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Killing Adonis
LIGHT DUTIES
LARGE PAY
NO QUESTIONS ASKED ... OR ANSWERED
After seeing a curious flyer, Freya takes a job caring for Elijah, the comatose son of the eccentric Vincetti family. She soon discovers that the Vincetti’s labyrinthine mansion hides a wealth of secrets, their corporate rivals have a nasty habit of being extravagantly executed, and Elijah is not the saint they portray him to be.
As well, Marilyn Monroe keeps showing up, unaware she’s very much deceased. And there’s something very strange about the story that Elijah’s brother Jack is writing …
Killing Adonis is a tragicomic tale about love, delusion, corporate greed and the hazards of using pineapple cutters while hallucinating.
LARGE PAY
NO QUESTIONS ASKED ... OR ANSWERED
After seeing a curious flyer, Freya takes a job caring for Elijah, the comatose son of the eccentric Vincetti family. She soon discovers that the Vincetti’s labyrinthine mansion hides a wealth of secrets, their corporate rivals have a nasty habit of being extravagantly executed, and Elijah is not the saint they portray him to be.
As well, Marilyn Monroe keeps showing up, unaware she’s very much deceased. And there’s something very strange about the story that Elijah’s brother Jack is writing …
Killing Adonis is a tragicomic tale about love, delusion, corporate greed and the hazards of using pineapple cutters while hallucinating.
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 13, 2021
I was provided this book by the publisher Pantera Press but all my thoughts are my own.
This book definitely had some obvious issues for me, but overall I really enjoyed it!
And honestly, this book deserves props because this was one of the only mystery books I've ever read that I didn't guess the ending. I mean I guessed SOME of it, but not all of it.
To start, this book follows a girl, Freya, who gets a job working for a very wealthy family as the live in nurse for their son in a coma. She ends up finding out a lot of dark secrets about their family. Think of the family in Revenge but more powerful.
I really liked the concept of this book. I liked the family dynamic, the mystery, the plot, the setting and the characters. It was really well done. I enjoyed how it was told and the pacing that the author set for all the various reveals in the book. Where I found this book a little bit lacking was that it seemed confused at times.
For example, I personally did not understand the inclusion of Marilyn Monroe/that entire storyline. As well as Freya's sort of issue. I understand Freya's issue a little bit because it helped her connect to Jack, but otherwise it was a little bit confusing to me as to the reasoning for the inclusion. It by no means took away from the story though as they were minor points in the plot.
I liked the characters honestly. Freya was a weird eccentric type who I just loved. I liked Jack and all his angst and brooding. I just liked how each of them were developed. My one issue again was that Freya at times did not act like she was in the mid 20s. I often times had to remind myself that she wasn't 17. She was just more immature than I thought she would be, but this is also an issue I had with Jack.
The romance was also a bit weird to me. Don't get me wrong, I liked them definitely, but I didn't feel the chemistry, and I don't feel like they had any progression to their relationship as we only saw a few scenes. I'm really bittersweet on the ending. The irony is obviously very strong, but I don't know if I like it.
I liked the ending. The reveal for everything made sense, I felt like there were no plot holes and the mystery part was by far the best aspect of this book. Everything well developed (albeit confusing at times).
Overall, a good entertaining read! I would recommend it to people who want a light easy mystery!
P.S: You can now go to the Pantera Press profile on NetGalley and read this book right away!
Around The Year in 52 Books Challenge #4 - A book by an author discovered in 2015
This book definitely had some obvious issues for me, but overall I really enjoyed it!
And honestly, this book deserves props because this was one of the only mystery books I've ever read that I didn't guess the ending. I mean I guessed SOME of it, but not all of it.
To start, this book follows a girl, Freya, who gets a job working for a very wealthy family as the live in nurse for their son in a coma. She ends up finding out a lot of dark secrets about their family. Think of the family in Revenge but more powerful.
I really liked the concept of this book. I liked the family dynamic, the mystery, the plot, the setting and the characters. It was really well done. I enjoyed how it was told and the pacing that the author set for all the various reveals in the book. Where I found this book a little bit lacking was that it seemed confused at times.
For example, I personally did not understand the inclusion of Marilyn Monroe/that entire storyline. As well as Freya's sort of issue. I understand Freya's issue a little bit because it helped her connect to Jack, but otherwise it was a little bit confusing to me as to the reasoning for the inclusion. It by no means took away from the story though as they were minor points in the plot.
