Quick Book Review: Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman (DNF)
January 16, 2013 26 Comments
One morning, Nora Hamilton finds her husband dead: he’s hung himself. He was a policeman in a small town in the mountains near New York. After the first shock, Nora goes on an investigation as to the reason of his suicide. She comes across some townspeople, including the chief of police, who try to discourage her from looking any deeper or even tell lies. She’s offered help by a client and they discover some unnerving facts about Brendan, Nora’s husband, and his younger brother.
I didn’t get much further than this, as the book didn’t resonate with me. I found the story bland and there was not enough tension. The small facts of mystery that showed up during Nora’s investigation may peak some readers’ interest but it didn’t happen for me. Furthermore, I didn’t find Nora, the main character, a particularly interesting person and didn’t think she was convincing as a widow.
I did like the small-town feel of the book. There is a clear sense of us (the long-standing families of the town, including Brendan’s) and them (including Nora, and other late comers to the town). The mother-in-law is an awful person who undoubtedly will get her comeuppance later in the story. It was almost worth reading on to see in what way! However, as with Nora, I found her rather one dimensional and not an interesting person as such.
This was obviously not the book for me, so I gave up after 120 pages.
Rating: No rating, did not finish the book
Number of pages: 336 (read to page 120)
First published: 2013, January 15th
I got this: from the publishers via Netgalley (ebook)
Genre: mystery
About Judith
Leeswammes' Blog 
What a pity, Judith. Both the cover and the title look promising enough.
Yes, I think I chose the book based for a great deal on its cover, Nadine. I often think covers are a predictor for whether I’ll like a book or not. In this case, not so.
I do that too. I was in a book store the other week and there was this book “The Age of Miracles”, something that I really wanted to read. But the cover was so ugly, I couldn’t buy it. 😦
Yes, it happens. But did you see my review? It was a good read. Although I think it’s a library-read more than a must-own read.
That’s no option for me… First of all, the library here is so bad I am afraid they will not have this book for months, but most of all, I want to own all the books I read (I know, I know, that’s dumb). But I have it now as an e-book.
Well, it’s a life style, I guess, Nadine. 🙂 I do read ebooks but I don’t feel I own them, it’s not the same as a physical book for me. Anyway, I hope you’ll like it!
Too bad that this wasn’t a book you enjoyed. I hope that your next read will be better.
Thanks, Uniflame.
Oh No, I had just added this to my wishlist yesterday. Too Bad it wasn’t for you.
Maybe you’ll like it better than me, Diane!
Well, I admire you because you stop reading when you know it’s not for you. I don’t do it often, but sometimes I regret (I always think it will be better at the end, and this doesn’t happen!!).
Well, so thanks for the no-recommendation 😉
If a thriller has not enough thension… it’s not a thriller!!
Isi, I do find it hard to stop reading, because I’m always hopeful that a book will get more interesting further on. But when I’ve been thinking two or three times “why am I still reading this?” I know it’s time to give up.
I’ve read about this book elsewhere that pointed out the same things you have. It seems a good idea but structured and written badly. Pity.
It certainly is, Charlie. I was so hoping to read a good thriller!
Well, I finished it, but it definitely didn’t live up to the promise of its cover or the cover blurbs. Glad I’m not the only one.
Good to know, Luanne. Sounds like I didn’t miss much by not finishing it.
Here’s to the next book on your list Judith! DNFs make me crazy, that wasted reading time!
Jennifer, I agree it’s wasted reading time, but I’m also glad I now know the book is not for me. Otherwise, I might have wanted to try it anyway at some point. If you see what I mean. 🙂
We don’t see many did-not-finish from you, there must have been something not quite right with it – although the synopsis sounds quite promising! Better luck next time!
Marie, I think I had about 6 DNFs last year. I hope it doesn’t become too much of a habit!
I wonder if the book could get a quick makeover before it’s actually released, or if it’s already out and it’s too late!
It was out this week, Laurie…
I’m reading the book this weekend for a tour stop next week. The cover appealed to me too. I know I shouldn’t choose books based on covers, but I also picked it because it’s a mystery.
I hope you like this one better than I did, Leslie!
I liked this a little more than you did although Nora doesn’t get much more interesting and maybe even more clueless. What did happen, for me, was the snow, the town and the ‘police’ became the characters I enjoyed. And the pace did pick up … a little!
Leslie, I also enjoyed the snow and the setting – I love stories set in small communities. But no, this wasn’t my kind of book. Glad you enjoyed it better.