Reviews

To Play the Fool by Laurie R. King

kryckett's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

seiivad's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

maferg01's review against another edition

5.0

At first I was a little apprehensive about whether or not I would like this one and my feelings turned out to be completely unfounded. I loved this book and especially the character Brother Erasmus. He made the story. I have pleasantly discovered that I like this series as much as the Mary Russell series. Overall a book I have recommended to another Laurie King reader.

kelbi's review against another edition

3.0

Good. Not brilliant but different. Her books always have good stories.

vireogirl's review against another edition

4.0

Brother Erasmus is a fascinating character. It must have been great fun coming up with quotes for him. This is worth reading just for the descriptions of his humanness, but I also enjoyed the character building of Kate (read this series in order!), and the complexities of getting to the bottom of the mystery. Theology also played an interesting part.

I’ve encountered Brother Erasmus elsewhere in Ms. King’s cannon, but I’m not sure where. Maybe one of her stand-alones.

pdxpiney's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

rockinghaims's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I love the way this series is ostensibly about solving murders but also gets quite tangential there in the middle. In the last book, I feel like I learned a lot about art, and now I feel like I've taken a short course in the Fools movement. I find that to be a really pleasurable experience. 

claudia_is_reading's review against another edition

3.0

Although I think this is better than the first, I still got quite bored by the end. Yes, the villains are complex and interesting, but there is no real mystery in these stories.

We got to know a bit more about Kate's life, and we (or at least I) were surprised with the fact that Kate's partner has become paraplegic. But... but... sorry, I got nothing.

I don't think this is a series for me. *shrugs*

erablaise's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

fictionista's review against another edition

3.0

I don't tend to enjoy supermarket murder mysteries, but several things endeared me to this one, almost immediately.

1. Tortured-soul, lesbian cop. Enough said.
2. Set in my Bay Area, so I could picture everything that happened.
3. Literary allusions sprinkled through the entire thing made me want to re-read, so I could savor what I didn't know before the case was tied up.
4. Historical religious movements centered around St. Francis of Assisi, and the idea of being ridiculous as divine.


That said, some things I didn't agree with, and seem to be required for supermarket mysteries:

1. Deus ex machinas
2. Red Herrings (I always picture that cartoon with the Scooby gang as kids and Fred's nemesis- RED HERRING! when I say that phrase...
3. The characters were loveable, if not a wee bit two-dimensional.


Over all, this was a quick read which I enjoyed walking home with.