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Life After Life by Alexandra Marinina
Get ready for a wild ride with Alexandra Marinina's Life After Life, a novel that delves into the complexities of life and death with a fresh perspective. You'll be on the edge of your seat as Marinina takes you through the twists and turns of human existence.
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Kamenskaya's Lost Its Magic - Has Alexandra Marinina Run Out of Ideas?
summarizeEditor's Summary
I've been hooked on Alexandra Marinina's books for ages, but her 28th installment, 'Life After Life', left me feeling pretty meh. The Anastasia Kamenskaya series is known for its twisty crimes and personal changes, but this book's plot felt predictable and the writing style was way too flowery at times. I did appreciate the annotation and the beginning of the novel, which gave me a better understanding of Kamenskaya's life. However, the book's pacing was super slow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. If you're a die-hard fan of the series, you might enjoy it, but for me, it was a total letdown. I was expecting more from Marinina, but 'Life After Life' just didn't deliver.
settingsSpecifications
Dizayn8/10
VerdictKötü
HikayeGelis5/10
KarakterGelis4/10
HikayeKalitesi6/10
Hello everyone!
I've been a fan of Alexandra Marinina's books for a while now, and of course, I enjoyed watching the 'Kamenskaya' series. Her 28th book, 'Life After Life', is part of the Anastasia Kamenskaya series, but you can easily read them out of order.
The main thing in these books is the crimes, each time new, and the main personal changes in Anastasia Kamenskaya's life are mentioned in the annotation and at the beginning of the detective novel.Annotation
My ImpressionsAnastasia Kamenskaya is presented here in a new role - she's no longer a detective at Petrovka, but a regular pensioner who doesn't know what to do with herself anymore. To shake off the blues, Nastya gets a job at a private detective agency and this is her first case as a private investigator.
The story unfolds in a small provincial town of Tomilino, where two elderly women were killed in a rather unusual way.
The way both women were killed is absolutely identical, and rumors start spreading around town about a serial killer who doesn't spare the visitors of the local club for pensioners. The 'Golden Age' club is located in a former noble estate, restored by businessman Begorsky. This club can be taken for an elite one, with excellent repair, a cafe-restaurant, and everything else like in the best houses of London and Paris, but at ridiculously low prices for ordinary pensioners.
This book caught my attention with its plot twist:
A bizarre, mystical legend connected to the estate and published in a local newspaper.Well, the murders themselves are pretty unusual. This isn't your run-of-the-mill, slapdash affair.The detective novel implies a dynamic plot and easy reading, but this book was a slog for me, although I did manage to finish it in a week. The text itself isn't particularly complex, but it's somehow not pleasant to read and lacks the melodic quality of Agatha Christie's writing, which is just devoured.
The detective novel is slow-burning and has too much lyrical content.Kamenskaya constantly repeats that she's old and stupid and so on. Maybe the author did this intentionally to show the heroine's doubts and fears in her new role, but after three times, it becomes clear why she's writing about it endlessly.
I'm from a small town where everyone knows each other and is somehow connected. I know how things work there.
But in the book, everything is so intertwined and there are so many 'coincidental' matches that it starts to seem like it's not a Russian detective novel, but some kind of Santa Barbara.
Most of the characters look overly contrived and implausible. Millionaire Begorsky, who's spent an enormous amount of money on the 'Golden Age' project, which will never break even. I don't know how much money you need to have or what personal motivations you need. Marinina portrays him as a clear and businesslike person, which is quite unlike someone who would be throwing around money like that.
Even Kamenskaya looks ridiculous with her self-esteem of a teenager. I'll never believe that a colonel of the militia and a woman who's spent 25 years in the Petrovka investigating murders would be so uncertain about herself. Firstly, working in the militia leaves its mark, and secondly, a woman like that would never make it to a leadership position.
Maybe you can really meet so many unusual people in one place in real life, but I haven't. Either I don't know the people I'm around, or I'm just living a very dull life. Most of the characters don't feel like 'real people' but rather like characters from a cheap soap opera.
The biggest letdown for me was the ending. My expectations were completely off from what the author had in mind. I was expecting something mystical and twisted, but it all turned out to be very mundane, just like real life. Another reminder that things aren't always as they seem.
The Verdict
I have to admit, there were times when the book really drew me in and I couldn't put it down. But the majority of it was slow-paced and tedious, leaving me with a mixed impression. Marinina did her best to convey the idea that life starts at 50, and I get where she's coming from, but the examples and words just didn't convince me.
ImageI've read a lot of detective novels, and I've got to say, this one didn't really hit the mark for me. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, but it was just so...underwhelming. I think I'd rather watch the movie adaptation, to be honest. It'd probably be more engaging and wouldn't have those annoying moments.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
Is this book a good addition to the Anastasia Kamenskaya series?
If you're a die-hard fan of the series, you might enjoy it, but for me, it was a total letdown.
What's the main plot of the book?
The main plot revolves around a new crime and personal changes in Anastasia Kamenskaya's life, but it felt predictable and lacked surprise.
Is the book well-written?
The writing style was engaging, but it was a bit too lyrical at times, making the book feel slow.
Is this book suitable for fans of detective fiction?
Yes, the series is still a great option for fans of detective fiction, but this book didn't live up to my expectations.
Can I read this book out of order?
Yes, you can easily read them out of order, but it's always best to read the series in order for the most enjoyment.
What's the book's genre?
The book is a detective novel, part of the Anastasia Kamenskaya series.
Is the book worth reading?
It depends on your expectations and preferences, but for me, it was a total letdown.
Can I return the book if I don't like it?
Yes, you can return the book if you don't like it, but it's always best to check the return policy before purchasing.
How does this book compare to other books in the series?
Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations compared to other books in the series.
check_circlePros
- •The annotation and beginning of the novel provided a clear understanding of Kamenskaya's life
- •The inclusion of multiple images added a nice touch to the story
- •The crimes were still engaging, even if the plot was predictable
- •The writing style was engaging, even if it was a bit too lyrical at times
- •The series is still a great option for fans of detective fiction
- •The book is a great addition to the Anastasia Kamenskaya series
- •The characters were well-developed, even if they felt a bit one-dimensional at times
- •The book's themes were thought-provoking and added depth to the story
cancelCons
- •The plot felt predictable and lacked surprise
- •The writing style was overly lyrical and made the book feel slow
- •The pacing was a bit too slow for my taste
- •I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story
- •The book didn't live up to my expectations as a fan of the series
- •The characters felt a bit one-dimensional at times
- •The book's themes were a bit too heavy-handed at times
- •The ending felt a bit rushed and didn't quite tie everything together
