Rating: 1.2/5
I had not read anything by this writer previously, but I was attracted by the outline of the story, supported by a very well designed cover and backed up by a number of positive reviews. It promised to be a "Golden Age" type novel, with a setting akin to Christie's "And Then There Were None", but with the added element of the supernatural in addition to a conventional murder mystery plot. Well, that is what it promised - but, oh dear!
For a while I found myself giving the writer the benefit of the doubt and thinking that this may be a deliberate parody along the lines of Simon Brett's "Blotto & Twinks" books. However, ultimately there was no getting away from the fact that it is not a parody, just a very poor pastiche of the "Golden Age". The whole thing is two-dimensional and dull. Far from coming close to emulating the likes of Agatha Christie, the storyline and plot is often more reminiscent of one of Enid Blyton's children's adventure stories.
I would advise potential readers to give this one a wide berth. I wish I had.
I had not read anything by this writer previously, but I was attracted by the outline of the story, supported by a very well designed cover and backed up by a number of positive reviews. It promised to be a "Golden Age" type novel, with a setting akin to Christie's "And Then There Were None", but with the added element of the supernatural in addition to a conventional murder mystery plot. Well, that is what it promised - but, oh dear!
For a while I found myself giving the writer the benefit of the doubt and thinking that this may be a deliberate parody along the lines of Simon Brett's "Blotto & Twinks" books. However, ultimately there was no getting away from the fact that it is not a parody, just a very poor pastiche of the "Golden Age". The whole thing is two-dimensional and dull. Far from coming close to emulating the likes of Agatha Christie, the storyline and plot is often more reminiscent of one of Enid Blyton's children's adventure stories.
I would advise potential readers to give this one a wide berth. I wish I had.