3 posts tagged “mystery”
I picked up the curious incident of the dog in the night-time based on a recommendation. The idea of a book told from the point of view of an autistic teenager seemed unusual.
What I didn't expect was such a fast-paced emotional read. I finished this book in less than a week, which is unusual for me these days. At first I was drawn to the story of this boy who is trying to figure out who murdered the neighbor's dog. And I loved the quirkiness - he decides whether he's going to have a good or bad day based on how many red and yellow cars he sees on the way to school - after all, it's no less arbitrary than someone deciding based on the weather (if that person spends the day inside).
But this book is much more than a mystery. Although we do learn "whodunit", we also go on an emotional roller coaster, as Christopher learns the truth about his family and explores outside his comfort zone.
What I didn't expect was such a fast-paced emotional read. I finished this book in less than a week, which is unusual for me these days. At first I was drawn to the story of this boy who is trying to figure out who murdered the neighbor's dog. And I loved the quirkiness - he decides whether he's going to have a good or bad day based on how many red and yellow cars he sees on the way to school - after all, it's no less arbitrary than someone deciding based on the weather (if that person spends the day inside).
But this book is much more than a mystery. Although we do learn "whodunit", we also go on an emotional roller coaster, as Christopher learns the truth about his family and explores outside his comfort zone.
Bruce Alexander's Murder in Grub Street appealed to my love of historical mysteries. The historical details were intriguing: London in the 1700s (prior to my more familar readings in Victorian London, but involving some of the places featured in Anne Perry's Thomas Pitt mysteries), Samel Johnson, Hassidic Jews, and a blind magistrate playing detective who is none other than the brother of Henry Fielding.
The historical facts and the mystery itself were satisfactory. The story, however, felt lacking, as there seemed so much missed opportunity to provide emotional depth to the characters.
It was worth reading once, but it's sitting in my donation pile, as I don't want to read it again.
The historical facts and the mystery itself were satisfactory. The story, however, felt lacking, as there seemed so much missed opportunity to provide emotional depth to the characters.
It was worth reading once, but it's sitting in my donation pile, as I don't want to read it again.
If you haven't yet read The Number One Ladies Detective Agency, start with that first book in the series. It's funny and poignant, an unusual diversion from typical mysteries.
Tears of the Giraffe is a light-hearted mystery, but without some of the depth of the first. I felt like it took too long to start the mysteries in this book, but I enjoyed reading about the children and look forward to finding out what happens to them in future books.
Tears of the Giraffe is a light-hearted mystery, but without some of the depth of the first. I felt like it took too long to start the mysteries in this book, but I enjoyed reading about the children and look forward to finding out what happens to them in future books.