I liked the characters honestly. Freya was a weird eccentric type who I just loved. I liked Jack and all his angst and brooding. I just liked how each of them were developed. My one issue again was that Freya at times did not act like she was in the mid 20s. I often times had to remind myself that she wasn't 17. She was just more immature than I thought she would be, but this is also an issue I had with Jack.
The romance was also a bit weird to me. Don't get me wrong, I liked them definitely, but I didn't feel the chemistry, and I don't feel like they had any progression to their relationship as we only saw a few scenes. I'm really bittersweet on the ending. The irony is obviously very strong, but I don't know if I like it.
I liked the ending. The reveal for everything made sense, I felt like there were no plot holes and the mystery part was by far the best aspect of this book. Everything well developed (albeit confusing at times).
Overall, a good entertaining read! I would recommend it to people who want a light easy mystery!
P.S: You can now go to the Pantera Press profile on NetGalley and read this book right away!
Around The Year in 52 Books Challenge #4 - A book by an author discovered in 2015
December 19, 2015
It's weird that goodreads lets you review your own books. I'm going to give it...five stars. Even though I hear the author is kind of a jerk.
October 8, 2014
'WANTED: NURSE (a proper one, not a silly male one) PRETTY (but not too pretty CLEVER (but not too clever) APPLICANTS WITH AN EXCESSIVELY CURIOUS AND INQUISITIVE NATURE ARE DISTINCTLY NOT WELCOME. LIGHT DUTIES. LARGE PAY. (ALL CASH. NO QUESTIONS ASKED OR ANSWERED)'
After several hours of swilling booze with best friend Callum, Freya Miller drunkenly emails her CV in response to an unusual ad passed on to her by her friend, Jane. Just hours later she is summoned to the home of the powerful, wealthy and eccentric Vincetti family and promptly hired to care for their revered comatose son, Elijah. Though forcefully warned that curiosity about her employers, their business, or her patient, will not be tolerated, Freya can't resist unearthing their secrets, but is wholly unprepared for what she finds.
Killing Adonis is Brisbane writer J.M. Donellan's debut adult fiction novel. With larger than life characters (including a cameo from Marilyn Munroe), a strange mystery and a surreal plot that teeters between farce and satire, it is a quirky and darkly comic story about corporate greed, obscene privilege, and murder.
Freya is an entertaining character, quick witted and bold, with a prodigious capacity for booze, an irrational fear of pineapple cutters and the ability to see music as colours (a synesthete). She blithely ignores her employers warnings as she begins to poke around the mansion uncovering, amongst other things, two identical baby's rooms, one entirely pink, and one entirely blue, a room filled with boxes of tiny woollen jumpers (which she later learns are for the penguin victims of an oil spill), three billiard rooms, and Jack.
Jack, Elijah's older brother, suffers from mild Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease), agoraphobia and writer's block. He becomes Freya's unlikely, and sometimes unwilling, ally in the hunt for the truth about his brother's coma and his parent's machinations.
As Elijah lies silently, a sculptured Adonis surrounded by 'beepers', Freya and Jack begin to investigate the enigma of Elijah's coma, the mystery of the 'Danger Room', the death of a beloved maid and a string of corporate rivals, all to expose Evelyn and Harland Vincetti's diabolical secrets.
For me, Killing Adonis was a surprising page turner. I was thoroughly entertained by the snappy writing, audacious characters, and gaudy plot. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend readers comfortable with something a little less mainstream give it a chance - no question.
September 16, 2014
This book is a very enjoyable read. It provides a humorous and stylised commentary on the greed of corporate conglomerates, whilst also containing an intriguing plot and authentic and relatable lead characters. I highly recommend it!
August 14, 2017
Now I will admit that it's took me a hell of a long time to get round to reading this book, I'm not too sure why though, so I gave myself a good shake and decided to just read it already. That was a very good idea!
The humour was the first thing that struck me about this, it's placed in the story when you really need it to even out the mystery element and the creepy weirdness in it.
The characters are well written, the mystery is intriguing (although the ending did remind me of something, either another book I've read or a movie/tv show, I can't quite put my finger on it just yet), the setting is Australia so I'm gonna love that anyway and it just all works well together.
There is a line about Chewbacca that I lol'd at, on my own, in my room, like a crazy person. It's humour is, in my opinion, what brings it all together.
Well done Mr Donellan, well done. Will be keeping my eye on you. In a new book way not in any creepy sort of way :)
*Huge thanks to J.M. Donellan, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
The humour was the first thing that struck me about this, it's placed in the story when you really need it to even out the mystery element and the creepy weirdness in it.
