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jenmckenzie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emerion's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
vesper1931's review against another edition
mysterious
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
1942. Seven letters have been sent to the hospital delivered by Postman Higgins. Only for Higgins to die on the operating table. DI Cockrill determines there are seven suspects for this one death. All are suspect for the next death. What motive could any of them have, and who is the guilty party. How many have to die before Cockrill arrests the killer
An entertaining, well-plotted and well-written WWII mystery, with its cast of varied characters. A good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story
An entertaining, well-plotted and well-written WWII mystery, with its cast of varied characters. A good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story
stw07's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
robinwalter's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
My first Christianna Brand was a mixed bag. Clear evidence of skill as a writer, and the author's personal experience in the environment she describes no doubt enriched the detail and atmosphere of the setting. The mystery itself was well constructed, with a very nice and deftly prolonged feint, which successfully threw me off the track.
Overall though, I simply couldn't get into the story. For much of it seemed like the author was unsure whether she was writing a mystery or a romance, and her attempts to blend the two were distracting, offputting and confusing. Long before halfway I gave up caring who was in love with whom, who was cheating on whom and who said what to whom about what two other people were doing. I was looking for a murder mystery, not a medical soap opera, while the author tried to supply both. In my view she didn't pull it off.
It also didn't help that I did not warm to Inspector Cockrill. I actually said to myself "he's no Inspector Knollis". Poor people skills and a detection style that came down to "let's give the murderer a chance to do it again", and when that doesn't work, resort to "let them all stew together, the culprit will crack". In both cases, his fondness for setting up bait/guinea pigs exposed innocent people to significant risk, risk that was averted on each occasion by good luck, not his good management. That said, I'm going to try a few more of hers and hope that there is more of a focus on the mystery, and less "let's play doctors and nurses". A more competent and less cocksure detective wouldn't hurt, either.
EDIT: On reflection, it is possible that much of what I found unenjoyable about this novel would actually help in its cinematic adaptation, about which I've heard good things. I stand by my contempt of Cockrill's incompetent investigative endeavours, though.
Overall though, I simply couldn't get into the story. For much of it seemed like the author was unsure whether she was writing a mystery or a romance, and her attempts to blend the two were distracting, offputting and confusing. Long before halfway I gave up caring who was in love with whom, who was cheating on whom and who said what to whom about what two other people were doing. I was looking for a murder mystery, not a medical soap opera, while the author tried to supply both. In my view she didn't pull it off.
It also didn't help that I did not warm to Inspector Cockrill. I actually said to myself "he's no Inspector Knollis". Poor people skills and a detection style that came down to "let's give the murderer a chance to do it again", and when that doesn't work, resort to "let them all stew together, the culprit will crack". In both cases, his fondness for setting up bait/guinea pigs exposed innocent people to significant risk, risk that was averted on each occasion by good luck, not his good management. That said, I'm going to try a few more of hers and hope that there is more of a focus on the mystery, and less "let's play doctors and nurses". A more competent and less cocksure detective wouldn't hurt, either.
EDIT: On reflection, it is possible that much of what I found unenjoyable about this novel would actually help in its cinematic adaptation, about which I've heard good things. I stand by my contempt of Cockrill's incompetent investigative endeavours, though.
georgina_ainsley's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
clinachrstina's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
bookaneer808's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Set in a military hospital in the English countryside during the Blitz, the mystery begins with an "accidental" death on the operating table...which leads inexorably to a chain of further deaths...
Chilling, tense and unexpectedly gory, this gives a real flavour of hospital life under those conditions in a really vivid way that gets under your skin.
Chilling, tense and unexpectedly gory, this gives a real flavour of hospital life under those conditions in a really vivid way that gets under your skin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent
lugalante's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Look, it didn't reinvent the wheel or anything but this book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who the murderer was and if they would strike again. The ending fully surprised me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Death and Blood