reedabook's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mxinky's review
5.0
This is a slower, moodier police procedural, not a quick “mystery.” I admire the time spent on the victim and the various players in the tragedy. It’s not fluffy or simple, and that’s why I think it’s one of Denise Mina’s best.
I have read the first two Morrow books and they both begin with the scene of a confusing crime. I find this lends more humanity to everyone involved, as compared with someone finding “a body” at the beginning of a novel. Mina is doing something new with the form. It’s not for everyone, but I am a fan.
I have read the first two Morrow books and they both begin with the scene of a confusing crime. I find this lends more humanity to everyone involved, as compared with someone finding “a body” at the beginning of a novel. Mina is doing something new with the form. It’s not for everyone, but I am a fan.
ury949's review
4.0
This was really good. It's a detective story where you know who did it, but the focus is more on Alex Morrow's process of figuring it out. Reminded me a lot of Fargo, but that might have something to do with the fact that she's pregnant. I really got into the characters and awkward relationships - the mixture of personalities made the story interesting. And I was so happy that the main police characters were not overly bossy, snarky, or sarcastic all the time; just the right amount. Some parts were sort of left hanging - like I'm not too sure what finally happened with the second wife. The dynamics of that whole family were really messed up and dysfunctional. The book wasn't too long or too short. Overall a great read and I'm looking to read other books by Denise Mina.
artemisia_vulgaris's review
challenging
dark
5.0
This is a book about a terrible, sad murder. It is a crime book, not so much in that it investigates how a crime was committed, but by going deep into the causes and effects, the humanity of the people involved, victim, perpetrators, investigators, suspects. Several characters are viewed from the inside, and very uncomfortable it is at times, so vivid is the writing and so extreme the distress. This book addresses terrible things.
If you want a nice straightforward procedural, this is not it. Instead, it pulls tropes inside out, giving us the sordidness and hollowness of what is too often presented as glamorous or righteous and the decency and goodness where we expect despair. Family is an important theme, and money another, and though it leans hard into the dysfunctions and horrors of family, there is some beauty and love in the wreckage, and shining hope.
If you want a nice straightforward procedural, this is not it. Instead, it pulls tropes inside out, giving us the sordidness and hollowness of what is too often presented as glamorous or righteous and the decency and goodness where we expect despair. Family is an important theme, and money another, and though it leans hard into the dysfunctions and horrors of family, there is some beauty and love in the wreckage, and shining hope.
andrew61's review
5.0
I'd probably give this 4.5 but I've gone to 5 rather than 4 as it was a really good crime novel from a writer I've not read before and with a really strong female police lead . There were no crime cliches and the plot was well drawn and it was a satisfactory ending . I'd strongly recommend it and I'll definitely read more.
dianna_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
deepakchecks's review
2.0
Very ordinary. I was taken in by the reviews I had read and also the fact that it won a Crime novel of the year awards which I initially thought was a Guardian award, but now realized its a Theakstons Old Peculier crime novel award.
Anyway, the crime and the criminals are introduced in the beginning. The investigation and the life of the criminals progress in alternating chapters. The plot point was not good enough for me and it was a tough read as well, not strictly because of the quality of the prose. It disapp
Anyway, the crime and the criminals are introduced in the beginning. The investigation and the life of the criminals progress in alternating chapters. The plot point was not good enough for me and it was a tough read as well, not strictly because of the quality of the prose. It disapp
lisagray68's review
4.0
3.5 is my true rating. I always love Denise Mina's mysteries. Pretty much your basic police procedural, nothing out of this world - I just like the way she writes and I like her main character.
lauraethacker's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this ending! Lady detectives are my favorite. Absolutely fantastic character building. Better world building in this second book for someone not in Great Britain.