Review of Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way

[Chinazo Anozie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way" by Lo Monaco.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way by Lo Monaco is a murder mystery following Terry Strong, a private investigator. Father John Dresdale, the parish priest of St. Benjamin’s Catholic Church, was beloved by many. However, when his body is found at the bottom of the church’s thirty-foot-high bell tower, questions begin to arise whether Father John indeed committed suicide, as ruled by the police, or if he was murdered. Father John’s family has appointed Terry to find out the truth, and upon her investigation, she unearths many secrets that also threaten her safety.

The book started as a slow burner, and I was excited to guess the killer and their motive and see how it would all play out—if it was truly a murder. I liked the clever way Terry interrogated people and how she could get information with them being none the wiser; it was admirable, especially when checking the alibis of Trent and Monroe Morgan.

However, I had many issues with this book. Firstly, given their similarities, I thought using Carl and Kyle as the names of Terry’s boyfriend and ex-husband was not very imaginative. The plot also dragged on for too long with many unnecessary details, such as the entire proceedings of Father John’s funeral mass. What I had initially thought would be a slow burner never picked up and got boring as the book followed every minute step of Terry’s mundane life and investigation. There was no suspense, intrigue, or anything exciting, even as Terry investigated the case and the suspects. I found her agonizing over Carl and Kyle very tiring. She spends many chapters trying to understand her feelings for Kyle, and while in an early chapter, we see that she’s resolved these feelings, in subsequent chapters, she goes through the whole process again. The reasons for her divorce are repeated unnecessarily almost every time Kyle comes up in the book.

Overall, Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way by Lo Monaco was a fair read, and proper execution and professional editing could turn it into an excellent one. I give it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, with a star reduction for the above issues. Many errors in the book also warranted an additional reduction.

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Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way
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[Loner Pen]

Hey y'all! After reading this review, it seems like "Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way" by Lo Monaco might not be the most captivating read out there. The plot seems to drag on, lacking suspense and excitement. The repetitive focus on Terrys personal life and relationships also takes away from the murder mystery aspect. However, with some proper execution and editing, this book could potentially be improved. Overall, it's rated 3 out of 5 stars. Y'all might wanna consider this review before diving in! Dynamic characters, each with their own compelling arc.

[Loner Pen]

Howdy there! After carefully reading the review, it seems that Fallen in a Dark Uneven Way by Lo Monaco may not be the most thrilling murder mystery out there. The plot drags on, lacking suspense and intrigue. However, with proper editing, it has potential to become a great read. Thanks for sharing your insights! Emotional resonance, touched my heart deeply.

[Charmaine Mahlangu]

Sounds mysterious hey. A father commiting suicide is an entire catastrophe for any church. Anyone would suspect this was fowl play. Your review is great . Crime thriller is one of my favorite genre so id read this

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a novel with good potential hindered by some problems that could be fixed with more editing. A professional editor might help the author with that task. Thank you for your great review!