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lhart2222's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
150 pages in and that’s my limit. The idea sounds good, burned corpse, what happened, so on, but god is the writing style an absolute chore and a half. This far in and I’ve seen more filler than the Kardashian family combined. Everything is over explains, over described, over analysed. Is the author not aware the fun thing about books is imagining things in your own unique ways?
On to the story itself, it might have potential, but a third into the book I can already see where it’s going, and I just don’t think the pay off is going to be worth it. And once again can we stop with the suspended detective cliché, like come on how many times. The reviews on the cover say a “fast paced thriller”, and a “class above” the only thing fast about this book was how quickly I wanted to put it down.
Now I’m not saying it’s a bad book for everyone, just for me. If you are into slow, and tedious descriptions that just seem unnecessary, and take an age to get into the things you care about then this is the book for you.
150 pages in and that’s my limit. The idea sounds good, burned corpse, what happened, so on, but god is the writing style an absolute chore and a half. This far in and I’ve seen more filler than the Kardashian family combined. Everything is over explains, over described, over analysed. Is the author not aware the fun thing about books is imagining things in your own unique ways?
On to the story itself, it might have potential, but a third into the book I can already see where it’s going, and I just don’t think the pay off is going to be worth it. And once again can we stop with the suspended detective cliché, like come on how many times. The reviews on the cover say a “fast paced thriller”, and a “class above” the only thing fast about this book was how quickly I wanted to put it down.
Now I’m not saying it’s a bad book for everyone, just for me. If you are into slow, and tedious descriptions that just seem unnecessary, and take an age to get into the things you care about then this is the book for you.
csdaley's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookishmadhatter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
The Inspector McLean series is one that grew on me pretty quickly. I wasn't sure how I'd feel with it just flirting with supernatural elements, but have found that, in my opinion, it's done well. Tony's latest adventure has him bumped back to Inspector (which really, everyone wanted to happen, no one more so than him) and facing a new chief constable. The new chief constable was about the only part of the book that I didn't like (enough so that it bumped my rating down just a touch), and found myself inwardly rolling my eyes and trying to get through the parts they were in a little faster just to get dealing with them over with. I won't be sorry if we get yet another person in that position in future books. I also find myself wishing the Mrs. Saifre having her finger in the pie story would come to an end as well.
Overall, solid story that's very entertaining and am looking forward to another installment to the series.
Overall, solid story that's very entertaining and am looking forward to another installment to the series.
bergamint's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
11th in the McLean series finds the recovering inspector drawn into an investigation where witchcraft and misogynism clash. Usual fine fare.
wendoxford's review against another edition
4.0
It takes a good story for me to tolerate the hocus pocus of McClean's travails. It has been a while since I read the previous in the series, but I found myself immersed in the familiar characters incredibly quickly.
Despite McLean being male, this is ostensibly, a novel about women, both in and outside of Police Scotland. The plotlines similarly weave through two story strands. One insidious and ambition driven, the other following through the workings of an extreme misogynist who grooms a group of similar men to foment their anger.
I wished that McLean hadn't been given the line "I don't believe in coincidences" quite so often through the story, I got it the first time! But that is small criticism from such an absorbing, another absorbing read
Despite McLean being male, this is ostensibly, a novel about women, both in and outside of Police Scotland. The plotlines similarly weave through two story strands. One insidious and ambition driven, the other following through the workings of an extreme misogynist who grooms a group of similar men to foment their anger.
I wished that McLean hadn't been given the line "I don't believe in coincidences" quite so often through the story, I got it the first time! But that is small criticism from such an absorbing, another absorbing read
syren1532's review against another edition
5.0
An elderly woman beaten and burnt to death in her isolated a cottage and three men who die in unusual circumstances are the cases being investigated by Tony McLean and his team. Tony has just returned to work following suspension after his last case. His new boss, promoted from the Met in London, has allowed his return to work although he has been demoted to Detective Inspector.
Always look forward to the next instalment of the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. The series has a great set of characters who are developing in each book and always a hint of the supernatural. Great read as always.
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline and James Oswald for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Always look forward to the next instalment of the Inspector McLean series by James Oswald. The series has a great set of characters who are developing in each book and always a hint of the supernatural. Great read as always.
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline and James Oswald for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
pierke's review against another edition
4.0
It's always such a pleasure to be around Tony McLean, his colleagues and friends, that I try to read slowly and savour every minute of it. But as the books are also very suspenseful this is a difficult task. This book was no exception to the rule. I am already eagerly waiting for the next installment and hope that Emma will play a bigger part in that one. I missed her.