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jquellin's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
thewallflower00's review against another edition
3.0
My wife got into a show called Murdoch Mysteries, a cozy Canadian mystery show that takes place in 1900. Then she got our kids into it (we have strange kids). So I often have to hear the dinner talk with the detective and coroner’s relationship, the lieutenant’s quest for a promotion, the gruff police chief’s drinking habits, etc. It’s a pretty good show if you like Castle or Monk or The Mentalist and so on. But it started as a book series, so I thought I’d check that out.
The book is quite different. Like you’ve probably gathered from other reviews, it’s grim and gritty, not shirking from the terrible dirty parts of living at the turn of the century–disease, child abuse, orphans, classism, lack of women’s rights, etc. Themes circle issues you can’t deal with on nice Canadian TV. For example, in the TV series, they’ve, through necessity of the cases (and the necessity of the writers probably) accidentally created things like the polygraph and night vision goggles and luminol. In the book, he’s struggling to stop from masturbating he’s an adult male Catholic.
I’m not sure people who like the series will like this, especially if they have delicate sensibilities (for example, this one has a lot of abortion and “promiscuous women” and child death). They are two different things–much like Song of Ice and Fire vs. Game of Thrones. Or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories vs. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock. I liked it, but that’s because I can separate Book Murdoch from Television Murdoch.
However, I don’t think I’d read any other books in the series. It lacks what makes the TV show charming (Murdoch’s boyish curiosity, the strong female presence, the anachronistic plots like the “Wrestlemania” one). If I need grim and gritty detective novels, there are plenty of others I can go to. Frankly, I’m surprised whoever created this show found a kernel of what it became. But shrug.
The book is quite different. Like you’ve probably gathered from other reviews, it’s grim and gritty, not shirking from the terrible dirty parts of living at the turn of the century–disease, child abuse, orphans, classism, lack of women’s rights, etc. Themes circle issues you can’t deal with on nice Canadian TV. For example, in the TV series, they’ve, through necessity of the cases (and the necessity of the writers probably) accidentally created things like the polygraph and night vision goggles and luminol. In the book, he’s struggling to stop from masturbating he’s an adult male Catholic.
I’m not sure people who like the series will like this, especially if they have delicate sensibilities (for example, this one has a lot of abortion and “promiscuous women” and child death). They are two different things–much like Song of Ice and Fire vs. Game of Thrones. Or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories vs. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock. I liked it, but that’s because I can separate Book Murdoch from Television Murdoch.
However, I don’t think I’d read any other books in the series. It lacks what makes the TV show charming (Murdoch’s boyish curiosity, the strong female presence, the anachronistic plots like the “Wrestlemania” one). If I need grim and gritty detective novels, there are plenty of others I can go to. Frankly, I’m surprised whoever created this show found a kernel of what it became. But shrug.
shirin_mandi's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great read with Carolyn and Kerri as we continue knowing our favorite character, William in the second book.
There is a but, as it's a 4-star and I've almost thought of a 3-star because of terrible people and sad story!
I thought this going to be a better story and more suspenseful than the last one at first. But it's petty shame that the twist was good but not perfect and the characters are unlikable, except for William. Arthur and his wife!
I hope we find the next book more interesting and also more about William and Julia who was a very short but fun introduction of her only on phone.
There is a but, as it's a 4-star and I've almost thought of a 3-star because of terrible people and sad story!
I thought this going to be a better story and more suspenseful than the last one at first. But it's petty shame that the twist was good but not perfect and the characters are unlikable, except for William. Arthur and his wife!
I hope we find the next book more interesting and also more about William and Julia who was a very short but fun introduction of her only on phone.
addy1991's review against another edition
4.0
Shameful secrets. Unexpected and possibly unwanted pregnancies. A midwife learns a lot of things while patients are under her care. A woman dies and the on-scene initial check indicates accidental causes, but further examination reveals that she was murdered. When it comes to light that she used to be a midwife, Detective Murdoch needs to find out whether it was something in her past or present that set things in motion towards this ultimate ending. Plenty of things captures the attention (and imagination!) while sorting through clues and possible culprits, like newly patented medicines and introduction of the bicycle. It's these little extra details that makes this time period "come alive" and seem real to the readers. Another good read in this series.
appalonia's review against another edition
3.0
Good follow up but I don't enjoy reading about children at risk or being abused.
secre's review against another edition
3.0
Whilst this is an interesting mystery tale, it failed to grip me in the same way that the first did. I found the varying threads took too long to come together and I was largely nonplussed for the majority of the novel. I did appreciate the loose ends that were left to the readers imagination at the end though. Whilst the law might be satisfied there are questions left both for the reader and for Murdoch.
I enjoyed it but I wasn't gripped and I found myself frustrated by how long various unspecified puzzle pieces were left dangling in front of the reader wihout any explanation.
I enjoyed it but I wasn't gripped and I found myself frustrated by how long various unspecified puzzle pieces were left dangling in front of the reader wihout any explanation.
meribiaa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.25
polywogg's review against another edition
3.0
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Murdoch gets to investigate the death of Dolly Merishaw, a drunkard, a midwife, and an abortionist. She lived with two boys that she treated horribly, as well as a young woman who is also a little unbalanced. It doesn't take much for Murdoch to realize there was blackmail involved, the question being of who?
.
WHAT I LIKED:
Murdoch's investigation is relatively straightforward, but the fun part is seeing him trying to figure out the morals of dating and ballroom dancing when he still grieves his fiancee's death. He's also training for a bicycle race. It's a good introduction of some supporting characters too.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
The view of the young woman being unbalanced is far too simplistic and poorly portrayed.
.
BOTTOM-LINE:
A good addition to the series, but not the best
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
Murdoch gets to investigate the death of Dolly Merishaw, a drunkard, a midwife, and an abortionist. She lived with two boys that she treated horribly, as well as a young woman who is also a little unbalanced. It doesn't take much for Murdoch to realize there was blackmail involved, the question being of who?
.
WHAT I LIKED:
Murdoch's investigation is relatively straightforward, but the fun part is seeing him trying to figure out the morals of dating and ballroom dancing when he still grieves his fiancee's death. He's also training for a bicycle race. It's a good introduction of some supporting characters too.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
The view of the young woman being unbalanced is far too simplistic and poorly portrayed.
.
BOTTOM-LINE:
A good addition to the series, but not the best
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.