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sweekune's reviews
342 reviews
Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐ 3/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.
Thanks to an Audible sale, I picked up several Christie novels and decided on a spree. In this the titular lady was murdered and her lodger tried and found guilty. One of the investigating police has his doubts about the lodger's guilt and so asks Hercule Poirot to look over the case.
- Possibly more of an issue with listening to the book rather than reading a physical copy, but I found myself getting muddled between the characters. There were a lot of suspects, side characters and names to remember and some sounded very similar which lead to confusion on my part.
- Initially the premise was quite engaging and I enjoy the idea of the convicted being innocent and there being a different murder at large. However, the enjoyment switched to indifference at about the halfway point. The mystery was okay, I half guessed the solution but it didn't feel as polished or satisfying as some of Christie's other stories.
- Who doesn't love Poirot?! He ties with Sherlock Holmes as my favourite literary detective and I do enjoy his character a lot. It was also nice to see Ariadne Oliver put in another appearance.
Okay, not stellar. For more dedicated Christie fans but otherwise would give it a miss.
Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.
Thanks to an Audible sale, I picked up several Christie novels and decided on a spree. In this the titular lady was murdered and her lodger tried and found guilty. One of the investigating police has his doubts about the lodger's guilt and so asks Hercule Poirot to look over the case.
- Possibly more of an issue with listening to the book rather than reading a physical copy, but I found myself getting muddled between the characters. There were a lot of suspects, side characters and names to remember and some sounded very similar which lead to confusion on my part.
- Initially the premise was quite engaging and I enjoy the idea of the convicted being innocent and there being a different murder at large. However, the enjoyment switched to indifference at about the halfway point. The mystery was okay, I half guessed the solution but it didn't feel as polished or satisfying as some of Christie's other stories.
- Who doesn't love Poirot?! He ties with Sherlock Holmes as my favourite literary detective and I do enjoy his character a lot. It was also nice to see Ariadne Oliver put in another appearance.
Okay, not stellar. For more dedicated Christie fans but otherwise would give it a miss.
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
⭐ 4.5/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.
A wonderful closed room murder mystery. Poirot is invited to a party, intrigued by the host's claim that he collects murderers. However, the host is discovered dead and the suspects are four people who were playing bridge in the same room.
- Incredibly enjoyable and peak Agatha Christie. This one had loads of little details and winding twists and I loved it. Also Ariadne Oliver appears in this one and I do enjoy her character.
- The suspect's character were really well done and I loved how the book explored how each person thought and behaved in reaction to a murder.
- The vibe was the cosy but intriguing one that I have come to associate with Christie's work. Perfect for when you want an engaging and fun mystery but less gore and clinical thinking of modern thrillers.
An excellent read. Perfect for Poirot fans and those who like a solid and winding mystery.
Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.
A wonderful closed room murder mystery. Poirot is invited to a party, intrigued by the host's claim that he collects murderers. However, the host is discovered dead and the suspects are four people who were playing bridge in the same room.
- Incredibly enjoyable and peak Agatha Christie. This one had loads of little details and winding twists and I loved it. Also Ariadne Oliver appears in this one and I do enjoy her character.
- The suspect's character were really well done and I loved how the book explored how each person thought and behaved in reaction to a murder.
- The vibe was the cosy but intriguing one that I have come to associate with Christie's work. Perfect for when you want an engaging and fun mystery but less gore and clinical thinking of modern thrillers.
An excellent read. Perfect for Poirot fans and those who like a solid and winding mystery.
The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
⭐ 3.25/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Sophie Aldred.
My first dive into Tchaikovsky's work. A girl falls through a crack between parallel worlds on Bodmin more. Neanderthals appear in London. The universe is under strain, cracking, and all these parallels have to work together to stop it collapsing
- The premise of this story was awesome and I appreciate the idea. At times it because a little boring or just too weaving and I found myself zoning out but overall it was enjoyable.
- I really enjoyed the interludes between the plot chapters where the reader is treated to the history of lots of different parallel earth's and their sentient species. I'm a sucker for prehistoric life and speculative evolution and this very much appealed to that side of me.
- The characters sometimes felt a little flat. There were a lot of them and I think that prevented some of them being fleshed out properly.
Enjoyable but not stunning sci-fi. Would recommend for those who enjoy speculative evolution, parallel worlds and portal sci-fi.
Audiobook narrated by Sophie Aldred.
My first dive into Tchaikovsky's work. A girl falls through a crack between parallel worlds on Bodmin more. Neanderthals appear in London. The universe is under strain, cracking, and all these parallels have to work together to stop it collapsing
- The premise of this story was awesome and I appreciate the idea. At times it because a little boring or just too weaving and I found myself zoning out but overall it was enjoyable.
- I really enjoyed the interludes between the plot chapters where the reader is treated to the history of lots of different parallel earth's and their sentient species. I'm a sucker for prehistoric life and speculative evolution and this very much appealed to that side of me.
- The characters sometimes felt a little flat. There were a lot of them and I think that prevented some of them being fleshed out properly.
Enjoyable but not stunning sci-fi. Would recommend for those who enjoy speculative evolution, parallel worlds and portal sci-fi.
A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Queer and delightfully horrifying. A botanist and taxidermist in Victorian Britain start and experiment with an intelligent fungus, using a corpse as the substrate. What blooms is a botanical monstrosity, causing problems for these men and the local populace.
- The settings were vivid, dynamic and enhanced the story. I particularly enjoyed how the greenhouse (the main setting for the story) was described. In the same vein the botanical, anatomical and mycorrhizal knowledge and it's applications were really thorough and you can tell that the author did an excellent job researching the novel and making the scientific elements plausible.
- The characters were a mixed bag. I enjoyed them for the most part and that their queer identities were well portrayed. However, especially with Gregor and Simon (the main protagonists), they seemed to have wild swing in their moods, motivations and beliefs, to the point where it often didn't make logical sense. Sometimes it appeared they arbitrarily swapped viewpoints. Maybe this was an attempt by the author to portray some sort of mental goings on or to create conflict but it didn't work well.
- The ending wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed it. The book is described at queer Frankenstein and I can see some comparison. However, the book takes a much different direction from Shelley's work after the initial "raising an intelligent being from a corpse" element.
More creepy than gory and excellent application of science. I would recommend more for those who enjoy atmospheric books, focus on scientific possibilities and found family.
Queer and delightfully horrifying. A botanist and taxidermist in Victorian Britain start and experiment with an intelligent fungus, using a corpse as the substrate. What blooms is a botanical monstrosity, causing problems for these men and the local populace.
- The settings were vivid, dynamic and enhanced the story. I particularly enjoyed how the greenhouse (the main setting for the story) was described. In the same vein the botanical, anatomical and mycorrhizal knowledge and it's applications were really thorough and you can tell that the author did an excellent job researching the novel and making the scientific elements plausible.
- The characters were a mixed bag. I enjoyed them for the most part and that their queer identities were well portrayed. However, especially with Gregor and Simon (the main protagonists), they seemed to have wild swing in their moods, motivations and beliefs, to the point where it often didn't make logical sense. Sometimes it appeared they arbitrarily swapped viewpoints. Maybe this was an attempt by the author to portray some sort of mental goings on or to create conflict but it didn't work well.
- The ending wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed it. The book is described at queer Frankenstein and I can see some comparison. However, the book takes a much different direction from Shelley's work after the initial "raising an intelligent being from a corpse" element.
More creepy than gory and excellent application of science. I would recommend more for those who enjoy atmospheric books, focus on scientific possibilities and found family.
Lollipop Monster Shop by Coyote JM Edwards
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐ 4/5 ⭐
Short and sweet. Lils takes over a sweet shop on a whim and quickly realises running a business is harder than she first thought.
- A novella that's super cute and heartwarming. Somehow in the limited space, Edwards manages to squeeze in so much heart and personality. The main characters we vibrant and vivid and I loved how they all grew.
- Occasionally some of the chapters felt a bit rushed but the novella is pretty fast paced anyway. I would have happily read a longer and more detailed version of this book too.
- I loved the description of the sweets and the making process. As a kid I used to love watching hard sweet making when I went on holiday to Alum Bay and this brought back very happy memories. I could envisage each part of the process and practically taste the products.
A very enjoyable novella. Perfect for those wanting a vibrant and whimsical story with lots of heart.
Short and sweet. Lils takes over a sweet shop on a whim and quickly realises running a business is harder than she first thought.
- A novella that's super cute and heartwarming. Somehow in the limited space, Edwards manages to squeeze in so much heart and personality. The main characters we vibrant and vivid and I loved how they all grew.
- Occasionally some of the chapters felt a bit rushed but the novella is pretty fast paced anyway. I would have happily read a longer and more detailed version of this book too.
- I loved the description of the sweets and the making process. As a kid I used to love watching hard sweet making when I went on holiday to Alum Bay and this brought back very happy memories. I could envisage each part of the process and practically taste the products.
A very enjoyable novella. Perfect for those wanting a vibrant and whimsical story with lots of heart.
The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.
I was in the mood for a cosy, easy to digest mystery so of course turned to the Queen of Crime for fulfilment. Some writes Poirot a letter saying they plan to commit a crime and the date and town, signing the letter A.B.C. What follows is a string of murders and a game of cat and mouse to catch the killer before they strike again.
- Your standard Poirot adventure. Not quite up there with Murder on the Orient Express and other exemplary Poirot investigations but a solid entry none the less. Simultaneously an easy read and a complicated enough mystery.
- The settings and people were well described and easy to envisage. The audiobook narrator also voiced each character very well and avoided making anyone sound ridiculous.
- A good, multilayered plot that starts off slow and gathers pace. I sort of figured out the mystery about half way through but not the exact details and was pleasantly surprised with the ending.
An enjoyable murder mystery. For those looking for a good quality but accessible crime story.
Audiobook narrated by Hugh Fraser.
I was in the mood for a cosy, easy to digest mystery so of course turned to the Queen of Crime for fulfilment. Some writes Poirot a letter saying they plan to commit a crime and the date and town, signing the letter A.B.C. What follows is a string of murders and a game of cat and mouse to catch the killer before they strike again.
- Your standard Poirot adventure. Not quite up there with Murder on the Orient Express and other exemplary Poirot investigations but a solid entry none the less. Simultaneously an easy read and a complicated enough mystery.
- The settings and people were well described and easy to envisage. The audiobook narrator also voiced each character very well and avoided making anyone sound ridiculous.
- A good, multilayered plot that starts off slow and gathers pace. I sort of figured out the mystery about half way through but not the exact details and was pleasantly surprised with the ending.
An enjoyable murder mystery. For those looking for a good quality but accessible crime story.
Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain Audiobook by Amy Jeffs
informative
mysterious
3.0
⭐ 3/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by Lucy Patterson and the author.
A compilation of folk tales from ancient Britain, told with flair and some artistic licence. Origins, well known figures from history and myth and creatures both mundane and magical are contained within.
- An imaginative enterprise. Jeff's is clearly well read and familiar with the kernels of these stories. Each tale has its own chapter comprised of a retelling and then an explanation of the source material and history. The tales are often embellished (acknowledged by the author) but are interesting enough and the explanation provides context for the origins and the setting.
- As these are folktales, each is different though often with connecting characters such as Merlin and Arthur. There are a lot of names to remember and this can be quite difficult in audio format where you can't just flick back a few chapters and remind yourself. This makes it difficult to remember the context and connections of some of the characters.
- I found myself zoning out quite a bit if I'm honest. The stories are mostly middling, with a few more interesting. I found the beginning of the book more engaging than the middle and end. That said, the appeal of a book of British folktales (as a Brit) is definitely there and compelled me to finish the book
Probably better in a physical format but a decent collection of stories. Probably more relevant for those interested in early British history and legends.
Audiobook narrated by Lucy Patterson and the author.
A compilation of folk tales from ancient Britain, told with flair and some artistic licence. Origins, well known figures from history and myth and creatures both mundane and magical are contained within.
- An imaginative enterprise. Jeff's is clearly well read and familiar with the kernels of these stories. Each tale has its own chapter comprised of a retelling and then an explanation of the source material and history. The tales are often embellished (acknowledged by the author) but are interesting enough and the explanation provides context for the origins and the setting.
- As these are folktales, each is different though often with connecting characters such as Merlin and Arthur. There are a lot of names to remember and this can be quite difficult in audio format where you can't just flick back a few chapters and remind yourself. This makes it difficult to remember the context and connections of some of the characters.
- I found myself zoning out quite a bit if I'm honest. The stories are mostly middling, with a few more interesting. I found the beginning of the book more engaging than the middle and end. That said, the appeal of a book of British folktales (as a Brit) is definitely there and compelled me to finish the book
Probably better in a physical format but a decent collection of stories. Probably more relevant for those interested in early British history and legends.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Mood reader, will try again another time
PET by Akwaeke Emezi
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
⭐ 5/5 ⭐
In the utopia of Lucille, everyone knows there are no monsters. So when a strange entity appears to teenager Jam, telling her of a monster in her best friend's house, it comes as a shock. Jam and the entity Pet must hunt down this monster that shouldn't exist.
- I loved the idea of Lucille, this utopia where after a revolution there are no monster (e.g. murderers, predators etc). I particularly love how open and normal queer and polyamorous lives are and that none of the characters have any issue with these things. However, I really enjoy the dismantling of this utopic idea and how blind people can be when they think they've dealt with all the problems.
- The autistic representation seems well done and I like how Jam isn't shown as a stereotype but a whole, well-rounded human and that her society does not treat her as less. In fact I love how her traits are used to enhance the story in a way that seems perfectly natural.
- Pet and the idea of how Pet came to be was really cool. Pet's appearance sounded amazing and super vivid. The way Pet and Jam interact is fun too.
I think this would be an excellent book for lots of people. For kids and younger teens I think it's an excellent book about community strength but also the need to avoid complacency, plus lots of queer and global majority representation. For others it's an easy to digest story with warnings but incredibly enjoyable.
In the utopia of Lucille, everyone knows there are no monsters. So when a strange entity appears to teenager Jam, telling her of a monster in her best friend's house, it comes as a shock. Jam and the entity Pet must hunt down this monster that shouldn't exist.
- I loved the idea of Lucille, this utopia where after a revolution there are no monster (e.g. murderers, predators etc). I particularly love how open and normal queer and polyamorous lives are and that none of the characters have any issue with these things. However, I really enjoy the dismantling of this utopic idea and how blind people can be when they think they've dealt with all the problems.
- The autistic representation seems well done and I like how Jam isn't shown as a stereotype but a whole, well-rounded human and that her society does not treat her as less. In fact I love how her traits are used to enhance the story in a way that seems perfectly natural.
- Pet and the idea of how Pet came to be was really cool. Pet's appearance sounded amazing and super vivid. The way Pet and Jam interact is fun too.
I think this would be an excellent book for lots of people. For kids and younger teens I think it's an excellent book about community strength but also the need to avoid complacency, plus lots of queer and global majority representation. For others it's an easy to digest story with warnings but incredibly enjoyable.
Everest 1922 by Mick Conefrey
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
⭐ 3.75/5 ⭐
Audiobook narrated by David Thorpe.
A detailed account of the first Western attempt to climb Everest and the trials and hazards faced in 1920s mountaineering.
- This is a very comprehensive account, and super detailed. I enjoyed this as I like knowing lots of little details but I can see how this could annoy readers who prefer a more action focused experience. For example, we get detailed histories on a lot of the climbers and in detail descriptions of the rations that were packed.
- The detail does lend itself beautifully to picturing landscapes. The aspects of the Himalayas travelled through and experienced by both the reconissence and attempt parties were vividly described and easily imaginable. I would happily read a book similar to this but dedicated to the culture of Tibet and the Himalayas.
- The author does a good job of addressing attitudes in climbing. There's intense and in-depth coverage over the benefits of supplemental oxygen throughout the book. Though not explicitly addressed until the end of the book and the epilogue, the author does discuss the treatment of Sherpas as both porters and guides and discusses some of the systemic racism faced by these people over the last century.
Thoroughly interesting and enjoyable. Would recommend to those who enjoy early 20th century adventure accounts and mountaineering.
Audiobook narrated by David Thorpe.
A detailed account of the first Western attempt to climb Everest and the trials and hazards faced in 1920s mountaineering.
- This is a very comprehensive account, and super detailed. I enjoyed this as I like knowing lots of little details but I can see how this could annoy readers who prefer a more action focused experience. For example, we get detailed histories on a lot of the climbers and in detail descriptions of the rations that were packed.
- The detail does lend itself beautifully to picturing landscapes. The aspects of the Himalayas travelled through and experienced by both the reconissence and attempt parties were vividly described and easily imaginable. I would happily read a book similar to this but dedicated to the culture of Tibet and the Himalayas.
- The author does a good job of addressing attitudes in climbing. There's intense and in-depth coverage over the benefits of supplemental oxygen throughout the book. Though not explicitly addressed until the end of the book and the epilogue, the author does discuss the treatment of Sherpas as both porters and guides and discusses some of the systemic racism faced by these people over the last century.
Thoroughly interesting and enjoyable. Would recommend to those who enjoy early 20th century adventure accounts and mountaineering.