Review: Elegant Myster
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2012
"The Elegant Corpse" is a lovely little mystery, with a bit of kink. It kept me guessing until the end, and it also didn't wind things up in a rush, the way many mysteries do. Instead, we get a couple more chapters on the aftermath and what happens to the main characters. With that accolade comes a bit of a warning: about three-quarters through the book, when it all starts to unravel, I couldn't put it down.Although Roger's character isn't entirely likable, he is still very sympathetic. We can feel his pain, which continues even years after his beloved has died. Sean, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery, but that seems very intentional. It's hard to tell at first if he's gay, and his interest in the case will make you wonder if he's involved.The description of Sean makes him sound younger than he would actually be. The timeline of his brother's murder would make him nearly 30, at least, but the author depicts his demeanor and body as if he were in his early twenties. It's not so drastic that it makes the story unbelievable, it is just one of those things that nags at you once you realize it.While the writing is generally very good, the editing leaves a lot to be desired. There were quite a few cases of missing or wrong words, and even one passage where one character is named instead of another, more than once. It's the kind of thing that can really drive you nuts, since you have to stop and think, "Wait, what? Is he talking about Peter or Patrick?"