Reviews

With Our Blessing by Jo Spain

elle_loves_reading's review against another edition

4.0

I love a good police procedural and this one ticks all the boxes. Suspenseful, gripping and well paced, With Our Blessing is the first in the Inspector Tom Reynolds series. There are five in total and I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of them

marijabilic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

balthazarlawson's review against another edition

3.0

The body of a nun is found in a park in central Dublin. But the case soon moves west to the village of Kilcross in Limerick and the convent where she was in charge. Tom Reynolds and his term soon uncover a past, that is based on reality and has shocked Ireland, which is still coming to terms with. But this doesn't lead to the killer and only creates more leads. He has to work his way through the possibilities, as there are many red herrings thrown into the story. Of course the killer is ultimately uncovered.

However, getting there is a bit long winded and confusing with so many possibilities. Some of which were not really needed and there explanation was confusing. Having so many leads means the story kind of lost it's way at times. I may not have picked the individual who was the perpetrator but I had worked out who the killer would be very early on.

So, in the end, it was only an average sort of read that could have just as easily be called: Nasty Nuns and Paedophile Priests

djryan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

rmichno's review

4.0

A good start to a new series. Overall I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the mystery was gruesome but I learned a bit about the true events connected to it.

I liked the main characters but I felt like there were a few too many of them. Removing a few would have allowed the others to have more depth.

The mystery resolution was a bit far-fetched but at least it wrapped up any loose ends.

cathsgraphs's review

4.0

This was a pretty good mystery. I'm excited this is a series. Likeable characters and I liked the history weaved in. Will read more of Spain's books for sure.

thebooktrail88's review

5.0

Visit the locations in the novel - Visit Ireland

This is quite a remarkable novel. It’s been on the TBR pile for a while but I’m so glad I’ve read this as it’s made me think about it ever since.

If like me, you thought it might be a bit uncomfortable about the Magdalene laundries, then I can say that this is only the main focus – it’s more of a crime mystery steeped in awful Irish history. Once you get past that opening scene, (there’s an image which will stay with me) it’s a fascinating delve into history, community, the Church, society’s beliefs and so much more.

It felt raw and very much real – not just because the last of these places was closed only in the late 1990s – but the writing is haunting too, slow and self-assured. The plot is steady and you’re not sure if you want to find certain things out or not.

Despite the dark subject matter, I warmed to the characters and felt as nervous as they did when staying in the convent. The nuns were fascinating to spend time with and throughout the novel I felt as cold, chilled and as claustrophobic as I think the characters do. The theme of abandonment, loss and imprisonment come out in the setting so well it’s scary.

This would make a great book club choice as the the way single mothers are looked upon, the role of women in Ireland and so much besides. Jo Spain is definitely on my list of authors I have to ensure I read everything she does.

bahador's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

thebrownbookloft's review against another edition

5.0

I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this mystery. This is the first book I've read by this author and am definitely looking forward to reading more--especially in this series.

I haven't read a true police procedural in quite a few years. I got a bit tired of the genre, which never seemed to have anything new to say. With Our Blessing is well written, with clever plotting and turns of phrase. There were no extraneous red herrings and the cast of characters was easy to sort.

#2 in the series is promptly headed for my lengthy to-read list!

kadoff's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0