A mystery book written in a unique style to fit into modern times and technologies – this was a refreshing read.
I like reading mysteries, and they traditionally start with a dead body, and then a detective tries to figure out whodunnit. Without giving anything away, this book changes the formula in an intriguing way, making the book hard to put down.
It is written as a collection of correspondence – emails, messages, messenger apps, brochures and press clippings, and reading these give you a sort of voyeuristic thrill. It could have been cheesy but the way it is done brings a feeling of realism. I’ve seen other writers try something like this occasionally, but not write a whole book like that. While the tech is pretty up to date for 2022, I wonder what it will be like to read this in 10 years – I fear that it will seem dated and quaint.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and at first it is a little confusing. The whole story is tied together through the correspondence of one particular character, Issy, that was incredibly well-written. I feared that things would devolve on the page with Issy and it was like waiting for a train wreck to happen. Top-notch writing.
While I really enjoyed the book, the format which worked through most of it is abandoned towards the end, and I thought it suffered a little because of it. Still, without the change of format I’m not sure the author could wrap up the story in a satisfactory way.
Next I’m reading The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.
