Amy

People either hate or love this book. I picked it up with no expectations. I considered watching the show, and I like to read books before movies/shows. I really loved it. I know nothing about chemistry, so I wasn't evaluating the character based on her knowledge or presentation of science. I really did laugh out loud in moments, and I don't usually do that. I think the book is meant to be a bit outlandish, so my advice would be not to take the coincidences and slightly unbelievable things too seriously. Just enjoy the narrative.

This book comes across as having plot that is great at the skeletal level but does not flesh out well. The main plot points were cool references to old mystery fiction, and the ending had a fun twist, but by the time I got to it, I felt so disconnected from the rest that I didn't really enjoy it. There were relationships among peripheral characters that were unnecessary in my opinion and did nothing to advance the plot. There were some fun moments , like one that echoed Poe (when he goes to the cellar to get a bottle of wine, I wondered if he'd be chained and sealed in a wall); and I also thought of Virginia Woolf (I'll leave it at that). In general, I feel like this author overkills his reminders of how well-read he is when it comes to mystery fiction, and sometimes I just want his books to be his own. Like, I get it. You're an expert on the mystery genre. Again, it seemed like this particular book was a great thought that was poorly executed. I like some of his other books, so I'll keep reading. Possibly, Gwen the FBI agent will show up in later books since this one is marked #1 in the series. I'll give the next one a go, I guess.

I won't summarize what anyone can read in a book preview. This book was really fun to read and would make a GREAT movie!

This book was terrible. The story sounded interesting initially, and the plot in the first half was well-developed. However, the last half read like an idea that needed to be finished because the ending was already decided. The answer to the big question “why” was answered quickly and unconvincingly. What I disliked the most about this book was how grossly sexist the male characters were, especially coming from a female author. The character development was horrible to begin with, but this aspect solidified how I felt about this book. Crap. Don't waste your time.

This was a very fun series to read. I don't normally read YA novels, but this series was so interesting. There were plenty of nods toward Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, so if you love those type of quirky detective novels, this series is worth the read. You do have to start with the first, though, since they are all one complete story.

I love this series and these two characters. I like how their narratives alternate to tell the same story. I haven't quite grasped their romantic relationship, but there weren't too many mushy romantic moments (not that either of these characters are mushy, romantic people), so that was good. Sometimes the details are over my head with my lack of math/science knowledge, but it's not written in a pretentious way, just by a man who is basically a genius . . .

This was a fun book to read, and I do recommend it, but only for a certain audience: middle-aged women who have experienced those moments of being fed up with everyone and everything. There was a mystery to this novel, which kept the plot going, and the trio of women were diversely created. They each had a supernatural power of sorts, but the elements sometimes spilled over into absurdity. It's empowering for women, so I appreciated that, and funny at times too. I got to a point near the end where I wanted it to wrap up more quickly than it did. If you're looking for something fun and inspiring, give it a try. It's not a waste of time.

I did not care for this book. I really appreciate Barbara Kingsolver's novels. I used to teach several different titles, and I try to keep up with her newest novels. This is one I hadn't read until now. I had trouble finishing; when I had about 100 pages left, I read some reviews to see if I was just struggling for my own personal reasons (distracted, tired, etc.) or if others were feeling what I was about this book. I read several reviews that identified my struggles. I usually savor her character development and while these characters were nicely developed, I felt that some were cut short or overdeveloped for the purpose they served in the novel. Several people noticed parallels to other novels of hers. I did too, but they felt more like repetitive motifs and forced ideas (allusions, political viewpoints, etc). I get that the novel is an environmentally conscious book, and that was the most vibrant, successful portion of this book in my opinion. I love learning about true topics via fiction. However, I felt like there were forced sub-plots and unnecessary embellishments. This book could have been better with about 130 pages of text eliminated.

On the back of my copy of this book was a quote by Eddie Vedder in which he described reading the book as a long ride on the tour bus with TP and the Heartbreakers. The book reads like a long Rolling Stones article. I heard about it on a podcast and assumed it was more about his personal life, but really his music was his personal life. I was amazed by all the connections he had to so many other prominent artists and to see those connections through his songwriting. I liked the way Zanes traced Petty's ebbs and flows of life and the manifestation of those in his albums. I'll never listen to his music in the same way again. I grew up in Florida and lived in Gainesville for a couple years, so seeing those connections was a nice bonus :)

I don't normally read political writing, but this book was so interesting. It was published in 2018, and it frighteningly foreshadowed many of the events that have taken place over the last four years. The structure was well thought out, starting with the inception of fascism, moving mostly in a linear fashion. There were also other types of political and economic systems exemplified with other world leaders, and Albright highlights how they overlap. There is a bit of a preferential tinge from her political perspective, but I feel she tried to remain unbiased for the most part. Her own family's history as victims of fascism makes her a credible writer on this topic.

Like many other reviewers, I only read this book because I think the movie looks interesting. I was not expecting it to be so compelling. From early on, there was a heavy sense of irony. I felt dread and sympathy for many of the characters. There is a deep psychological, pathological development that takes the place of anything “exciting.” The twist at the end, and I mean the end, was a delightful surprise. I had to sit for a second thinking, “Did that just happen?” Anyway, I loved it, and I hope the movie doesn't disappoint . . .

