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lakecake's review
3.0
I'm a big fan of the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs, and I felt like Gideon Oliver was really the pre-cursor to "Bones" so I was excited to read this! It's also one of my dad's favorite series, so double excitement. I enjoyed the story, but I felt like it started too quickly--I spent most of the book feeling like I missed something. I think it was just an attempt to make the excitement begin on page one, and it certainly did, but without a little bit more lead-up, I felt sort of lost and never was able to shake that feeling. I'm looking forward to reading another--now that I've got a better idea about Gideon the character, some of that introductory stuff will be out of the way and we can really just zip right into it.
bespectacled's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
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
2.75
menfrommarrs's review
3.0
I am fond of Gideon Oliver, "The Skeleton Detective". However, I have read the series books out of order, based on which one I discovered at a used book sale.
This one is the first in the series and is not my favorite. I guess the first one has to introduce you to the character, but I found the plot convoluted and not really using Oliver's talents to solve the mystery...more to prove to you that he is talented.
The later novels in which he studies old bones and comes up with a wealth of information about them and therefore helps solve a mystery are a lot of fun. Even better if you have an interest in anthropology.
This one is the first in the series and is not my favorite. I guess the first one has to introduce you to the character, but I found the plot convoluted and not really using Oliver's talents to solve the mystery...more to prove to you that he is talented.
The later novels in which he studies old bones and comes up with a wealth of information about them and therefore helps solve a mystery are a lot of fun. Even better if you have an interest in anthropology.
rowansime's review
1.0
The main character was engaging and interesting for about 50% of the book, despite his wife being 'fridged' (killed for his character development) before the book even started. Kind of reminded me of Bones - not great at social stuff, but deeply interested in his anthropological work.
Then about 50% of the way through the book, the woman he was interested in revealed herself to be a feminist and to be writing a dissertation on sexism, which made him laugh out loud at the absurdity and mentally rant and rave about how boring and frustrating feminists are. Oh, but she was still good enough to sleep with, after he lied his way out of having to admit to his gross misogynistic thoughts.
So, I got to there, tried to continue, but genuinely couldn't because of what an ass the main character ended up looking like. If the author had omitted that section, the book I'm sure would have ended up being at least marginally entertaining, despite the wife situation. However, it tainted it so completely that I was unable to finish it.
Then about 50% of the way through the book, the woman he was interested in revealed herself to be a feminist and to be writing a dissertation on sexism, which made him laugh out loud at the absurdity and mentally rant and rave about how boring and frustrating feminists are. Oh, but she was still good enough to sleep with, after he lied his way out of having to admit to his gross misogynistic thoughts.
So, I got to there, tried to continue, but genuinely couldn't because of what an ass the main character ended up looking like. If the author had omitted that section, the book I'm sure would have ended up being at least marginally entertaining, despite the wife situation. However, it tainted it so completely that I was unable to finish it.
majkia's review
4.0
Back in the Cold War, a visiting professor gets caught up in the paranoia and craziness of Russian spies trying to get secrets from US bases in Europe.
Brought back lots of memories of my own about that sort of thing, not all of them pleasant.
The mystery was okay, but I liked the main character a lot.
Brought back lots of memories of my own about that sort of thing, not all of them pleasant.
The mystery was okay, but I liked the main character a lot.
tksimmons02's review
3.0
Hmmmm
Obviously written in the ‘70’s. Sexism and casual racism abounds. It does have an interesting main character and good story line. It certain,y need updating though.
Obviously written in the ‘70’s. Sexism and casual racism abounds. It does have an interesting main character and good story line. It certain,y need updating though.
ercamcll's review
The set up at the beginning, with the detective clearly not believing the main character despite us knowing the truth rubbed me the wrong way in this book. I usually don't mind it as a plot device but it turned me off here.