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batsareamazing's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.25
odrib's review
challenging
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs
bookishbunian's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.5
Think of the messiest person you know, it's a man isn't it? Some psychopathic shit is happening here, it was well written though.
njw13's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.5
perihelions's review
4.0
i wish i didn't spoil the ending for myself before but,, yeah chekhovs a bit of a genius
laurenleigh's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lgcullens's review
4.0
This book was part of my immersion in Chekhov's writing, which I elaborated on in my review of the Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Anton Chekhov ebook.
This was his longest work that tells the story of a retailer's daughter in a provincial Russian village who is stabbed to death in the woods during a hunting party, and the efforts to uncover her killer.
It's not what is considered a 'great' novel, nor even a great mystery story, though some have proclaimed it a landmark in the history of the crime story. Its uniqueness lies in its innovative structure which has prefigured numerous stories since, and, of course, in Chekhov's ability to bring any simple premise to engrossing, realistic life. A story that's recalled even as the gray matter shrinks in old age :-) [Somehow this book came to mind as I was pondering why I got up and headed for another room.]
This was his longest work that tells the story of a retailer's daughter in a provincial Russian village who is stabbed to death in the woods during a hunting party, and the efforts to uncover her killer.
It's not what is considered a 'great' novel, nor even a great mystery story, though some have proclaimed it a landmark in the history of the crime story. Its uniqueness lies in its innovative structure which has prefigured numerous stories since, and, of course, in Chekhov's ability to bring any simple premise to engrossing, realistic life. A story that's recalled even as the gray matter shrinks in old age :-) [Somehow this book came to mind as I was pondering why I got up and headed for another room.]
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