Sunday 23 June 2013



The Observer calls it 'thriller of the year.'

AN Wilson, believe it or not, calls it a 'five-star suspense story' and Sophie Hannah reckoned it was 'a near masterpiece.'

Mrs Miniver's Daughter will go out on a limb and say this is the most tedious load of old drivel she has read all year. Tesco-lit for the ladies' book group market. (Of course, that's why I was unenthusiastically reading it in the first place.)

I am now reading John le Carré with great relief; elegant and, as ever, utterly gripping from the first page.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That has saved me some money then, thank you Mary.

mary said...

Yes, Sue ... this was a public service review! I don't know why I feel obliged to press on with book group choices when they're as bad as this.

Toffeeapple, at least I was able to get it from the library.

Cosy Books said...

What in the world has happened to A. N. Wilson and when will the pod people be bringing him back?

This book hasn't even come close to tempting me yet and now I am very glad.

Off to make a pig of myself on some strawberries and wishing there was some cream in the house *sigh*.

mary said...

I hoped it would be enjoyable rubbish, Darlene - but it's not.
And I have cream - but no strawberries. If only you lived next-door!

Life and Dreaming said...

I didn't like it either, and I had such high hopes for it! But I loathed both main characters and gave up halfway through.

mary said...

Hello Aparatchick, thanks for stopping by. It doesn't bother me if I don't like characters - but these two and their unconvincing marriage left me completely bored.

Magic Bean said...

It was totally bizarre. I felt the characters were wholly unbelievable and (call me a prude) utterly crude.
Have moved on to my son's Michael Morpurgo!
Ax

Vintage Reading said...

I don't fancy it either! I'm so suspicious of those rent-a-quotes on the front of best-sellers.

mary said...

Nicola, the trouble is - if you're a critic paid by the inch, you can't really say, 'So bored I gave up on page five' and leave it at that.

Magic Bean, you're right: cheap and coarse.

susanhal said...

yay !hurrah for mrs miniver's daughter. i tried to read it, i really did, it's in the recycling bin now, where it belongs .

mary said...

Hello, Susan. I'm sure they won't put our comments on the cover of the next edition!

Anonymous said...

!!! Good to know, then! Thanks for the morning snicker; loved your concise dismissal. Haven't personally been remotely tempted by Gone Girl; nice to see my "tosh" instincts are still in fine form.

mary said...

Not the most considered review, Barb - but I'd wasted more than enough time on it!