This is the first book that I borrowed from the British Council Library in Hyderabad. I must also add that so far, this is the only book that I borrowed from this particular library and have managed to finish. I was suffering from a 'Reader's block' and this one help me get out of it. I am getting back to my block slowly so must find another book that can help me fight it.
Well, just because a book gets you out of a reader's block, it does not mean it is great. This book was a good read but not an outstanding one. It is the first time that I read Mary Higgins Clark's work. The plot is good but a stereotype if you have read other books in this genre. It is a thriller. As I mentioned, the plot is a stereotype in the sense, you already know that the accused is not the one who did whatever he was accused of doing. I think a huge reason why this book would keep someone hooked until the end is the natural inquisitiveness that we as humans possess. We want to know who did it and why...
In brief and in an attempt to not reveal too much, it is a story about the rich Peter Carrington and a younger woman Kay. Peter is a sleep walker and in charged with 2 murders and as the story progresses people think he has actually committed them in a state of somnambulism. In the end, we know that he did not commit the crimes at all. The big questions are- who? how? why?
What I loved about the book is the description of the Carrington estate. It has been described simply and well and actually transported me to the place. The other thing that I liked was yet again- descriptions of food. The plot also has a well defined set of characters who do not keep increasing exponentially as the story progresses. Some of the books in the genre have innumerable number of characters and they only keep increasing during the course of the story that it clutters your mind and you sometimes need to go back and forth in the book just to make sure who is who.
What I think could have been much better- It starts of with Kay describing her town and Peter Carrington's past. Then it got a little confusing for me because she is not the only one narrating the story. So when I suddenly read something like (just an example)- 'Is Kay after the money? I must find out.' I wondered why she was doubting herself only to realise a little later that someone else was also doing the talking in the book. There are also some parts where the author is doing the story telling herself. It made me wonder if Mary Higgins Clark had taken a lot of big breaks while writing this one as she did not seem to remember how the story was being told and who was doing the talking.
Also, she has not paid too much of an attention towards developing the characters in the book.
The book shares its title with an old song but has not been utilized very well. There is a clue hidden in the title but I could think of a thousand other titles for the book that would seem more relevant.
What was kind of strange - the police hardly seemed to have any power. All the investigation was done by the prosecutor, a guy named Nicholas Greco and Kay herself. Police just appeared to be carrying out orders issued by prosecutors and doing some amount of field work that they are expected to do at crime scenes. They did not seem interested in interrogation or any other cop-like stuff.
All things said and done, I have a mixed reaction towards the book. I would recommend it to others who are looking to kill time over the weekend but if you want to read it to activate the grey matter upstairs, this book is a big no-no. My rating- 2/5 stars.
Also, she has not paid too much of an attention towards developing the characters in the book.
The book shares its title with an old song but has not been utilized very well. There is a clue hidden in the title but I could think of a thousand other titles for the book that would seem more relevant.
What was kind of strange - the police hardly seemed to have any power. All the investigation was done by the prosecutor, a guy named Nicholas Greco and Kay herself. Police just appeared to be carrying out orders issued by prosecutors and doing some amount of field work that they are expected to do at crime scenes. They did not seem interested in interrogation or any other cop-like stuff.
All things said and done, I have a mixed reaction towards the book. I would recommend it to others who are looking to kill time over the weekend but if you want to read it to activate the grey matter upstairs, this book is a big no-no. My rating- 2/5 stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment