This is my second blog on this subject and I have substituted new reviews for the ones in the original piece.
Every so often I visit my book pages on Amazon to see if any new reviews have come in. Some of the initial reviews were family and friends, of course, so I knew they’d be pretty positive. But when the new reader reviews started coming in, I was fascinated. Some were funny, some not so.
Just as in writing a book, writing a review reveals a glimpse into the writer’s true identity — on which side of the political aisle s/he stands. How s/he feels about love, hate, money, ethnicity, religion, values and much more. I learned something from all of them so I decided to share a few with you.
TIME EXPOSURE 5 stars: “Excellent Story! This was a fascinating book. I literally couldn’t put it down. I had seen movies about Booth, but none of them impressed me. This book did. I loved the twists and turns. It was well written with no errors at all. It kept me reading it until I finished.”
TIME EXPOSURE 4 stars: “Kennedy has the knack. This was another fun read…a little over-the-top plot wise but it’s an arguable sequence of events and given the constancy of greed and political corruption I found myself sympathetic to the story. The conclusion is less compelling but I do recommend this one. Lots of Civil War info.”
I’m bummed the reader didn’t like the conclusion. This was a real twist . . . or so I thought. Ah well.
DEADLY PROVENANCE 5 stars: “An author who can capture a period in time as well as Rockwell does on canvas. An intriguing display of mystery and perhaps many ways to look at a long held opinion of a time where nothing was sacred.”
I’d love more of these, wouldn’t you? Honest, I don’t know this person. But I’d like to.
DEADLY PROVENANCE 3 stars: “Art Crime and WW2 Easy fun read…. Detectives and art are always an interesting combination, add ww2 to the mix and it’s a hit.”
What made it three rather than 4 stars?
PURE LIES 2 stars: “Not up to Kennedy’s usual standards. This rework of the Salem Witch Trials is heavy-handed and much too long. I saw the ending coming from mid-book — too bad. I’m a fan of Deadly Provenance. This one …not so much.”
I really appreciate comments like this. It’s honest and she says why she rated it low.
PURE LIES 5 stars: “There are two stories in this book – I definitely recommend it – especially for book club folks. I also think it should be made into a movie. Lynne does her research and picks her subject matter carefully. Greed, real estate values, hysterical young, bored maidens and corrupt (Puritan Clergy) men formulated this tragic, true historical period and got away with it for years. Does this sound familiar? History does repeat itself, which needs to be told.”
It’s obvious to me the reader read this book carefully and culled out some of the important motivations for the witch trials. Thank you!
THE TRIANGLE MURDERS 5 stars: “A puzzle within a puzzle. I very much enjoyed Kennedy’s historical fiction with two murders tied 100 years apart to an actual historic event: the Triangle Factory fire of 1911. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author. Her thorough research and engaging story kept me reading faster and faster. An ingenious plot pulled off extraordinarily well.”
I love the “puzzle within a puzzle!” I’m also pleased that the reader felt I had done my research.
I urge you to check out your own book reviews from time to time. What did you learn? Share them with us.
Unfortunately, I don’t have many reviews to compare 🙁 That is not for want of trying, of course! I have to admit I’m not someone who can’t take alot of bad reviews. I do think that my latest book is one of my better ones (especially in comparison to the one before it) so it’s kind of odd that I’m receiving better reviews on the one I feel is sub-standard.
It’s always hard to know what to expect, Tina. Don’t despair. Sometimes the book you least expect to be popular, is!
Thanks 🙂 I’ll keep battling on and maybe I’ll get some luck come my way
Go, girl!
Most of my reviews are 5 stars and they are not all friends or relatives. The challenge for me is getting more of them I tell people give it an ‘honest review’ and if it is not 4 or 5 stars so be it.
Below was the latest review.
“A fantastic book! Definite must read. This book takes the reader through a window of time and gives them a glimpse of life in a by-gone era. It shows a stark difference in how things operated on a social and societal level in an era not too long ago. Bill takes the reader through a journey of his life full of crazy antics and wild, hilarious adventures. His book reminds one of the movie “The Christmas Story” which happens to be one of my favorites. I have laughed out loud so many times reading this fun and wholesome biographical glimpse into Bill’s life. I would highly recommend this book. You will most definitely step back in time and have Bill whisk you from one adventure to the next. Never a dull moment.”
Wow, Bill, this is an awesome review. In fact, I’m going to check out your book. Isn’t that the point? Thanks.
