Scan barcode
14ersi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's just a regrettable minus that this story is written as if it supports infidelity in a married person's relationship. So much cheating going on and I don't like it. I have to stop shuddering every time that story comes up. And a big crime that is paid for by death, I would prefer if the perpetrator of sexual harassment was punished and died slowly rather than committing suicide.
Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicide
bea__reads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Sexism, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Alcohol
molsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexism, and Suicide
Moderate: Incest and Pedophilia
Minor: Abandonment
blewballoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Our character introduction is Charlotte getting caught sleeping with a married man. Infidelity really bothers me, so I knew it was gonna be an uphill battle to try to like her. We then spend a big chunk of the first part of the book in a bunch of other character's perspectives (mostly Charlotte's sister, so I was a little confused as to who the main character actually was for a bit) before we even get to hers and learn her poor rationale for her choices. So smart yet so dumb? An argument could be made that maybe the author is going for her being smart with facts and riddles, but bad at interpreting emotions and human behavior. She seems to be strongly coded as autistic as well. There's a bunch of casual fat-phobia sprinkled around because one of Charlotte's other main character traits is that she really likes food, but of course it would be bad if she got too plump. 🙄
I was going to DNF the book, but then
Most of the investigation of the main mystery is not done by Charlotte herself, but by an Inspector. Huge chunks of the book are just him interviewing people and considering their testimony. He's fine at his job. He feels sad and surprised when
I could not get on board with the love interest. I get that this is historical England and people were in unhappy marriages, but I do not feel the chemistry, I do not feel the friendship, I feel like I'm being told that I should want them to be together (as master and mistress? 🤢) but I don't feel why I should.
The resolution to the big mystery is pretty dark in subject matter, I wasn't expecting that, but I do think it was talked about in a remote enough way not to be overly disturbing.
I think the author did overall do a decent job of coming up with puzzles and mysteries and tying things together for Charlotte and the other characters to solve. I like that other characters had skills and specialized knowledge to contribute,
Moderate: Death, Sexism, and Murder
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, War, and Classism
ramakn22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Murder
knit_the_resistance's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, and Murder
ynadavis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Incest, and Pedophilia
Minor: Murder
elsebeok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicide, and Murder
reading_historical_romance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
yourbookishbff's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, and Pedophilia