The characters are well written, the mystery is intriguing (although the ending did remind me of something, either another book I've read or a movie/tv show, I can't quite put my finger on it just yet), the setting is Australia so I'm gonna love that anyway and it just all works well together.
There is a line about Chewbacca that I lol'd at, on my own, in my room, like a crazy person. It's humour is, in my opinion, what brings it all together.
Well done Mr Donellan, well done. Will be keeping my eye on you. In a new book way not in any creepy sort of way :)
*Huge thanks to J.M. Donellan, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
December 8, 2014
This book left me with questions and I still liked it.
Freya is an interesting and relatable character. I loved following her into this mystery.
The relationship between Jack and his disturbing writing trances is still a mystery to me. If you've got any ideas/answers I'd love to hear them.
Definitely worth the read.
Freya is an interesting and relatable character. I loved following her into this mystery.
The relationship between Jack and his disturbing writing trances is still a mystery to me. If you've got any ideas/answers I'd love to hear them.
Definitely worth the read.
October 17, 2015
First book of the #readathon complete!
January 11, 2015
A very engaging read. 'Killing Adonis' is often far-fetched and surreal, but J.M Donellan manaages to make it all believable, partly due to his well-conceived and often relatable central characters. The book is set in Brisbane, and locals will notice references to several of their city's most distinctive icons.
Quirky, satirical and amusing, 'Killing Adonis' also manages to be amazingly suspenseful, and I was hooked right to the very end as Donellan's surprises and twists revealed themselves. Definitely a book I'll remember.
Quirky, satirical and amusing, 'Killing Adonis' also manages to be amazingly suspenseful, and I was hooked right to the very end as Donellan's surprises and twists revealed themselves. Definitely a book I'll remember.
April 16, 2016
Cracking good read. At about 3/4 of the way through it seems to slow a little, but makes up for it with zooming pace towards the end. There a couple of points that I think are unresolved, rather than cool mysteries, but not to the point that it spoils the book.
I found this novel and author at and thanks to the Rock and Roll Writer's Festival. And I'm very glad I did.
Ding, ding! Next book!
I found this novel and author at and thanks to the Rock and Roll Writer's Festival. And I'm very glad I did.
Ding, ding! Next book!
July 8, 2018
This was an odd book. The reader was intentionally left in the dark to add to the suspense and the mystery about what was really going on. But this was a really wonky plot. A bizarre story. Characters that were a little off. But it was interesting and I did want to find out what was going on. Doesn't mean I liked it, but it kept my interest.
So the story is about a girl named Freya. She's a heavy drinking, foul-mouthed, attractive nurse. One of her favorite patients was killed and she's still reeling from that loss. She was going to take a job in East Timor but the death of Valerie changed her plans. Instead she takes a random nursing job that she knows nothing about.
She finds herself working for the Vincetti's; an incredibly wealthy and powerful family. She is not allowed to talk about her job or bring friends over (she moves into the house) while she cares for their son Elijah who is in a coma. She is not allowed to ask questions or even ask how/why his is in a coma. So there is Harold - the father, Evelyn - the mother, Jack - the brother, Rosaline - Elijah's fiance, Maria - the housekeeper. Callum is Freya's gay best friend. She has a key card that allows her into the rooms deemed ok for her to enter. For every room she can get in, there are two she cannot. The more she explores the more she realizes how weird this family is.
As the story unfolds we get clips of other rich, wealthy people. They are being attacked, maimed, and sometimes killed. We don't know why or by who, but we get a sense that they are pretty horrible people. We learn that Harold and Evelyn are also pretty horrible; they are all about creating a pharmaceutical monopoly and will do whatever they have to for that to happen. Jack has his own issues, he's agoraphobic and has OI (Brittle bone disease?) but is a brilliant author. We also learn that he was originally named Elijah as he is the elder son but when his disease was learned they changed his name (because an Elijah needed to take over the company). Rosaline is nuts. Sweet but totally nuts. She just wants to be married and have babies.
Freya tells Callum about everything (even though she's not supposed to) the family seems to stalk Freya's every move but then she has weird moments of 'freedom'. She and Jack start having sex. Callum keeps coming over to the house for the various events (which was strange since she was told she can't have people over, but ok). Jack acts suspicious. Freya find a bag of random hair under his pillow. She watched him typing his next book and the words he was typing were basically describing one of the other events in the book of wealthy people being hurt.
It all comes to a head when they decide to marry Elijah and Rosaline (they wheel Elijah out for events). Jack and Freya use the opportunity to find out what is in the danger room (the room Jack got into before but couldn't find the lightswitch, just the bag of hair. So odd). Freya finally reveals what she has figured out, that Elijah isn't really in a coma. They are keeping him sedated and in the danger room is a book of his trophies. Every now and then his parents will let him wake up so he can 'do his thing'. He killed Maria. He also killed Freya's patient, Valerie. His parents figured this was better than him going to jail. And marrying him to Rosaline gave them control over her father's company. Rosaline is devastated when she learned he wasn't in a coma. She knew he was a horrible man and just wanted to be married to him without actually being with him.
But the house is set on fire by Elijah's mistress Yvette. Harold, Evelyn, and Elijah don't make it out. Jack didn't want to leave but Freya gets him out. But he has a broken leg and is in a coma. Rosaline takes over he company and tries to start fixing things in the Vincetti organization. She sets Freya up with a job in East Timor and arranges to have Jack flown there as well (weird). The End.
So in case that wasn't clear, Elijah is a homicidal maniac that his parents kept sedated so he would only have limited freedom and an alibi. His parents are ruthless assholes willing do to whatever they need to for more power and money. Jack's weird writing of Elijah's exploits is never explained. Rosaline is cray cray cause her father left her mother for another woman, her mother went all Miss Havisham and eventually hung herself.
Freya was an unconvincing character. She may have been entertaining, but she wasn't authentic. Actually, that could probably be said for all the characters. I wondered if it was because of the author being a man writing a woman's point of view. But I think Donellan was off on everyone, so maybe not. Freya had a very weird neurological condition. She's a synaesthete which means sound and color associate, she sees music. When she was a kid her condition kicked in while holding a pineapple cutter and she sliced up her arm. She wears gloves or bracelets or other such things now to hide the scars because people assume it's suicide related.
The book just had a lot of really weird people, with weird conditions or quirks, doing odd things, for really no good reason. I wanted to see how it ended and it was entertaining, but I would not recommend this book.
So the story is about a girl named Freya. She's a heavy drinking, foul-mouthed, attractive nurse. One of her favorite patients was killed and she's still reeling from that loss. She was going to take a job in East Timor but the death of Valerie changed her plans. Instead she takes a random nursing job that she knows nothing about.
She finds herself working for the Vincetti's; an incredibly wealthy and powerful family. She is not allowed to talk about her job or bring friends over (she moves into the house) while she cares for their son Elijah who is in a coma. She is not allowed to ask questions or even ask how/why his is in a coma. So there is Harold - the father, Evelyn - the mother, Jack - the brother, Rosaline - Elijah's fiance, Maria - the housekeeper. Callum is Freya's gay best friend. She has a key card that allows her into the rooms deemed ok for her to enter. For every room she can get in, there are two she cannot. The more she explores the more she realizes how weird this family is.
As the story unfolds we get clips of other rich, wealthy people. They are being attacked, maimed, and sometimes killed. We don't know why or by who, but we get a sense that they are pretty horrible people. We learn that Harold and Evelyn are also pretty horrible; they are all about creating a pharmaceutical monopoly and will do whatever they have to for that to happen. Jack has his own issues, he's agoraphobic and has OI (Brittle bone disease?) but is a brilliant author. We also learn that he was originally named Elijah as he is the elder son but when his disease was learned they changed his name (because an Elijah needed to take over the company). Rosaline is nuts. Sweet but totally nuts. She just wants to be married and have babies.
Freya tells Callum about everything (even though she's not supposed to) the family seems to stalk Freya's every move but then she has weird moments of 'freedom'. She and Jack start having sex. Callum keeps coming over to the house for the various events (which was strange since she was told she can't have people over, but ok). Jack acts suspicious. Freya find a bag of random hair under his pillow. She watched him typing his next book and the words he was typing were basically describing one of the other events in the book of wealthy people being hurt.
It all comes to a head when they decide to marry Elijah and Rosaline (they wheel Elijah out for events). Jack and Freya use the opportunity to find out what is in the danger room (the room Jack got into before but couldn't find the lightswitch, just the bag of hair. So odd). Freya finally reveals what she has figured out, that Elijah isn't really in a coma. They are keeping him sedated and in the danger room is a book of his trophies. Every now and then his parents will let him wake up so he can 'do his thing'. He killed Maria. He also killed Freya's patient, Valerie. His parents figured this was better than him going to jail. And marrying him to Rosaline gave them control over her father's company. Rosaline is devastated when she learned he wasn't in a coma. She knew he was a horrible man and just wanted to be married to him without actually being with him.
