Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 3
I've wanted to read this book since I met the author at Left Coast Crime in 2016. Murder in Thrall sounded like the perfect read for me, and the rave reviews I heard from other readers only increased my interest. I'm sure that you've all heard it said that no two people ever read the same book. That's because we each have our own life experiences we bring with us each and every time we open a book. Well, my life experiences were not well suited to this book. Not at all.
Murder in Thrall is told from Doyle's point of view, and she's an interesting blend of intelligence, intuition, and naïveté. This leaves DCI Michael Sinclair very much in the shadows... or at least I thought in the beginning that it did. In addition, the story isn't told in a linear fashion which may be confusing for some people. But I didn't get very far into the book at all before I realized that linear storytelling was the very least of my problems. Speaking of problems, I have one here: how to talk about what bothered me so much about this book without using spoilers. It's going to be extremely difficult.
For one thing, I am a reader who doesn't care to read romances. Murder in Thrall is 85% romance and 15% mystery. That percentage just does not work for me. The characters' libidos need to take a definite backseat to the mystery. That does not happen here.
Secondly, each chapter begins with what I thought was a glimpse into the killer's mind. It's a technique that's been used in several mysteries that I've read. However, those chapter headings were not from the mind of the killer, and when I realized the real speaker, I was profoundly shocked.
If you like a book that's more romance than mystery, Murder in Thrall will be your cup of tea. If heavy overtones of stalking don't bother you, I do think you will enjoy this book. Having been the victim of a stalker, I just cannot recommend this book. Sometime in the future, I will read the next book in this series; it's got so many passionate fans that I just have to give it one more try. I have to let this book dim in my memory first.
Murder in Thrall is told from Doyle's point of view, and she's an interesting blend of intelligence, intuition, and naïveté. This leaves DCI Michael Sinclair very much in the shadows... or at least I thought in the beginning that it did. In addition, the story isn't told in a linear fashion which may be confusing for some people. But I didn't get very far into the book at all before I realized that linear storytelling was the very least of my problems. Speaking of problems, I have one here: how to talk about what bothered me so much about this book without using spoilers. It's going to be extremely difficult.
For one thing, I am a reader who doesn't care to read romances. Murder in Thrall is 85% romance and 15% mystery. That percentage just does not work for me. The characters' libidos need to take a definite backseat to the mystery. That does not happen here.
Secondly, each chapter begins with what I thought was a glimpse into the killer's mind. It's a technique that's been used in several mysteries that I've read. However, those chapter headings were not from the mind of the killer, and when I realized the real speaker, I was profoundly shocked.
If you like a book that's more romance than mystery, Murder in Thrall will be your cup of tea. If heavy overtones of stalking don't bother you, I do think you will enjoy this book. Having been the victim of a stalker, I just cannot recommend this book. Sometime in the future, I will read the next book in this series; it's got so many passionate fans that I just have to give it one more try. I have to let this book dim in my memory first.
Helpful Score: 2
None of the books in this series seem to have a review here at this point, which is too bad. I am interested in other views about the book,as I was left with very mixed feelings. I'm sure that is reflected below. It's difficult to outline the problems without spoilers, but an ick factor may be present due to individual perceptions of strict Catholic behavior, women's rights, and stalkers.
This is both mystery and romance, although not at all standard for either genre, and both elements had their frustrations due to the way the story was constructed.
Parts of the book was written backwards, with information provided in the last few pages that other stories would include in the beginning. Too,the author chooses not to give information which would explain the reasons behind the actions and character of her leading man, making him creepier than your usual romantic lead. The female lead is a bit unsettling in the opposite direction. Both characters do stupid things which are later explained, but this leaves one still with that first impression.
The tale is skewed by being almost entirely from Doyle's point of view. The story telling is not linear and I had to go back after I was finished and read parts again--fortunately it was not a hardship as I got caught up in the story once more and read to the end.
The mystery itself is fairly well crafted, the main characters engaging if not totally believable, the supporting characters are great, and the anticipation for the next volume is wickedly intense by the last page. Yet it still left me off-balance, and other views will be read with interest.
This is both mystery and romance, although not at all standard for either genre, and both elements had their frustrations due to the way the story was constructed.
Parts of the book was written backwards, with information provided in the last few pages that other stories would include in the beginning. Too,the author chooses not to give information which would explain the reasons behind the actions and character of her leading man, making him creepier than your usual romantic lead. The female lead is a bit unsettling in the opposite direction. Both characters do stupid things which are later explained, but this leaves one still with that first impression.
The tale is skewed by being almost entirely from Doyle's point of view. The story telling is not linear and I had to go back after I was finished and read parts again--fortunately it was not a hardship as I got caught up in the story once more and read to the end.
The mystery itself is fairly well crafted, the main characters engaging if not totally believable, the supporting characters are great, and the anticipation for the next volume is wickedly intense by the last page. Yet it still left me off-balance, and other views will be read with interest.
