Rating: 
Summary: One of the best mysteries I've ever read
Review: A convoluted plot that keeps you guessing throughout every page, even to the last, makes this book a riviting page turner you won't want to put down. Excellent writing, lots of twists and turns and sub-plots, and no padding.
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent and extraordinary Walters work!
Review: Again, Minette Walters transcends her genre! This is no ordinary murder mystery. To the delight of any murder mystery reader, details emerge unexpectedly and continuously change the probabilities. But, beyond the shifting views of the truth, the human dramas unfold in an equally complex way. Love, and hate, stories unfold along with the main plot in a sweet and sour mix. Is Olive Martin an abused and confused child hiding in this hideous fat adult body? And, if so, is she essentially pitiable, or horrifyingly evil? And what is the tragedy in the past of this writer which has brought her to this state of sympathy with such an ostensible monster? The book is so gracefully written, and its characters so beautifully and believably drawn that you almost have to pity other authors of the psychological murder mystery; they haven't a chance. Walters is head and shoulders beyond the best.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't get it
Review: As I read all the glowing praise for Walters and her finely crafted mysteries, I have to say, I don't get it. I think she's a terrible writer. I read The Scold's Bridle when it first came out and didn't agree with the praise it had earned. But when casting about the other day for a modern mystery, I thought I'd give Walters another try with The Sculptress. It was even worse than The Scold's Bridle. The plot twists are so transparently engineered, and you could drive a truck through some of the holes. At the end, when the tension should be building, the exposition becomes confusing and story oddly boring. Throughout, her main characters are shallow, yet instantly dislikable, and their behavior is just bizarre (and I'm talking about the non-criminals). Even when she's trying to show tough tenderness between characters, it comes off more like really bad romance novel relationship, mixing violence and sexual interest in a very unpleasant way. To top it off, the dialogue is stilted and, quite often, completely uninteresting. I see very little intelligence, inventiveness, or skill here; Walters can't hold a candle to Ruth Rendell.
Rating:
Summary: I don't get it
Review: As I read all the glowing praise for Walters and her finely crafted mysteries, I have to say, I don't get it. I think she's a terrible writer. I read The Scold's Bridle when it first came out and didn't agree with the praise it had earned. But when casting about the other day for a modern mystery, I thought I'd give Walters another try with The Sculptress. It was even worse than The Scold's Bridle. The plot twists are so transparently engineered, and you could drive a truck through some of the holes. At the end, when the tension should be building, the exposition becomes confusing and story oddly boring. Throughout, her main characters are shallow, yet instantly dislikable, and their behavior is just bizarre (and I'm talking about the non-criminals). Even when she's trying to show tough tenderness between characters, it comes off more like really bad romance novel relationship, mixing violence and sexual interest in a very unpleasant way. To top it off, the dialogue is stilted and, quite often, completely uninteresting. I see very little intelligence, inventiveness, or skill here; Walters can't hold a candle to Ruth Rendell.
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing story
Review: As this book begins, author Rosalind Leigh's world is falling apart. Torn up by a failed marriage, she develops writer's block and is unable to pursue her career. To jolt her out of the doldrums, her publisher decides to assign her the task of writing a book about Olive Martin, an obese woman who has confessed to the brutal slayings of her mother and her sister. Rosalind is reluctant at first, but after meeting Olive, she develops a fondness for her and begins to suspect that she is incapable of committing the crimes she has confessed to. Roz connects with Hal, the policeman who investigated the case, and they form a romantic partnership as well as an investigative one. This is a well-written book which keeps the suspense going, although the pace is a little slow at times.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing story
Review: As this book begins, author Rosalind Leigh's world is falling apart. Torn up by a failed marriage, she develops writer's block and is unable to pursue her career. To jolt her out of the doldrums, her publisher decides to assign her the task of writing a book about Olive Martin, an obese woman who has confessed to the brutal slayings of her mother and her sister. Rosalind is reluctant at first, but after meeting Olive, she develops a fondness for her and begins to suspect that she is incapable of committing the crimes she has confessed to. Roz connects with Hal, the policeman who investigated the case, and they form a romantic partnership as well as an investigative one. This is a well-written book which keeps the suspense going, although the pace is a little slow at times.
Rating:
Summary: Move over Misses Christie, Sayers and Tey
Review: Gross, monstrous Olive Martin has been imprisoned seven years for the brutal slaying of her mother and sister. Did she do it? Ms. Walters led this self-claimed mystery expert like a trained seal in every direction she wished. She had me questioning every circumstance and person and left the biggest question to the end. My kind of book. Ms. Walters is ahead of me all the way. I wish she could manage three a year just for my pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put this book down
Review: I bought this book and read it in less than a day. It's a well written, suspenseful book. Highly recommended!!
Rating: 
Summary: the sculptress
Review: I couldn't wait to get this book ! I had read so many good reviews. The first 200 pages were so good that I could not read fast enough. Then it kind of went off the tract talking about the writers boyfriend's trouble, adding a whole lot of unnecessary characters. As though there weren't enough characters already. But where it really lost it for me was the ending.The person who actually committed the murders had no motive against the people who were killed and in no way would have the physical stength to kill these people in the manner in which they were killed. It's one thing to not have it be the first person who you suspect. You need some kind of suspense. But when the murderer is ridiculous that wrecks a book for me no matter how well it is written.
Rating:
Summary: eeww.
Review: i know there are people as large as olive in this world, but the descriptions of her are just kinda gross. however, i was compelled to want to know more and more about her and her creepy psycho upbringing. this book has you constantly questioning what is going on, nothing is as it seems...or maybe it is. as nauseating as some of olive's behavior is, this book is a fascinating read. i highly recommend this book!
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