Ruth Galloway Book 2
The second book is better than the first. The mystery is more complex, there’s a love triangle and a big time complication. I’m still not thrilled with more than a few aspects of Ruth or Harry’s internal dialogue. It still comes across as really dated and toxic. I find Ruth to be both brilliant and vapid, she’s written with a lack of forethought into her personal life, lightly dismisses things that have huge consequences, but still manages to connect the dots in her professional life.
The lack of intention and wishy-washiness of the lead characters during the intimacy in the first novel bothered me, but the complete disregard for contraception or the possible consequences really bothered me. This book touched more on on these aspects. I can’t think of a single person I know who would a) let it happen without at least thinking of the risk of STIs or pregnancy, or b) not be stressed AF about it later. I know sex education varies between countries, classes and education levels, but as a doctorate level professor, I expected better. To be so blase about something that is A HUGE DEAL blew my mind.
Highlights:
- good cozy mystery/crime
- interesting historical info
- good introduction of new characters
Lowlights:
- still too much body shaming and fat phobia
- still too much male gaze / mysogyny
- ugh, a love triangle but one is married and she’s interested but not interested but not jealous and also friends with the wife?
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