What do readers think of Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield? Write your own review.

This is a beautifully written book. It falls into the rare occasion I wish I was allowed to give half stars. The story was somewhat predictable to me, but I was sucked in because of the writing. The book did make me think, about death and the rituals we follow. I wish I had friends that had read this already to discuss it with.

Diane is a beautiful writer. Her books are mesmerizing, her words flow. There is so much to think about when you finish her books. I wish she would write more and faster. As you read, it is fascinating to watch everything unfold. Bellman and Black would make a very good book club book; you want to discuss and share ideas when you finish the book. She knows how to write a thought provoking read.

It is difficult for me to write a neutral review on this book because I truly enjoyed much of the story but the ending, although not out of left field or purposely written to jar the reader, was not what I consider in line with where most of the key elements of the story seem to lead the reader. In fact some of the story, which I had to re-read several times after finishing the book, including the back cover summary and a statement on the front cover, technically creates a different underlying premise for the story than actually is the case. Several other story elements do the same. When I finished the book, I actually felt kind of mislead and somewhat annoyed that significant parts of the story were not really tied to a coherent ending or an ending that provided a satisfying conclusion and the feeling that the investment made by faithfully following the story was worth it.