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catherinemc13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
martha_imani's review against another edition
3.0
Written when she was 68 -- interesting insights into lust. Kind of fizzled toward the end.
stephee's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I read this because someone gave it to me.
Despite being written in the late 90s, it came across as really old-fashioned - in style and in characterisation. A somewhat disconcerting experience, but was still a suspenseful page-turner.
I read this because someone gave it to me.
Despite being written in the late 90s, it came across as really old-fashioned - in style and in characterisation. A somewhat disconcerting experience, but was still a suspenseful page-turner.
lyndann's review
4.0
The characters were so intriguing!!! I didn't necessarily like any of them, but I wanted to know more and couldn't put the book down. Controversial themes, questions of identity- it all seemed very realistic. I especially loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and I envisioned her creating each of these "novels" with a specific purpose. I enjoyed her writing in this not-so-typical mystery.
nocto's review
5.0
I had a great time leading an email book group discussion on this book in July 2000. That means I've got a pile of comments on it as long as something a lot longer than my arm. I just need to get them all out of the archives....
marystevens's review against another edition
4.0
Ruth Rendell is a wonderful writer and this is one of her best. A best-selling and critically acclaimed writer, Gerald Candless, has a fatal heart attack and is mourned by his two adoring daughters and, -sort of- by his wife. The publisher is looking for one of the daughters to do a biography and Sarah, the oldest, an English professor, takes it up. The mystery is: who is Gerald Candless, really? We learn bits as we see the three women handle the death and we learn even more from Sarah's investigation. It seems there's no record of any family or work or educational history for Gerald before he turns 25. Hmmm.
yaytaylor's review against another edition
1.0
I have very little good to say about this book: after wasting my time reading all 344 pages only to be presented with an incredibly obvious and anti-climactic “shocker”, I cannot recommend it to anyone. The only reason I persevered was because it was the monthly selection for my book club. Besides the poorly written dialogue, plot-holes galore, and obnoxious characters, the ending of the book could have been guessed in the first three pages. You could read the first chapter and the last chapter and come away with the same satisfaction gained in reading it from cover to cover.
Here are my main frustrations:
•The title and the prologue spell out EXACTLY what the big twist is. I’m more shocked by the lack of shock than the ending, given this is supposed to be a mystery.
•I can’t resonate with any of the characters. Ursula garners a bit of pity but overall I don’t find her compelling, and am frustrated by her decision making. The daughters are bratty and childish, and I truly dislike them as people by the end.
•Why are Sarah and hope so cruel to their mother? Having a distant mother doesn’t explain their complete lack of empathy for her, and their lack of interest. I understand the need to demonstrate Gerald as the leading parent, but family relationships don’t work the way they’re portrayed here.
•Why on earth is there a twisted, needless romance with Sarah and Adam foley? And why is he the only character to always be referred to by first and last name? Further: why bother mentioning them or their friend group at all? Adds absolutely nothing to the story.
•Why is it necessary for Jason and Sarah to fall in love, even after many mentions of her distaste for him? He has minimal encounters with her and makes a creepy move. I see no logic or emotional reason for their relationship whatsoever other than to tie up ridiculous loose ends.
•Alcoholism? It’s brought up multiple times that Sarah is likely an alcoholic and possibly other characters as well, but this point doesn’t serve any purpose. There’s no conclusion to the mentions, other than to make light of the multiple bottles of wine consumed daily for no other reason.
•Gerald’s lack of background/family/friends going completely unquestioned seems highly unlikely. For his daughters to be unquestionably devoted seems less compelling when you’re told they never cared about his history until after he died. His daughters were obsessed with him, why would they never ask about his past? Their grandparents? Etc.
I am sorry this book turned out so badly, and that I was made to finish it.
Here are my main frustrations:
•The title and the prologue spell out EXACTLY what the big twist is. I’m more shocked by the lack of shock than the ending, given this is supposed to be a mystery.
•I can’t resonate with any of the characters. Ursula garners a bit of pity but overall I don’t find her compelling, and am frustrated by her decision making. The daughters are bratty and childish, and I truly dislike them as people by the end.
•Why are Sarah and hope so cruel to their mother? Having a distant mother doesn’t explain their complete lack of empathy for her, and their lack of interest. I understand the need to demonstrate Gerald as the leading parent, but family relationships don’t work the way they’re portrayed here.
•Why on earth is there a twisted, needless romance with Sarah and Adam foley? And why is he the only character to always be referred to by first and last name? Further: why bother mentioning them or their friend group at all? Adds absolutely nothing to the story.
•Why is it necessary for Jason and Sarah to fall in love, even after many mentions of her distaste for him? He has minimal encounters with her and makes a creepy move. I see no logic or emotional reason for their relationship whatsoever other than to tie up ridiculous loose ends.
•Alcoholism? It’s brought up multiple times that Sarah is likely an alcoholic and possibly other characters as well, but this point doesn’t serve any purpose. There’s no conclusion to the mentions, other than to make light of the multiple bottles of wine consumed daily for no other reason.
•Gerald’s lack of background/family/friends going completely unquestioned seems highly unlikely. For his daughters to be unquestionably devoted seems less compelling when you’re told they never cared about his history until after he died. His daughters were obsessed with him, why would they never ask about his past? Their grandparents? Etc.
I am sorry this book turned out so badly, and that I was made to finish it.
em_beddedinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Was a good, though slow to medium paced read.
Gerald Candless, a semi reclusive author who lives in a cliff top house near the misty sea coast of Devon dies of a cardiac arrest. His doting daughters are asked by His publisher to write his biography, and the elder one agrees. This decision opens up a Pandora's box and she finds that everything was a lie.
The ever suffering neglected wife and mother ekes out a life for herself and the daughters try to deal with their own demons as best as they could.
I absolutely loved the surroundings, the slow revealing of secrets, and overall the character development.
Reminisced a bit about leading a reclusive life with all comforts, and never having to go out o work for a living.
Gerald Candless, a semi reclusive author who lives in a cliff top house near the misty sea coast of Devon dies of a cardiac arrest. His doting daughters are asked by His publisher to write his biography, and the elder one agrees. This decision opens up a Pandora's box and she finds that everything was a lie.
The ever suffering neglected wife and mother ekes out a life for herself and the daughters try to deal with their own demons as best as they could.
I absolutely loved the surroundings, the slow revealing of secrets, and overall the character development.
Reminisced a bit about leading a reclusive life with all comforts, and never having to go out o work for a living.