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hippybrarian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
aliceyy's review against another edition
3.0
This book gave me a different feel from some of the other ones [a:Sophie Hannah|232473|Sophie Hannah|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1384943094p2/232473.jpg] has written. I expected another I guess 'unique mystery that seems ridiculous at first but then all makes sense'. If you've read [b:Little Face|410412|Little Face (Spilling CID, #1)|Sophie Hannah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1283969936s/410412.jpg|1738012] or [b:The Other Half Lives|5711912|The Other Half Lives (Spilling CID, #4)|Sophie Hannah|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332611830s/5711912.jpg|5883523] or something along those lines then that's what I'm talking about. Some really ridiculous scenario - e.g. boyfriend insists that he has killed this woman but then girlfriend knows that this woman supposedly killed is very much alive. Then twists and whatever.
BUT.
This book is quite the standard mystery case. Someone is killed and the police investigate this case, along with a side telling of the background of these women, since they were put in jail for murdering their children, so they're special victims.
It didn't actually take me too long to get into it, around 60 pages? But in the middle I was feeling the inevitable disappointment that it was going to go downhill, and it did, unfortunately. The suspense that was built up just evaporated into nothingness. Sigh. I was really interested in knowing whether Helen Yardley was actually guilty or not, but no one tells me in the end and that really left me frustrated.
The story seemed to be somewhat deviated from the main case which bothered me a little, but was entertaining too. Fliss Benson is such an odd woman, but I could kinda relate to her haha. I actually laughed out loud at some of her thought processing, which I didn't expect from a crime novel.
BUT.
This book is quite the standard mystery case. Someone is killed and the police investigate this case, along with a side telling of the background of these women, since they were put in jail for murdering their children, so they're special victims.
It didn't actually take me too long to get into it, around 60 pages? But in the middle I was feeling the inevitable disappointment that it was going to go downhill, and it did, unfortunately. The suspense that was built up just evaporated into nothingness. Sigh. I was really interested in knowing whether Helen Yardley was actually guilty or not, but no one tells me in the end and that really left me frustrated.
The story seemed to be somewhat deviated from the main case which bothered me a little, but was entertaining too. Fliss Benson is such an odd woman, but I could kinda relate to her haha. I actually laughed out loud at some of her thought processing, which I didn't expect from a crime novel.
wjrrjw8's review against another edition
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
3.0
rose421's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
susieshanly's review
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? Yes
3.0
cinnamon82's review
4.0
TV producer Fliss Benson is involved in a documentary about miscarriages of justice involving cot-death mothers wrongly(?) accused of murder. And then one of the mothers get murdered. A numbered card found on her body matches the ones that Fliss keeps getting in the mail..
I got quite absorbed in this book because of its interesting premise and the fact that it explores both sides of the case: the culpability of the mothers and the expert witness testifying against them.
I found the protagonist very annoying, but while she’s not exactly likeable, she’s very believable. Other things I didn’t like: repetition, meh characters, epiphanic moments for detectives, and an annoyingly ambiguous ending.
Anyway, I’m a sucker for a good whodunnit and wouldn’t mind reading more of Sophie Hannah. Recommendations welcome!
I got quite absorbed in this book because of its interesting premise and the fact that it explores both sides of the case: the culpability of the mothers and the expert witness testifying against them.
I found the protagonist very annoying, but while she’s not exactly likeable, she’s very believable. Other things I didn’t like: repetition, meh characters, epiphanic moments for detectives, and an annoyingly ambiguous ending.
Anyway, I’m a sucker for a good whodunnit and wouldn’t mind reading more of Sophie Hannah. Recommendations welcome!
tillymint100's review
2.0
I usually really like Sophie Hannah's books but this one felt different somehow, a different style of writing.
I didn't not enjoy it but I have to say I didn't think it was on a par with her other crime novels.
I didn't not enjoy it but I have to say I didn't think it was on a par with her other crime novels.