Susan C

Genius on so many levels

Revisado: 03-18-25

Clever plotting, unconventional, likable characters, all set set against the backdrop of Scottish nationalism and its fierce history

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Compelling, likable characters

Revisado: 02-05-25

This was my first V Dodds book and I was pleasantly surprised: Great pacing and plotting, great dialogue and most importantly many complex, believable characters.

A couple of small things that bothered me: 1) The title, which seems totally unrelated to any of the themes; and 2) the ending, which is embarrassingly abrupt and embarrassingly cliche.

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Disappointing

Revisado: 01-25-25

Overwritten. Drags and drags and drags. Not the best of the DCI Logan books, for sure

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Better than ever

Revisado: 12-06-24

It’s not easy for an author to maintain a level of excellence, but Ian Rankin finds a way. His go-to characters— Siobhan, Fox, Darryl Christie and the aging Rebus— all grow in compelling, believable ways as new storylines unfold. New characters are introduced organically and effectively.

Life at Saughton Prison, HMP Edinburgh, is described in hauntingly poignant ways, showing the tedium and threats that inmates and guards face daily. The suspense is often palpable. In his acknowledgments Rankin and press interviews briefly describes the research he did, including visits to the prison and conversations with insiders. That research is not wasted on this intelligent, understated and very disciplined author, whose every word is carefully planned, to our benefit.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Good but predictable

Revisado: 11-05-24

The characters—both British and Russian—were pretty predictable although the dialog was solid. I figured out the ending less than halfway through

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Perfect in every sense

Revisado: 09-09-24

As advertised—an amazingly well plotted and executed story of guilt and redemption, set in the aftermath of the Troubles

An incredibly gratifying read/listen

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Unexpected plot twists

Revisado: 08-20-24

This audio book was surprisingly good, in so many ways. The voices were excellent across the board,

Dialogues and monologues were pitch perfect, from teenagers to the mature characters. For example, 15-year-old Grace— her half child half grown-up persona and language seemed very real. Nuanced, and believably distinct from the language of the young college students.

I ached for all the characters, well, for most of them. No spoilers in this review! :)

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Ingenious plot

Revisado: 08-10-24

This time capsule is not only a great portrait of an era; it is witty and probes the psychological twists and of unpredictable characters.

The lengthy histories of poisoners are perhaps a bit overdone but it was fun to hear the “gentlemen” discuss criminals in times past:. A retro glimpse of criminal profiling!

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Humorous and still exciting

Revisado: 07-05-24

This is the first episode and it takes a while to gain narrative steam. But midway through it fulfills its promise

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Complex characters

Revisado: 04-08-24

In-depth probes of the many, diverse characters added psychological interest, and the story line was suspenseful, if dark. Great dialogue throughout! But as a whole the narrative voice lacked cohesion and descriptions were overwritten in places, diminishing the impact.

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