Roberto D D itibaren Wattenbek, Almanya
4.5* I really loved this installment. It was great, the characters were fun - at times the actual plot was a bit confusing, but overall wonderful!
More a journal than a memoir. Interesting because the writing is so good. Who could doubt Hemmingway?
Negative Image by Vicki Delany sucked me right into the story. Her method of storytelling is immediate, and each chapter usually contains several different points of view to accomplish that immediacy. If you subscribe to the “one chapter, one POV” this may drive you a little bonkers, but for the rest of us who remain unruffled, the POVs simply keep the story going at a rapid clip. (One small note: The POVs are clearly defined. This is not head-hopping.) This is the first book in the Molly Smith series I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Many women will identify with Molly and the prejudices she encounters in her job. Some will feel a kinship with her as she works to resolve problems without asking for help from her boyfriend or male co-workers. Amazingly, Sgt. John Winters is a very likeable character who simply behaves like a typical male when his wife is accused of murder. He worries how the scandal will reflect on him. Most of the time, I wanted to smack him for falling into that stereotype, but in all honesty, I could also identify with him. I was elated at the resolution. One small thing that did bother me was how quickly Eliza forgave him for being an ass. But when someone is ready to get their life back on track, they will overlook a lot of things they might not otherwise. After all, time does heal wounds...if you can hang on long enough to let it. As I stated in my first paragraph, there are numerous points of view per chapter. Rather than finding them off-putting or annoying, they contributed to the feeling of knowing everything that was going on at any given moment. I’ve never seen a story approached in quite this manner, but it obviously works for Ms. Delany. Overall, the characters are flawed and true to life with multiple layers to their personalities. The story is believable, the plot and subplots are complex, and the resolution is surprising. She kept me guessing throughout the book, and though I followed every clue, I was never really sure of the perpetrator. When the killer was finally exposed, I did a headsmack because I didn’t guess it sooner. This book would be an appropriate read for practically everyone. There was little to offend anyone unless a quote was taken out of context, the language was mild, and the writing was easy to follow. The story was interesting and fast-paced. I would definitely recommend it.
That friends come and go. It's natural.