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Terrie Robinson (short break)'s Reviews > The Other Half
The Other Half (DI Caius Beauchamp, #1)
by
by
Terrie Robinson (short break)'s review
bookshelves: advanced-reading-copy, contemporary, humorous-fiction, mystery-suspense, read-in-2023, netgalley
Nov 14, 2023
bookshelves: advanced-reading-copy, contemporary, humorous-fiction, mystery-suspense, read-in-2023, netgalley
The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell is is a Contemporary Mystery-Suspense Story!
Rupert has his thirtieth birthday party at a McDonald's. It's black-tie, a catered affair with lots of drugs and very expensive champagne.
Who does that? I do believe this was the first sign this book wasn't for me.
The next morning, Rupert's girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered. Her body discovered under a bush with her stiletto heels peeking out.
That's Clemmie and her shoes on the cover art, BTW. I do love that cover.
And it's Detective Caius Beauchamp who finds Cammie's body during his morning jog. What a coincidence.
Rupert would, of course, be the first suspect because everyone knows it's always the boyfriend...
The Other Half felt predictable to me from the very beginning. The party, the murder, how the body was discovered, and who discovered it. This feeling never changed for me.
I didn't like or connect with a single character and I thought about stopping almost the entire time I was reading it. Never a good sign.
I didn't connect with the humor either and I believe I'm a fairly funny individual with the ability to see the humor in almost everything. Everything...but this story.
I'm obviously an outlier with The Other Half as most reviews are positive with high ratings and I'm glad this debut author has positive support. I know not every book is for everyone and I also know this one is definitely not for me.
2⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Anchor, and Charlotte Vassell for an DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Rupert has his thirtieth birthday party at a McDonald's. It's black-tie, a catered affair with lots of drugs and very expensive champagne.
Who does that? I do believe this was the first sign this book wasn't for me.
The next morning, Rupert's girlfriend Clemmie is found murdered. Her body discovered under a bush with her stiletto heels peeking out.
That's Clemmie and her shoes on the cover art, BTW. I do love that cover.
And it's Detective Caius Beauchamp who finds Cammie's body during his morning jog. What a coincidence.
Rupert would, of course, be the first suspect because everyone knows it's always the boyfriend...
The Other Half felt predictable to me from the very beginning. The party, the murder, how the body was discovered, and who discovered it. This feeling never changed for me.
I didn't like or connect with a single character and I thought about stopping almost the entire time I was reading it. Never a good sign.
I didn't connect with the humor either and I believe I'm a fairly funny individual with the ability to see the humor in almost everything. Everything...but this story.
I'm obviously an outlier with The Other Half as most reviews are positive with high ratings and I'm glad this debut author has positive support. I know not every book is for everyone and I also know this one is definitely not for me.
2⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Anchor, and Charlotte Vassell for an DRC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
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Reading Progress
November 5, 2023
–
Started Reading
November 5, 2023
– Shelved
November 5, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
November 5, 2023
– Shelved as:
advanced-reading-copy
November 5, 2023
– Shelved as:
contemporary
November 5, 2023
– Shelved as:
humorous-fiction
November 5, 2023
– Shelved as:
mystery-suspense
November 5, 2023
–
15.0%
"Obviously I didn't read the synopsis or engage with the cover, which I love BTW. I thought this was about how 'The Other Half' lives, not dies..."
November 8, 2023
–
55.0%
November 12, 2023
–
Finished Reading
November 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
read-in-2023
November 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
netgalley
Comments Showing 1-32 of 32 (32 new)
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by
Kat
(new)
Nov 14, 2023 06:17PM
Oof. I'm sorry this was such a bust, Terrie! I'm glad I passed on it - I suspect I'd have similar feelings based on your description. Wonderful review! 💞
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There is nothing worse than predictability! I hope your next read is a great one! Wonderful review, Terrie!💜
Kat (has so much catching up to do!) wrote: "Oof. I'm sorry this was such a bust, Terrie! I'm glad I passed on it - I suspect I'd have similar feelings based on your description. Wonderful review! 💞"Thanks, Kat!💜I just didn’t click with the whole package. Entirely not my reading vibe. Smart move for you on this one and I’m going to be passing on a lot more in the future.