But the house is set on fire by Elijah's mistress Yvette. Harold, Evelyn, and Elijah don't make it out. Jack didn't want to leave but Freya gets him out. But he has a broken leg and is in a coma. Rosaline takes over he company and tries to start fixing things in the Vincetti organization. She sets Freya up with a job in East Timor and arranges to have Jack flown there as well (weird). The End.
So in case that wasn't clear, Elijah is a homicidal maniac that his parents kept sedated so he would only have limited freedom and an alibi. His parents are ruthless assholes willing do to whatever they need to for more power and money. Jack's weird writing of Elijah's exploits is never explained. Rosaline is cray cray cause her father left her mother for another woman, her mother went all Miss Havisham and eventually hung herself.
Freya was an unconvincing character. She may have been entertaining, but she wasn't authentic. Actually, that could probably be said for all the characters. I wondered if it was because of the author being a man writing a woman's point of view. But I think Donellan was off on everyone, so maybe not. Freya had a very weird neurological condition. She's a synaesthete which means sound and color associate, she sees music. When she was a kid her condition kicked in while holding a pineapple cutter and she sliced up her arm. She wears gloves or bracelets or other such things now to hide the scars because people assume it's suicide related.
The book just had a lot of really weird people, with weird conditions or quirks, doing odd things, for really no good reason. I wanted to see how it ended and it was entertaining, but I would not recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2014
Somewhere between murder mystery/ dark humor/ social critique this story really entertained me. Excellent spring reading- heartily recommended
April 9, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this witty, clever novel with interesting characters and as a bonus featuring a little flavour of Brisbane.
March 6, 2017
Odd. Different. It was interesting to read, but I was a bit tired of it by the time I got to the end.
July 17, 2022
Still unsure why Jack was having those weird hypnotic seizures while writing… it was framed almost like something paranormal but there’s no followthrough. Not even going to get started on the “I’m in love with you after a week and a half” trope because we all know why that’s ridiculous, but really, we’re going to make her pregnant?? There’s so much left unresolved in the end, very disappointing. I really enjoyed the excerpts from Jack’s manuscripts, but I’m still confused by how he was getting all this info about Elijah’s escapades when Jack supposedly didn’t know Elijah was running around killing people. Yvette doesn’t really get any closure or consolidation. The entire wedding business is terribly written and unrealistic. I mean the author is clearly unaware of how legal marriage and documents work.. Freya is like resigned to bearing the spawn of this capitalist empire not because she wants to be a parent, not because she is against abortion (she openly says she would have gotten one if it was a result of a one-night-stand), but because of some kind of self-imposed responsibility to Jack who is IN A COMA and incapable of weighing in- i just…. Don’t get it.
Overall, the plot is pretty cool. Love the tie-in with Valerie’s death, and Callum is by far the best character (but the queer ones always are.) The author’s deeply internalized misogyny kinda ruined the flow for me.
Overall, the plot is pretty cool. Love the tie-in with Valerie’s death, and Callum is by far the best character (but the queer ones always are.) The author’s deeply internalized misogyny kinda ruined the flow for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2018
This book was ok. It passed the time. But it really wasn't at all surprising, none of the characters are particularly likeable, and I bloody hate when authors use a novel to overtly push their cause. In this case, big businesses are bad and unethical and make their millions off screwing everyone and avoiding prosecution through dodging blame and having a fall guy. Which yeah, cool, probs true, bit I just want to read a decent story in the brief chances of escapism I get when my toddler gets distracted from his perpetual litany of MUUUUM. And yeah. I guessed the ending. About half way through. Won't spoil it for anyone though.
Look all in all its an ok book. Writing style is enjoyable, characters are incredibly two dimensional and stereotypical and I didn't like any of them, there is a bit of mystery, and if you don't mind a bit preaching then give it a go. At worst you ways a few hours.
Look all in all its an ok book. Writing style is enjoyable, characters are incredibly two dimensional and stereotypical and I didn't like any of them, there is a bit of mystery, and if you don't mind a bit preaching then give it a go. At worst you ways a few hours.
