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marthaguymaid's reviews
520 reviews
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
dark
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
3.5
Creepy!
The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths
mysterious
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
3.5
The Woman in Blue by Elly Griffiths
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
Don’t hate me but I’m not a diehard Austen fan and, having previously read Longbourn and Death Comes to Pemberley, I hesitated to take on another Pride & Prejudice spin-off. I can happily report that this audio edition was my pick of the three.
The Bennet sister of the title is Mary and this story lifts her out of the ugly duckling role, rounding out her character with a humanity and intelligence that were never granted in the many other P&P adaptations.
The Other Bennet Sister mostly occupies itself with P&P’s supporting cast: Mary Bennet, Caroline Bingley, Mr & Mrs Gardiner, Charlotte Lucas & Mr Collins, Lady Catherine. When it does spend time with the leading lights, like Jane and Elizabeth, they’re not looked on as kindly as readers are used to. The two elder sisters have a little less sparkle when seen through the eyes of a younger sibling they could have been far kinder to.
It’s a slow story and, at 20 hours listening, can drag occasionally. It’s also a story you need to pay attention to but Austen fans aren’t looking for an action thriller, so that’s not likely to put them off!
Recommended read for anyone who likes the original P&P and is happy to see that classic given the multiverse treatment.
The Bennet sister of the title is Mary and this story lifts her out of the ugly duckling role, rounding out her character with a humanity and intelligence that were never granted in the many other P&P adaptations.
The Other Bennet Sister mostly occupies itself with P&P’s supporting cast: Mary Bennet, Caroline Bingley, Mr & Mrs Gardiner, Charlotte Lucas & Mr Collins, Lady Catherine. When it does spend time with the leading lights, like Jane and Elizabeth, they’re not looked on as kindly as readers are used to. The two elder sisters have a little less sparkle when seen through the eyes of a younger sibling they could have been far kinder to.
It’s a slow story and, at 20 hours listening, can drag occasionally. It’s also a story you need to pay attention to but Austen fans aren’t looking for an action thriller, so that’s not likely to put them off!
Recommended read for anyone who likes the original P&P and is happy to see that classic given the multiverse treatment.
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A great little read that you’ll easily finish in a day. Perfect for my current lockdown state of mind!
Don’t be fooled by the cover: this is not cosy crime with a Miss Marple-style sleuth. Maud is a wiley and ruthless 88 year old Swede with no qualms about killing anyone who gets in her way. To be fair, they’re mostly younger people trying to prey on the vulnerable elderly - and Maud’s not having it!
This is not your typical Scandi noir and it’s not Agatha Raisin territory either. Just a little black humour and a salutary warning to be good to your grandmother.
Don’t be fooled by the cover: this is not cosy crime with a Miss Marple-style sleuth. Maud is a wiley and ruthless 88 year old Swede with no qualms about killing anyone who gets in her way. To be fair, they’re mostly younger people trying to prey on the vulnerable elderly - and Maud’s not having it!
This is not your typical Scandi noir and it’s not Agatha Raisin territory either. Just a little black humour and a salutary warning to be good to your grandmother.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“We pretended that what we had lost was the house, not our mother, not our father. We pretended that what we had lost had been taken from us by the person who still lived inside.”
I’m so pleased that this was one of my book club reads for the year. It would have been a real shame to miss this one.
I’ve seen some reviews describe the house as a character in this story. I can’t go along with that but as a setting, it is central to this poignant exploration of family love and loss.
On the surface, it’s the sibling relationship that seems most important in this novel but for me, that was just another version of the parent-child dynamic that The Dutch House is really about. For our narrator, Danny, his older sister Maeve takes the place of the mother he barely remembers. Their difference in age, memories and childhood experiences drive this family history that spans about 50 years in post-war America.
There is a wicked stepmother and two step-sisters, household help as extended family, a physically absent mother and emotionally absent father.
While the ending was too tidy for my tastes, that was more than overcome by the compassionate, character-driven whole.
A highly recommended read but readers should beware triggers, especially around abandonment.
I’m so pleased that this was one of my book club reads for the year. It would have been a real shame to miss this one.
I’ve seen some reviews describe the house as a character in this story. I can’t go along with that but as a setting, it is central to this poignant exploration of family love and loss.
On the surface, it’s the sibling relationship that seems most important in this novel but for me, that was just another version of the parent-child dynamic that The Dutch House is really about. For our narrator, Danny, his older sister Maeve takes the place of the mother he barely remembers. Their difference in age, memories and childhood experiences drive this family history that spans about 50 years in post-war America.
There is a wicked stepmother and two step-sisters, household help as extended family, a physically absent mother and emotionally absent father.
While the ending was too tidy for my tastes, that was more than overcome by the compassionate, character-driven whole.
A highly recommended read but readers should beware triggers, especially around abandonment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Dementia
The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.75
Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise
dark
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5