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susanhenry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bioniclib's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted so badly to like this and for a while it was...ok. Ultimately, I just didn't connect with it.
The timeframe was off for me. There were a lot of short-ish scenes and then a week or more would go by. That works for long books but not ones that just crack 300 pages.
I will say it made me think, which I love about books. When he mentions Hell's Kitchen getting gentrified it struck me that gentrification is the act of a bully. The rich white people force all the poor black people into a small segregated area and then when they need cheap land the Richy Riches swoop in and buy the BIPOC's land for cheap, eventually driving them out of the area they originally wedged them into.
The last thing I'll say is that he tried. It's full of privilege but he's trying. For example, in the beginning when the murderer knocks over two Asian teens. Why do they need to be Asian? You wouldn't say two German teens. Another example is calling attention to a no-name character coming out of a gay bar. If it contributed to the story fine but reducing a character to their race or their sexual orientation is a form of microagression. That said, the white-washing of fiction (and history) is so prevalent that perhaps seeing even this reduced form of themself would be beneficial to some people. I appreciate his trying but the job of dismantling the default of the white straight male is messy.
Spoiler
The rift between Emily and Nelson was that go-to trope when you want to shock: incest rape.The timeframe was off for me. There were a lot of short-ish scenes and then a week or more would go by. That works for long books but not ones that just crack 300 pages.
I will say it made me think, which I love about books. When he mentions Hell's Kitchen getting gentrified it struck me that gentrification is the act of a bully. The rich white people force all the poor black people into a small segregated area and then when they need cheap land the Richy Riches swoop in and buy the BIPOC's land for cheap, eventually driving them out of the area they originally wedged them into.
The last thing I'll say is that he tried. It's full of privilege but he's trying. For example, in the beginning when the murderer knocks over two Asian teens. Why do they need to be Asian? You wouldn't say two German teens. Another example is calling attention to a no-name character coming out of a gay bar. If it contributed to the story fine but reducing a character to their race or their sexual orientation is a form of microagression. That said, the white-washing of fiction (and history) is so prevalent that perhaps seeing even this reduced form of themself would be beneficial to some people. I appreciate his trying but the job of dismantling the default of the white straight male is messy.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
2.0
Murder at the 42nd Street Library by Con Lehane is a new mystery novel. Raymond Ambler is the curator of the crime fiction collection in the 42nd Street Library in New York that is devoted to research. Ray arrives at work one day to find out that James Donnelly was shot while visiting Harry Larkin, supervisor at the library. Why did someone kill James and shoot at Harry? Ray cannot help but look into the matter. Ray has read so many crime novels, that he would like to try his hand at solving real crimes. James was asking Harry about the Nelson Yates collection the library recently acquired. The library was able to purchase the collection thanks to an anonymous donor. There is something fishy about this collection. Is it somehow connected to the murder? Ray works with Mike Cosgrove, NYPD Homicide Detective to solve the crime.
I had a difficult time reading Murder at the 42nd Street Library. I was originally not going to request the book, but then someone said it was such a wonderful novel. I thought that maybe I was wrong with my initial impression, and I requested it. I should have listened to my inner voice. The novel is oddly (awkwardly) written. It is an extremely convoluted novel. There is really too much going on and the writer seemed to delight in using big words when they were not needed. Big words can be fun (do not judge), but they should not be used to just to show off (which is what it felt like in this book). You are never quite sure who is talking sometimes and the way the book is written just leads to confusion. I have to admit that after a while I just started speed reading towards the end. Some sections you have to read, and then reread trying to figure out (you should only have to do that with math and science textbooks). I loved the idea of a mystery set at a big research library, but the execution was severely lacking. The novel needs a severe rewrite in order to be enjoyable (actually, just keep the premise and start over with everything else including the characters). The writer tried to make a very complex mystery, but did not succeed. A reader can easily figure out the who committed the crime. I give Murder at the 42nd Street Library 2 out of 5 stars (I have to admit that I am being generous).
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review of the novel.
