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upbeatmetaphor's review against another edition
2.0
Carlotta Carlyle is a straight-talking no-swearing ex-cop by day and cab driver by night, and her world view can be summed up in the following made-up quote: "I used to be a cop, and it gives me an eye for detail that makes near-omnipotent narration in the first person so much easier."
Directly addressed as "you", whoever I am, it feels too much like me and Ms Carlyle have just met, and she's showing me around her shitty home and through her day, trying her best to impress on me that she's worth knowing and worth following. Unfortunately this approach fails to inspire any confidence in her abilities or intelligence, since her descriptions make it feel like she herself is opening her eyes and seeing everything and everyone for the first time, including her own face and a man with whom she's supposedly had an extensive love affair.
And the grand narrative conclusion? Her two cases unravel themselves pretty much without her help or intervention, and she makes up her mind over which of the remaining living male characters she'd rather fuck. Oh, it's the abusive arrogant one.
Nick
xx
Directly addressed as "you", whoever I am, it feels too much like me and Ms Carlyle have just met, and she's showing me around her shitty home and through her day, trying her best to impress on me that she's worth knowing and worth following. Unfortunately this approach fails to inspire any confidence in her abilities or intelligence, since her descriptions make it feel like she herself is opening her eyes and seeing everything and everyone for the first time, including her own face and a man with whom she's supposedly had an extensive love affair.
And the grand narrative conclusion? Her two cases unravel themselves pretty much without her help or intervention, and she makes up her mind over which of the remaining living male characters she'd rather fuck. Oh, it's the abusive arrogant one.
Nick
xx
bowienerd_82's review
3.0
Mostly I enjoy Linda Barnes for two reasons:
1) She sets her books in Boston/Cambridge, and knows the city well. It's fun to read a mystery set in your town.
2) Carlotta Carlyle is a likable, no-nonsense, female hardboiled detective. They can be hard to find.
Other than that, her books are pretty average.
1) She sets her books in Boston/Cambridge, and knows the city well. It's fun to read a mystery set in your town.
2) Carlotta Carlyle is a likable, no-nonsense, female hardboiled detective. They can be hard to find.
Other than that, her books are pretty average.
psalmcat's review
4.0
The second Carlotta Carlyle book, in which Mooney is searching for a woman with this tattoo in order to prop up his alibi about his involvement in a bar fight. The rest of the plot is about a missing teenager from an exclusive private school. I'd read this--or at least I remember the latter plotline--so I know what was going to happen there. Still, a good book.
June 1, 2001
June 1, 2001
wild_night_in's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
julieb's review
5.0
"I fully intended to until I saw that sign. Once inside a high school, hospital, jail—anyplace they keep you prisoner—I turn ornery. I do whatever they tell you not to do. I’m a truant at heart."
~ Linda Barnes, The Snake Tattoo
I'd forgotten how much I love Carlotta Carlyle and I'm frankly shocked (shocked!) that I haven't read all of these already. I distinctly remember looking for the next one.
As good as the best of the genre, Carlotta makes me (almost) tolerate Boston, even. I'm thrilled to have found her again.
~ Linda Barnes, The Snake Tattoo
I'd forgotten how much I love Carlotta Carlyle and I'm frankly shocked (shocked!) that I haven't read all of these already. I distinctly remember looking for the next one.
As good as the best of the genre, Carlotta makes me (almost) tolerate Boston, even. I'm thrilled to have found her again.
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