A brief book review and expression of disappointment.
I started reading this series when it was new and followed it religiously for a while. Then the quality started declining so I’ve missed more than a few. I got this one from the library, and boy, I’m glad I didn’t spend money on it. I can’t review it on Amazon, though, because I didn’t buy it.
Plot: completely confusing and not in a good way. People pop in and out and then come back much later and you’re supposed to remember who they are, and then they didn’t have any real reason for being there, not even to lay a red herring, just to take up space. The solution comes out of left field with no reference to previous clues or anything. Motive for crimes so far fetched as to be laughable, except for the waste of time finding it out.
Characters: cardboard. Egregious, unnecessary and pointless use of various unrelated children to distract from the threadbare goings-on.
Humor (once a hallmark of this series): absent. Obligatory side plot against Aunt Agatha, cringe worthy.
I can’t imagine that with a performance like this, this series will continue much longer. Or yes I can, because lots of people have gotten comfortable with these characters and never thought that much about the plot as much as their beloved Richard Jury and Melrose Plant, who are sadly not really there except in name only. I have liked some of her work outside this series as well, usually more serious and compelling. Now I’m not sure I want to even try one.
Conclusion: don’t waste your time and especially not your money on this dreck.
Please feel free to make me feel better by describing books you had hopes for that were bitterly disappointed. Or anything really.