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carolsnotebook's reviews
1634 reviews
The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The Mysterious Mr. Quin: A Harley Quin Collection by Agatha Christie
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief
Moderate: Confinement
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
I honestly expected to thoroughly enjoy The Marlow Murder Club. It features three very different women who form a friendship and solve murders. We have Judith, in her 70s, who lives on her own in a mansion on the edge of town, drinks too much, and sets crossword puzzles. Becks is the vicar’s wife, who usually spends her time taking care of her family and house. Suzy is a dog-walker who is estranged from her adult daughter. I like the friendship the women form and how they push each other outside of their comfort zones.
The plot is where the story really let me down. Judith very early on has a couple of suspicions and then they spend the rest of the book trying to prove her theories. A few of the clues were unbelievable. The twist wasn’t surprising, although it did make the mystery overly convoluted. Even the suspenseful ending was over the top and borderline silly.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator actually did a great job. She captured the characters’ personalities well and everyone had a distinct voice. While the characters didn’t save this one for me, I might give the next a shot. There were