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we_are_all_mad_here26's review
3.0
This one was fine, if a little repetitive - I really did not want to go over the facts and suppositions of the case quite as many times as we did, by the end of it all. Also, a wildly unlikely number of motives and/or possible murder scenarios all within one operating room. We may have gone round and round forever until Detective Inspector Alleyn insisted upon the good old "let's reconstruct the murder scene exactly and this will somehow result in foolproof evidence against the guilty party."
I didn't hate reading it though. If only all these golden age mystery writers were still alive so I could let them know they have a new #1 fan.
I didn't hate reading it though. If only all these golden age mystery writers were still alive so I could let them know they have a new #1 fan.
maggiekms's review
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? It's complicated
3.75
donkeykong64's review
3.0
Not too into all the commie bullshit, not due to it being Communist but just how tedious and not fleshed out it is. But Inspector Allyn is a great character, and Marsh is definitely finding her footing at this point despite the lesser communist and eugenics aspects of this one. The solution, while clever, came a bit out of nowhere but perhaps I’m being a bit too hard on it after falling for a major red herring.
esme_ella's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
maplessence's review
3.0
3.5★
I'm starting to see a pattern - I prefer Marsh's crime novels when they have a theatrical setting.
But this title has a very authentic feel. It was co-written with Marsh's gynaecologist, Henry Jellet (he gets an author credit on my edition.) You can almost smell the antiseptic. So the hospital setting felt fine.
Even the political world felt real. It is when Marsh strays into the world of "Bolshies" (with the quite annoyingly perky Nigel & Angela) that things come a little unstuck, with cardboard characters and a feeling that Marsh just isn't comfortable here.
Fox, as always, is a dignified delight. And I didn't guess the culprit. For me, that is always a plus.
My edition old enough to feature one mildly racist comment.
Edit; Just in case some overly zealous librarian removes Jellet's name from the book - on my 1970 Fontana he is credited as co author of the book
I'm starting to see a pattern - I prefer Marsh's crime novels when they have a theatrical setting.
But this title has a very authentic feel. It was co-written with Marsh's gynaecologist, Henry Jellet (he gets an author credit on my edition.) You can almost smell the antiseptic. So the hospital setting felt fine.
Even the political world felt real. It is when Marsh strays into the world of "Bolshies" (with the quite annoyingly perky Nigel & Angela) that things come a little unstuck, with cardboard characters and a feeling that Marsh just isn't comfortable here.
Fox, as always, is a dignified delight. And I didn't guess the culprit. For me, that is always a plus.
My edition old enough to feature one mildly racist comment.
Edit; Just in case some overly zealous librarian removes Jellet's name from the book - on my 1970 Fontana he is credited as co author of the book
.
jog2020's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0