ajnel's reviews
657 reviews

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

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

4.0

 The novel starts with Susan Ryeland, being asked to investigate the disappearance of Cecily Treherne, daughter of the owners of the luxurious  Branlow Hall. Cecily's disappearance is linked to a past murder at the same hotel. Eight years ago, a guest, Frank Parris, was found bludgeoned to death. A hotel employee, Stefan Codrescu, was quickly apprehended and confessed to the crime. Cecily, before disappearing tells her parents she believes the key to the real murderer lies within a famous mystery novel, "Atticus Pünd Takes the Case," written by Alan Conway. Intrigued, Susan delves deeper and starts to suspect inconsistencies in the real-life case.  She decides to investigate the past murder to shed light on Cecily's disappearance. "Atticus Pünd Takes the Case" is then read as an embedded narrative, to provide clues to the past murder.  The novel thus follows the same structure as it's predecessor "Magpie Murders".  This is forgivable as it is a really fun way to present a whodunnit.  What is a bit cheesy, is the fact that both mysteries have as their respective dénouements, summoning gatherings.  Still a very well-written and hard to figure out whodunnit.
Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The novel picks up in Switzerland, days after Moriarty and Holmes fell down the Reichenbach Falls and were both presumed dead. Pinkerton detective Frederick Chase and Scotland Yard's Inspector Athelney Jones, having met each other at Reichenbach, join forces to confront a new criminal mastermind who emerges to fill the void left by Moriarty's demise. As they chase down this successor, they uncover a web of intrigue that threatens the safety of London. Horowitz's ode to Moriarty is cleverly written, as he does not try to copy Doyle by using Dr Watson as the orator, but Chase. The style however feels familiar and Horowitz 's talent for writing very descriptive era literature truly shines through. Though the plot is a tad obvious, the homage to Holmes' deductive reasoning (albeit through the person of Jones) proves utterly enjoyable. 
Broiler by Eli Cranor

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

4.0

Gabriela Menchaca and Edwin Saucedo, are offspring of undocumented immigrants who work at the brutal Detmer Foods chicken processing plant. Mimi and Luke Jackson, are seemingly well-off, with Luke being the plant manager at the very same plant. Their worlds collide when Luke fires Edwin and Edwin kidnaps Mini and Luke's baby.
This Southern Noir novel explores the harsh realities of low-wage labour and the desperation which drives people to commit crimes. Cranor has in his previous two novels distinguished himself as a master of gritty Southern crime writing.  Broiler is no exception, but the heavy focus on Mimi and Gabi sometimes slows the story to an almost stop.  The ending is also a bit too Disney to fit into the rest of the story.  Beautifully and richly written with a True Crime atmosphere, but for this small shortcoming.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The story follows Susan Ryeland, a book editor, who receives the unfinished manuscript of a new novel by her best-selling author, Alan Conway. The embedded narrative, titled Magpie Murders, features Conway's signature detective, Atticus Pünd, investigating a death and a murder in a quaint English village. As Susan delves into the manuscript, she becomes engrossed in the captivating whodunit. However, her excitement is interrupted when she learns of Conway's self-proclaimed suicide. Determined to see the novel published, Susan sets out to uncover the missing chapters and solve the real-life mystery surrounding Conway's demise.
Horowitz masterfully blends a golden age murder mystery with a modern-day setting, creating a suspenseful and very clever read in which the external story more and more starts to mirror the embedded narrative.
The Institution by Helen Sarah Fields

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

4.0

Dr. Connie Woolwine, is a forensic profiler known for her ability to get inside the minds of criminals. In this story, she goes undercover in a high-security prison hospital for the criminally insane to investigate a murder and a kidnapping. Very quickly Connie realises that all is not as it seems in the Institution and that those in power might be the ones whom she should be investigating.  A fast moving claustrophobic psychological thriller where the reveal is as unpredictable as every other twist and turn. 

A Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

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

5.0

"A Noise Downstairs", follows Paul Davis, a college professor whose world is turned upside down after witnessing a shocking crime committed by a colleague, which colleague also  voraciously struck him with a spade to the head. As he recovers from the trauma, strange occurrences plague him, including the unsettling sounds of a vintage typewriter typing on its own. With his sanity questioned and a mysterious connection to the typewriter emerging, Paul delves into a nightmarish investigation that blurs the lines between reality and paranoia. An excellent psychological thriller with a very well hidden whodunnit.  Barclay really knows how to mess with your mind. 
Man of Bones: From the author of The Times 'Thriller of the Year' by Ben Creed

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

In the third novel in the series, set in Leningrad in 1953, Senior Militia detective Revol Rossel attends a hit and run where a man and woman were killed.  Shortly thereafter a Cornel from the MGB arrives and instructs the Melitia record the hit and run as an accident, but Rossel soon learns it was no accident and that the deceased holds a huge secret. An extremely well written and detailed historical murder mystery.  Beautifully and brutally descriptive.
Dead Like You by Peter James

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Recently married DS Roy Grace is finally ready to move on from the disappearance of his wife and start a new family in a new house. However, his plans are disrupted when a series of brutal attacks begin resembling a cold case from years ago - the unsolved "Shoe Man" attacks. As more women are assaulted, Grace is forced to confront the past and delves back into the original investigation. The key to catching the current perpetrator might lie in what happened all those years ago. Playing out in two eras, James times the incidents like a time-hpping dance, whilst retaining a eerie atmosphere throughout which carries both the suspense and tempo of the novel.  The whodunnit is also well developed with an unexpected unfold. 
This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Will surprises Sara with a secluded mountain honeymoon at the luxurious McAlpine Lodge. However, their romantic getaway takes a dark turn when a violent murder of one of the McAlpines shatters the tranquility. Stranded by a storm and with a cast of suspicious guests and even more suspicious hosts Will and Sara, must navigate a web of secrets and lies to find the killer before another victim dies.  A very dark and disturbing whodunnit, featuring Karen Slaughter's signature visceral style loaded with unexpected twists and turns.  
The Last Lie by Alex Lake

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Claire has a wealthy loving dad and a romantic husband who only has eyes for her.  Her perfect life led her to obsess about the one missing bit, i.e., having a baby, something which has so far proved impossible.  But suddenly Claire learns a fact about her husband which sends her off the edge.  A fast moving psychological whodunnit with some truly unique twists and turns.