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Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
6 reviews
mary_catherine's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Sexism, Grief, Child death, Murder, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
jillkaarlela's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Age rating: 15+ (no sexual content)
These mysteries are just such a delight to read! I love Ernest Cunningham and his whacky group! I liked how this book focused on changing genres instead of changing author inspirations (like book one). This was a whacky, kitschy murder mystery comedy that actually kept me guessing until the end! It breaks the “fourth wall” quite a bit, where the author directly addresses the reader, which I really enjoy. This is just a quick, fun mystery comedy, and I highly recommend!
There is an authors note at the beginning that mentions the triggering subjects that are touched on throughout the book.
These mysteries are just such a delight to read! I love Ernest Cunningham and his whacky group! I liked how this book focused on changing genres instead of changing author inspirations (like book one). This was a whacky, kitschy murder mystery comedy that actually kept me guessing until the end! It breaks the “fourth wall” quite a bit, where the author directly addresses the reader, which I really enjoy. This is just a quick, fun mystery comedy, and I highly recommend!
There is an authors note at the beginning that mentions the triggering subjects that are touched on throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
The sexual violence is not on page, it is just mentioned as something that happened in the past.mauve_heard's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A beautiful cocktail pairing to Brian Johnson's Knives Out with a few extra shots of classis Aussie wit. Stevenson played with the tropes of the mystery and whodunnit genre and had fun doing it. This was an easy page-turner and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Sexism
esme_bonner's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was really good. I very much enjoyed the previous book in this series, Everyone in my family has killed someone, because it was so beautifully written, and so deeply meta. I was worried, coming into this one, that it would be hard to recreate what was so effective in the first book. I was somewhat correct: at it's core this had the same Golden-Age-turned-modern vibe and a meta, tongue-in-cheek humour that I really enjoyed, but this instalment wasn't as gritty, the characters weren't quite as well developed, and some of the interactions felt more farcical.
Stevenson has an exceptional talent for description: he is a master of the quirkily effective simile, and the way he layers in detail and energy, colour and texture, comes together to create deeply impactful imagery. I also really enjoy how he builds characters, introducing details like clues, letting our understanding of these characters grow with our suspicion. I do not know if Elmore Leonard's are another set of writing rules he subscribes to, but Stevenson does avoid physically describing his characters, beyond what they're wearing. This isn't a problem, but personally I find it harder to connect to them, because I can't really picture these people in a real way. He is an immensely talented writer, and that is as clear in this book as it was in the first.
I really enjoyed the story of this one, the characters were not quite as realised as the last, but I don't think that hurt anything. These are all first person, so it makes sense that they wouldn't be as real and fully-fleshed to Ernest as his own family. Like the last, the mystery here was complex, the clues slotting together in a comedic, exciting and multi-faceted denouement. Ernest is a wonderful narrator, he is both actively and self-consciously pro-woman, he bows to superior understanding, and he appreciates his role as accidental protagonist. In many ways Ernest is the anti-thesis of the Golden Age male detective, because he sees and understands the value of others, he is Watson to the universe's Holmes. In this second book we see Ernest trying to find his feet in this new space, and trying to unlearn some of his bad-habits, I loved seeing Ernest grow as a character, and the way he found confidence in himself.
A last little issue, this is not a romance. It isn't trying to be a romance. But Ernest's relationship with Juliette is possibly the only weak element of this book. Juliette tells us she is not the stereotypical sidekick girlfriend, Ernest tells us she is talented, she is helpful, and they are in love. We as the reader see very little of this, we see, in fact, very little of them together. When they are together they converse, they kiss, they don't really seem any closer than any other two people. Given that we didn't see them get together, and we have no real insight into their day-to-day together, Stevenson needs to give the reader a little more to understand why these two are together at all. His lack of physical description is also an issue. Ernest tells us Juliette is beautiful, but we don't know what she looks like, she is not lovingly described. In fact, the only detail we get is that she is 'a head' taller than him. What I'm saying, is that it's hard to picture this loving couple, when you don't know what they look like, or why they're in love. I hope this series continues, I would love to read another, but I would hope if it does that their relationship is more fully realised.
Overall, this was a fantastically written, well-formed, exciting mystery novel. I throughly enjoyed reading it, and I will be reading any further instalments.
Stevenson has an exceptional talent for description: he is a master of the quirkily effective simile, and the way he layers in detail and energy, colour and texture, comes together to create deeply impactful imagery. I also really enjoy how he builds characters, introducing details like clues, letting our understanding of these characters grow with our suspicion. I do not know if Elmore Leonard's are another set of writing rules he subscribes to, but Stevenson does avoid physically describing his characters, beyond what they're wearing. This isn't a problem, but personally I find it harder to connect to them, because I can't really picture these people in a real way. He is an immensely talented writer, and that is as clear in this book as it was in the first.
I really enjoyed the story of this one, the characters were not quite as realised as the last, but I don't think that hurt anything. These are all first person, so it makes sense that they wouldn't be as real and fully-fleshed to Ernest as his own family. Like the last, the mystery here was complex, the clues slotting together in a comedic, exciting and multi-faceted denouement. Ernest is a wonderful narrator, he is both actively and self-consciously pro-woman, he bows to superior understanding, and he appreciates his role as accidental protagonist. In many ways Ernest is the anti-thesis of the Golden Age male detective, because he sees and understands the value of others, he is Watson to the universe's Holmes. In this second book we see Ernest trying to find his feet in this new space, and trying to unlearn some of his bad-habits, I loved seeing Ernest grow as a character, and the way he found confidence in himself.
A last little issue, this is not a romance. It isn't trying to be a romance. But Ernest's relationship with Juliette is possibly the only weak element of this book. Juliette tells us she is not the stereotypical sidekick girlfriend, Ernest tells us she is talented, she is helpful, and they are in love. We as the reader see very little of this, we see, in fact, very little of them together. When they are together they converse, they kiss, they don't really seem any closer than any other two people. Given that we didn't see them get together, and we have no real insight into their day-to-day together, Stevenson needs to give the reader a little more to understand why these two are together at all. His lack of physical description is also an issue. Ernest tells us Juliette is beautiful, but we don't know what she looks like, she is not lovingly described. In fact, the only detail we get is that she is 'a head' taller than him. What I'm saying, is that it's hard to picture this loving couple, when you don't know what they look like, or why they're in love. I hope this series continues, I would love to read another, but I would hope if it does that their relationship is more fully realised.
Overall, this was a fantastically written, well-formed, exciting mystery novel. I throughly enjoyed reading it, and I will be reading any further instalments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Rape
This is a murder mystery, and there is death. It is not gorey, but it is made clear the ways in which people are killed. There is reference made to multiple historic sexual assaults, including both rape, and the sexual exploitation of children. This is not referenced in explicit detail, but is mentioned more than once.cartridgepink's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Now dealing with a kooky cast of relative strangers (instead of strange relatives), Ernest is still a compelling detective/narrator and an endearing lead. Benjamin Stevenson's writing is fast, goofy, sarcastic and self-effacing in equal measure, expertly juggling a dozen tiny threads and obsessions. It's very funny, a great follow-up to one of my favourite books I read last year. I need to know if Ben has played Ace Attorney.
also as a media critic I knew exactly who the murderer was the second their occupation was revealed LMAO. love your work Ben!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence
thumbeleia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Addiction, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Child death, Grief, Sexism, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Gun violence, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Rape, Incest, Pregnancy, and Vomit
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