Well researched with the pace of a thriller. It isn't necessary to be interested in tech startups to be intrigued by this story. I found it astounding that a product that never worked succeeded in attracting so many presumably savvy investors and avoided regulatory consequences for so long.

The characters are reasonably interesting, but the pace is glacial and the story never seemed to gel.

This is an interesting and well written bio. However, it is puzzling that so few pages are dedicated to ER's life after the death of FDR.

I am truly stunned by the number of 4 and 5 star reviews this book received. It is a suspense novel that lacks suspense; a mystery that engenders no urgency for a solution; a horror novel that isn't remotely frightening; and a gothic tale with no atmosphere. I bought this based on the fulsome reviews. I don't think I have ever been so disappointed.

Even with a willing suspension of disbelief, this book just didn't work for me. Of the three characters whose points of view were explored, only the daughter came across as a real individual. The father, who gets to share his perspective first, comes across as psychotic, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the story nor do any of the other characters seem to notice.

The tone was more overblown soap opera than mystery/psychological thriller.

Just an offhand observation - there were so many references to sweat and sweating that it was actually annoying.

An interesting and fun read. Anyone who appreciates musical theater should enjoy this book.

I'm not sure why this book has elicited such glowing reviews. It is a pleasant enough read, but in my view the characters are one dimensional and there is little suspense. I am puzzled as to why Richard, who apparently was part of the "family" for three years, suddenly becomes a horror of a human being in year four. And the big "twist" that is touted as coming at the end - really?

This book is generally well reviewed, so my expectations were fairly high. It was my introduction to Yates, and it has not encouraged me to continue with his other works. The female characters just didn't work for me; they seemed to be barely distinguishable. And eventually I just had to laugh at the way every woman Michael Davenport met instantly became his lover, even though he appears to view females as prey whose only value is their appearance.

Lowboy is one of the most original novels I have read in some time. The story is riveting and the treatment of the characters compassionate.

In some athletic competitions, judges give higher scores for moves with a higher degree of difficulty; Wray has definitely earned his high score here for his portrayal of a boy tormented by mental illness.

This book is fairly well researched and written, but most of its subjects (not just the Curzon sisters but the people in their orbit) are so irritating that I found it difficult to complete. You will definitely need a healthy tolerance for the selfish solipsism of the fabulously wealthy to enjoy this read.

Thoroughly researched and brilliantly written. Well worth the time invested.

I found the initial chapters of this book intriguing and was enthusiastic about continuing on. However, it seemed to become bogged down in meandering and convoluted plot lines. The large cast of characters meant that no one character was given sufficient attention to become interesting. While I soldiered on to the end, I was disappointed that it didn't live up to the early promise.

Very well written and full of interesting information.

While the book succeeds thoroughly in terms of atmosphere, and the characters are reasonably interesting, it strikes me as repetitious. The scenes between Eliza/James and Mary/Eddie are like watching Groundhog Day.

Many names are dropped in this interesting history of the unconventional lives of the inhabitants of an English country house. It provides an absorbing example of how money could insulate those who had it from the mores that were generally applied to the less affluent. A knowledge of British history during the period described might make for a more compelling reading experience.

Generally an interesting plot, with a degree of suspense, but the stakes somehow don't seem to come across as that high even when lives are in danger. The main characters weren't really fully formed, and the character of Kat was a puzzle to me. Her primary trait appears to be a desire to perform oral sex on every man she meets. While at times the language is clever, I frequently felt like I was wading through paragraphs of contrived padding.

Meticulously researched and brilliantly written.

The characters of Grandpa and Will Tweedy are two of my favorites in all of literature. While the story sometimes stretches credulity to put Will Tweedy in a position to narrate, it is a convincing depiction of life in its joy, sorrow and messiness.

Chernow is one of the best biographers writing today. This book is full of compelling information, presented in a cogent manner.

You don't have to be a fan of Welles to find this book fascinating. Simon Callow has done a masterful job with a larger than life subject.

This is a first class biography. A pleasure to read.

Not a bad read, but a bit plot heavy with a hint of melodrama.

I am puzzled by the positive reviews this book has garnered. I felt as though I was reading the same scene over and over again for hundreds of pages. The minor characters were so indistinct I couldn't keep them straight. Even the descriptions of all the fabulous homes that every character seemed to occupy were repetitive.

I am giving 4 stars for the prose, which I found quite beautiful at times. I found certain aspects of the plot to stretch credulity, and thought that the characters could have been better drawn.