Book Review: The Next to Die by Sophie Hannah
I'm a long time fan of Sophie Hannah's page-turning mysteries! It is difficult to not get engulfed in the mystery, all while growing a great desire to know all the answers! 'The Next to Die' did not disappoint my eager fingers...ready to flip, flip, flip through those page!
The story follows a cynical but lovable comedian as she gets ensnared in a mystery involving a serial killer! The serial killer seemingly is targeting pairs of best friends. First, one friend is murdered, then the second friend is murdered. Each murder victim is given a small book with a line of poetry in it before they are murdered.
The police think they have the killers MO worked out and give him the title 'Billy Dead Mates,' referencing the mates of friends he murders. But when comedian Kim Tribbeck is given a little book, their theory is shaken...Kim does not have a best friend!
This book is part of a series that Sophie Hannah writes involving mystery solvers Charlie Zailer and Simon Waterhouse. It is called Spilling CID. The series has been great from the start and I am glad Hannah has written another one in the series.
Okay...I am going to talk a little bit about the ending without giving away any key details...but warning in case you like to know nothing about mystery book endings (and if so, I don't blame you!) Before reading this book, I did see some reviews that referenced the ending being implausible and silly, but I want to come down on the side of liking the ending! I would have never guessed it myself, and even if the motive was unexpected, the book had clues sprinkled throughout.
I find Sophie Hannah's writing style, character creations, and twisty-turny plots all so delightful. I definitely would recommend this book, but I personally like reading books in order and would recommend you do the same and start with the book Little Face.
Hannah is a British author and some of her books have different titles in England than they do in America. Also, the British names are usually better. For instance, in England 'The Next to Die' is called 'The Narrow Bed,' a much better title. 'The Next to Die' could be the name of thousands of mystery books. It is interchangeable. Where as 'The Narrow Bed' fits this specific book. I would be interested to know why this is a common practice, to change titles between countries.
There was some interesting social commentary plopped in this book in the form of the character Sondra Halliday who is a journalist. At first reading this character, I thought 'Is Hannah one of these people who think all millennials and liberals consider themselves special snowflakes?' As a liberal and a sorta millennial, I'd be disappointed if so. (It's hard not to want everyone who creates something you like and admire to have you same political and world views.) The character at first seemed a parody of the right's depiction of liberals. But reading further, I think her critique was more nuanced. it was more about getting so wrapped up in your ideology that your message is lost. The character was a feminist who saw every man as an enemy to women and feminism, so much so that she demonized every man she met and claimed every man she met was degrading her in someway or another. People no longer listened to her message because it was lost in her own anger and unwillingness to shift her own view of the world at all. The only people the message reached in the intended manner where already so staunchly on Sondra Halliday's side, that they all just lived in an echo chamber without trying to build bridges or foster community. It is an interesting portrayal that can be seen on both sides of the political spectrum in America.
'The Next to Die' AKA 'The Narrow Bed' is a perfect book to read in an open windowed coffee shop, with the fresh breeze carrying in the scent of flowers mingling with the scent of coffee. The hustle and bustle of the shop turning into the sound of a low murmur. All of which you wouldn't even notice because you'd be engrossed in this thrilling whodunit!
The story follows a cynical but lovable comedian as she gets ensnared in a mystery involving a serial killer! The serial killer seemingly is targeting pairs of best friends. First, one friend is murdered, then the second friend is murdered. Each murder victim is given a small book with a line of poetry in it before they are murdered.
The police think they have the killers MO worked out and give him the title 'Billy Dead Mates,' referencing the mates of friends he murders. But when comedian Kim Tribbeck is given a little book, their theory is shaken...Kim does not have a best friend!
This book is part of a series that Sophie Hannah writes involving mystery solvers Charlie Zailer and Simon Waterhouse. It is called Spilling CID. The series has been great from the start and I am glad Hannah has written another one in the series.
Okay...I am going to talk a little bit about the ending without giving away any key details...but warning in case you like to know nothing about mystery book endings (and if so, I don't blame you!) Before reading this book, I did see some reviews that referenced the ending being implausible and silly, but I want to come down on the side of liking the ending! I would have never guessed it myself, and even if the motive was unexpected, the book had clues sprinkled throughout.
I find Sophie Hannah's writing style, character creations, and twisty-turny plots all so delightful. I definitely would recommend this book, but I personally like reading books in order and would recommend you do the same and start with the book Little Face.
Hannah is a British author and some of her books have different titles in England than they do in America. Also, the British names are usually better. For instance, in England 'The Next to Die' is called 'The Narrow Bed,' a much better title. 'The Next to Die' could be the name of thousands of mystery books. It is interchangeable. Where as 'The Narrow Bed' fits this specific book. I would be interested to know why this is a common practice, to change titles between countries.
There was some interesting social commentary plopped in this book in the form of the character Sondra Halliday who is a journalist. At first reading this character, I thought 'Is Hannah one of these people who think all millennials and liberals consider themselves special snowflakes?' As a liberal and a sorta millennial, I'd be disappointed if so. (It's hard not to want everyone who creates something you like and admire to have you same political and world views.) The character at first seemed a parody of the right's depiction of liberals. But reading further, I think her critique was more nuanced. it was more about getting so wrapped up in your ideology that your message is lost. The character was a feminist who saw every man as an enemy to women and feminism, so much so that she demonized every man she met and claimed every man she met was degrading her in someway or another. People no longer listened to her message because it was lost in her own anger and unwillingness to shift her own view of the world at all. The only people the message reached in the intended manner where already so staunchly on Sondra Halliday's side, that they all just lived in an echo chamber without trying to build bridges or foster community. It is an interesting portrayal that can be seen on both sides of the political spectrum in America.
'The Next to Die' AKA 'The Narrow Bed' is a perfect book to read in an open windowed coffee shop, with the fresh breeze carrying in the scent of flowers mingling with the scent of coffee. The hustle and bustle of the shop turning into the sound of a low murmur. All of which you wouldn't even notice because you'd be engrossed in this thrilling whodunit!