This is the second of Erdrich's novels I've now read. I loved The Sentence so much and was really looking forward to this one. The synopsis here and on the inside cover of the novel suggests that the story of her grandfather's life, fighting against the 1953 “Emancipation” bill, was going to be the backbone of the novel. It wasn't. There was a whole other story unfolding. I enjoyed the parallel plot of Patrice/Pixie and her coming-of-age type of struggles, but I found myself disconnected from what was supposed to be the focus. It seems like this could be two separate books, really. I will read more of Louise Erdrich's work. Her writing is beautiful and insightful, but this one made me feel impatient to finish.

I don't think it's fair to evaluate this book from a literary perspective. Molly Shannon is not a novelist. I remember watching her first appearances as MKG and Sally O'Malley, and I just loved her so much ever since then. She writes like she acts out her characters and how she comes across in real life - with a ton of optimism, honesty, and energy - sporadically and sometimes a bit spastically. I enjoyed learning about her life and how she developed her characters, but mostly how she overcame so many obstacles. She's truly an inspiration

Most of what I thought about this sequel is in the other low-star reviews. I expected it to have the same amount of historical-fiction as the first, meaning more references and relevance of crimes to the characters' lives. The actual events (infant killings) were just sprinkled in here and there and by the time there was an actual connection to the plot (almost at the end), I was already over the book and was reading to merely finish. The supernatural element took over and just became absurd. Plus, the cannibalism made my stomach turn. I like her writing style and I think she tells a good tale, though, so I'll read more of her works. I just don't recommend this particular one. Stop after Mayhem.

The purpose of this novel, I believe, is to explore cause and effect in regards to violent crimes. It leaves the reader wondering who, if anyone besides the criminal, is at fault. I appreciated the effort and the backstory, but it was a bit too unbelievable for me, mainly because the detective who finally brings the murderer to justice was also a victim of sorts during their childhoods. What I liked least about the book was the over-writing. Sometimes the details were nice and supportive of the plot, but other times it was like adverb and fluff on top of verb and more fluff.

After reading Behind Her Eyes, I was interested in reading another one of Pinborough's books. This one is a novel about the Thames Torso Murders that were taking place when Jack the Ripper was active in London. At the time, many believed the killers were one and the same. t's hard to believe the Torso Murders have not gotten more notoriety (or at least I wasn't well aware of them). The book seems well-researched. I looked up some details as I was reading and ended up in a few rabbit holes myself. She uses a supernatural spin, which I think makes the book fun and exciting. It's pretty gory, obviously, but I will definitely read Murder, the second of two books in this series.

It seemed like the person who compiled these stories just Googled the word “Christmas” and used stories that had any connection, loose or close, to the holidays. Some stories were more closely related to the holidays than others, but these are some disturbing stories, and I think the word “Capers” is misleading. There are details that are quite horrifying; despite that, I actually enjoyed this book. I appreciated the different cultures and countries and time periods, and there are some heartwarming moments as well. I recommend this book, but it's not for the faint of heart.

I only rated it low because of personal preference. I can certainly see why it's a book within the canon. I don't love magical realism, and I did not know many of the references, so I spent a good deal of time researching people and terms. I recommend this book, but it's time consuming if you want to really be engaged with the style, and the references and their importance.

I found this book searching for Edgar Award winners since mystery is my favorite genre. The pace throughout was slow, leaving me wondering if something was going to happen, and I wouldn't be surprised if others rated this book lower for its lack of excitement. However, the writing was so brilliant. I felt like I was reading Agatha Christie or something by Dickens. The character building was fantastic, and I found it to be darkly humorous in a lot of places. The wait for the “mystery” was worth it as I really enjoyed the buildup and, again, the writing style. I will definitely read more from this author.

I would give it 3.5 starts. I really did enjoy this book. As a high school teacher, all of the references -(exaggerated just a bit) to state testing, beginning of the year themes, how districts use funds for new trends, football in the South, teacher stereotypes - were 100% relatable. There was a lot of humor and it was an easy read. With that, I think the writing was particularly effective with character descriptions. I actually wanted more of that throughout the book, which is why my rating was a bit lower than it might have been. I will definitely read Elden's other novel.

This is the second 700+ page book of JCO that I've read in the last two years, and I can honestly say that no page is wasted. Her attention to detail (less setting and more character), the nuances of thought, and the effects of grief on individuals as well as family units, is impeccable. She uses just enough stream-of-consciousness narration to make the reader cringe but feel also feel an awkward, sometimes uncomfortable, intimacy with each character. I got to the last ten pages of the book and put it down for several hours, not wanting to finish. Now I'm left trying to find something to read that can match this work of art - the afterglow of experiencing a beautiful book. IMHO ;)

This is one of those novels that I wanted to read again as soon as I finished. It takes a back-and-forth approach in plot from the late 1800's to modern day, both families on the same plot of land. The characters in the past plot are based on real individuals. One of the subplots from the 1800's section is about the first trial in which the insanity defense was used. I heard about the case on the podcast “The Thread” that dedicates an entire season tracing the insanity defense in our history. So fascinating and so fun to realize the connection! Oh, and some cool references to Greek mythology in the “present” plot. I LOVED this book.

I love this series!

3.5 I could definitely feel the Southern folklore style of storytelling in the novel. It reminded me a bit of some of Twain's writing, so it was fun to read. Honestly I was hoping for more connection to the characters, so more sadness when tragedy struck . . . I was affected more on the humorous side. It's quite funny in many places, but I really liked the structure of the book and Evelyn's story is inspiring for sure.

Captivating from start to finish! I appreciate the amount of research that was put into writing it, and I love how it read like a novel.