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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Really really struggling with Mr Whicher

19 replies

wheresclaire · 02/10/2009 21:07

Really don't know if I can complete this. Its like reading a history book, its A'levels all over again. I stupidly thought that it was fiction based on a true story. If I skip to the end will it tell me who the killer was? Almost half way through, does it get any better?

OP posts:

wingandprayer · 02/10/2009 21:11

No, not really. I didn't think it was as good as all the blurb made out. I love biographies and historical stuff so thought it would be right up my street, but I thought it was dry and dull. There's a sort of vaguely spooky twist right at the end, but it's a a long time coming.

TheFoosa · 02/10/2009 21:14

no, your judgement of it is correct, it's not very good

I wasted a week and £7 on it

BecauseImWorthIt · 02/10/2009 21:17

I was cross that it wasn't a novel - it looked like it was, and the blurb didn't make it clear at all that it was non-fiction.

However once I got passed that, I quite enjoyed it, as a history of detectives and therefore the basis for crime fiction.

But ultimately lacked satisfaction as you never do find out who did it.

tattycoram · 02/10/2009 21:20

Not really. I thought it was quite boring. There was another book, very similair but much much better about a murder in Balham (I think) in the nineteenth century, but I can't remember what it was called

TheFoosa · 02/10/2009 21:22

don't tease us tattycoram

Original poster

wheresclaire · 02/10/2009 21:22

WHAT??? You dont find out who did it??????? Then whats the bloody point?????!!!!!

OP posts:

Lemontea · 02/10/2009 21:25

I gave up after about 50 pages.
Now I don't have to feel guilty or think about trying again

VicarInaBooTu · 02/10/2009 22:02

yep - id advise stopping while youve still got some brain cells left. boring boring boring and i managed to get to the end - it seriously wasnt worth it!

janeite · 02/10/2009 23:40

It gets worse - the first half is actually pretty good in comparison to the second half. Give up now!

tattycoram · 03/10/2009 08:01

. It came to me this morning.Death at the Priory. Also a true story, but a really good read

traceybath · 03/10/2009 08:06

Oh no - bloody ordered this yesterday and its on its way.

Ceasnake · 03/10/2009 22:53

Erm... surely you do find out who did it? There's a confession! I think the confusion lies in the theory that there might have been an accomplice.

I actually thought it was pretty interesting but agree that it tails off in the second half.

Hassled · 03/10/2009 22:55

I think it's pretty clear whodunnit by the end.

Flibbertyjibbet · 03/10/2009 23:02

I struggled through to the end because I wanted to find out whodunnit.

All I found was an overwhelming sense of disappointment as in...

IS THAT IT?????

Yes you find out who dunnit but in a really crap way, not because of some major detective work.

Duritzfan · 20/10/2009 16:34

OMG this was the worst book in the world .. I wanted to burn the damn thing !!

LilianGish · 20/10/2009 16:39

I loved it - but personally I'd never waste time reading a book I wasn't enjoying. So many more books out there and you'll never read them all so don't waste time on one you don't like (unless it's an A level set text or something like that!)

VictoriousSponge · 20/10/2009 16:39

oh it was DULL
igave up

MrsJohnDeere · 20/10/2009 16:48

I gave up after about 100 pages.

PrincessFiorimonde · 21/10/2009 23:04

Haven't read Mr Whicher, but did read about it. The plot reminded me of a historical novel I read a long time ago - 'Charlotte', by Norah Lofts, which I guess she based on the actual case.

I no longer have the book, so don't know if it's stood the test of time - a more lightweight read, for sure. Too lightweight for many tastes, perhaps.

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