Reviews

The Haunted Season by G.M. Malliet

naluju's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Love this cozy mystery about a small English village, it’s’ ex-MI5 priest and his New age practioner wife.

kraley's review against another edition

2.0

This was a strange book. The pacing was really off for me. It took FOREVER for the murder to occur, then we had far too many conversations about nothing and then he solved the murder. What? I must have missed something. Nope. It was strange because unlike so many mysteries, you had no chance of figuring it out because the author gives you a tempting conversation and then before you know it, he just flat out tells you. So strange. I liked the characters, but the first six chapters were so painfully slow, I am not sure I could endure a other book.

littletaiko's review against another edition

2.0

This is the latest in the Father Max series and the first third was enjoyable. The usual issues with the village, the murder that Max is trying to help solve, etc...Well the last 80 pages or so just went completely off the rails. Seriously, they got people to confess using a headless horseman fake out? The reveal was all done by having Max and the DI telling Awena what happened. And then the totally random chaos of the killer of Max's partner from MI5 days showing up and trying to kill Awena and looking for a miracle cure which had absolutely nothing to do with the murder? What the hell was that about?

Okay rant over. Not sure if I'll read another in this series or not, though the very last sentence did have me intrigued as to what the next steps for the characters would be.

edhyndman's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

canadianbookworm's review

lighthearted mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-haunted-season.html

gray5217's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition

Read like a man was writing it and focusing on nipples a lot? Kinda odd vibes. 

lorimichelekelley's review against another edition

3.0

Audible version: I like this series for the very reasons those who rate it lower give. I can totally suspend and really just laugh at how perfect the people and the place are, while murder just keeps happening. Three days after the beheading of their father, the two kids were playing around at the community party. As if. But it works for me. Also, the way it just sums everything up at the end, I love that! It fills me in on everything I would have missed anyway. But I get that complaint. It seems more like a pitch for a book rather than a good way to write one. But again, it works for me. And these books aren’t supposed to be realistic. If they were, good god, how depressing they would be! As it is, they’re kind of fun and a great way to pass the time while doing other stupid stuff like chores.

judyward's review against another edition

3.0

Max Tudor, former M15 agent turned Anglican priest, has been involved with his share of murder investigations since being assigned as the parish priest in the English village of Nether Monkslip. While walking his dog in the woods near the rectory, Max discovers the severed head of Lord Bayer Baaden-Boomthistle. That's the bad news. The good news is that suspects abound.

henrismum's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
#5 in series  (I started reading this series in May 2022 and I have been committed to this series since December 2022.)
Comparison to others in series:     Not as good           About the same           Better  This installment tied up a few loose ends.

The man who killed Max's partner was caught. The kidnapped baby from the last book was found. While the stain on the wall has not been explained, it is now a source of "miracle and wonder".

The narrator was Michael Page. A wonderful edition to his already stellar readings of Max Tudor.
Source: Brooklyn Public Library

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder