Cait
This was inspired by a true crime... Lord Lucan (Richard John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan) allegedly murdered the nanny before attacking his wife in 1974, then disappeared. He was never found and was declared dead in 1999 (but the death certificate wasn’t issued until 2016, allowing his son to inherit his titles). I think knowing this greatly improved my enjoyment of this novel.
I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. I also had access to the ebook; there are floor plans for the two lowest floors, as well as an elevation view. There are 6 levels: the basement and the ground floor is the crime scene, as well as the setting for the book, and 4 upper floors.
The author has created an interactive mystery with the reader playing the part of the detective investigating the 50-year-old case at first, but then is replaced by a character, and then the evidence is presented as a trial. I’m not sure where fact and fiction meet or transform, but I enjoyed this version of the story.
I’m afraid Louise Penny has ruined the audio version of the series with this new “narrator” who is no more than a reader! Alexa would not be much different, except for the proper French pronunciations. I am so disappointed to lose all the nuances of the characters, their voices are GONE! She (Louise) claims that he is an actor, but he must only be a physical one, because he exhibits no voice acting here. Horrible choice for this series :(
As far as the story? I enjoyed the previous arc about the monastery, so I was looking forward to the return to “Between the Wolves”. I enjoyed her earlier books highlighting different Quebecquois locations, and the history and culture of the area. Unfortunately, her later books are more political. I may read The Black Wolf, but otherwise, I am done with Louise Penny.
Because of the reader, I can not rate this higher than 2.5/3 stars.
My rating of 4 indicates I liked the book more than I actually did. The craftwork was excellent. TJR created a world-class tennis player, and her coach father, out of whole-cloth and covered her entire career. Amazing! There was too much tennis for me to actually enjoy it, though. But well done TJR! (I had to listen at 3x; I was determined to read this one! ;) The last 10 to 15% was better (for me) because there was more than just tennis.
I'm glad a lot of people liked this, because I didn't. She was very brave, exposing her abusive relationship with her toxic, narcissistic, controlling mother. I looked for her podcast, anyone know if it still exists? I feel sorry for her, growing up in that environment. It is horrible when a child isn't allowed to be a child, and becomes enmeshed in a parent's illness. She had no one to support her, to allow her to discover her own interests and strengths. As a book? No, sorry.
I loved this! Three women in Sadam Hussein's Iraq. Two are from the same remote, small tribe... one privileged, one not... they had been best friends, blood sisters, but became estranged. The third is an Australian diplomat's wife. They all come together in Baghdad... The author was also a diplomat's wife, in Baghdad, and lived there for many years, under Hussein's reign, and then during the war. She knew women like the two Iraqi women, although none of the characters are based on actual people. Look forward to reading this one again. (the audio version was great!)
I am disappointed. I liked Book #1, even with dead dad. I did not like the story in Book #2. But I had high hopes for Book #3. Unfortunately, there was 1) dead mom 2)needy younger sister 3)grown women acting like idiots... with “lists”, not communicating 4) too many “coincidences” to end up in random town. No, just no! I do not understand the ratings others are leaving, but this is not for me, not at all.
This was great! Read by the author, who also has a podcast (just signed up!), and the book grew out of the podcast. I learned so much! The audiobook includes a Q&A between the two authors, and an episode of the podcast. I also had the ebook, which includes diagrams and photos. I want a copy of the physical book.. this one is a keeper!
I guess this was inspired by the movie “Same Time, Next Year”, and had the audacity to even include it. I loved the movie, here is Roger Ebert's review if you are interested: https://www.imdb.com/videoplayer/vi2332932889 I did not like this book, at all. The characters were unlikable, made bad choices, did not grow. This was a “yuk” for me.
