deeclancy's review
4.0
My only issue with this book is that at just under 200 pages, it's pretty slim, and I'm always sorry when an Ann Cleeves book ends. I'd give it five stars were it not for this. This is the first time I've met Inspector Ramsey. The books, early Ann Cleeves gems from the 1990s, are really difficult to come by in Irish bookshops and apparently are now collector's items. I just happened to pick this one up by chance. It's the third in the Ramsey series, and now that I'm quite fond of him, there is motivation to try to get hold of the other five.
Dorothea Cassidy is a beautiful, charismatic, unconventional vicar's wife who thinks she knows what's best for everyone. Her deep principles are admired by some people, but get on the nerves of others. When the local vicar elopes and brings her home to his village as his new wife, there is obviously a mixed reaction in the village. Is she a meddler or a force for good? Who would hate her enough to murder her?
This has the air of a good, old-fashioned, middle-England murder mystery, but with the added bonus of the Ann Cleeves brand of fine-tuned understanding of the inner workings of small communities of humans operating in close proximity. While much shorter than some of her later books, it's still a thoroughly satisfying and well-crafted volume.
Dorothea Cassidy is a beautiful, charismatic, unconventional vicar's wife who thinks she knows what's best for everyone. Her deep principles are admired by some people, but get on the nerves of others. When the local vicar elopes and brings her home to his village as his new wife, there is obviously a mixed reaction in the village. Is she a meddler or a force for good? Who would hate her enough to murder her?
This has the air of a good, old-fashioned, middle-England murder mystery, but with the added bonus of the Ann Cleeves brand of fine-tuned understanding of the inner workings of small communities of humans operating in close proximity. While much shorter than some of her later books, it's still a thoroughly satisfying and well-crafted volume.
swfountaine's review
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? Yes
2.5
angelfireeast24's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Mental illness, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Classism
mazb_'s review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
carbonaden's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lvndrgms3's review against another edition
4.0
My first thought: I’m amazed by how much story is packed into 193 pages! Even with so many characters I didn’t feel overwhelmed and felt that I could see them distinctly. Cleeves provides enough context and inner monologue to keep the reader clued in. I’ve found this detail in writing crucial after recently reading a different mystery where the author’s writing style didn’t incorporate this. It makes all the difference! I felt as if I was getting to know all the players at a personal level.
Second thought: The mystery of who killed Dorothea who seemed to have touched so many people was engrossing. I tried hard to guess but was so wrong. I think Cleeves put it all together at the end well, though the very ending after the killer is found felt abrupt. But that’s rather inconsequential to the story at large.
Second thought: The mystery of who killed Dorothea who seemed to have touched so many people was engrossing. I tried hard to guess but was so wrong. I think Cleeves put it all together at the end well, though the very ending after the killer is found felt abrupt. But that’s rather inconsequential to the story at large.
jessgrace88'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
saraboye's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced