Portrait of a Murderer | 
pickThis is a well written novel. It‘s not a mystery-we know who committed the murder and why. This is more of a study of the aftermath of murder on the family members and the psychology of the killer. There aren‘t any particularly likeable characters and I don‘t know that I‘d have been sorry to see any of them hang for the murder, guilty or not. While only a soft pick for me, I can certainly respect the craft displayed.
Well, I know what I‘m reading on Christmas Day! Thank you so much @Mitch ! These both look absolutely perfect for me. I hadn‘t heard of either before, and I can‘t wait to read them. I may have to buy a suit jacket just to be able to wear that pin and I think I‘m going to hang that ornament from a bookcase year-round. 💖 Happy Holidays, my friend!
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was as delightful a murder mystery as I‘ve ever read. Adrian Gray, family patriarch, is found murdered on Christmas morning at the family estate. It‘s clear that one of his family members murdered him.
We know the details of the murder immediately, including the culprit. This was a new literary device for me and I LOVED IT. We get to watch the investigation unfold while having all the answers. I found it very refreshing.
#bathandbooks
I decided each year I‘m going to buy myself a Christmas book (I‘ll likely stick with British Crime Library for the most part) and label the inside cover with the year so that I can see which book I read in which year. They‘ll likely all be murderous Christmas books. 🤦🏼♀️🤣
panYeah, I never got into this. There is an expectation that you should feel so sorry for Brand and his poor choices that you regret that he can't get away with both murder and framing someone else for it, at a time when capital punishment still existed. I think less of all the characters who feel that way, and honestly any readers too.
“It was ridiculous, it was pathetic, it was abominably wrong that a man capable of such work should be grinding out his life in a draughtsman's office.“
This is a quote where the murderer is looking at a sketch he drew of himself from a mirror right after the murder; that event plus this attitude explains why I'm not getting on with this book. I'm supposed to sympathise with THIS?
(Not a spoiler, btw: you learn the killer almost immediately.)
Taking a tiny break from the Invisible Library world. I'm on part two and mm, I'm not that into this? I think I'm meant to sympathise, but... nope.
so-soI'm feeling really wishy washy about this one. You know who the murderer is, it's more a matter of whether he'll get caught. 💖📚
#NetGalley
There‘s a delicious smell that has enveloped the kitchen as the roast bubbles away. With the Christmas tree lights all a glow, I‘ve been checking off items on my to do list. After a candlelight dinner, we‘ll curl up on the couch, to watch my Christmas favourite, Love Actually. Then a gift each, from under the Christmas tree, and a cheeky eggnog toast; wishes to all for a Merry Christmas.
#portraitofamurderer #annemeredith #christmaseve #booksy
pickYay, this novel is in the database now. Thank you Litsy!
This is not a cozy Xmas mystery - don‘t let that gorgeous cover deceive. It‘s a dark psychological profile of a family composed primarily of despicable self-interested members. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it! The reader knows the murderer and much of the story is told from her/his perspective. @batsy
This was far from the light, cosy Christmas mystery I thought it was going to be. It's dark & complex, the language rich--almost Dickensian, dare I say, but minus the humour in this context. I appreciate that it looks at how psychological & social factors shape a family, drawing attention to how siblings come to occupy different class positions & are strangers to one another. I'm bummed I can't give it a pick; it's not in the database. @Tamra
