A review by cosyqueer
Grave Expectations by Alice Bell

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Spoiler: The plot twist is that everyone is gay.
 
If I ignore the last page (we’ll get to her), this was a solidly good book. 
Claire is a relatable main character with a dry, quick wit that set a great tone for the mystery. Claire and Sophie’s dynamic was akin to a borderline-obsessive tween friendship in a cute Georgia Nicholson kind of way, to the point where they are so intrinsically linked that it physically hurts Claire when they stray too far from each other. This was a heart-warming touch and had a great emotional payoff during their third-act breakup and again in the resolution. 
In general, the emotional beats were very well done, particularly the scene in which Claire finds Jerry’s body.
“Hey Jerry. I’ve got you. Your mum misses you.”
While she’s holding his dead hand protruding from the ground? sOmEbOdY pAsS tHe tIsSuEs pLs.
 
Claire definitely could have just asked a nearby ghost whodunnit, rendering the mystery solved in under ten minutes. This ditty was cannily pointed out right at the end of the book by Ted (the adorable ghostly groundskeeper), and instead of the a-ha! funny moment it was meant to be, it just made me want to cry. All the twists, turns and jaunts around Greater London and for what?
 
That said, I thought the fact that nobody saw the Tuppence and Matilda affair coming was a great touch. I’m always on the lookout for a potential sapphic moment and therefore clocked it immediately, but the whole gang missing it felt like a little commentary on heteronormativity. They went straight (get it?) to assuming Monty was the one having an affair even though it didn’t make much sense. Just goes to show that when in doubt, gay.
 
sPeAkInG oF gAy
The gay reveal at the end was abhorrent, played for laughs at the main character’s expense. It felt cheap and inconsistent with the intelligence we know the main character has. Claire solves a full mystery and yet seemingly conjures up all this sexual tension with Basher out of nowhere? Doesn’t add up, don’t get it.
 
For me, the mystery surrounding Sophie’s death was just as compelling as the mystery they were trying to solve throughout the book. I hope there is a sequel/prequel that explores Sophie’s story in more depth
, just pLeAsE I don’t want to read about how ha ha ha funny Basher was GAY THE WHOLE TIME again.


Thank you to Corvus, Atlantic for a free reading copy, it was a RIDE.