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lollymac's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Colonisation, Drug use, Sexism, Police brutality, Rape, Murder, and Grief
ebonyutley's review against another edition
4.0
Reading Black Falling Rain is like savoring a meal. Each dish has been carefully prepared for maximum savory experience. Ross’s ingredients are his descriptions. When I’m reading, I feel like I live on the imaginary island of Camaho. Granted, I read his books while I’m in the Caribbean, but his descriptions are so precisely intricate. I can see the sun setting over the sea. I can feel the oppressive midday heat. I can hear the rough waves of the Atlantic. When Digger interrogates someone, the descriptions Ross gives the characters are so adroit even when they’re vague and frustrating the team. Ross’s word choice compels you to enter not only into the characters’ world, but also their minds.
As is not uncommon in the Caribbean, people say more with less and when Stanislaus and Digger or Chilman and Digger or Malan and Digger argue without arguing, Ross still gives you a sense of what’s at stake because each main character has a fully developed backstory. We understand their motivations. We learn where de hole is, why it exists, and what the character has been doing to fill it. The only characters who don’t get this grace are the bad guys, and I can forgive Ross for this. Black Rain Falling is a crime novel. Unraveling the mystery was entertaining, but for me, the novel is really about how people survive not knowing and then the aftermath of their actions once they can’t unknow what they do know.
His descriptions of food and music and bars and limes are so lively. Again, I feel like I’m there. Digger’s music is the book’s soundtrack. When he put on a song, I played it too and let Ross’s world swallow me whole. While this world is dark and dangerous, it’s also smart. I stayed Googling forensic terms I didn’t know. I would “aha” at the plot twists and turns that made sense but I didn’t entirely see coming. I enjoyed the sensory experience of reading the book and the conclusion left me full.
As is not uncommon in the Caribbean, people say more with less and when Stanislaus and Digger or Chilman and Digger or Malan and Digger argue without arguing, Ross still gives you a sense of what’s at stake because each main character has a fully developed backstory. We understand their motivations. We learn where de hole is, why it exists, and what the character has been doing to fill it. The only characters who don’t get this grace are the bad guys, and I can forgive Ross for this. Black Rain Falling is a crime novel. Unraveling the mystery was entertaining, but for me, the novel is really about how people survive not knowing and then the aftermath of their actions once they can’t unknow what they do know.
His descriptions of food and music and bars and limes are so lively. Again, I feel like I’m there. Digger’s music is the book’s soundtrack. When he put on a song, I played it too and let Ross’s world swallow me whole. While this world is dark and dangerous, it’s also smart. I stayed Googling forensic terms I didn’t know. I would “aha” at the plot twists and turns that made sense but I didn’t entirely see coming. I enjoyed the sensory experience of reading the book and the conclusion left me full.
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think I started really enjoying this as much as The Bone Readers until about halfway through. There seemed a mite too much pontificating and secret keeping (which always winds me up). However once you've got the story going it races away at blistering speed dealing with drug running on Camaho and the misery, death and fear it has created.
We're along for the ride with Digger, Miss Stanislaus and Chilman again. This time we learn more of Miss Stanislaus's childhood and what has made her who she is. Both Digger and Miss Stanislaus are engaging characters and I sincerely hope that we see them again in another Camaho mystery. Since Digger still hasn't located his mother's remains I think its likely.
We're along for the ride with Digger, Miss Stanislaus and Chilman again. This time we learn more of Miss Stanislaus's childhood and what has made her who she is. Both Digger and Miss Stanislaus are engaging characters and I sincerely hope that we see them again in another Camaho mystery. Since Digger still hasn't located his mother's remains I think its likely.
hollireads's review
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
The narrator on the audiobook has the most gorgeous deep voice.
daniel_mc_adam's review
5.0
A brilliant thriller set in the Caribbean looking forward to reading more of this fine authors work.
chellareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.75
Another great Caribbean neo-noir from Jacob Ross.
It's more complicated than The Bone Readers, so sometimes I lost the plot, but Ross deftly picks you back up.
As always Digga and Ms Stanislaus are superb as the detective duo. And they are supported by a rich cast of characters.
If you want a crime mystery with beautiful prose and a unique detective team, then jump on the Camaho trilogy.Car
It's more complicated than The Bone Readers, so sometimes I lost the plot, but Ross deftly picks you back up.
As always Digga and Ms Stanislaus are superb as the detective duo. And they are supported by a rich cast of characters.
If you want a crime mystery with beautiful prose and a unique detective team, then jump on the Camaho trilogy.Car
rojaed's review against another edition
5.0
A great example of crime novel, set in the Caribbean (Grenada?). A fast paced story with the dialogue written in dialect. Digger and Miss Stanislavsky make a great team. A great variety of characters.
secretbookcase's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5