C.S. Poe

I confess I bought this partly because it's part of a reading challenge. Otherwise, I would have waited for a sale because I'm a sale buyer for books I can't read beforehand. 100% worth it. These two MC's, I love them! Larkin wouldn't want it but I want to give him a big hug! He cares so deeply about his victims, people most no longer care about. He can't forget. Until Doyle, no one cares about Larkin. It's deeply tragic. I love these two and I need more. I'm not usually much of a series reader but give me all of them. They need a million books, hopefully with pockets of happiness!… (mehr)

The main character was really frustrating for me. He's immature and bratty and has such absolutely terrible judgement! It's a horrible mix of unlikable and TSTL (too stupid to live). The relationship was kind of 0 to 100, his love interest was a bit too idealized, and the mystery was a serious stretch, but those things didn't bother me nearly as much as just desperately wishing the MMC had a lick of sense. I want to like this series, so I think I'll still try book 2*. But obviously the narrator is a humongous part of the book and he trampled a lot of my enjoyment.

* I read reviews for the rest of the series and it looks like the problems that bothered me in this one just continue throughout. I think each book is rated higher than the one before it less because each one improves on the last, and more just because the people bothered by these issues just give up on the series and only the fans are left. I'm afraid I'm in the non-fan group.

There is *something* about the writing that I do like, so I think I will still try her Memento Mori series. Not having this protagonist will surely help.

** I just got around to reading Fatal Shadows by Lanyon, written 6 years before this one-- and it made me feel very uncomfortable about this book. I've read straight up fan-fiction that differed more drastically than this book does to that one. It feels very much like Poe took that story and then just tweaked it until she felt it was different enough not to count as actual plagiarism. It gives me kind of a squirmy feeling honestly. I rated this 2 stars originally, but I have to dock a star based on this- lack of originality, to put it generously.… (mehr)

A complex, well researched, dive into the story of cold case detective Everett Larkin and his partner, forensic artist Ira Doyal. In this 3rd installment of the Momento Mori series, they continue to work towards discovering the identity of the mysterious person sending them information about New York cold cases revolving around antiquated mourning rituals. Everett and Ira simultaneously work to uncover how a series of past deaths and disappearances of Times Square burlesque performers and sex workers are interconnected.

Poe keeps us fascinated with this well researched escapade into an obscure subcategory of New York City history, while still taking time to further explore the budding relationship and traumatic pasts of her complicated protagonists. The author doesn’t disappoint, giving us plenty of twists, turns, heart pounding action, snappy dialog, obscure factoids, and emotional moments.

I have been reading each book as it is released. As the complexity of the story increases, I realize that I want to reread the books sequentially to get the full, undiluted effect and not miss any of the carefully arranged details. Broadway Butchery is a highly recommended addition to what is becoming a favorite mystery series.… (mehr)