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nixieknox's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the first three novels in this series, but had several problems with this one:
The main characters - Hardwick, Guerney, Madeline - all seemed like miserable caricatures of themselves. Case in point: I don't give a shit about the chicken coop.
There's only so much I can take of the "it could be this OR it could be that" of the mystery without any forward movement.
I actually skipped the whole part of the Fair, which is where I guess we learned who Peter Pan really was, but by that point I no longer cared.
Which is a bummer because I loved the big reveal! Soon as I read it I thought "YES!" It all made sense. But it took way too long to get there.
The main characters - Hardwick, Guerney, Madeline - all seemed like miserable caricatures of themselves. Case in point: I don't give a shit about the chicken coop.
There's only so much I can take of the "it could be this OR it could be that" of the mystery without any forward movement.
I actually skipped the whole part of the Fair, which is where I guess we learned who Peter Pan really was, but by that point I no longer cared.
Which is a bummer because I loved the big reveal! Soon as I read it I thought "YES!" It all made sense. But it took way too long to get there.
paovilchis25's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theopanov's review against another edition
3.0
За съжаление, тази част се оказа най-слабата от цялата поредица. След онези изключително добри и интригуващи загадки от първите три книги, случаят от „Питър Пан трябва да умре“ беше доста скучен. Действието през цялото време вървеше толкова бавно. И откъм семейната страна на историята нямаше особено голямо развитие сега. И само последните глави и събитията, които се случиха на панаира, спасиха книгата от това да я оценя с две звезди.
muddypuddle's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Ah, yes, another satisfying John Verdon mystery. I love his intricate plotlines and the way you really do need to keep guessing the whole way. I'm still unhappy with the relationship between Gurney and his wife, Madeleine. It's not like any relationship I can relate to.....and I guess it's because I don't really like her.....at all! I realized it's not a major part of the story, but it is a large minor part (ah, semantics!). This creepy killer reminds me of some of the characters that M. E. Kerr has written about in her fabulous YA stories a few years back - not at all "normal" or "average" in appearance. Which keeps me thinking about the evil in this guy - how much does odd appearance mold our personality?
majkia's review against another edition
4th Book in the Dave Gurney series.
I received this book free through Edelweiss publishing in return for an unbiased review.
I have not read the previous Dave Gurney books, and although I'm a serial reader and try to only read series books in order, I did not feel too confused regarding happenings in the previous books, even when they are mentioned directly.
The characters were interesting and complex enough to keep me interested. The settings were interesting and colorful and fit the story quite well.
As for the puzzle and the mystery, I solved it long before our crack detective got to it. Even so, I enjoyed the psychological complexity involved in trying to understand who the killer was, and what the motivation for the murders were in the first place. And I can see how assumptions can easily blind people personally involved into missing key pieces of a puzzle and thus be led astray.
In short, I enjoyed the book and found it interesting enough to consider reading the series from the beginning.
I received this book free through Edelweiss publishing in return for an unbiased review.
I have not read the previous Dave Gurney books, and although I'm a serial reader and try to only read series books in order, I did not feel too confused regarding happenings in the previous books, even when they are mentioned directly.
The characters were interesting and complex enough to keep me interested. The settings were interesting and colorful and fit the story quite well.
As for the puzzle and the mystery, I solved it long before our crack detective got to it. Even so, I enjoyed the psychological complexity involved in trying to understand who the killer was, and what the motivation for the murders were in the first place. And I can see how assumptions can easily blind people personally involved into missing key pieces of a puzzle and thus be led astray.
In short, I enjoyed the book and found it interesting enough to consider reading the series from the beginning.
msaari's review against another edition
3.0
I think I've had enough. Once again, there's a clever murder mystery, but it's hidden under hundreds of pages of boring. Dave Gurney is mostly an annoying character, in an annoying setting. I don't see much development here, Verdon keeps repeating the same elements. The plot is pretty good, that I admit, and the ending made it worthwhile to read the book. However, I'm pretty sure that once the next Dave Gurney novel comes out, I'm going to pass.
sean67's review against another edition
3.0
Book four in the Gurney series, and whilst there are some good moments, again I found it too long and over written and also it is pretty forgettable, I think I will have forgotten who was the killer in a couple of months time, and not have much more memory of the book as well.
martyfried's review against another edition
4.0
Finally, a Dave Gurney book where he doesn't almost die near the end. Of course, he does come fairly close, but this time, he doesn't even get wounded. Too bad his "buddy" Hardwick can't say the same. I guess it was his turn this time.
This story had a pretty interesting solution, and I must say, pretty satisfying, too. It was as if the God of Karma came to town, so people got what they deserved for a change. But it could have gone much differently when Gurney decided to shoot an possibly unarmed teenager on a hunch.
The only thing that always bothers me with this series is how Gurney seems to put together plans to catch very dangerous and deadly criminals using a plan where it's so easy for something to go wrong, with no backup plan. But I guess that adds to the excitement.
This story had a pretty interesting solution, and I must say, pretty satisfying, too. It was as if the God of Karma came to town, so people got what they deserved for a change. But it could have gone much differently when Gurney decided to shoot an possibly unarmed teenager on a hunch.
The only thing that always bothers me with this series is how Gurney seems to put together plans to catch very dangerous and deadly criminals using a plan where it's so easy for something to go wrong, with no backup plan. But I guess that adds to the excitement.