keetumol's review against another edition
2.0
Private Detective Arrowood and his assistant Barnett are hired by the Barclays to find out why their mentally-challenged daughter (who is married to a pig farmer) hasn't contacted them since her wedding. The detectives soon find out that things aren't what they seem to be at the farm and then another person goes missing.
It was pretty hard to care about the story since nearly every character is unlikable, especially the protagonists. Barnett pities himself for his poverty-ridden childhood and losing his wife to a fever. I get that stuff like this can be traumatizing, but I couldn't bring myself to care because of his constant whining and self pity.
Arrowood is even worse with his persistent nagging about Sherlock Holmes and how he himself is a much more competent detective, which, after reading this book, I can confirm he isn't. Plus, he pulls a dick move on a poor doggo for his own benefit, which was highly frustrating. Maybe these character "flaws" were added to make them more human or something, but it's just annoying.
I guess the mystery itself is pretty solid, though the ending was dragged out waaaay too long and the story lost all its momentum.
All in all, I think this book was better than The Cuckoo's Calling (at least the culprit didn't monologue in this one
It was pretty hard to care about the story since nearly every character is unlikable, especially the protagonists. Barnett pities himself for his poverty-ridden childhood and losing his wife to a fever. I get that stuff like this can be traumatizing, but I couldn't bring myself to care because of his constant whining and self pity.
Arrowood is even worse with his persistent nagging about Sherlock Holmes and how he himself is a much more competent detective, which, after reading this book, I can confirm he isn't. Plus, he pulls a dick move on a poor doggo for his own benefit, which was highly frustrating. Maybe these character "flaws" were added to make them more human or something, but it's just annoying.
I guess the mystery itself is pretty solid, though the ending was dragged out waaaay too long and the story lost all its momentum.
All in all, I think this book was better than The Cuckoo's Calling (at least the culprit didn't monologue in this one
alisha_ke13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
czytatnik's review against another edition
3.0
Detektyw Arrowood wraz ze swoim pomocnikiem, Normanem, nadal zajmują się mniej intratnymi i z pewnością niezbyt głośnymi sprawami detektywistycznymi. Ich największy konkurent jest jednocześnie ulubieńcem całego Londynu. Jednak to właśnie ta para prywatnych detektywów dostaje wydawałoby się dość łatwe, a przy tym dobrze płatne zlecenie umożliwienia zrozpaczonym rodzicom kontaktu z córką. Państwo Barclay bowiem nie widzieli swojej jedynaczki od dnia jej ślubu, a nowa rodzina dziewczyny uparcie twierdzi, że ta wcale nie chce wracać pod skrzydła swoich rodzicieli. Pozornie prosta sprawa komplikuje się coraz bardziej im więcej informacji odkrywa Arrowood wraz ze swoim pomocnikiem. Wszechobecne zło i niesprawiedliwość pokazują im swoje najmroczniejsze oblicze. A to dopiero początek tej opowieści.
Całość recenzji pod adresem: http://zapach-ksiazek.pl/mick-finlay-gleboki-grob-w-walce-z-niesprawiedliwoscia/
Całość recenzji pod adresem: http://zapach-ksiazek.pl/mick-finlay-gleboki-grob-w-walce-z-niesprawiedliwoscia/
georgemay's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Physical abuse
audrey042's review against another edition
Avec en toile de fond, le traitement abject des personnes souffrant de troubles mentaux et/ou intellectuels en cette fin d’époque victorienne, Mick Finlay nous offre de nouveau une enquête prenante, immersive et diablement bien menée dans une Angleterre loin d’être exemplaire dans le fonctionnement de ses institutions et dans la morale de ses citoyens. L’affaire Birdie Barclay est donc un honnête deuxième tome qui souffre néanmoins de l’antipathie, plus ou moins exacerbée, que l’un de ses protagonistes ne manquera pas de provoquer chez le lecteur. Un point qui ne m’a pas permis d’apprécier autant ce tome que le premier, mais qui ne gênera pas tout le monde, question de sensibilité…
Chronique complète sur le blog : https://lightandsmell.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/laffaire-birdie-barclay-une-enquete-darrowood-mick-finlay/
Chronique complète sur le blog : https://lightandsmell.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/laffaire-birdie-barclay-une-enquete-darrowood-mick-finlay/
sasantal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I liked the contrast between the two main characters, but I do wish Barnett's past was explored more (though I assume that's in later/previous books) as it was just mentioned and not delved into.
severine_fg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ravenclawlibrarybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Having read the Arrowood which is the first in this series and loved it I couldn't wait to read The Murder Pit, the second novel to feature Victorian Enquiry Agent William Arrowood and his assistant, Norman Barnett. The Murder Pit is a superb choice for those who like Victorian murder mysteries with a stunning sense of time and place.
There was a lot to like here; the main characters are engaging and realistic and the plot is clever. The setting is well drawn though, and there is evidence of some excellent research into Victorian attitudes to learning difficulties and asylums.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical crime drama and doesn't mind a slow build up to the final denouement. There's clearly a lot more life left in these characters and I look forward to the next book.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
#TheMurderPit #NetGalley
There was a lot to like here; the main characters are engaging and realistic and the plot is clever. The setting is well drawn though, and there is evidence of some excellent research into Victorian attitudes to learning difficulties and asylums.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical crime drama and doesn't mind a slow build up to the final denouement. There's clearly a lot more life left in these characters and I look forward to the next book.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
#TheMurderPit #NetGalley