Scan barcode
alex06's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readingthroughthelists's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is another Miss Marple mystery I apparently read back in high school, and then forgot I had read until the murderer’s name was mentioned. Then I remembered everything.
Perhaps because of this, I found this entry to be extremely underwhelming (especially compared to A Murder is Announced, which I thought was excellent). Maybe this mystery really is clever, but once I remembered whodunnit, I found the set-up very obvious and the pace dragged. I think Jerry and Nash might actually have solved this one, if they weren’t sexist and also idiots.
I don’t even mind that Miss Marple hardly makes an appearance, though it does make Jerry feel pretty useless, since he’s 75% of the way to solving the case but then just gives up at the end and lets Miss Marple do everything for him. I guess we can’t blame him, though--he was awfully busy courting a child.
Ok, not actually a child (she’s 20), but since Megan is mentally and emotionally about 16, and since her childlike nature is so constantly reiterated, Jerry’s sudden romantic interest in her feels reeeeal weird and predatory. Pro-tip: don’t refer to the girl you’re planning to marry as “my child,” you freak!
I liked the Owen and Joanna romance, and would have liked to see more of it, but honestly after the whole Jerry-Megan debacle and the limpid plot, I would just like to see less of this book in general.
Perhaps because of this, I found this entry to be extremely underwhelming (especially compared to A Murder is Announced, which I thought was excellent). Maybe this mystery really is clever, but once I remembered whodunnit, I found the set-up very obvious and the pace dragged. I think Jerry and Nash might actually have solved this one, if they weren’t sexist and also idiots.
I don’t even mind that Miss Marple hardly makes an appearance, though it does make Jerry feel pretty useless, since he’s 75% of the way to solving the case but then just gives up at the end and lets Miss Marple do everything for him. I guess we can’t blame him, though--he was awfully busy courting a child.
I liked the Owen and Joanna romance, and would have liked to see more of it, but honestly after the whole Jerry-Megan debacle and the limpid plot,
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
jmrprice's review against another edition
3.0
Roadtrip audiobook.
Joan Hickson's accent/speech patterns (lisp?, slurring) were interesting at first, but also became annoying- more so for some characters than others.
This one felt much more roundabout and puzzling (was that tidbit important or just another inconsequential red herring?), and even more so as Miss Marple plays such a minor role in the mystery (though, yes, she pegs the perpetrator).
Joan Hickson's accent/speech patterns (lisp?, slurring) were interesting at first, but also became annoying- more so for some characters than others.
This one felt much more roundabout and puzzling (was that tidbit important or just another inconsequential red herring?), and even more so as Miss Marple plays such a minor role in the mystery (though, yes, she pegs the perpetrator).
gillianc695a's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.25
nmussarrat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
strapmatey's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
thenovelbook's review against another edition
4.0
Intriguing read. With a really odd engagement towards the end of the story.
dnandrews797's review against another edition
3.0
Just when I think I know who the culprit is, I’m bamboozled again. It’s nice Megan and Joanna got happy endings, which I wasn’t quite expecting. However, for a ‘miss Marple mystery’ there certainly was precious little of her in this book. The main character was at least entertaining though and it was a fun read overall.
amber_bookworm's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A decent Christie novel with a sprinkling of Marple at the end. This is very firmly in the past with views on sexes and marriage so must be read with a pinch of salt!
deb985's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0