The Scold's Bridle

Rating:
Summary: Not Her Best Novel
Review: Having read The Sculptress and The Ice House, I looked forward to my next Walters book. I like the fact that she creates fresh characters with each story, rather than relying on a "serial" detective.

Having said that, The Scold's Bridle was not the best example of Walters at work. The story was slow to develop, and the characters were not as well-drawn as they could have been. The red herrings were too obviously that, and almost everyone in the story comes out as unlikeable.

I am usually a quick reader, but found myself slowed down by the side plots. Although the last few chapters were compelling reading, it did not make up for what went before.

If you like Minette Walters, as I do, it is worth reading, but don't expect The Scold's Bridle to be her best novel.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Walters Title.
Review: Scold's Bridle is my favorite of all Minette Walters books. Her characters aren't totally sympathetic, or good, or evil for that matter. You never know who to root for or who to hate, in the next plot twist a good guy becomes bad or vice versa. There is alot of suspense and action in these novels, and Ms. Walters really makes the reader think. These are not mindless quick mysteries, although I read them quickly. Read them all, so far there isn't a bad one in the bunch!

Rating:
Summary: Cat Got your Tounge? Not When It Comes To Minette Walters!
Review: The Scold's Bridle is one of Minette's best! When the old lady that everyone in Fontwell hates dies a myesterious death in her bathtub - people breathe a sigh of relief.

Not so for her doctor Sarah Blakeney, she sees more to the death than meets the eye and takes it upon herself to discover the truth behind Mathilda Gillespie's gruesome death.

What the reader finds beyond the main plot is ingenious writing, rich characters and wonderful story telling. This is one page turner that I tried desperately not to read in one sitting - I really wanted to savor it.

All in all a fabulous book!

Rating:
Summary: Good Character Development Makes Good Reading
Review: This was the most enjoyable mystery I have read this year. What makes it exceptional is the slow introduction of characters and how the reader gets to know them through other people and also through the action. In movies, one knows who the bad guys are-- they are always smoking. The bad guys are quickly and easily labeled so that we can get on with the movie. However, in "The Scold's Bridle", as in real life, the characters do not stick to their good or bad labels. This humanizes them and humanizes the protagonist because in real life we are often blinded by our first impressions and prejudices. The character development and the complex and page-turning mystery makes this book a good read. I also read Ms. Walters' other books and enjoyed this one second to "The Ice House".

Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: Unfortunately, I didn't see the BBC TV series but it must have been great. Mathilda Gillespie is a bitter, nasty woman who is found dead in her bath, naked with her wrists slashed and wearing a horrible middle ages contraption called a scold's bridle on her head. The bridle was a metal head collar which held down the tongue, effectively, if cruelly, silencing the wearer.Mathilda was generally disliked so there are quite a few candidates on the police list of suspects. It's a great murder mystery which I enjoyed tremendously.