Scan barcode
jarcher's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this one up from the Library of London a few years ago. I was not impressed by the writing or character development, but I thought the plot structure was creative, and I enjoyed reading the novel. A murder mystery from the perspective of an accomplice who doesn’t actually know how the murder occurred was pretty unique way to tell the story.
chalmy's review
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
krobart's review against another edition
3.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/day-731-antidote-to-venom/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/day-731-antidote-to-venom/
temi_m's review against another edition
Reading from the point of view of someone who is cheating on his wife and is probably going to commit murder to cover that up is excruciating for me
tombomp's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good book. Nothing super exciting but it messes with the traditional format in a neat way while still having a satisfying and interesting actual mystery.
It's set up sort of like a "reverse whodunnit" but even stronger - it takes a long time for you to find out who's going to get murdered with multiple false hints as to who the victim will be and things only really get going like... halfwayish through? It works well, things get set up nicely and the build-up is well done. His character writing is hardly Nobel Literature level but the characters make sense and you get a good idea of their distinct personality and motives - they're more than flat stereotypes. The mystery itself is built around a single conceit but it's pretty ingenious and I liked it
MASSIVE ending spoiler
It's set up sort of like a "reverse whodunnit" but even stronger - it takes a long time for you to find out who's going to get murdered with multiple false hints as to who the victim will be and things only really get going like... halfwayish through? It works well, things get set up nicely and the build-up is well done. His character writing is hardly Nobel Literature level but the characters make sense and you get a good idea of their distinct personality and motives - they're more than flat stereotypes. The mystery itself is built around a single conceit but it's pretty ingenious and I liked it
MASSIVE ending spoiler
Spoiler
The very ending is hilarious in a very grim way. The main character is redeemed by confessing to being an accessory to murder, and so he's going to be hanged. But it's ok cause he's come right with God! Incredible. I love itaphraclare's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
haileyasker's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cdecocoa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A how-dunnit, not a whodunnit