Scan barcode
kleonard's review against another edition
1.0
A Baroque mystery set among the powerful of pre-revolutionary France, this novel offers numerous famous and original characters, all of whom are unfortunately rather two-dimensional and boring. While the murder mystery at the heart of the book is is fairly well-constructed, the amount of extra baggage this novel carries weighs it down with gratuitous and over-written subplots and side plots. The Inspector himself is an incompetent and gullible figure with little internal interest--he's perhaps the most cardboard of the characters. Numerous spies twirl in the orbit of the court, making for threads begun and not really ended; women are objects, even to characters who consider themselves above such considerations; and the entire novel is slow and ornamented to the point of ridiculousness.
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
The Inspector of Strange and Unexplained Deaths places a Sherlock Holmes-style investigator into a historical setting where he’s in many ways ahead of his time; his methods, even so, are not entirely implausible for the era. So the book combines murder mystery with historical fiction.
This novel is an entertaining book, with a lot going on.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/inspector-strange-unexplained-deaths-fiction-book-review/
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Inspector of Strange and Unexplained Deaths places a Sherlock Holmes-style investigator into a historical setting where he’s in many ways ahead of his time; his methods, even so, are not entirely implausible for the era. So the book combines murder mystery with historical fiction.
This novel is an entertaining book, with a lot going on.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/inspector-strange-unexplained-deaths-fiction-book-review/
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
mrsmangoa's review against another edition
2.0
I started reading this book hoping to be intrigued by a Sherlock Holmes style retelling and that's where I made my first mistake.
Plot: set in the king cannot keep his penis to himself and its resulted in murder which the inspector of strange unexplained deaths is supposed to uncover
Triggers: rape, sexual expression, fuckboy shenanigans
Opinion: I started the book thinking it would be such a wonderful way to get into my 2020 reading list. Sadly this book dropped me down into such a massive book slump. Personally in the beginning there was some good setup of what was going on and the efforts to uncover thee crime, but this took such a twist and now I've read almost 5/10 chapters of fuckboy (Cassanova) wants to take her clothes off and she being a lady is playing mind games with the inspector.
I DNF'd at 75% and I would really need to have a lot more confidence before I attempt one of the writers books again. He/she should keep perfecting their art.
Plot: set in the king cannot keep his penis to himself and its resulted in murder which the inspector of strange unexplained deaths is supposed to uncover
Triggers: rape, sexual expression, fuckboy shenanigans
Opinion: I started the book thinking it would be such a wonderful way to get into my 2020 reading list. Sadly this book dropped me down into such a massive book slump. Personally in the beginning there was some good setup of what was going on and the efforts to uncover thee crime, but this took such a twist and now I've read almost 5/10 chapters of fuckboy (Cassanova) wants to take her clothes off and she being a lady is playing mind games with the inspector.
I DNF'd at 75% and I would really need to have a lot more confidence before I attempt one of the writers books again. He/she should keep perfecting their art.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
3.0
Paris in the mid-18th Century and King Louis XV is becoming more despotic by the week. Whilst the aristocracy remain in fear, Madame de Pompadour acts as a procuress for her erstwhile lover's increasingly perverse needs. Meanwhile the general populace is plotting revolution. When the body of a young girl is found, horribly mutilated, Volnay is called in to investigate as the clues lead straight to court.
This was such a confusing book. The plot wheels around turns back on itself and in the end isn't really satisfying. there were several too many secret societies and characters whose motivation and loyalties seem to turn in an instance. What could have been a really strong historical detective novel just became far too complicated and confusing for me
This was such a confusing book. The plot wheels around turns back on itself and in the end isn't really satisfying. there were several too many secret societies and characters whose motivation and loyalties seem to turn in an instance. What could have been a really strong historical detective novel just became far too complicated and confusing for me
nelene's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
helenephoebe's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Pushkin Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review - I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is the first of a series of seven books to be translated into English from the original French. The mystery is engaging right to the end, with the Freemasons, Brotherhood of the Serpent and the royal court all involved in the intrigue around a letter sent by Madame de Pompadour, mistress and favourite of King Louis XV of France. I became more and more intrigued by Volnay as the story went on, especially his relationship with the monk and his frenemy, Casanova. Volnay seems to have had such a colourful past and we are only fed it in dribs and drabs, or parts are hinted at but not fully explored. It keeps you, as a reader, completely hooked. The setting was very evocative, though I doubt it was as familiar to me as it would be to someone in France. In some ways this made it seem more historical because it isn’t just England with some different cultural views, but a completely different environment. I haven’t really read much fiction based in France, but I would love to read more of this series as I think it sets up the background really well.
Genre? - Historical / Mystery
Characters? - Inspector Volnay / Chiara D'Ancille / Giacoma Casanova / Jeanette Poisson, Madame de Pompadour / Wallace / Louis XV of France
Setting? - Paris (France)
Series? - Inspector of Strange and Unexplained Deaths #1
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 17/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2019/04/17/book-review-casanova-and-the-faceless-woman-by-olivier-barde-cabucon/
Review - I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is the first of a series of seven books to be translated into English from the original French. The mystery is engaging right to the end, with the Freemasons, Brotherhood of the Serpent and the royal court all involved in the intrigue around a letter sent by Madame de Pompadour, mistress and favourite of King Louis XV of France. I became more and more intrigued by Volnay as the story went on, especially his relationship with the monk and his frenemy, Casanova. Volnay seems to have had such a colourful past and we are only fed it in dribs and drabs, or parts are hinted at but not fully explored. It keeps you, as a reader, completely hooked. The setting was very evocative, though I doubt it was as familiar to me as it would be to someone in France. In some ways this made it seem more historical because it isn’t just England with some different cultural views, but a completely different environment. I haven’t really read much fiction based in France, but I would love to read more of this series as I think it sets up the background really well.
Genre? - Historical / Mystery
Characters? - Inspector Volnay / Chiara D'Ancille / Giacoma Casanova / Jeanette Poisson, Madame de Pompadour / Wallace / Louis XV of France
Setting? - Paris (France)
Series? - Inspector of Strange and Unexplained Deaths #1
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 17/20
For full review see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2019/04/17/book-review-casanova-and-the-faceless-woman-by-olivier-barde-cabucon/
monikasbookblog's review against another edition
5.0
First thing, I don’t read much Historical Fiction, because I think they move slow and its tough to keep my concentration! But, I loved this book. I’m not sure why people hated this. Its got everything you expect in a historical novel + the bonus part of fast read mystery!
Its pre-revolution King Louis XV’s 1700 Paris. After a mutilated body shows up, the Inspector of Strange and Unexplained deaths is called in for investigation. The story is straightforward, but it has different focus mediums - mystery, crime & politics. The Inspector, Volnay is more like a vintage FBI crime department officer like character whom I liked! The ending was a bit off, cos HE should have died, but again its fiction!! So cheers
Its pre-revolution King Louis XV’s 1700 Paris. After a mutilated body shows up, the Inspector of Strange and Unexplained deaths is called in for investigation. The story is straightforward, but it has different focus mediums - mystery, crime & politics. The Inspector, Volnay is more like a vintage FBI crime department officer like character whom I liked! The ending was a bit off, cos HE should have died, but again its fiction!! So cheers
amelie5m's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
avid_d's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25