lollybee's reviews
164 reviews

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths, Elly Griffiths

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A body is discovered behind a wall where builders are renovating a café resulting in a cold case being reopened.
DCI Harry Nelson and Dr. Ruth Galloway, once again find themselves working together to try and resolve the mystery
The final book in what has been an engaging series with a satisfying ending.

The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Set during the outbreak of COVID and lockdown, Harry Nelson is investigating a spate of suicides and struggling against the constraints imposed by the new regulations. 
Dr. Ruth Galloway is coming to terms with remote learning for her university students as well as adjusting to having a new neighbour.
Once again, an enjoyable read from Elly Griffiths.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Lonely Heart Attack Club by J.C. Williams

medium-paced

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

1.0

Clichéd, stereotypical characters with faults  that they all managed to redeem in a very short space of time.

The Girl Left Behind by Emily Gunnis

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Multiple timelines and stories interwoven, which took a little time to get my head around, but it all comes together in the end.

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

When a local writer is found dead, her family is convinced that she has been murdered. Cue the return of the Postscript Murders' Natalka, Edwin and Benedict in a compulsive whodunnit.

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

When a book is 1180 pages long and written by an accomplished author, you know that you are in it for the long haul.
Cormoran and Robin are employed to investigate a cult, with the purpose of extricating their client's son from its clutches.
This was an excellent read: gradually building the tension towards a gripping ending.
Well worth a read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Little Wing by Freya North

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

When Nell's mum's dementia begins to cause confusion for Nell's sense of identity she sets out to investigate her past, her family and the secrets that have been buried.

Other Women by Emma Flint

dark sad slow-paced

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

2.5

Based on a real-life crime from the early 1920s and told through the POV of Bea and Kate, this really took time to gain momentum. The last quarter of the book really gained pace and made it worth persevering with.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

This took a while to get into; there were so many characters to remember as well as two time lines: after the murder and working back from the murder.
 I suspect that as this is the first in the series the author was laying the groundwork for future books.
Once the characters were embedded in the story I really enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The discovery of an ancient burial site and relics; a dead body on a beach; a double murder suicide at a secluded house alongside local myths, legends and folklore keep DCI Harry Nelson and Archeologist Dr Ruth Galloway extremely busy in this murder mystery.
Elly Griffiths is at the top of her game with this one.
A great read and one that I couldn't put down.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Violence