I had a difficult time reading Murder at the 42nd Street Library. I was originally not going to request the book, but then someone said it was such a wonderful novel. I thought that maybe I was wrong with my initial impression, and I requested it. I should have listened to my inner voice. The novel is oddly (awkwardly) written. It is an extremely convoluted novel. There is really too much going on and the writer seemed to delight in using big words when they were not needed. Big words can be fun (do not judge), but they should not be used to just to show off (which is what it felt like in this book). You are never quite sure who is talking sometimes and the way the book is written just leads to confusion. I have to admit that after a while I just started speed reading towards the end. Some sections you have to read, and then reread trying to figure out (you should only have to do that with math and science textbooks). I loved the idea of a mystery set at a big research library, but the execution was severely lacking. The novel needs a severe rewrite in order to be enjoyable (actually, just keep the premise and start over with everything else including the characters). The writer tried to make a very complex mystery, but did not succeed. A reader can easily figure out the who committed the crime. I give Murder at the 42nd Street Library 2 out of 5 stars (I have to admit that I am being generous).
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review of the novel.
emheld's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5
This book's story is a frayed rope of plotlines that DO eventually get knotted up by the end, but you have to stick thru a decent handful of diversions. I've gotta say, by the end I really appreciated how Lehane gave us a messy, introspective, and unique spin on a whodunnit.
When I finished, I couldn't help but think this book was written too early. Release this now, and I think you'd have folks say it's a spiritual sibling to Mare of Easttown, a similarly messy, tangled murder mystery wrapped up in generational family drama and tragedy, peopled by the broken.
Happy to see Lehane wrote a few sequels, and we can read earlier related stories (sort of) featuring McNulty.
This book's story is a frayed rope of plotlines that DO eventually get knotted up by the end, but you have to stick thru a decent handful of diversions. I've gotta say, by the end I really appreciated how Lehane gave us a messy, introspective, and unique spin on a whodunnit.
When I finished, I couldn't help but think this book was written too early. Release this now, and I think you'd have folks say it's a spiritual sibling to Mare of Easttown, a similarly messy, tangled murder mystery wrapped up in generational family drama and tragedy, peopled by the broken.
Happy to see Lehane wrote a few sequels, and we can read earlier related stories (sort of) featuring McNulty.
greenvillemelissa's review against another edition
4.0
Book #89 Read in 2016
Murder at the 42nd Library by Con Lehane
This was a more gritty mystery than my usual cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed it. Ray Ambler is the Crime Fiction Librarian and he begins an investigation of his own when someone is murder at the 42nd Street Library where he works. As he investigates, he realizes that this is more complicated than he thought. Many people are involved and many things that occurred in the past are mitigating factors in these murders. This was a good mystery, with good twists and turns. The characters were interesting. I enjoyed it.
Murder at the 42nd Library by Con Lehane
This was a more gritty mystery than my usual cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed it. Ray Ambler is the Crime Fiction Librarian and he begins an investigation of his own when someone is murder at the 42nd Street Library where he works. As he investigates, he realizes that this is more complicated than he thought. Many people are involved and many things that occurred in the past are mitigating factors in these murders. This was a good mystery, with good twists and turns. The characters were interesting. I enjoyed it.
elsjls00's review against another edition
1.0
not great.... Didn't want to keep going after 1/2 way through.
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
4.0
Book #89 Read in 2016
Murder at the 42nd Library by Con Lehane
This was a more gritty mystery than my usual cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed it. Ray Ambler is the Crime Fiction Librarian and he begins an investigation of his own when someone is murder at the 42nd Street Library where he works. As he investigates, he realizes that this is more complicated than he thought. Many people are involved and many things that occurred in the past are mitigating factors in these murders. This was a good mystery, with good twists and turns. The characters were interesting. I enjoyed it.
Murder at the 42nd Library by Con Lehane
This was a more gritty mystery than my usual cozy mysteries, but I enjoyed it. Ray Ambler is the Crime Fiction Librarian and he begins an investigation of his own when someone is murder at the 42nd Street Library where he works. As he investigates, he realizes that this is more complicated than he thought. Many people are involved and many things that occurred in the past are mitigating factors in these murders. This was a good mystery, with good twists and turns. The characters were interesting. I enjoyed it.
tarrant's review against another edition
4.0
Slow start. Too many characters. Predictable. But at some point I really decided I liked it.