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octa's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
blevins's review
2.0
Lovely titled mystery co-written by husband & wife that is slim and quick to read. Unfortunately, I didn't find it all that engaging and it kind of resembled a PBS styled mystery playhouse drama or a fancy-pantsed version of the game of Clue. I always hated that game growing up!
lizikiraly's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
Where There's Love, There's Hate by Adolfo Bioy Casares and Silvina Ocampo, literary luminaries from Argentina (and, incidentally, husband and wife), was first published in 1946. It was translated into English for the first time in 2013. Casares and Ocampo managed to produce an interesting mystery in the "British country house" style that is a clever murder mystery, a witty parody of those same Golden Age novels, and a highly literary piece of fiction all rolled into one. Suzanne Jill Levine and Jessica Ernst Powell have done an excellent job of translation with just a few minor passages having a slightly off-kilter feel.
Dr. Humberto Huberman, physician, writer, and inveterate busybody, has gone to the Hotel Central at seaside Bosque de Mar for a literary vacation. He is in search of a quiet place to work on his adaptation of Petronius. But instead of peace and quiet, he finds himself in the middle of murder. A pretty, young translator named Mary is found dead on the very first night of his stay--apparently poisoned. There had been ripples of jealousy between Mary and her sister Emilia over Emilia's fiance. There is also the matter of Mary's missing jewels. Although the police are immediately on the scene, Huberman takes it upon himself to investigate and give the officials pointers when he thinks it needed.
The police are quite sure that Emilia is the guilty party--even when notations in her sister's hand are found that make it seem that Mary has committed suicide. Then the owner's young son goes missing as well as Emilia's fiance (who winds up being a top-level Inspector). Is anyone who they seem to be? And what really happened to Mary and her jewels?
This short piece is a fine little self-aware novel. It makes no bones about being aware that it is a mystery story about mystery stories. We have the police inspector who apparently takes the amateur into his confidence and who, apparently, is taking in all of Huberman's suggestions....but then goes on to ignore them. We have Huberman who finally comes round to the official view of the mystery...only to find they are all proved wrong. It is a very interesting look at the makings of a mystery story. Not terribly complex and good reading detectives will know who the culprit is. But I don't think this detracts from the fun. Four stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Dr. Humberto Huberman, physician, writer, and inveterate busybody, has gone to the Hotel Central at seaside Bosque de Mar for a literary vacation. He is in search of a quiet place to work on his adaptation of Petronius. But instead of peace and quiet, he finds himself in the middle of murder. A pretty, young translator named Mary is found dead on the very first night of his stay--apparently poisoned. There had been ripples of jealousy between Mary and her sister Emilia over Emilia's fiance. There is also the matter of Mary's missing jewels. Although the police are immediately on the scene, Huberman takes it upon himself to investigate and give the officials pointers when he thinks it needed.
The police are quite sure that Emilia is the guilty party--even when notations in her sister's hand are found that make it seem that Mary has committed suicide. Then the owner's young son goes missing as well as Emilia's fiance (who winds up being a top-level Inspector). Is anyone who they seem to be? And what really happened to Mary and her jewels?
This short piece is a fine little self-aware novel. It makes no bones about being aware that it is a mystery story about mystery stories. We have the police inspector who apparently takes the amateur into his confidence and who, apparently, is taking in all of Huberman's suggestions....but then goes on to ignore them. We have Huberman who finally comes round to the official view of the mystery...only to find they are all proved wrong. It is a very interesting look at the makings of a mystery story. Not terribly complex and good reading detectives will know who the culprit is. But I don't think this detracts from the fun. Four stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
myyearofreadingandrelaxation's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
neven's review against another edition
3.0
It’s got some funny bones, but the rest of the skeleton isn’t strong enough to holds itself upright.
cristi_ivan's review
2.0
Compared to other works from Casares, this one is too simplistic and rather mundane.
Co-written by the married couple Adolfo-Bioy Casares and Silvina Ocampo, Where There’s Love, There’s Hate is a crime story, I didn’t find that different from Agatha Christie’s works. An isolated location, a group of people that don’t know each other, dark secrets and a body, of course, lead to a detective story in the veins of Hercule Poirot.
The location of the novel reminded me a lot of Kobo Abe’s The Woman in the Dunes, the action happening in a summer resort, where the ever-blowing sand threatens to cover everything and to blunt people’s minds. At least, that is the only difference this novel brings – a parody of the genre. Most of the investigation is done based on assumptions and gut feelings, and after so many twists, the mystery solves itself through a letter. ** stars
Co-written by the married couple Adolfo-Bioy Casares and Silvina Ocampo, Where There’s Love, There’s Hate is a crime story, I didn’t find that different from Agatha Christie’s works. An isolated location, a group of people that don’t know each other, dark secrets and a body, of course, lead to a detective story in the veins of Hercule Poirot.
The location of the novel reminded me a lot of Kobo Abe’s The Woman in the Dunes, the action happening in a summer resort, where the ever-blowing sand threatens to cover everything and to blunt people’s minds. At least, that is the only difference this novel brings – a parody of the genre. Most of the investigation is done based on assumptions and gut feelings, and after so many twists, the mystery solves itself through a letter. ** stars
haunted_klaus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
omnibozo22's review against another edition
3.0
Mildly amusing murder mystery, written as a spoof on the genre. The most interesting parts were the literary touches, such as the name of the mystery boat, the Joseph K, and the regular reference to the Satyricon... which, ironically, I just finished reading.
chyde's review against another edition
2.0
It started off well and ended poorly. It kept my attention though and I found it amusing. It also had an interesting mood/tone that I enjoyed, I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I'd give it 2.5 stars if I could.