sab_rose's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid book in the Felix Castor series.
Dry, deadpan, and sarcastic, what more could you want?
Dry, deadpan, and sarcastic, what more could you want?
chupacobbruh's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Rape
sisteray's review
4.0
This series continues to be fun and engaging. This book sags a bit on the front end while the story establishes new ideas and sets us up for the rest of the novel. But once it gets going it is a rollicking ride, and the mystery itself is quite inventive. In some ways, the ongoing through-line plot feels like it was stalling for time, but clearly some essential stuff was laid out for future reference. All in all totally satisfying.
samedi's review
4.0
I didn’t notice it when I first read them a few years ago, I kind of think the author of these books intentionally chose one slightly unusual/uncommon word for each novel and tried to use it as many times as possible. The first book it was “spavin” and in this one, “dogleg.” Or maybe animal leg metaphors are just his favorite type of metaphors. The world may never know!
That aside, I liked this one as much as the others! Great mystery, even the second time around. I’ll have an eye out for animal legs as I read book 4.
That aside, I liked this one as much as the others! Great mystery, even the second time around. I’ll have an eye out for animal legs as I read book 4.
dorhastings's review against another edition
4.0
I would possibly rate the book a little lower than four stars, but what the heck. I still enjoyed it. I do agree with those who have said that this is their least favorite Castor book of the first three books. I suppose that tends to happen.
There are two reasons I didn't like this book quite as much. First, Castor would make reference to characters we'd encountered before but wouldn't give a complete explanation. Maybe this was only once: he mentioned Cheryl, from the first book, and I wasn't sure who he was talking about. Of course there's no information on Wiki, and I was thisclose to flipping through the first book (not quite so easy on a Kindle) before I remembered who she was. And yes, no big deal, particularly in terms of plot, but a little more information would be nice. There was an additional something about some guy's daughter, but no follow-through there. I'm pretty sure I remember that one, but still, a little extra information wouldn't hurt. No doubt she'll come into play later.
The second reason I didn't like this book so much is the three storylines running through the book. Even if the Rafi one wasn't as significant in terms of action, I still felt a bit lost.
Why do I start with the things I didn't like? Who knows. Here's what I loved: I really like Felix Castor as protagonist and narrator. I thought the plot was unique and full of twists. I liked how this story was different, and I like that part of the mystery was figuring out just how stuff was happening. The explanation was interesting and thought-provoking and seemed to cover all the bases, but it also brought about a strange concept for me: yes, ghosts possessing bodies isn't too out there (by out standards; it's fairly regular in other spooky stories), I really like the idea of the ghost not changing too much, despite reincarnations, and the ability to change a possessed body so much that the fingerprints change. At first I found that really odd and... well, unrealistic. But the explanation of a ghostly passenger having such a huge, even physical, effect is quite spooky and cool. I like the concept.
But I'm not liking Pen.
There are two reasons I didn't like this book quite as much. First, Castor would make reference to characters we'd encountered before but wouldn't give a complete explanation. Maybe this was only once: he mentioned Cheryl, from the first book, and I wasn't sure who he was talking about. Of course there's no information on Wiki, and I was thisclose to flipping through the first book (not quite so easy on a Kindle) before I remembered who she was. And yes, no big deal, particularly in terms of plot, but a little more information would be nice. There was an additional something about some guy's daughter, but no follow-through there. I'm pretty sure I remember that one, but still, a little extra information wouldn't hurt. No doubt she'll come into play later.
The second reason I didn't like this book so much is the three storylines running through the book. Even if the Rafi one wasn't as significant in terms of action, I still felt a bit lost.
Why do I start with the things I didn't like? Who knows. Here's what I loved: I really like Felix Castor as protagonist and narrator. I thought the plot was unique and full of twists. I liked how this story was different, and I like that part of the mystery was figuring out just how stuff was happening. The explanation was interesting and thought-provoking and seemed to cover all the bases, but it also brought about a strange concept for me: yes, ghosts possessing bodies isn't too out there (by out standards; it's fairly regular in other spooky stories), I really like the idea of the ghost not changing too much, despite reincarnations, and the ability to change a possessed body so much that the fingerprints change. At first I found that really odd and... well, unrealistic. But the explanation of a ghostly passenger having such a huge, even physical, effect is quite spooky and cool. I like the concept.
