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thelibraryofminds's review against another edition
4.0
Ooooh this was interesting and sad and hard at times and so so close to home at points.
thecosynook's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to enjoy this book, from the very start I was sucked in to the world and loved reading about Scotland during that time. However, we then get given the “mystery” and it kinda derailed the book. We would have pages and pages of details about the time period and Sarah’s life and then a few sentences about the mystery, then back on to her life.
I think about 3/4 of the way through the book and we still hasn’t learnt anything more from the very start. When the ending came it was a shock as it was so random but it all wrapped up too quickly for it to have any impact.
I will say I did enjoy the writing, as I’ve said the descriptions of the time period are amazing and you can tell the author has really done her homework on this. However, as a mystery novel…yeah no. It’s too slow, nothing really happens and it just drags the story down
3/5 - a slow mystery
I think about 3/4 of the way through the book and we still hasn’t learnt anything more from the very start. When the ending came it was a shock as it was so random but it all wrapped up too quickly for it to have any impact.
I will say I did enjoy the writing, as I’ve said the descriptions of the time period are amazing and you can tell the author has really done her homework on this. However, as a mystery novel…yeah no. It’s too slow, nothing really happens and it just drags the story down
3/5 - a slow mystery
jackiyork's review against another edition
3.0
I want to love this book and it does have great potential but I thought the message muddled the story telling. The message of women as chattel or worse was just a little heavy-handed- it could have been a little subtler.
Great characters and a juicy ending- this could be a series.
Great characters and a juicy ending- this could be a series.
mayswartzbwithu's review against another edition
5.0
This is the wonderful beginning of what looks to be a promising series of historical murder mysteries. It contains all the elements of a good whodunit - even set in the 1890s in Scotland (and includes a reference to Sherlock Holmes). But what places this book above all other whodunit murder mysteries is the feminist viewpoint. Welsh does a fantastic job of showing how difficult it was for women in that time period - the protagonist is one of the first women accepted into a prestigious medical school - and intimates that women having been fighting an uphill battle through history, constantly having to prove themselves to men and even other women. A fascinating read that I recommend highly.
jelder522's review against another edition
3.0
I am not a fan of overly descriptive or long books but, for once, I could have used a little more. I feel like the editor cut way too much out and the transition between scenes was choppy and abrupt. The concept was great and the characters were great. I just wanted more than what was given.
dollydaggerreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
needzmoarpaula's review against another edition
4.0
I actually quite enjoyed this, and read through it rather quickly, because I couldn't put it down.
I think it suffers a bit from "whoops, there's only a little bit of the book left, better wrap things up" and the whodunnit comes a little out of nowhere after most of the book is spent pointing to other characters, but overall, it's a pretty good story. Definitely looking forward to book #2.
I think it suffers a bit from "whoops, there's only a little bit of the book left, better wrap things up" and the whodunnit comes a little out of nowhere after most of the book is spent pointing to other characters, but overall, it's a pretty good story. Definitely looking forward to book #2.
clusterofpetals's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
kristinmagoo's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic mystery with wonderful characters who ALL act like real human beings. Can't wait to read the next one