September 12, 2024
It took me a long time to get into the story because the main character can't seem to go an hour without getting absolutely smashed. She isn't an alcoholic, but she is always drinking. Then the plot catches and I couldn't stop watching the car crash (bad turn of phrase, I know). There are so many psychological neuroses and screwed up characters to try and understand. And so many plot points that aren't wrapped up in the reveal. Like why does Jack write in his brother's voice? How did Elijah get away with so many murders? He's not a genius or mastermind; just a bored rich kid, so he couldn't have committed the perfect crime, let alone dozens of them. What happens to Rosaline? There is no explanation as to why Freya "falls in love" with Jack. It's a really messy read, which has been on par for the Australian books I've read recently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2017
A brilliant read! Such an unusual story; a little bit dark but filled with brilliant hilarity and great characters. So well paced with just enough mystery in each chapter to keep you from putting the book down. Josh is a wonderful writer, each scene and character is painted so delightfully and I had many laugh out loud moments. Highly recommended read
November 25, 2019
I loved the dialogue in this book, the quick wit, the cynicism, the mystery. I was engrossed for a large portion, spellbound. And then it just kind of seemed to fall apart a bit. There were plot gaps and two-dimensional characters, big questions left unanswered, not to mention a very, very rushed ending. I was left, in the end, wanting a bit more.
January 19, 2022
Read a lot of hate in the reviews. Distaste for the crude female perspective humour. Guess you're not female and/or might have no humour.
Not having much time to read, I was a bit apprehensive of the size of this book, but it was such an easy read. Corporate greed had me equally worried as a topic, but this book made it *fun*!
Not having much time to read, I was a bit apprehensive of the size of this book, but it was such an easy read. Corporate greed had me equally worried as a topic, but this book made it *fun*!
August 4, 2024
I did enjoy this book. It was definitely a page turner but I got lost in parts and I’m still confused about some of the minor story lines. The ending was a bit off for me, but otherwise found it an easy read.
July 14, 2017
Totally silly, charming love child of AbFab Down Under and a telenovela full of cash-high hellions.
September 2, 2017
Lighthearted, Australian fun. Excellent pacing, fun characters, in a condensed soap-opera sort of way.
September 4, 2017
One of my favorite books I've read this year! A quirky, slightly twisted mystery with an ending that caught me by surprise.
April 30, 2021
Good story but the ending was disappointing and predictable I found
Read
May 10, 2021DNFed at 90 pages.
December 26, 2023
started off as unhinged (positive) ends up being unhinged (negative). i am also so sick of authors shoehorning romance into places it doesn't need to be. idk, this book was a disappointment :(
August 19, 2025
Oh yeah, so so cool. Not.
Pathetic wannabe shite.
Pathetic wannabe shite.
March 12, 2017
Nurse Freya wants to help the sick and needy, but after a recent tragedy she thinks she needs an easier gig, just for a while. When she's offered serious money to help a very wealthy family care for their son, who is in a coma, she signs on, even though they want someone who won't ask questions and Freya is unduly curious about everything. She finds the only normal person in the household is oldest son Jack, until she finds out about his problems. The plot unfolds in patchwork fashion, and some of it is on the gory side, but there's also a lot of humor. Freya is helped by some surprising people in her quest to find out what the hell is happening in the strange mansion. Sounds like a Gothic, but it isn't.
July 1, 2015
This was a highly engaging read due mostly to the unease and tension cleverly created in the first half of the book, starting from the moment the reader comprehends the significance of the book's title. For me, the allure of the story was its pseudo positioning as a murder mystery - in some ways I felt like a young girl again, reading my Trixie Belden or Famous Five novels, willing the female protagonist to find the courage and giles to uncover the secrets hidden in the ostentatious mansion in which she was working. In fact, I recall a Nancy Drew reference was made in the story as a throw away line. The writing was snappy and darkly humorous, drawing characters that drifted towards caricatures with their displays of narcissism, malevolence and emotional dysfunction all playing in a conspiracy laden world. The contemporary Brisbane depicted in the novel floated around the edges of the story lending favoured landmarks, bars, institutions and a credible world, a burgeoning city, that existed outside the house of cards, the mansion, inhabited by the uber rich pharmaceutical giants into whose web our Nancy Drew is drawn. Whilst the characters themselves aren't ones that will reach into your heart, even the main character with her Aussie charm and the tragic Rosaline with her childish fancies are slightly inaccessible, there is insight and poignancy to be found in the way in which elements of the plot unfold and are structured, within the connections revealed, and the juxtapositions made, it's symmetry and balance of events, like justice attained. The truth of their own monstrosity this family of corrupt individuals are ultimately forced to confront were also strongly emotive.
I would absolutely recommend this book for an entertaining and unerringly thrilling read.
I would absolutely recommend this book for an entertaining and unerringly thrilling read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews