it’s a good mystery but it’s more of a ya writing style than an actual adult mystery.

for example the rochester character talks to jane about his missing/dead wife and jane answers that she’s sorry about what happens and his answer is;

… you’re not sorry, because her not being here means that you can be here. with me.

which what? they basically just meet. and while jane has dreams about him and her together literary seconds after meeting him, him reacting that way too? wow. fast moving.

the bottle he selects is over a hundred dollars, and my cheeks flush at knowing i’m worth ab expensive bottle of wine to him.

i am not an expert here, but i would guess that a guy living in a huge mansion and having a ton of money, used to eating at expensive restaurants…. he’s just used to that price and anything beneath a specific price point would be considered cheap and has actually absolutely nothing to do with jane?
also please tell me that people do not actually believe that when a rich guy buys a -for him- not overly expensive bottle of wine on their date they believe they seem worthy?
because what?
just what?


maybe those are not the best examples from the book, but they are the ones they stood out to me the most.

i am not saying it’s a bad thing that the writing feels more targeted towards a younger audience, it makes sense in a way since jane is 23.
also the author does write and has written more YA books as far as i know.

so it does make sense that her writing style might lean more towards that. but some way things are said, discovered or generally happen just felt not only unrealistic but specifically chosen to appeal to Ya readers.

that being said the actual book, plot and characters are pretty good.

it’s all very fast paced and because of that very unrealistic to me and as a personal preference i like more realistic crime mystery/thrillers more.

while the actual plot wasn’t bad and i liked the spin of it, even if that could have been done a bit less rushed and jump-y feeling.

it tried to include so many different elements: an orphan with long fingers, blackmail didn’t need to be in it at all, the constant back and forth of how did it happen? and the rich people life moments and gossip moments thrown together with the actual crime moments? it was a lot.


all in all?

it’s a good book but it has a lot of potential that wasn’t used.

i am normally not a fan of long crime books, this one was a bit too short feeling.
it all felt too rushed and underdeveloped.

i would love to read another mystery by this author if she comes out with one and see how she continues in that genre - of she writes another one.

for me this entire book feels a lot like a bit of a rushed work and could have used some more work.

but if you don’t mind a rushed feeling mystery?
and enjoy a spin of the Jane Eyres story?

go for it!

if you are a seasoned mystery read and love the good developed ones that keep you guessing at every turn and makes you question every character and their motives?
maybe this one isn’t for you.