But I'm not liking Pen.
sarsev's review against another edition
2.0
I really like a lot of things about this series - but this installment is a mess. If I thought Vicious Circle was maybe trying to be too many things at once, Dead Men's Boots goes right off the deep end.
It's about 10 parts frustrating info-dump, 2 parts compelling expansion of the demon lore, 20 parts useless graphic violence that isn't even plot relevant, and maybe 4 parts mystery that comes together at the end.
There is no character development in sight, save for maybe some off-screen stuff for Juliet between the end and the epilogue. The Rafi plotline kind of lingers in the background, but is essentially put on hold and makes no use at all of the Pen-Fix-Rafi dynamic that's usually so interesting.
Moreover, even if this were just a mystery and not part of a series where we expect some Felix character work every book, this book spends a long time drawing out the details and then five minutes at the end throwing them together. There's playing your cards close to your chest, and then there's failing to lay the foundation for a satisfying reveal - and this falls far too close to the latter.
Maybe if my hopes for this series weren't set so high, I wouldn't be dissapointed. But this series had a damn-near perfect first book, and I'm still hoping that later books will recapture the magic!
It's about 10 parts frustrating info-dump, 2 parts compelling expansion of the demon lore, 20 parts useless graphic violence that isn't even plot relevant, and maybe 4 parts mystery that comes together at the end.
There is no character development in sight, save for maybe some off-screen stuff for Juliet between the end and the epilogue. The Rafi plotline kind of lingers in the background, but is essentially put on hold and makes no use at all of the Pen-Fix-Rafi dynamic that's usually so interesting.
Moreover, even if this were just a mystery and not part of a series where we expect some Felix character work every book, this book spends a long time drawing out the details and then five minutes at the end throwing them together. There's playing your cards close to your chest, and then there's failing to lay the foundation for a satisfying reveal - and this falls far too close to the latter.
Maybe if my hopes for this series weren't set so high, I wouldn't be dissapointed. But this series had a damn-near perfect first book, and I'm still hoping that later books will recapture the magic!
gavreads's review
Felix Castor, exorcist, doesn’t like funerals and at the start of Dead Men’s Boots that’s exactly where he is when a lawyer turns up to exhume the deceased (a former exorcist and someone Castor avoided before he died) so he can be cremated and it’s only the start of his problems. His new client is the wife of a man who is accused of murder only she’s convinced that he didn’t do it and it was done by a woman that’s been dead for forty years.
Told in the first person we follow Castor’s investigations as he figures out clues left by the deceased and wonders how a ghost can wield a hammer though the poor fella doesn’t know what he got himself into. Trouble finds Castor like a drunk finds a chippie. It’s part of the deal when you take that first drink.
As I said in my review of Vicious Circle, the second book of this series, Carey is a master plotter. His plots are focused and well planned though with enough clues that you mentally kick yourself when you start to see the connections.
Dead Men’s Boots is a stand alone title but it’s probably better to start at the beginning as you get to see more of Castor’s make-up as well as the history behind the some what’s going on and his history to some of the other characters. And there are some great fully formed secondary characters.
The subplot from the previous books is kept ticking over quite nicely with a few teasers that I hope are going to make an appearance soon.
It’s a great read. You can’t help yourself from wanting to know how deep in shit Castor can go before he drowns.
If I have one negative I’d say that some things are a little too neatly tied off at the end but I don’t really care as it’s a great read that keeps you thinking and guessing all the way to the end. And it’s left me wanting more.
Told in the first person we follow Castor’s investigations as he figures out clues left by the deceased and wonders how a ghost can wield a hammer though the poor fella doesn’t know what he got himself into. Trouble finds Castor like a drunk finds a chippie. It’s part of the deal when you take that first drink.
As I said in my review of Vicious Circle, the second book of this series, Carey is a master plotter. His plots are focused and well planned though with enough clues that you mentally kick yourself when you start to see the connections.
Dead Men’s Boots is a stand alone title but it’s probably better to start at the beginning as you get to see more of Castor’s make-up as well as the history behind the some what’s going on and his history to some of the other characters. And there are some great fully formed secondary characters.
The subplot from the previous books is kept ticking over quite nicely with a few teasers that I hope are going to make an appearance soon.
It’s a great read. You can’t help yourself from wanting to know how deep in shit Castor can go before he drowns.
If I have one negative I’d say that some things are a little too neatly tied off at the end but I don’t really care as it’s a great read that keeps you thinking and guessing all the way to the end. And it’s left me wanting more.
weeksc07's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paperback's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0