The Mysteries [Paperback]

Lisa Tuttle (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Books (2006)
• ASIN: B0011CVND4
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grounded development of a fairie tale, May 13, 2005

By 

John W. Oliver (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mysteries (Hardcover)

I picked up the book originally because. George R. R. Martin mentioned on his website that he was reading this book, and he seemed supportive of the author. Being a fan of the Song of Fire & Ice, I decided to check out the book.

I found the story to be very grounded in the real world, though it does end up being a faerie story. She works in the faerie aspect rather well, not having it overwhelm the development of the characters. The development is also very grounded in myths and that both site and even told at times. Through this method, she helps support the plausibility of the story.

Overall, the pacing of the story is excellent. The interspersing of flashbacks, folklore and the current narrative was excellently done, introducing information at the appropriate time as well as developing Ian and the setting.

My one complaint is that I am not sure I like the ending in the fact that there is no final resolution for Ian. He is left hanging with decisions unmade. While it does spark the imagination of the reader and I definitely wondered what would happen in a number of possible scenarios, I found the end unfulfilling.

In the end, I would definitely recommend this book. It is an excellent read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great., April 7, 2005

By 

Jeffrey Jones "sadcaddy" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mysteries (Hardcover)

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend and fellow bookworm. I have to say I thought it was good but not great. The overall story, pacing and incremental development of story was terrific. I also enjoyed the interspersed short chapters of accounts detailing similar disappearances, thus lending the story a more haunting and mythical feel. What brought the story down for me was the unbelievable narrator as a middle-aged American man. Ian as a character was just unconvincing, yet as a narrator was good. I found myself about halfway through really enjoying the story yet not really that interested in the other characters, Hugh and Laura. All in all if you enjoy detective novels and fantasy novels you might enjoy this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really good!, October 17, 2005

By 

Margaret Dybala "too many books, too little time" (Pearland, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mysteries (Hardcover)

I love this genre, but well written fantasy is not so easy to find. Usually I have to wait for a new DeLint, Blaylock, or Powers (and a very few others). But this author, who is new to me, just blew me away with this lovely story of a man who, having had a traumatic sudden disappearance of his father, now spends his life finding people (he is a PI). But some people don't want to be found; and some people may have travelled to the world of the Sidhe. I loved the end, even though it was indeed ambiguous. It is as though the main character has a sort of ADHD of the heart or of life... but it works. I would love to see a sequeal.