~ Books Read ~
What's it about: long-lost treasure, environment pollution, middle grade detectives
It started with the Al Capone lost treasure mystery which I liked very much but then it detoured to an environmental mystery. I wished it had stayed on the Al Capone one as I really didn't care for the environment one. Why bother with the Al Capone mystery if you're not going to give a real answer? If the ending's suggestion is the answer then that's not much of an answer. If it continues to the next book, then that's double annoying. As the author seems to be writing multiple series, I doubt the next book will be out soon though I don't like this first book enough to continue the series.
What's it about: family dramas, murder, light romance, London society
I enjoyed the first book enough that I went on to read up to book 6. I probably should have quit reading after book 5 where the main character go married. (For some odd reason, there was a sample of book 6 in the first book that told readers the main character had married the other main character). I think the series should have ended in book 5 when the main character got married. Yes, there are maybe some more stories to tell but really, how many dead bodies fall around the main character before she ran out of people in her circle? Every death so far in each book is related to her but I guess her circle is growing so maybe it wouldn't seem weird to have people keep being killed around her. I got a bit bored with book 6 and since book 7 has a waiting list, I think maybe it's time to quit the series. But I did enjoy the books I read so far.
03 - The penguin pool murder (Hildegarde Withers #1) by Stuart Palmer
What's it about: murder, aquarium, investigations, amateur detective
This was okay, a little dull. I guessed the killer and I was correct. So this was written in the late 1930's so I guess it's why the writing is a bit odd to me. But writing aside, the one thing that annoyed me is the main character, Miss Withers, withheld her thought process and only at the end did we know what she was thinking and how she solved the murder - this always make me wonder what's the point of hiding a character's thought process other than not letting the reader solve the mystery alongside the character? So maybe smarter readers (which I seem not to be) can guess the right killer without help but I can't and I don't really want to. I just want to read how the character solves the mystery which should include their thought process, right? (I found this book from Lark Writes over here).
~ Unfinished Reads ~
What's it about: amnesiac main character, ghosts, some sort of mystery
Quit at: 17%
Maybe 17% is too short to stop reading but what the heck. I had reasons: (1) The beginning was slightly exciting but it got really boring and rather slow going but probably due to being a first book in a series. (2) I don't like amnesiac main characters though I took a chance. (3) The writing was a bit too simplistic. Don't quite know why this bothered me only that, it seemed like I was being fed information from a really young character who didn't seem to have a clue what she was talking about but being an amnesiac is like the excuse for the simple writing. (4) I didn't realize this is classified as horror as it was on a list of cozy mystery recommendations. I don't like reading horror. I think maybe I should stop borrowing books without knowing the genre.
What's it about: talking spy cats & cursing dolphins (both spoke through machines), some sort of mystery that involves getting very rich, supposed villain-like things
There wasn't much fun, at least, I haven't read anything that I thought was fun. So far of what I read, it's about the main character (also the narrator) finding information after information about his uncle and how he (the uncle) became rich. The main character, well, I wouldn't say he's a loser but he has a sucky job, the career he wants he cannot achieve, and he is mostly homeless if not for his father, his uncle, his cat (Hera). I wish it is narrated by Hera, the sentient, talking cat (she spoke through a machine and has her own house and apprentice) - that's really the best thing about this book so why wasn't it her story?
There are many pop culture references such as ships named after actresses named Jennifer. I must point out Chapter 8 is all info dump about an island (where the uncle keeps his stuff) that can be summed up in two paragraphs but they choose to write a long report that is as dull as mud.
Their definition of villain is definitely not about a guy who does evil things but about a guy who makes money off everyone, a neutral party, you might say. Nothing really points to any type of villain-ness unless the idea of supplying weapons (and such) to both good and bad people or being stinky rich as villain-like acts.
After the cursing dolphins (they keep using the four letter f word every time they speak), I had enough of this silliness. Even if there is a society of supposed villains, it was still dull. Yes, there are things here that I would find quirky, weird and would make a book to my liking but it felt like I'm reading one wacky idea after another and not much is happening and too slow to reveal what the heck is exactly the point of this book. The title (Starter Villain) is misleading although the cat image is maybe correct but I don't think the cat is the boss. The idea of being trained to be a villain is a great idea but that isn't this book. Sadly, I forgot to check out the ending before returning it to the library so I don't how it ends.
Have you read any books lately?
Sorry to hear that "Starter Villain" was a bust. I always have higher hopes for books involving cat characters.
ReplyDeletePersevering through six books of a series is impressive. I am sorry that it is continuing and that you feel it shouldn't.
ReplyDelete"(For some odd reason, there was a sample of book 6 in the first book that told readers the main character had married the other main character)."
ReplyDelete😲 Talk about a spoiler?!?
"Every death so far in each book is related to her but I guess her circle is growing so maybe it wouldn't seem weird to have people keep being killed around her."
I wouldn't want to get close to her if I met her LOL.
"What's it about: talking spy cats & cursing dolphins (both spoke through machines), some sort of mystery that involves getting very rich, supposed villain-like things"
😂
This one had the potential to be funny...though one needs a bit of suspension of disbelief.
"I wish it is narrated by Hera, the sentient, talking cat (she spoke through a machine and has her own house and apprentice) - that's really the best thing about this book so why wasn't it her story?"
Yeah, why? Now that would have been a quirky story.