Marilyn (having surgery- trying to catch up) wrote: "There is nothing worse than predictability! I hope your next read is a great one! Wonderful review, Terrie!💜"Thanks, Marilyn!💛I’m read/listening to two ARC’s now that I’m really enjoying. There’s always far more I enjoy than not.
That cover caught my eye too! Too bad the premise didn’t live up to it!! Great review!! 💞
Looks like a cozy from the cover? LOL at McDonald's 😂and sorry it was a fail, Great review Terrie! ❤️
Jayme wrote: "That cover caught my eye too! Too bad the premise didn’t live up to it!! Great review!! 💞"Thanks, Jayme!💜The cover’s the best part.😊
Holly wrote: "Looks like a cozy from the cover? LOL at McDonald's 😂and sorry it was a fail, Great review Terrie! ❤️"Cover envy doesn’t usually end well for me. Thanks, Holly!💙
Ouch! Thanks for the warning, Terrie! I hope your next book is a good one!
Oh shucks! Sorry this one was a miss! ☹️
Excellent review, Terrie! 🧡 What grown up has their birthday party at a McDonalds? That would be enough for me to DNF. I commend you for sticking with it. 🏆
I appreciate the honest review, Terrie! I also have the ARC, so we'll see how I do with it. :)
Sorrie this didn't work for you Terrie. Onto the next! 💕📚
Christina wrote: "Ouch! Thanks for the warning, Terrie! I hope your next book is a good one!"Thanks, Christina!🧡Actually, I think it's just me and a few others. Most are loving this one...
Tina wrote: "Oh shucks! Sorry this one was a miss! ☹️"Exactly, Tina💙and I should know by now that the Thriller genre doesn't always work for me. Oh well...
Michelle wrote: "Excellent review, Terrie! 🧡 What grown up has their birthday party at a McDonalds? That would be enough for me to DNF. I commend you for sticking with it. 🏆"Thanks, Michelle!💖Oh yeah, the party. It was definitely a glimpse of what was to come and I should have DNF this bugger.
Melissa wrote: "I appreciate the honest review, Terrie! I also have the ARC, so we'll see how I do with it. :)"Thanks, Melissa🧡and I hope you enjoy it! It's just not one for me...
Thanks, Sandy💜 and I'm glad it worked for you! I'm onto two promising reads as we type...
I love that you give honest reviews, Terrie. Sorry, this didn't work for you. I hope your next book is a winner. 🤗💕
Thank you, Shelley!💚The two books I’m reading now more than make up for this one😊
Fantastic review Terrie as always and I’m so sorry it didn’t work so well for you. I loved the humour- maybe too British ??!! 😁💚
Thanks, Ceecee🧡and I love British humor but not this book. I'm glad you loved it though. Really!
Thanks, Carol!💚I’m way over it now but it sure was painful getting through it,
Exactly my thoughts! It was very painful to get through.
Actually, Melissa, I'm glad I read it. It changed my entire outlook on a DNF of an ARC. I won't struggle like this again, if I feel the urge to DNF, I will without hesitation! 2⭐ratings are painful for the reviewer, too, not just the author.
Thanks for your review. I’m on page 25 and don’t like it so I will not try to slog through the rest. This book might be more entertaining if I were British and immediately understood the cultural references.
Sheyla ✎ wrote: "Great honest review, Terrie!"Thanks Shayla!💙
Linda wrote: "Thanks for your review. I’m on page 25 and don’t like it so I will not try to slog through the rest. This book might be more entertaining if I were British and immediately understood the cultural r..."You’re welcome, Linda! Glad I could help😊
I can’t get into the book. You describe my exact feelings. The characters not likable and it’s like the author is trying to be overly witty in her humor and she’s getting in the way of her own writing of the story.I wonder if I should keep trying or quit while I’m ahead. It’s a book club selection.
Sorry, Carole, I just read your comment. I trust you either stopped reading this one or muscled through to the end. Either way I hope it was the right decision for you. Thanks for stopping by!😊
Wonderful review, Terrie💓!!!!!!!! This book doesn't sound very good, but who has a birthday party at McDonald's????
