A cozy murder mystery that’s the first in a series of four brings together three local women living by the River Thames to help solve puzzle pieces the police are unable to connect. Our group consensus was that at times like these, we need escapism, upbeat stories, fluff, magic realism, and possibly science fiction. Those who enjoyed Marlow called it “entertaining and a good beach or fireplace read.” We all appreciated the characters’ diverse personalities, and one reader recommended this novel to all her friends. Some of us saw the TV series and agreed with only minor changes, it is not only close to the book but is also charming for its acting and visual stunts. Our criticisms were one reader’s difficulty in suspending her disbelief, several instances of implausibility, and the contrived unlikelihood of what transpired among the villains.
Overall, we gave the book 3.5 stars out of five.
Beth Buechler
Community Contributor
Federation Book Club meets via Zoom at 4 PM on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
Upcoming Book Discussions:
February 13: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
March 13: The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
April 10: The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard
May 8: Bridgerton (The Duke & I) by Julia Quinn
June 12: Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Vrunt