Mark Smith

Eventually Disappointing. I am glad that I read it, a really interesting premise, in a style that I had never seen anything like before, but it worked well and I enjoyed it. Contrary to others, I didn't find it too slow and was interested throughout trying to piece together what it was leading up to and who each character may end up being. Unfortunately it went rapidly downhill in the final third. The biggest disappointment were the constant references to Agatha Christie who was known more than anyone for dramatic twists and ending with one of the greatest novels ever, convinced the reader that one is coming here. But it doesn't, nothing comes at all. Ok, one part twist from an incident years ago, but the killer turns out exactly who you would have thought from the first time that they were in it and with no interesting angle on any of the murders. I was sure that either one of the book store staff would be a factor but they just disappear from the story completely and had a lot of time devoted to them for nothing Had it not been a novel about plot twists and intensely crafted murders, it wouldn't have been such a let down at the end. It was a good story, with a reasonable ending, obvious culprit and most things tied up. But it set itself up to deliver so much more, that other from the unique style of narration the plot will be quickly forgettable.