Helen L.

What a treat!

Revisado: 04-14-25

Picked this book because of rave review in Sunday NYT and glad I did! Intricate plot, strange and slightly spooky, but all very apt. Especially nice wordplay and grammar jokes, always a treat. Yes, there was a crooked man. We knew it all along. We just didn’t know what or who it was. Worth knowing.

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A terrific listen. And a good dose of history, too. Nicely done.

Revisado: 03-25-25

This is the best of the series for me so far. But I’m not listening in order. It’s not deep or terrifying, which is good, but it is entertaining, also very good. The dialogue is often repetitive, as when Daniel explains things over and over to Abigail, but it’s useful, too. The situations are certainly implausible to those of us who have actually worked in museums and certainly to others, but so what? I am wondering how Abigail got the unconscious driver back into the cab herself, but her superhuman powers are unlimited, of course.

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Wonderful romp with Vish Puri in London

Revisado: 03-09-25

I thoroughly enjoyed this new adventure with the Indian sleuth. I do wonder at the time compression, however. Too much happened in too little time. Every day had too many possible events. And without giving anything away, I’m still puzzled that on her escape from Delhi, the beautiful woman with all the suitcases bothered to take so many buses when none were needed at all! I suppose we are to assume that she knew she was being followed? And why were all those spices left behind? Those and other clues were fun, if contrived. And the food is amazing. As is Mama-ji, a delightful sleuth, herself. When she moves into a retirement community, if such exists in India, she can spin off to lead investigations of her own, aided by her illustrious and ever hungry son.

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Fascinating at many levels!

Revisado: 03-04-25

I liked the whole setting and its premise. I liked the author’s attempt to imagine the clash between the bureaucratic and the avant garde of any era. Oddly, she seems to grant that traditional art is something the civil servant might comprehend or manage while the modern is not. One must remember that this was written just after WWII. Our notions of what art is and its role in society have expanded vastly…at least until recent months (2025). It is timely to read a book that questions whether a bureaucracy can manage, showcase, or process information if that bureaucracy is unaware of the significance or meaning of that information? Carnac was herself an artist. We know nothing of her work, though. She discusses modernism very simplistically, her plot is rather contrived, depending greatly on amazing intuition, and the time frame is totally improbable, but for reasons apart from all of that, it’s a great book.

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Intricate, gory, and creepy

Revisado: 02-20-25

I expected something quite different so I guess I’m surprised that I stuck with this to the unpleasant finale. I suppose the author did tie up the various plot threads but it was all discomforting. Gruesome revenge killings to atone for gruesome crimes and more killings is not exactly entertainment to me. A semi-clueless reporter wanders into a horrible crime ring and doesn’t really help solve anything but stays alive to tell the tale about switched identities and various perverse acts. Who is whose sister and who is not? And is it okay to kill people who are bad and get away with it? Not sure.

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Wonderful listening treat

Revisado: 01-25-25

Amazing description of time and place: Vienna. Convoluted tale of theft, murder, switched identity, deceit, and other crimes and misdeeds set in postwar Austria and concerning passengers who land in Vienna on a flight from London. Wonderful narration. Many accents and voices involved. This, however, can confuse the ear when listening to long German names, place names, and other unfamiliar terms without the advantage of reading them for recognition. As a result, I occasionally felt lost geographically in my new city, and sometimes confused as to who certain were, but couldn’t stop listening! I adore Lorac. She is just wonderful. Hoping for more of her books to be reissued. No one sets the scene as she does!

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Diverting romp with real inspector and his bride

Revisado: 11-20-24

One never learns how these characters look. Alexander doesn’t describe them as people only as figures in a tale. It’s superficial, to be sure, but she could give some clue as to appearance other than clothing. There is almost no info on Kitty’s looks, which is curious, only her size. And that her husband thinks she’s beautiful.

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Far better than you might think

Revisado: 11-15-24

Surprisingly pleasant listening especially at times of stress. Plot suffers from some confusion as to period accuracy (when was this supposed to be happening anyhow?), other oddities and huge coincidences, but rolled along nicely after slow start. Much fun overall.

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Worst book ever

Revisado: 10-24-24

I really could not listen to this even though I tried. The plot was just too much of a stretch to make any sense at all. No one was believable—especially when the author took the male lead out of the picture on a ridiculous premise. No, nothing redeemed it. I skipped ahead and then to the end, and missed nothing.

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Amusing romp

Revisado: 09-16-24

Again the trio figures it out! It is totally improbable that any such folks could run around confronting possible murderers with various accusations, provoking them, and otherwise putting themselves at risk of life and limb. But they do. It is tedious somewhat and very repetitious, most obviously when Judith explains things in infinite detail, but if you last until the end, you’ll have the most delightful surprise twist. Worth the wait. A skimpy plot but performed with lovely enthusiasm and gusto. Enough to take your mind off your troubles. So worth it.

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