Scan barcode
A review by thereadingmum
Hokey Pokey by Kate Mascarenhas
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was initially attracted by the cover of the book and that it seemed to be a cosy murder mystery. Yet I was surprised to find such a low overall rating for the book here. I read a few of the reviews and they mention that the story is darker than they expected. So even though I would really rate this a 4, I'm giving it 4.75 to help even out the bad press. It makes me reconsider all the low ratings I've given for bad marketing and wrong expectations because that's not the author's fault at all and honestly, it should just remain unrated or dnf if you don't fancy the genre.
On to the review proper. There is a murder mystery, but there is also a touch of the supernatural and folklore. It's more psychological thriller than mystery and definitely gothic. So no likeable characters and overly harmful relationships. I also realised after flipping to the author info, that I've read her previous book, The Thief on the Winged Horse, which is similar in feel, and I loved that one too.
I must say that Mascarenhas paints a very different England than anyone else. Even given the time period. Her Birmingham feels more like a small town in another European city. I imagined Switzerland or Austria. I loved the setting of an art-deco hotel serving absinthe and with a wishing well in the basement.
I was intrigued by the Nora's Asperger-ish interactions and thought processes. It made the story more stark and added more to the gothic flavour. She's quite clearly an unreliable narrator from the start. Due to my love for Agatha Christie and her Poirot, I guessed the murderer before the reveal, but I still enjoyed their confrontation with Nora. The climactic scene was a bit gory but there was enough satisfaction in the come-uppances to overcome that.
There was a bit too much vagueness and innuendo in the ending for my liking, though I can see the artistic merit of it.
On to the review proper. There is a murder mystery, but there is also a touch of the supernatural and folklore. It's more psychological thriller than mystery and definitely gothic. So no likeable characters and overly harmful relationships. I also realised after flipping to the author info, that I've read her previous book, The Thief on the Winged Horse, which is similar in feel, and I loved that one too.
I must say that Mascarenhas paints a very different England than anyone else. Even given the time period. Her Birmingham feels more like a small town in another European city. I imagined Switzerland or Austria. I loved the setting of an art-deco hotel serving absinthe and with a wishing well in the basement.
I was intrigued by the Nora's Asperger-ish interactions and thought processes. It made the story more stark and added more to the gothic flavour. She's quite clearly an unreliable narrator from the start. Due to my love for Agatha Christie and her Poirot, I guessed the murderer before the reveal, but I still enjoyed their confrontation with Nora. The climactic scene was a bit gory but there was enough satisfaction in the come-uppances to overcome that.
There was a bit too much vagueness and innuendo in the ending for my liking, though I can see the artistic merit of it.