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bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
There’s a mystery at the center of this novel, but really it’s not so much a thriller as it is an homage to the main character, who I understand is based on the author’s real life mother. It felt a little over-wrought at the beginning but once I got used to his style, I was all in. Great story, and I had no idea the end of it was practically set in my backyard! Lots of familiar place names. Four and a half stars rounded up to five.
mercourier's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This felt like more of a character study than a plot book. The mystery seems a little jammed in but there is a tipping point that once I reached it I couldn't put the novel down. Heller is just good at narrative tension. I felt the end was a bit to tied up with a bow but I would hang out with Celine again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence
scandleriv's review
4.0
This was an interesting book in that it is a detective story, but one that is not really about the mystery - rather it is about the detective herself.
Celine is not your typical sleuth, although she exhibits many of the skills that frequently characterize fictional investigators. The book focuses on her relationships, past and present, and spends most of its energy describing the people and circumstances that have shaped who she is and what urges her forward in her work. The mystery that opens the chapter of her life that is the subject of the novel appears somewhat hopeless to those of us less experienced than Celine, but as she takes up the chase, the threads that being to slowly (and sometimes fortuitously) come together, weave what turns out to be a somewhat tidy resolution that left me a bit incredulous.
The book was well-paced and kept me invested more than I initially thought it would, but by the end, I still felt like I had merely witnessed one episode in the midst of a much deeper narrative. There’s much more to tell about the person of Celine, the world she inhabits, and the history that has shaped her, but I suppose the unanswered questions are an important part of the underlying themes of the book - as nettlingly tantalizing as that may be.
Celine is not your typical sleuth, although she exhibits many of the skills that frequently characterize fictional investigators. The book focuses on her relationships, past and present, and spends most of its energy describing the people and circumstances that have shaped who she is and what urges her forward in her work. The mystery that opens the chapter of her life that is the subject of the novel appears somewhat hopeless to those of us less experienced than Celine, but as she takes up the chase, the threads that being to slowly (and sometimes fortuitously) come together, weave what turns out to be a somewhat tidy resolution that left me a bit incredulous.
The book was well-paced and kept me invested more than I initially thought it would, but by the end, I still felt like I had merely witnessed one episode in the midst of a much deeper narrative. There’s much more to tell about the person of Celine, the world she inhabits, and the history that has shaped her, but I suppose the unanswered questions are an important part of the underlying themes of the book - as nettlingly tantalizing as that may be.
leannecoppola's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this novel. First time reading a book by this author it won't be my last! The writing style was beautiful and had a nice pace. I felt like it was a bit anti-climatic at the end, but I would highly recommend this book.
scy11a's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
ModernMrsDarcy.com #MMD pick for November 2019
Celine is a 65-ish, sophisticated, “Upper crust“ woman who is retired from a lifetime of covert government operations. Now, she finds missing persons as a hobby. She is quite a character and I love the interaction between Celine and her husband. This is only my second Peter Heller book and I enjoyed it immensely.
Celine is a 65-ish, sophisticated, “Upper crust“ woman who is retired from a lifetime of covert government operations. Now, she finds missing persons as a hobby. She is quite a character and I love the interaction between Celine and her husband. This is only my second Peter Heller book and I enjoyed it immensely.
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the main character - an older woman who's lead an interesting life as a private investigator - and the way the author writes descriptively about settings and nature. The plot was a little straightforward for a mystery though.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Here's what I loved about "Celine": The two main characters, Celine and her husband Pete, kick ass. They are senior citizens, Celine has emphysema, Pete is a step away from non-verbal, being from Maine; she's tiny and very stylish, he's big and wears coveralls. And because of their ages, no one really pays much attention to them, which is bad news for those who write them off. Celine has a better record of finding people than the FBI due to her mysterious contacts; Pete has the sort of internet search skills rarely attributed to someone over 30. Celine is really good with guns, although why remains a mystery since she grew up in a society family. They don't think about their ages, they adapt to what's not working so well and what works better than ever. I would love to read about them again.
So why four stars? I was surprised at how quickly I skimmed over the sections set in Celine's youth, eager to get back to her and Pete bumping across Montana in an RV full of guns, followed by an FBI agent with a goatee.
How great to shake up the PI genre! "Celine" is smart and entertaining. Enjoy it.
So why four stars? I was surprised at how quickly I skimmed over the sections set in Celine's youth, eager to get back to her and Pete bumping across Montana in an RV full of guns, followed by an FBI agent with a goatee.
How great to shake up the PI genre! "Celine" is smart and entertaining. Enjoy it.
librariansrule's review against another edition
4.0
Where's the extra half-star button? I need that.
meera01's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is the third book by this author that I've enjoyed. That means I must be a fan! The main character and her background were fascinating. I would have rated this higher if the novel had a bit more depth without leaving too many things unanswered or developed. Otherwise, I enjoyed the novel and its characters.