These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly wasn't what I expected, though at the same time I found it very predictable. The cover made me think it would be a horror or thriller, but it was a simple mystery about his her father's death.Set in the pre-turn of the century New York City, Josephine, Jo, is from a very wealthy family where nothing but puppies and flowers and getting married is talked about when women are in the room. So Jo is hopelessly naive so much so that it gets really annoying. If I was going to describe Jo naive would be the first thing, then curious and determined. But it felt like she was those things so then we could move the plot forward. Jo wasn't really good at anything that we actually get to see. Supposedly she is a good writer and dreams of being a reporter who "tells other's stories," but we never get anything of her writing. Other than that, she isn't good at anything else. No hobbies besides her writing, that we don't see, no little quirks like flicking her hair or clicking her nails... She seemed flat. Jo was really annoying, though Eddie and Oscar were more interesting, though I wished from more of them. Most of the characters lacked character. Eddie, Oscar, and Grandmama seemed to have the most character to them. They seemed the most real, which is really sad when the main character doesn't seem real.
There is a tiny love triangle, though it doesn't run or ruin the story. Most of it is choosing between her family and the world she knew and grew up in, Bram is "good" someone who can bring her stability. Eddie, on the other hand, is a reporter who will do anything to get a story. He represents all that she wants and dreams about. He is the wildside of everything she didn't know. This triangle is more of the worlds she tries to decide between. Thankfully, it doesn't run the whole show (love triangles are really overdone).
The plot itself was predictable. I called the bad guy fairly early out, and (which is really weird) I was right. There were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming that were nice, but if a really good reader was reading this, they would have gotten it. The story was very plot driven getting from one piece of evidence and witnesses, and like I said the plotline was predictable.
It also was really slow at the beginning and middle part of the book. I was about ready to put it down and read something else, but I persisted. I ended up finishing the last 2/3 of the book in two days because I wanted it done. So it could be a quick read and one with an interesting motive to murder, but I felt like Jo needed everything explained to her which meant that the reader had everything explained. Nothing was left up to the reader to figure out, though like I said, I figured whodunit fairly early off.
The one thing that I did like was the setting. The world and history was well thought out and she paid particular attention to the poorer sides of NYC: 1890's and what it would have been like. I have read some reviews that it was overboard, but I thought it was okay. I enjoyed another look at NYC and a part of history that I knew very little about.
A question I would have, though, would be: would Jo have been that naive because of her surroundings and family? I mean she reads the newspapers of awful things, but she doesn't know what a "disorderly house" or prostitute is? What?
Overall, I was very sad. Jennifer Donnelly's other book Revolution was excellent and this one seemed to fall flat on its face. I honestly hope there isn't a sequel.
