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lrncfly's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bhavani's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3.5 stars
The first half of this book is a pure joy to read. JDC has a sense of humor that I think is similar to P.G. Wodehouse. The story gets serious around the 50% mark with the arrival of Dr. Gideon Fell. However, there are light-hearted moments during the investigation, especially between Alan, Kathryn, and Colin Campbell, and Charles Swan. While I loved the humorous language and scenes, the book's investigation portion fell (pun not intended) flat for me, hence the 3.5 stars rating. If not, I'd have given it 4 stars.
One of this story's biggest pull for me is the setting, both the place and time. I don't think I've ever read a murder mystery set during WWII's early years. One paragraph, early in Chapter 1, caught my attention completely.
"Not that anyone had cause for apprehension. It was only the first of September, and the heavy raiding of London had not yet begun. We were very young in those days. An air-raid alert meant merely inconvenience, with perhaps one lone raider droning somewhere, and no barrage."
I love the sense of nostalgia and the ominous hint of things to come conveyed in this paragraph. Another thing I loved about this book is its vocabulary. I learned so many new words, which doesn't happen often. The description of the hangover in Chapter 9 is marvelous! I didn't like the underlying misogyny in the character's comments towards Kathryn and Elspat.
The introduction mentions that The Case of the Constant Suicides is a book many regard as the most entertaining JDC ever wrote. I don't know if this is the most entertaining book he ever wrote because I've only read this book, but it is highly entertaining, and I'd recommend it if you love locked room mysteries with a lot of humor and gorgeous settings.
The first half of this book is a pure joy to read. JDC has a sense of humor that I think is similar to P.G. Wodehouse. The story gets serious around the 50% mark with the arrival of Dr. Gideon Fell. However, there are light-hearted moments during the investigation, especially between Alan, Kathryn, and Colin Campbell, and Charles Swan. While I loved the humorous language and scenes, the book's investigation portion fell (pun not intended) flat for me, hence the 3.5 stars rating. If not, I'd have given it 4 stars.
One of this story's biggest pull for me is the setting, both the place and time. I don't think I've ever read a murder mystery set during WWII's early years. One paragraph, early in Chapter 1, caught my attention completely.
"Not that anyone had cause for apprehension. It was only the first of September, and the heavy raiding of London had not yet begun. We were very young in those days. An air-raid alert meant merely inconvenience, with perhaps one lone raider droning somewhere, and no barrage."
I love the sense of nostalgia and the ominous hint of things to come conveyed in this paragraph. Another thing I loved about this book is its vocabulary. I learned so many new words, which doesn't happen often. The description of the hangover in Chapter 9 is marvelous! I didn't like the underlying misogyny in the character's comments towards Kathryn and Elspat.
The introduction mentions that The Case of the Constant Suicides is a book many regard as the most entertaining JDC ever wrote. I don't know if this is the most entertaining book he ever wrote because I've only read this book, but it is highly entertaining, and I'd recommend it if you love locked room mysteries with a lot of humor and gorgeous settings.
hesterzz's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Quite enjoyable apart from the incest lol
meganh123's review
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
richardmcartney's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A nice atmosphere, good characters established before Dr Fell appears and a great intricate plot.
sophiemanhol's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed some pages of this book. The big reveal was good as was the medium one!
bmip666's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
robinwalter's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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? N/A
3.5
Mildly entertaining and more light-hearted than the other Carrs I've read
seaspark's review against another edition
4.0
The mystery is clever enough, the romance sweet and predictable, but the very very best part is the description of a wicked hangover in Chapter 9. I've read it aloud to several people and am thinking of having it framed.
"Alan Campbell opened one eye.
"From somewhere in remote distances, muffled beyond sight or sound, his soul crawled back painfully, through subterranean corridors, up into his body again. Toward the last it moved to a cacophony of hammers and lights."
"Alan Campbell opened one eye.
"From somewhere in remote distances, muffled beyond sight or sound, his soul crawled back painfully, through subterranean corridors, up into his body again. Toward the last it moved to a cacophony of hammers and lights."