Customer Reviews: Read 96 more reviews...
 Very very average - and strangely similar to Kate Mosse's Labarinth October 12, 2008
Hmmm, isn't it odd how some Richard and Judy books are spot on and others are so far off the mark. I read this at speed on holiday. If I hadn't I wouldn't have finished it. It gave me a strange sense of deja vu as I was in the same place when I read Kate Mosse's Labarinth (which I wasn't very keen on) and the stories were so similar. I wouldn't bother reading this, it sounds promising and then is so dull and lacking in depth that you'll have wasted your time.
 Good build up throughout book but finished too quickly September 28, 2008
I really enjoyed the gradual unfolding of the story and the way that the characters were developed. The book felt like an old fashioned murder mystery where clues were being dropped along the way in an Agatha Christie style.
None of the characters were too cliched and I felt that just the right amount of information was given about them.
The only problem I had with the book was the ending, it all happened far too quickly and I felt that I must have missed something earlier on. I did, however, like the way that the letter summarised the conclusion.
 Waking the Dead September 6, 2008
Adam Strickland solves a 400-year-old murder, but although this novel is a pleasant read, it cannot be described as either 'captivating' or 'intriguing', as claimed by various newspapers' critic's reviews. In fact, I found it rather bland and totally predictable. Even the Italian influence disappointed me; I love Italy, but found the prose to be totally lacking in its ability to conjure up the atmosphere of that wonderful country. A plus point - Art History was at the heart of the novel and as a reader with no knowledge of the subject whatsoever, the details regarding this were of great interest to me; it was probably this that kept me reading! Although well written, I found the romantic aspects of the story to be quite naive and at times felt I was reading a novel with input from two different people!
 A Wonderful Read September 4, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written in fine English without being pretentious or long-winded. The plot is fascinating and clever. It moves along at a steady pace and has some excellent surprises. The characters are complex, interesting and in some cases funny. It is not a standard who-dunnit but there is a mystery to solve and the resolution is satisfying. Highly recommended.
Slow beginning, middle and end. Disappointing. August 25, 2008
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately the pace of the story was just a little slow. I read this book just after it had been a Richard and Judy read, thinking it would be a good quality story and nothing about the story has stuck out, making it an easily forgettable read. Was disappointed when I originally read it. Might read it again soon and see if my opinion has changed.
I would recommend to borrow this book off a friend, and if you like it, then bother spending money on your own copy.
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