https://bookhaunt.com/2016/10/06/kilmoon-by-lisa-alber/ ( )

My views on this book are mixed. I love mysteries. I love stories set in the British Isles. As mystery novel in general, I did not enjoy this story a great deal and would not have given it more than a single star. I did however enjoy it as a story in its setting of Ireland. As an average I gave it 3 stars (1+5)/2. As a writer, I enjoyed Ms Alber's prose, but I was less enthused with the "puzzle" of the mystery, which did not hold together well for me.

If I find her next novel in library, snag it for review, or find it used, I will probably read it in hopes her skill improves. I did not like this one well enough that I will buy the next one new. With many authors, I can hardly wait for their next book, and I will pay full price rather than wait for my library or used book store. Sadly Ms Alber is not one of these for me. The next one might change that, because she has the writing skill, but she needed some better editing help with the "puzzle" of the mystery. ( )

between 2.5 and 3. this is very nice for a first novel. it's actually pretty complicated and, for whatever reason, i don't think of a first time mystery author going that route, and i thought she did a good job of it. i don't read a lot of mysteries so am not sure if the more seasoned reader would agree (or care) but it didn't seem like you could do a lot of tracing back of the clues to the killer, but it also didn't seem like it came from nowhere. i thought she did a nice job of giving you the feeling of place. i can't draw a map of the area based on her description, but it had a feeling of the place and the community there.

i didn't find it believable that liam had fallen in love with julia. and that he'd have carried that for decades. she transitioned a lot between characters and perspectives and i found it a bit clunky at times, or that she let too much time pass before returning to certain characters. i would have liked her characters to be more fully drawn, as they all do have interesting stories and personalities. she brings in a lot of characters and while she didn't fully round out most of them, she did keep them separate enough for a reader to have no trouble telling them apart and keeping them straight. there is a good twist at the end and while not a perfect book, was pretty good and kept me interested. i think this book shows that she has good potential as an author and i'd expect her next books to be better, and worth reading. ( )

I admit the reason I read this book was that I'm doing a book challenge that required that I read a book from an author that has the same initials as I do. I found it mildly interesting but nothing to get excited about. The characters were too numerous and confusing. The only thing I really wanted to know at the end of the book is how Marcus was doing and he'd been all but forgotten. I can't imagine how this is going to become a series. ( )

I've traveled in Ireland, thus my interest in this book. I was disappointed...hard to get into and tedious. I finally gave up. I feel guilty giving a poor review because I received the book through Early Reviewers program. I hope they will still consider me in the future! ( )