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A review by annewithabook
Ghost of a Chance by Cate Dean
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I was in the mood for a light, fun mystery for fall and I thought this one would be perfect. Unfortunately, despite the interesting setup, the story really failed to even provide the light entertainment I was looking for. Let's put aside the atrocious love at first sight plotline which felt so unbelievable. Let's put aside the fact that literal ghosts appear in this book and are entirely pointless to the plot. Let's focus instead of the jumbled mystery itself.
Maggie Mulgrew, an American who has taken over her deceased aunt's antique business in the aptly named Holmestead, England (no, no related to Sherlock Holmes), attends an antique auction only to be caught up in a stolen antique jar conspiracy and murder, along with the handsome but most boring love interest ever Pembroke Martin. There are only two main suspects who bore a semblance to suspects, and if Maggie made gooey eyes at Martin one more time I was just going to rip my hair out. It feels incredibly rushed in some areas (mainly, developing an intriguing mystery with complex characters) while extremely drawn out in other areas (like all the scenes of Martin and Maggie attracted to each other for no apparent reason).
An interesting premise, but the story feels underdeveloped with too much focus on emotional scenes with little focus on building up reasons for those emotions.
Maggie Mulgrew, an American who has taken over her deceased aunt's antique business in the aptly named Holmestead, England (no, no related to Sherlock Holmes), attends an antique auction only to be caught up in a stolen antique jar conspiracy and murder, along with the handsome but most boring love interest ever Pembroke Martin. There are only two main suspects who bore a semblance to suspects, and if Maggie made gooey eyes at Martin one more time I was just going to rip my hair out. It feels incredibly rushed in some areas (mainly, developing an intriguing mystery with complex characters) while extremely drawn out in other areas (like all the scenes of Martin and Maggie attracted to each other for no apparent reason).
An interesting premise, but the story feels underdeveloped with too much focus on emotional scenes with little focus on building up reasons for those emotions.