Generally a lot to like about this one. So much good family stuff here. Still feeling the fact that these have gottWell, now what am I supposed to do?
Generally a lot to like about this one. So much good family stuff here. Still feeling the fact that these have gotten shorter, but I can't wait for the next one....more
These feel shorter (because they are), and that means that some of the plot points feel a little rushed. Still, this one I definitely thought was moreThese feel shorter (because they are), and that means that some of the plot points feel a little rushed. Still, this one I definitely thought was more of what I love about this series. (view spoiler)[Interesting choice to add Beau here, given that they said they didn't want to have more kids. I was surprised by it, and I'm curious to see where it goes. (hide spoiler)]...more
My least favorite in a while. Good, but just not as good as some of the others! While I liked some aspects of this (the remote location/clo3.5/5 stars
My least favorite in a while. Good, but just not as good as some of the others! While I liked some aspects of this (the remote location/closed universe was fun), I also thought parts of the mystery didn't work as well. (view spoiler)[I also think I'm kind of tired of the wronged wife being the villain. I feel like that's happened in quite a few of the books recently, and I'm ready to mix it up. (hide spoiler)]
I can't believe I only have two more of these left until I'm caught up. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself after....more
This may have been my favorite one so far! I really liked the settling into marriage of it all, and all the ways Anarchy showed up for and supported EThis may have been my favorite one so far! I really liked the settling into marriage of it all, and all the ways Anarchy showed up for and supported Ellison.
Oh, and the swim team stuff in this one was so fun and real for me. It brought back so many memories....more
Okay so my one nitpick with this one was I really didn't love how the Charlie storyline was handled. (view spoiler)[I know that he's clearly sticking Okay so my one nitpick with this one was I really didn't love how the Charlie storyline was handled. (view spoiler)[I know that he's clearly sticking around since I've both read ahead and I know from later book summaries that he and Libba are still together. But his introduction was a bit too much for me. I didn't mind it from Ellison's standpoint because she's clearly not interested in revisiting it, etc., but I kinda want more for Libba than a guy who was this sure he wanted to get back with Ellison almost immediately after ending his marriage. I realize this has completely been forgotten in later books, but unfortunately, I do not forget. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, other than that I am having a lot of fun in this world!...more
Well, once again I've read these too fast and am struggling to distinguish one from the other. I think this one involved the kid who was sick. I'm glaWell, once again I've read these too fast and am struggling to distinguish one from the other. I think this one involved the kid who was sick. I'm glad she ended up being okay!! (view spoiler)[I never really got why the victim gave her name as Mrs. Anarchy Jones, though. That was odd. (hide spoiler)]...more
Mostly really liked this, as usual. I liked how the body at the gala was handled. I did think (view spoiler)[Anarchy's big secret ended up being too eMostly really liked this, as usual. I liked how the body at the gala was handled. I did think (view spoiler)[Anarchy's big secret ended up being too easy. It was also a bit weird to me that David wasn't mentioned in this at all until his name was listed as one of the family members who attended the wedding. I was legit wondering if he'd been forgotten/written out of the series. (hide spoiler)]
Pansy is great, though. I'm glad she's sticking around....more
Two notes on this one: (view spoiler)[(1) I liked Karma and how she was integrated here (I hope we see her more), but I also think the way 3.5/5 stars
Two notes on this one: (view spoiler)[(1) I liked Karma and how she was integrated here (I hope we see her more), but I also think the way the past between her and Anarchy was explained was weird and not handled especially well by Anarchy. I also couldn't tell how well they supposedly knew each other. At times it seemed like they knew each other very well, and it times it seemed like their paths had only crossed briefly. Just seemed odd and at times inconsistent. (2) The resolution of the murder plot here was a bit lacking. (hide spoiler)]
That said, I am already reading the next one so you know... still very fun....more
Okay I swear I’m slowing down a bit (in part because life demands it, in part because I’m picking up some minor inconsistencies from book to book sincOkay I swear I’m slowing down a bit (in part because life demands it, in part because I’m picking up some minor inconsistencies from book to book since I’m reading them so fast). Still into it, really enjoying the sense of time and place that this series has....more
This is very short, but it was fun to see something from Aggie's POV. I like her a lot and am glad to see her happy.This is very short, but it was fun to see something from Aggie's POV. I like her a lot and am glad to see her happy....more
I think this was my favorite so far, but also this really is a lot of people being murdered all at once. I liked that there's actual movement on the EI think this was my favorite so far, but also this really is a lot of people being murdered all at once. I liked that there's actual movement on the Ellison and Anarchy front, even if it isn't the specific movement I want. But it was time for something to happen....more
