Rating: 
Summary: Very good - - but predictable
Review: This is the first book I have read by Walters, and I was impressed by her ability to weave a creative story line and suspenseful plot. My disappointment in the book was the use of the same old sterotypes which gave away the villian of the story. A good number of the characters fell into those same old sterotypes of people that you see in movies and read in books, but hardly ever (if at all) meet in real life. I found myself catagorizing each as they came into the story and half way into the book, I suspected, to my chagrin, that she was going to play one sterotype to the end. I kept hoping that she would turn from the course, but as each clue was dropped, it became obvious who the murderer was well before the end of the book. My only suspense at that point, was hoping beyond hope that there would be an Agatha Christie type plot twist which showed me I was wrong, but it was not to be. I liked the ending though, as it restored some of the unpredictablity that had left the story earlier, and gave you a chance mull over the various possibilities.Overall though, the story was well written and sometimes fun. The author played fair in leaving clues that, in the absence of sterotypes, would have left me going back and saying it should have been obvious, and I found myself liking even hard to like characters. If you're looking for a good mystery, try Agatha Christie first, but then give Minette Walters a chance, but start with another one of her books.
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Room - Minette Walters
Review: While her style is gripping, her female characters very strong, and romance is kept to a minimum, I am also glad that this was not my first exposure to Ms.Walters. I found the ending rather too convoluted and was therefore unsatisfied. Pity, because I was gripped throughout, and only wish the ending came together better.
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