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A review by cutenanya
The Beautiful Dead by Belinda Bauer
3.0
Interesting as this book maybe, I find the action of the heroine puzzling, illogical, and even disturbing, which is why I give this book a 2.5 rather than a 4.
2) The killer told her that they were in this together and she seemed to be shaken. Hello, why would she be bothered by the killer's comment? Making money over people's dead bodies may not be a highly moral action, but in this modern world, who isn't making money out of other people's pain? That's completely different from murdering people and making their loved ones suffer. I just cannot phantom why she is affected by the comment.
3) The way she treated Jo is also awful. The guy obviously is into her, to the extent he would stand by her even when she is rushing to her death (quite a few times). I don't know if she is in her sane mind or what but luring the killer out is not what I call a brilliant plan, and telling someone who is obviously interested in you that you are going, whether he be coming or not, is even more awful.
Aside from the horrible heroine, I also think the police is very dumb, especially in the part where the theatre manager was murdered. The flyer said someone would be killed at the theatre, so they should have people everywhere, including the doorsteps, the back entrance, EVERYWHERE! Yet, the police only focused INSIDE the theatre. Could you believe it? I don't think any police would be so dumb as to not place officers at the entrance, certainly not Scotland Yard.
I am also feeling uncomfortable with the amount of time allocated to ranting, instead of developing the story. Basically, over half of the book is Eve complaining about her job and caring for her father. I know it is hard to care for an aging invalid but this is a murder mystery, not about caretaking.
There are many other plotholes with which I can go on and on but I shall stop here. Of the 2.5 stars, 2 are for Jo. This guy is an angel, godsend! Where can you find a guy who will always stand by you, even when you are going to challenge a lunatic serial killer, and save you at the right moment. Where can you find a guy who will stay by your side even knowing you have a father who needs care round the clock. Jo is so wonderful I want a Jo myself for Christmas! 0.5 stars is for everything else.
Spoiler
1) When she first received the video from the killer, recording the murder at the cinema, her only concern was whether to air it or not. It never seemed to cross her mind that she should give the footage to the police ASAP, as any sensible citizen would.2) The killer told her that they were in this together and she seemed to be shaken. Hello, why would she be bothered by the killer's comment? Making money over people's dead bodies may not be a highly moral action, but in this modern world, who isn't making money out of other people's pain? That's completely different from murdering people and making their loved ones suffer. I just cannot phantom why she is affected by the comment.
3) The way she treated Jo is also awful. The guy obviously is into her, to the extent he would stand by her even when she is rushing to her death (quite a few times). I don't know if she is in her sane mind or what but luring the killer out is not what I call a brilliant plan, and telling someone who is obviously interested in you that you are going, whether he be coming or not, is even more awful.
Aside from the horrible heroine, I also think the police is very dumb, especially in the part where the theatre manager was murdered. The flyer said someone would be killed at the theatre, so they should have people everywhere, including the doorsteps, the back entrance, EVERYWHERE! Yet, the police only focused INSIDE the theatre. Could you believe it? I don't think any police would be so dumb as to not place officers at the entrance, certainly not Scotland Yard.
I am also feeling uncomfortable with the amount of time allocated to ranting, instead of developing the story. Basically, over half of the book is Eve complaining about her job and caring for her father. I know it is hard to care for an aging invalid but this is a murder mystery, not about caretaking.
There are many other plotholes with which I can go on and on but I shall stop here. Of the 2.5 stars, 2 are for Jo. This guy is an angel, godsend! Where can you find a guy who will always stand by you, even when you are going to challenge a lunatic serial killer, and save you at the right moment. Where can you find a guy who will stay by your side even knowing you have a father who needs care round the clock. Jo is so wonderful I want a Jo myself for Christmas! 0.5 stars is for everything else.