Katie F. (katiez) - , reviewed Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance (Oscar Wilde, Bk 1) on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
What a wonderful book! So funny, with Oscar Wilde the character's dialogue sprinkled with quotes from O.W. the real person. An excellent mystery, characters that are full of life, superb dialogue, a juicy story...what's not to like?
Milton C. (Tarheel57) reviewed Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance (Oscar Wilde, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a fun read. Particularly if you like Oscar Wilde. Not too much on Arthur Conan Doyle if your interest is there. It is a light read with good Victorian and Edwardian atmosphere.
MP G. (philomene) -
Helpful Score: 1
Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle actually met in 1889 and that meeting is a central factor in this wonderful mystery, first of a series.
Its set in the mood and atmosphere of 1880's London and peopled with historic figures from the age. Oscar Wilde is dramatically brought to life as he seeks justice after a 15 year old boy is viciously murdered and then all evidence, including the body, disappears. Wilde demonstrates Sherlockian powers of observation and deduction, much to the delight of Conan Doyle and he has his own Watson to record his brilliance to boot.
Having just read Dorian Gray, I delighted at the many quotes from and references to it throughout. And you get a darn good mystery too.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Its set in the mood and atmosphere of 1880's London and peopled with historic figures from the age. Oscar Wilde is dramatically brought to life as he seeks justice after a 15 year old boy is viciously murdered and then all evidence, including the body, disappears. Wilde demonstrates Sherlockian powers of observation and deduction, much to the delight of Conan Doyle and he has his own Watson to record his brilliance to boot.
Having just read Dorian Gray, I delighted at the many quotes from and references to it throughout. And you get a darn good mystery too.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
For whatever reason, I just couldn't continue reading this book. After reading about six chapters, I skipped to the end to see how it ended, which required three chapters. Everything about the book seemed dragged out and the text was stilted. It is the first mystery I've treated this way in years.
jjares reviewed Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance (Oscar Wilde, Bk 1) on + 3413 more book reviews
To me, the book might be called, "Oscar Wilde and a Book of No Importance." The only thing I like about it is the clearly Victorian and Edwardian atmosphere the author is successful in sharing about the time Wilde lived.
I really don't like having real people turned into fictional sleuths. Because Oscar Wilde lived life large (and had a notorious ending), the author must have thought that there were those who would enjoy learning more about this 'larger-than-life' man. However, I walked away with no new knowledge about the inner workings of this gifted writer. The person in the book never seemed real; he was just a caricatureâ of a famous person.
I forced myself to finish this book; hoping it would get better. Wilde's flamboyant style, the easy grace, âand other biographical details are all in evidence. However, I know nothing more about what made Oscar Wilde the unique person he was during his lifetime.
Oscar Wilde, using Arthur Conan Doyle's tactics to solve the murders, just didn't work for me. Sherlock Holmes was meticulous in his reasoning, while Oscar Wilde seemed to be too showy to resort to such painstaking efforts.
I was looking for substance; what made Oscar Wilde such a unique person and writer? This book gives examples of Wilde's uniqueness, but no substance or meaning behind his actions.
Oscar Wilde Series
**1. Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders (2007)
aka Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance
2. Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death (2008)
aka Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder
3. Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile(2009)
4. Oscar Wilde and the Nest of Vipers(2010)
aka Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders
5. Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders(2011)
6. Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol (2012)
I really don't like having real people turned into fictional sleuths. Because Oscar Wilde lived life large (and had a notorious ending), the author must have thought that there were those who would enjoy learning more about this 'larger-than-life' man. However, I walked away with no new knowledge about the inner workings of this gifted writer. The person in the book never seemed real; he was just a caricatureâ of a famous person.
I forced myself to finish this book; hoping it would get better. Wilde's flamboyant style, the easy grace, âand other biographical details are all in evidence. However, I know nothing more about what made Oscar Wilde the unique person he was during his lifetime.
Oscar Wilde, using Arthur Conan Doyle's tactics to solve the murders, just didn't work for me. Sherlock Holmes was meticulous in his reasoning, while Oscar Wilde seemed to be too showy to resort to such painstaking efforts.
I was looking for substance; what made Oscar Wilde such a unique person and writer? This book gives examples of Wilde's uniqueness, but no substance or meaning behind his actions.
Oscar Wilde Series
**1. Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders (2007)
aka Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance
2. Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death (2008)
aka Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder
3. Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile(2009)
4. Oscar Wilde and the Nest of Vipers(2010)
aka Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders
5. Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders(2011)
6. Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol (2012)
