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Claire M. (Sarasota, FL)
Cloudland
Wilkie Collins is credited as being the father of the modern mystery story and he plays a prominent role in Cloudland. A scenario in an unfinished tome of his is pursued as the origin of the serial murders committed in this novel that is based on a never solved series of the same in the Connecticut River Valley. Catherine Winslow, a former journalist now writing a helpful hints column for the local paper, essentially tells the story. The Collins book has gone missing from Catherine’s house and becomes an important piece of the puzzle. So it is that Catherine’s former lover returns and where he, like everyone in
…more Cloudland is thought by his neighbor to be the suspect at one time or another, and everyone becomes his own detective at some point. Catherine’s introspection in the final paragraphs is the kind of who did, what and who am I? that Collins employed so there is a debt to Collins here.
One thing I found quite interesting was that Olshan’s voice, or protagonist was a woman. Although I didn’t feel the characters were unlikeable as other readers have, I wasn’t necessarily emotionally invested in them either. Could be that’s a result of male fiction writing. This is a good book for clubs and beach reads. (less)Cloudland is a book for readers who love a well paced mystery. Taking place in rural snowy Vermont, this cozy has a literary bent. The mystery proceeds at a good pace due to rounded characters, evolved relationships and an innovative plot involving the work of real life Victorian novelist Wilkie Collins. All told, this is a richer than usual mystery. And, I did curl up in front of my fireplace to read it.
Debra F. (Alton Bay, NH)
Based on a true story?!?
Cloudland is a murder mystery with strong psychological twists and turns. The setting of Vermont (with wee bits of New Hampshire) highlights the rural landscape. Catherine Winslow finds a body while walking up her road. Her neighbor, a forensic psychiatrist as well as other characters in the rural area slowly ramp up her involvement. She begins to recognize too many coincidences as the story webs out and then tightens.
I found the book an easy read that slowly wound itself into my subconscious. I had many questions and found myself reacting strongly to the violence that Catherine had been exposed to that
…more intertwined with the story.I heard that his book is based on a true crime story that was never solved - six women murdered by a serial killer in the Connecticut River Valley between Vermont and New Hampshire.
Recommended! (less)Cloudland by Joseph Olshan is a murder mystery with strong psychological twists and turns. The setting of Vermont (with wee bits of New Hampshire) highlights the rural landscape. The story opens quickly as the main character, Catherine Winslow finds a body while walking up her road. For most people this would have been the end of the story, but not for Catherine. Her neighbor, a forensic psychiatrist as well as other characters in the rural area slowly ramp up her involvement. She begins to recognize too many coincidences as the story webs out and then tightens.
I found the book an easy read that slowly wound
…more itself into my subconscious. I did wonder about who was guilty and who was the red herring. I had many questions and found myself reacting strongly to the violence that Catherine had been exposed to that intertwined with the story.
According to information from Goodreads, this book is based on a true crime story that was never solved - six women murdered by a serial killer in the Connecticut River Valley between Vermont and New Hampshire. (less)
Suzanne Z. (Highland Park, Illinois)
Flying in the Clouds
The mystery plot for about a third of the book was somewhat confusing but did evolve to be somewhat clever, the setting chilling but the characters were boring. The main character's love affair with a younger man was always teasing the reader. Actually I didn't really care about the characters though the twist at the end gave the book a boost.
Mary L. (Madison, MS)
Average
I agree with most the the other reviews. I struggled to complete this novel. I often had to go back to sections to understand what was happening or to remember who the character was. Sorry! It had good potiential.
Kelly H. (Chagrin Falls, OH)
A mysterious mystery
"Cloudland" has all the ingredients for a terrific murder mystery. The ingredients, however, do not mix well. The storyline has the potential to be terrific. Instead, it merely average due, in large part, to poorly-developed, flat characters. Very few of the characters It is necessary to re-read sections of a number of the chapters because a number of the characters are fungible. As an avid reader of psychological thrillers, I expected subtle clues sprinkled randomly throughout the story to throw the reader off course and to make the reader want more.
Deborah D. (Newark, CA)
Superficial characters; implausible plot
I wanted to love this book, but found myself putting it down several times before finishing it. Joseph Olshan does set the scenes well. Having been brought up in snow country, I could feel to cold of many winters in his description of Vermont. His prose elevates the book beyond what is expected of the average "pot boiler," however, the plot is thin and rather disjointed. I found the characters superficially drawn and the end to be implausible This was not a page-turner, but a rather cumbersome attempt to rise to the level of a psychological thriller.
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