scmbradley reviewed Argylle by Elly Conway
A passable thriller
3 stars
I didn't particularly enjoy this book. It was an OK thriller marred by some careless writing, and a fairly predictable plot. For example "In addition to the 2,500 euro per head ticket price, the tables arranged outside in the casino gardens, under awnings of silk studded with thousands of tiny lights to give the impression of a canopy of stars, cost upwards of two hundred thousand euros each." What cost 200,000E? The tables? The canopy? In what sense is that "in addition" to the cost of the tickets (a cost borne, presumably, by entirely different parties)? This sentence is characteristic of the writing: far too many subclauses and sub-subclauses to add flavour and enhance characterisation. And despite that, hardly any of the characters have much substance. Even Argylle, the protagonist, feels a bit thin. I did like Coffey though, she's an interesting character.
There's a part at the beginning of …
I didn't particularly enjoy this book. It was an OK thriller marred by some careless writing, and a fairly predictable plot. For example "In addition to the 2,500 euro per head ticket price, the tables arranged outside in the casino gardens, under awnings of silk studded with thousands of tiny lights to give the impression of a canopy of stars, cost upwards of two hundred thousand euros each." What cost 200,000E? The tables? The canopy? In what sense is that "in addition" to the cost of the tickets (a cost borne, presumably, by entirely different parties)? This sentence is characteristic of the writing: far too many subclauses and sub-subclauses to add flavour and enhance characterisation. And despite that, hardly any of the characters have much substance. Even Argylle, the protagonist, feels a bit thin. I did like Coffey though, she's an interesting character.
There's a part at the beginning of chapter 16 where the book jumps back and forth between the characters being on a helicopter or on a bus. Not in a "narrative being told out of order" sort of way, more in a "forgot to turn this reference to bus into chopper during a rewrite" sort of way.
But those gripes aside, it's an easy read and will keep you entertained for a while.
