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reidrussom's review against another edition
3.0
My first Eric Larson read (I probably should have started with In the Garden of Beasts). Larson does an excellent job of bringing the Edwardian world to life — a world with technology, politics, and social mores rapidly in flux. The story really comes together once the murder happens, but unfortunately this is two-thirds through the book. Neither Marconi nor Crippen were particularly compelling characters; the women in their lives were far more compelling than they were.
courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve often said Erik Larson can write about even the most boring of topics and I’ll still read his work and find it fascinating. This book actually sounded amazing right from the start, and all in all, I really enjoyed it.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because it’s deeply technical in spite and I found my eyes glazing over. While I consider myself smart, I’m clearly not smart enough to follow some of this story. And that’s fine - skimming those few parts didn’t detract from my reading experience. But I can’t give it a full 5 stars when I thought it needed a more critical editor.
I learned a great deal and found this really fascinating. As always, if Erik Larson writes it, I’m reading it (and no idea how I missed this one, which came out in 2006!).
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because it’s deeply technical in spite and I found my eyes glazing over. While I consider myself smart, I’m clearly not smart enough to follow some of this story. And that’s fine - skimming those few parts didn’t detract from my reading experience. But I can’t give it a full 5 stars when I thought it needed a more critical editor.
I learned a great deal and found this really fascinating. As always, if Erik Larson writes it, I’m reading it (and no idea how I missed this one, which came out in 2006!).
amvoss15's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.75
hippenreads's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
This is a wonderful story for anybody interested in murder and history. This was a very interesting murder that I had never heard of before from English History. I also love how this author intertwines his writing to feel like a novel more than a historical retelling. For people into history or people that are just into a good story.
hedyd's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
3.25
The last few chapters where the two story lines come together are the most interesting. I always appreciate the research Larsen does but could have done with less about Marconi
nanimao's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
1.0
Really wasn't expecting victim fat shaming. 'In the Garden of Beasts' had some personal opinion that shaded into misogyny but this book was over my limit. Frankly by the beauty standards of the day the author was being inaccurate to describe Cora as fat and smug. Compare Cora to Lillie Langtry in posed photos. Cora was exactly the fashion of her day.
gwencl's review against another edition
Too many unrelated characters and a slow pace of progress. Might’ve been better on the page