Nonspecific notes based on the fact that I've read three of these books in a 24 hour period:
-Ellison and Jessica Fletcher should really hang out and cNonspecific notes based on the fact that I've read three of these books in a 24 hour period:
-Ellison and Jessica Fletcher should really hang out and compare notes. They really do find a lot of bodies. -Ellison runs a lot for a woman in the 1970s. It's not necessarily historically inaccurate, but the way it's talked about feels a bit more modern than the times. -The introduction of Anarchy's partner is interesting. I don't like him (obviously), but I like the way it introduces a different dynamic!...more
The problem with binging these books is I'm now three books ahead of this one and they're starting to run together. There were a few things3.5/5 stars
The problem with binging these books is I'm now three books ahead of this one and they're starting to run together. There were a few things about the mystery plot that didn't quite fit for me, but as evidenced by the fact that I'm already on book 7, I am enjoying this universe a lot....more
**spoiler alert** So, here's what I will say. I like this series a lot. I love Ellison, and I'm overall very fond of the supporting cast. The unique v**spoiler alert** So, here's what I will say. I like this series a lot. I love Ellison, and I'm overall very fond of the supporting cast. The unique voice and setting of these stories is fantastic.
But also this one wasn't for me. I didn't love a lot of the sibling stuff here, and I wasn't really moved by the resolution of Marjorie and Greg's marriage (mostly I didn't care about Greg, who set all of this in motion in the first place). I liked the story with the aunt and David a lot more, although it felt like there were parts of that plot left open and I can't tell if I should expect them to be resolved in the future or if those are just going to go unanswered. I also just generally wasn't that into the resolution of the mystery plot. I more or less guessed at it (especially since I figured it was really about Marjorie), but it just wasn't really something I was interested in....more
Easily the best of the series. I thought the character work here was mostly excellent (knocking a bit off because the conversation between her and herEasily the best of the series. I thought the character work here was mostly excellent (knocking a bit off because the conversation between her and her mother at the end went a bit too far for me), but otherwise this was really good....more
A lot to like here. Ellison's voice is great, and I really like the world and can easily picture it. And given that I know where the love triangle is A lot to like here. Ellison's voice is great, and I really like the world and can easily picture it. And given that I know where the love triangle is ultimately heading, I thought how Ellison handled her knowledge at the end of the story to be really interesting. I honestly just wish it were easier to access the early books in the series from my libraries. I don't love doing these via audio, and that's my only option for the next 5-6 books. It's really going to slow me down, when I could otherwise see myself binging them....more
**spoiler alert** I've really enjoyed this series overall, but this one didn't quite work as well for me. I felt like the way the mystery plot came to**spoiler alert** I've really enjoyed this series overall, but this one didn't quite work as well for me. I felt like the way the mystery plot came together in the end was a bit lacking. It felt like it was building up to be bigger than it was with them all having been in Rome, the blackmail letters, etc. And the ending itself felt pretty rushed - did Jane and her mother get restitution from Payne after he stole all their money, for example?? And what of Lady Gilford? Was she suitably put in her place after the truth came out about Jane's father?? She was kind of awful, so I would have liked some resolution there instead of it just being left unexplained and then Margaret shows up in the epilogue as joining the little outing of friends. Just felt weird, I guess!
It's also clear that the new Lord Gilford is being set up as a potential future lead. I found his characterization to be a bit odd here. He's clearly set up to be someone we should like, as an ally of sorts to Jane and someone who's on the side of the protagonists. But our first introduction to him is being told that he tried to kiss Jane when she'd recently started working for the family. The kind of aristocratic man who would make romantic/sexual overtures at any level towards a female member of the household is a very specific kind of person, and not the kind of person he was otherwise made out to be here. So I don't THINK that's the kind of person Collins wants me to believe he is, but I also can't unring that bell. I've liked this series a lot, but I don't know that I really want to read about him as a lead....more
Very much enjoyed having all my favorites back together in this one. Mystery-wise, (view spoiler)[I can't say I was rooting for Clive and Miss ForrestVery much enjoyed having all my favorites back together in this one. Mystery-wise, (view spoiler)[I can't say I was rooting for Clive and Miss Forrest, but I did enjoy how it all came together. (hide spoiler)]...more
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