Perplexed as to why I got a 3 star for this as it seems totally negative –
S. McHughon 1 December 2015 3 star
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
The constant procession of names tagged to cardboard characters is wearying. I doubt the writer has really got her head around the poverty and hardihood of these times about which she writes. But hey! It’s a try. She could do with a strong editor.
A couple further down I have this:
ByNeil Loganon 26 October 2015
Format: Paperback
Action adventure ,hard to put down, has characters that you will love to hate, also things that will tug at your heart, I found myself hoping that Karma finds a certain person !if you love historical fiction based on factual events you will enjoy this first book of a series.
And this:
ByGillianon 12 December 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
Historical fiction is new to me but I thoroughly enjoyed “Turn of the Tide”, so much so, that I have now started “A House Divided” and am finding it difficult to put down. When you have a good story and characters, it can be set anywhere, but I particularly enjoyed the historical setting of the book.Definitely worth a read.
Horses for courses?
(I do pride myself on understanding the period – but research for me is an iceberg – 7/8ths hidden, 1/8th may make it into the story, if it’s relevant; so I have to admit the ‘I doubt the writer has got her head around the poverty and hardihood of these times about which she writes’ did hurt. The story wasn’t primarily set among the sector of society for whom the poverty was a major issue, therefore it wasn’t relevant, though i did touch on it lightly a couple of times.
I’m confused, Margaret. Were these reviews all for the same book? Did the second and third get 5 stars? I agree about the 3 star review. Sounds more like a 1 or 2. Thanks again for responding.
Forgot the stars – Neil Logan and Gillian both gave five stars. Titles of reviews are also interesting. S McHugh calls his/ hers ‘Scots innumerable slay each other.’ Neil Logan ‘Murder and mayhem in Scotland.’
When you get two completely opposing reviews, what is the best way to proceed? I think it’s to look for a consensus among most reviewers (if you have enough reviews to gauge this. For this book I had 63 reviews (UK) and one of the Top 500 reviewers’ review perhaps sums up the general reaction, and thus gives me hope!
(I’ve stripped out the title, so as not to abuse Lynne’s invitation to comment by turning it into advertising.)
Byjaffareadstoo TOP 500 REVIEWERon 29 August 2015 5 star
Format: Paperback
I first discovered Margaret’s excellent historical novel ……. when in November 2011, I watched the Alan Titchmarsh show, always a favourite programme of mine in the afternoons, and I learned about Margaret’s involvement in the People’s Novelist Competition, in which she was a finalist in the historical fiction category.
…… appealed to my love of historical fiction , firstly because of its Scottish setting, but also because it was about a set of warring families living within a harsh environment and with their own unique moral code. The story is evocative and atmospheric and really brings to life the inherent danger of living within the Scottish clan system of the mid part of the sixteenth century. Based on the true, and it must be said, violent feud between the Cunninghame’s and the Montgomeries, the story literally abounds with skulduggery, political conflict and a real sense of rivalry between two stubbornly fierce adversaries.
It’s beautifully descriptive, with a real sense of history and conjures sixteenth century Scotland in a such a glorious way that allows time and place to truly come alive in your imagination..
Thank you, Margaret. You are absolutely right about the stars. Titles are so much more interesting and informative. Also, looking for consensus among reviewers helps us to have a truer picture of the book’s appeal. Your review is wonderful, with enough detail about the story to make it intriguing. So much so, that I am going to check out your book!
Thank you, Lynne, all those first three reviews were for the same book – so definitely confusing! I have some amazingly long reviews – by folk who obviously really engaged with the book and took a lot more time than I have to write about it – mostly without spoilers too, which is a real art. I wish i could say thank you to some of them, but a) I don’t know them and b) it’s not really done, is it?
I know that Amazon allows you to say that you “found this review” helpful. Actually, though, if you click on the reviewer’s name maybe you can get directly to him or her to send a comment. Hmm. I never tried it.
Great reviews… it’s not easy to get insightful reviews from readers,,, it’s an active process that requires time and attention, and a “love it or hate it” attitude. I have never read a neutral review. I like the reviews on Amazon, but for predatory reasons. I want my books to be pushed to the top of Civil War historical fiction queries!
Thanks, Kevin. I wish I had time to write more thorough reviews of the books I read, so I’m grateful for the reviews I get.
LOL, I loved this. My most popular book has almost 4,000 reviews. They range from ‘best book ever written’ to ‘what drivel’. Is everyone reading the same book? Bottom line, no matter how many reviews you have they will either make or break your day. Hope you all have good ones with 5* all around.
Thanks so much, Rebecca!