laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Up Close
3.5 Stars
Series note: While the focus is on a new couple, the plot is a continuation of the twist at the end of the previous installment.
Art photographer Vivian Brazier is making ends meet by photographing crime scenes. It sounds simple enough until she notices something strange about the scene of a murdered actress and becomes the target of a deranged killer. Sent to protect Vivian, PI Nick Sundridge is immediately attracted to the photographer but is determined to keep his distance due to his family's "curse". Will Vivian and Nick be able to work together to stop a madman?
Amanda Quick's books are always entertaining comfort reads even though the characters and plots are often formulaic. This is definitely the case with Vivian and Nick who are basically carbon copies of Venetia Milton and Gabriel Jones in Second Sight. There is even mention of Nick finding a Jones diary helpful in dealing with his own "little problem".
While Vivian and Nick are engaging characters, their romance is only so-so mainly due to a lack of chemistry or emotional connection between them. They accept each others' pasts and flaws without reservation, and the reader must simply accept their declarations of love as fait accompli.
The assassin mystery is better than the romance and it is fun following the suspects as they emerge. It is interesting that such a quiet and unassuming woman should have so many people wishing her harm. While it all appears convoluted and confusing at first, it ultimately comes together and the climax and resolution are satisfying.
In sum, a predictable addition to the series but enjoyable nonetheless.
3.5 Stars
Series note: While the focus is on a new couple, the plot is a continuation of the twist at the end of the previous installment.
Art photographer Vivian Brazier is making ends meet by photographing crime scenes. It sounds simple enough until she notices something strange about the scene of a murdered actress and becomes the target of a deranged killer. Sent to protect Vivian, PI Nick Sundridge is immediately attracted to the photographer but is determined to keep his distance due to his family's "curse". Will Vivian and Nick be able to work together to stop a madman?
Amanda Quick's books are always entertaining comfort reads even though the characters and plots are often formulaic. This is definitely the case with Vivian and Nick who are basically carbon copies of Venetia Milton and Gabriel Jones in Second Sight. There is even mention of Nick finding a Jones diary helpful in dealing with his own "little problem".
While Vivian and Nick are engaging characters, their romance is only so-so mainly due to a lack of chemistry or emotional connection between them. They accept each others' pasts and flaws without reservation, and the reader must simply accept their declarations of love as fait accompli.
The assassin mystery is better than the romance and it is fun following the suspects as they emerge. It is interesting that such a quiet and unassuming woman should have so many people wishing her harm. While it all appears convoluted and confusing at first, it ultimately comes together and the climax and resolution are satisfying.
In sum, a predictable addition to the series but enjoyable nonetheless.
pinkhydroflask's review against another edition
1.0
rating: 1/10
you'd think that for novel as highly rated as this, it would be significantly less cringey and embarrassing to read. if you're looking for a totally irrelevant and unnecessary romance that came with the added bonus of a sex scene that sounded like a 15 year old virgin wrote it, then this book is for you. not only was it badly developed, the romance was badly written, seemed forced at times and made me generally uncomfortable to read. i don't want to go into the details about language use but take it from me. it makes you wish you were illiterate.
my experiences with murder mysteries are almost exclusively agatha christie, and so that was the benchmark i judged this novel on. i saw that the author has published a lot of novels, which made it easy for me to understand why this one gave me the same feeling of rereading one of my own university essays that i rushed out 2 hours before the deadline. this was just... a bad novel. it was laughable and humiliating to read.
there were some attempts to spice things up, but the difference between this and any single one of agatha christie's novels is this: agatha christie does not throw half assed attempts at suspenseful plot twists at you with the amateurish desperation of a first time novelist trying to get on the new york times bestseller list before they turn thirty. please.
i'd recommend this book for the sheer purpose of finding someone to laugh at this about, but overall it was incredibly upsetting to read.
you'd think that for novel as highly rated as this, it would be significantly less cringey and embarrassing to read. if you're looking for a totally irrelevant and unnecessary romance that came with the added bonus of a sex scene that sounded like a 15 year old virgin wrote it, then this book is for you. not only was it badly developed, the romance was badly written, seemed forced at times and made me generally uncomfortable to read. i don't want to go into the details about language use but take it from me. it makes you wish you were illiterate.
my experiences with murder mysteries are almost exclusively agatha christie, and so that was the benchmark i judged this novel on. i saw that the author has published a lot of novels, which made it easy for me to understand why this one gave me the same feeling of rereading one of my own university essays that i rushed out 2 hours before the deadline. this was just... a bad novel. it was laughable and humiliating to read.
there were some attempts to spice things up, but the difference between this and any single one of agatha christie's novels is this: agatha christie does not throw half assed attempts at suspenseful plot twists at you with the amateurish desperation of a first time novelist trying to get on the new york times bestseller list before they turn thirty. please.
i'd recommend this book for the sheer purpose of finding someone to laugh at this about, but overall it was incredibly upsetting to read.
arianah26's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.0
author_d_r_oestreicher's review
4.0
Like the other books in this series, Close Up by Amanda Quick is set in Burning Cove on the central coast of California during the 1930s. The protagonist of this novel is Vivian Brazier, a struggling photographer. She aspires to be a fine art photographer but pays the rent with news photography—crime scenes, fires, and car accidents. This paying job leads her to help solve the mystery of the Dagger Killer, but then she becomes the target of a paid assassin.
A pleasant mystery of glamour and romance in the 1930s.
For my expanded notes: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2020/11/close-up-by-amanda-quick.html
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.
A pleasant mystery of glamour and romance in the 1930s.
For my expanded notes: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2020/11/close-up-by-amanda-quick.html
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.
tamaralgage1's review against another edition
4.0
In the time of the Great Depression, good daughters were expected to marry the men their parents arranged for them to marry. But in this entertaining story, the young lady dares to pursues a career as a photographer and is cut off from the family fortune. But she is paying the bills photographing crime scenes for local paper. When she notices something special about the scenes of a serial killer, the police have their first clue and she becomes a target of the killer. It's an entertaining story from an old friend … (aka, mind candy)
studyingangel's review against another edition
5.0
Book 4, what a series. You will not be let down at any point in this book. Hair-raising fights, plot twists and other surprises. If you are a-fan of paranormal and/or historical romance you should pick his book up. Extremely like able characters, human, or some sense of it.
I received this advanced copy as part of Sweepstakes last Christmas
Amanda’s once again on point with this novel
I received this advanced copy as part of Sweepstakes last Christmas
Amanda’s once again on point with this novel
bobbiec's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. While this is not the first book by Amanda Quick that I have read, it is the first book I’ve read in this series. She did not disappoint! I read this book every chance I got - waiting at appointments, lunch breaks, bedtime (just finishing this one chapter, lol) - you get it. I will be getting the first three books in this series next!
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
3.0
This was a rather perfect escapist listen.
It wasn't a great read and I kept on feeling that the book should have ended several times before it ended.
There were some abrupt developments a little more convoluted than believable which explains the 3 instead of more stars.
But the first part was rather enjoyable.
It wasn't a great read and I kept on feeling that the book should have ended several times before it ended.
There were some abrupt developments a little more convoluted than believable which explains the 3 instead of more stars.
But the first part was rather enjoyable.