Still Life

This series was recommended to me by several people because I am a mystery lover. I have mostly read from the “golden age” of detective fiction (Christie, Sayers, etc.) but I was excited to have something new to try. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this one.

I will reiterate what several other people have mentioned here: the characterization was odd. The characters made decisions, said things, and felt things that didn't make sense to me. Some of the characters you wonder why she put them in the story at all. Most of them weren't suspects, as almost no one has any motive.

My next disappointment was with the mystery itself. There isn't much chance of you solving any of it alongside the detective because they don't hunt for clues, search for motives, or interrogate suspects. It's all about “feeling out” people (strangely characterized people) through irrelevant conversation.

Ultimately it wasn't satisfying. It's long for a mystery, with especially long chapters, and you don't feel like you're getting anywhere in the investigation until the end, when you realize everything you guessed from the beginning was correct.

Also, the title doesn't make sense.