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ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
3.0
I like Sophie Hannah's series of crime novels set in the fictitious Culver Valley in England. They do follow a pattern, which doesn't inhibit my enjoyment of them. Sometimes a solidly written and plotted escapist novel is no bad thing. That said, in this installment, the puzzling occurrence that sets the book in motion is so convoluted that instead of intriguing me, it made me roll my eyes. Hannah stills pulls off a convincing explanation, but it took her longer to suck me into the story because of the beginning.
Kind of Cruel centers around a prickly, opinionated woman named Amber, who is suffering from extreme insomnia. She becomes tied into a murder investigation that had stalled out through her recognition of a phrase that had been found on a scrap of paper at the murder site. As the police try to find the connection between Amber and the dead woman, Amber is desperate to find answers of her own to a family secret and another murder.
Despite the rocky start, I enjoyed this book. Despite the focus of each book being largely on the mystery, it is a series that is probably best read in order, with the relationships between the continuing characters being utterly incomprehensible otherwise.
Kind of Cruel centers around a prickly, opinionated woman named Amber, who is suffering from extreme insomnia. She becomes tied into a murder investigation that had stalled out through her recognition of a phrase that had been found on a scrap of paper at the murder site. As the police try to find the connection between Amber and the dead woman, Amber is desperate to find answers of her own to a family secret and another murder.
Despite the rocky start, I enjoyed this book. Despite the focus of each book being largely on the mystery, it is a series that is probably best read in order, with the relationships between the continuing characters being utterly incomprehensible otherwise.
fowlermillbabe's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed. I got so bogged down in the confusion over the plot.
So sad.
So sad.
littlemascara's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing; I'm used to the formula at this point, and I liked that Amber had some bite to her. But I still don't wholly understand the resolution of the plot (Being vague because spoilers) and I'm finding Charlie and Simon's relationship woes tiresome at this point.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
Liked this one much more than the last few Hannah books. As always, it's necessary to suspend disbelief in regard to the unlikely coincidences and bisarre plot twists, but once you've done that, it's a very entertaining read.
Kind of cruel stars the usual dysfunctional middle class families keeping secrets from each other, as well as the equally dysfunctional detectives completely disregarding proper procedure. There's also a hypnotherapist, a locked room, mysterious scribblings in a notebook, insomnia, arson, murder and general craziness. Really, who could ask for more? Well, I could, come to think of it. I wish Charlie and Simon would resolve their issues already. Maybe Hannah's dragging it out because she doesn't know how to redeem Simon after his boorish behaviour in the past years? We get an inkling on why he might be the weirdest, most repressed guy in the Northern hemisphere, but at this point I'm not sure I care.
On the plus side, I liked Amber, the stubbornly rational protagonist who calls bullshit on the lies, inconsistencies and irrational behaviour of cops, teachers, other parents as well as the hypnotherapist. She and her almost adopted daughters bring a delightfully dark humour into this excellent thriller.
Kind of cruel stars the usual dysfunctional middle class families keeping secrets from each other, as well as the equally dysfunctional detectives completely disregarding proper procedure. There's also a hypnotherapist, a locked room, mysterious scribblings in a notebook, insomnia, arson, murder and general craziness. Really, who could ask for more? Well, I could, come to think of it. I wish Charlie and Simon would resolve their issues already. Maybe Hannah's dragging it out because she doesn't know how to redeem Simon after his boorish behaviour in the past years? We get an inkling on why he might be the weirdest, most repressed guy in the Northern hemisphere, but at this point I'm not sure I care.
On the plus side, I liked Amber, the stubbornly rational protagonist who calls bullshit on the lies, inconsistencies and irrational behaviour of cops, teachers, other parents as well as the hypnotherapist. She and her almost adopted daughters bring a delightfully dark humour into this excellent thriller.
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jenlywan's review against another edition
4.0
Another Sophie Hannah book! I have read like, 3? of her books. I could call her one of my favourites but then again the storyline is getting predictable.
In Kind of Cruel, Amber haven't had a good night's sleep since a fire which killed her best friend. She now is the guardian for both her kids and are trying hard to keep them safe.
Then one day, while at the shrink hoping to cure her insomnia, these words popped into her mind and out from her mouth:
Kind, cruel, kind of cruel
Which she didn't know the meaning nor where she had seen them before. But all she knew was that she is a murder suspect when the same words appeared on a crime site.
Sounds like a CSI story. But its just part of a CSI story.
Amber has lots to deal with within her dysfunctional family and a case she just couldn't get out of her mind unless she finds out the truth.
Comments: Good overall, no regrets reading it! However its not really hair-raising nor utterly chilling though. No supernaturals!
Sophie Hannah has continued her good job in keeping the suspense, though, interlinking some chapters with writing which delves into the 'thoughts' of the main characters.
Readers are not overtly informed of who these thoughts belong to, but it kinda gave some hints on what is coming.
In Kind of Cruel, Amber haven't had a good night's sleep since a fire which killed her best friend. She now is the guardian for both her kids and are trying hard to keep them safe.
Then one day, while at the shrink hoping to cure her insomnia, these words popped into her mind and out from her mouth:
Kind, cruel, kind of cruel
Which she didn't know the meaning nor where she had seen them before. But all she knew was that she is a murder suspect when the same words appeared on a crime site.
Sounds like a CSI story. But its just part of a CSI story.
Amber has lots to deal with within her dysfunctional family and a case she just couldn't get out of her mind unless she finds out the truth.
Comments: Good overall, no regrets reading it! However its not really hair-raising nor utterly chilling though. No supernaturals!
Sophie Hannah has continued her good job in keeping the suspense, though, interlinking some chapters with writing which delves into the 'thoughts' of the main characters.
Readers are not overtly informed of who these thoughts belong to, but it kinda gave some hints on what is coming.
addy1991's review against another edition
3.0
Memories and dreams mix. What's real? What's not? Amber visits a hypnotherapist to try and get a handle on her chronic insomnia but finds herself caught up, dealing with something else entirely. Without going into too much detail and risk giving spoilers, I'm glad this book came later in the series because if it had been earlier (like book 1 or 2) I might not have continued. Certain recurring characters that I initially liked are now tarnished as they 'show their age' and I find myself not particularly liking the people this case revolves around. Self-serving, manipulative and not entirely honest in their dealings with others ... characteristics I'm not fond of at all and are found in abundance with these people. Ugh. Ms Hannah did quite well in her portrayal of them since I'm still bothered by things they 'said' and 'done'. When characters move you to strong emotions, you know it is a good read.
elli131001's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0