.. so I wish the author wouldn’t of named Larry!
kerry2727's review against another edition
5.0
Another brilliant book by Sharon Bolton. What an ending! I love that this mixed a few genres but ultimately was a super gripping thriller with all the suspense. I did guess the ending part way through the book but was then convinced otherwise so it still remained a great surprise twist at the end!
cassidys_bookshelf32's review against another edition
2.0
*Unpopular opinion alert*
It might be a case of 'wrong book/wrong time' but this book was such a SLOW BURN. I found myself constantly drifting off while reading it and I didn't give a rats about any of the characters. Also, the introduction of witches/paranormal elements halfway through just didn't work for me with the beginning plot line.
I'm very bummed this one didn't work for me since it seems to be a very popular favorite, but we can't love them all.
2/5🌟
It might be a case of 'wrong book/wrong time' but this book was such a SLOW BURN. I found myself constantly drifting off while reading it and I didn't give a rats about any of the characters. Also, the introduction of witches/paranormal elements halfway through just didn't work for me with the beginning plot line.
I'm very bummed this one didn't work for me since it seems to be a very popular favorite, but we can't love them all.
2/5🌟
nixbix_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
This was such a chilling read! Sharon Bolton crafts such wonderfully gripping stories that start off slow but pull you in inch by inch until you just can’t put the book down. I was intrigued by the start, but it’s the rest of the story that had me eagerly flipping the pages.
I really liked the way this story was told, with the start & finish of the story set in 1999, but with the majority set 30 years prior, in the summer of 1969. Three teenagers have gone missing, the police have no clues & the town is on edge. I loved the undercurrents of secrecy in the town - the story is set in the shadow of Pendle Hill, a place steeped in witchcraft. Witchcraft and its practises & superstitions play a large part in the story, and it’s what had me on the edge of my seat, especially for the last 10-15% of the book. The story is told from the perspective of Florence Lovelady, a WPC in 1969 & a high ranking officer in 1999, and we get to see how this affects her & what parts she has to play in what happens.
This is a chilling & panic-inducing read at times, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I really liked the way this story was told, with the start & finish of the story set in 1999, but with the majority set 30 years prior, in the summer of 1969. Three teenagers have gone missing, the police have no clues & the town is on edge. I loved the undercurrents of secrecy in the town - the story is set in the shadow of Pendle Hill, a place steeped in witchcraft. Witchcraft and its practises & superstitions play a large part in the story, and it’s what had me on the edge of my seat, especially for the last 10-15% of the book. The story is told from the perspective of Florence Lovelady, a WPC in 1969 & a high ranking officer in 1999, and we get to see how this affects her & what parts she has to play in what happens.
This is a chilling & panic-inducing read at times, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
helgamharb's review against another edition
4.0
1969
Larry Glassbrook, a coffin maker and funeral director, is arrested and sent to prison for kidnapping and burying alive of 3 teenagers. Along with the bodies they also find clay effigies resembling the victims, pierced disturbingly like voodoo dolls.
Not only is the evidence against Larry solid, he also confesses to the murders.
Case closed!
1999
Florence Lovelady, one of the investigators at the time, whose diligent work leads to Larry’s arrest, returns to the town in which the crimes were committed, to attend Larry’s funeral.
But what she finds is more than closure. Out of curiosity, she heads towards Larry’s abandoned house, where she discovers a recently made effigy, bearing a resemblance to herself.
Did Larry have an accomplice or was he innocent? If so, why did he confess to these heinous and senseless crimes?
The Craftsman is yet another unique and unnerving story from Sharon Bolton. An exceptional mystery, which when unravelled, would chill your bones and unsettle your mind!
Larry Glassbrook, a coffin maker and funeral director, is arrested and sent to prison for kidnapping and burying alive of 3 teenagers. Along with the bodies they also find clay effigies resembling the victims, pierced disturbingly like voodoo dolls.
Not only is the evidence against Larry solid, he also confesses to the murders.
Case closed!
1999
Florence Lovelady, one of the investigators at the time, whose diligent work leads to Larry’s arrest, returns to the town in which the crimes were committed, to attend Larry’s funeral.
But what she finds is more than closure. Out of curiosity, she heads towards Larry’s abandoned house, where she discovers a recently made effigy, bearing a resemblance to herself.
Did Larry have an accomplice or was he innocent? If so, why did he confess to these heinous and senseless crimes?
The Craftsman is yet another unique and unnerving story from Sharon Bolton. An exceptional mystery, which when unravelled, would chill your bones and unsettle your mind!
firefly8041's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't sure what I thought of this one. I couldn't tell if it was the setting or the characters I didn't really like, or a mix of the both. It still held my interest, though. I didn't like the very ending.
chrissie57's review against another edition
1.0
It is probably not fair to give this one star as I only skimmed part of it but I cannot claim to 'like it'. I think I read enough to tell that (IMHO) this book is just full of the usual tropes and I am just so tired of them. I wonder how any of the police personnel that appear in modern crime novels manage to not only keep their jobs, what with their personal issues taking up most of their energies, but usually seem to be hugely successful.
This book had another disadvantage for me and I humbly apologise to anyone I offend - but I cannot take a leading female character called Florence seriously - at my age, this simply calls up shades of Miss Marple. This is a purely personal opinion and I really don't want to upset all the Florences out there who are delighted to see their name in lights, as it were, but I am roughly the same age as the protaganist and I can truthfully say I have never, in school or at work, come across anyone of my age with this name. I do wonder why Ms Bolton chose this name?
This book had another disadvantage for me and I humbly apologise to anyone I offend - but I cannot take a leading female character called Florence seriously - at my age, this simply calls up shades of Miss Marple. This is a purely personal opinion and I really don't want to upset all the Florences out there who are delighted to see their name in lights, as it were, but I am roughly the same age as the protaganist and I can truthfully say I have never, in school or at work, come across anyone of my age with this name. I do wonder why Ms Bolton chose this name?