What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sculptress
This is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 0330330373/9780330330374.
'It was a slaughterhous, the most horrific scene I have never witnessed...Olive Martin is a dangerous woman. I advise you to be extremely wary in your dealings with her'
The facts of the case were simple: Olive Martin had pleaded guilty to killing and dismembering her sister and mother, earinign herself the chilling nickname 'The Sculptress'. This much journalist Rosalind Leigh knew before her first meeting with Olive, currently serving a life service. How could Roz have forseen that the encounter was destined to change her life - for ever?
'It was a slaughterhous, the most horrific scene I have never witnessed...Olive Martin is a dangerous woman. I advise you to be extremely wary in your dealings with her'
The facts of the case were simple: Olive Martin had pleaded guilty to killing and dismembering her sister and mother, earinign herself the chilling nickname 'The Sculptress'. This much journalist Rosalind Leigh knew before her first meeting with Olive, currently serving a life service. How could Roz have forseen that the encounter was destined to change her life - for ever?
325 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Minette Walters
72 books1,297 followersMinette Walters (born 26 September 1949) is a British mystery writer. After studying at Trevelyan College, University of Durham, she began writing in 1987 with The Ice House, which was published in 1992. She followed this with The Sculptress (1993), which received the 1994 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She has been published in 35 countries and won many awards.
The Sculptress has been adapted for television in a BBC series starring Pauline Quirke. Her novels The Ice House, The Echo, The Dark Room, and The Scold's Bridle have also been adapted by the BBC.
The Sculptress has been adapted for television in a BBC series starring Pauline Quirke. Her novels The Ice House, The Echo, The Dark Room, and The Scold's Bridle have also been adapted by the BBC.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews
November 13, 2019
"The Sculptress" by author, Minette Walters has been around for a long time (first published 1993) but time has not aged the story one bit. Roz Leigh is a complex character, an author herself with some past success and is asked by her publisher to write a book about Olive Martin, presently incarcerated for a double murder. Olive’s nickname in the prison is The Sculptress because she fashions strange figurines which symbolise the day she hacked her mother and sister to pieces and reassembled them like a bizarre jig-saw puzzle. Reluctantly, Roz goes to the prison to interview Olive, who she finds sullen, menacing and grotesquely obese. From there she begins to interview witnesses and it soon becomes clear that something isn’t quite right. She finds flaws in the prosecution’s evidence. She strikes up a relationship with the police officer who worked on the case many years earlier. He reminds her that Olive pleaded guilty, so she may be wasting her time trying to prove otherwise. Roz is nonetheless undeterred and continues her search for the truth.
Minette Walters is a highly successful British author and for "The Sculptress" she was awarded the 1994 Edgar Award for best novel of the year. And rightly so. The story is engaging, intriguing and you just need to know where it is headed. Unusual for this type of novel you know at the outset that the murderer pleaded guilty and has been incarcerated for years so you have to wonder how the main character, Roz, who, after all is only a burnt out writer with her own demons to deal with, is going to prove otherwise. It is very easy for a whodunit type of story to get bogged down with boring, mundane facts and interviews that police officers have to deal with when they are gathering evidence. But in this story Walters has you turning pages just to see where she is going with it. It is interesting to look back at 1993 and see characters who aren’t besotted with their smart phones and other current day gadgets or social media. Roz just uses her old fashioned gut instincts to get at the truth. Don’t be put off by the age of this book. It’s a ripping yarn.
Minette Walters is a highly successful British author and for "The Sculptress" she was awarded the 1994 Edgar Award for best novel of the year. And rightly so. The story is engaging, intriguing and you just need to know where it is headed. Unusual for this type of novel you know at the outset that the murderer pleaded guilty and has been incarcerated for years so you have to wonder how the main character, Roz, who, after all is only a burnt out writer with her own demons to deal with, is going to prove otherwise. It is very easy for a whodunit type of story to get bogged down with boring, mundane facts and interviews that police officers have to deal with when they are gathering evidence. But in this story Walters has you turning pages just to see where she is going with it. It is interesting to look back at 1993 and see characters who aren’t besotted with their smart phones and other current day gadgets or social media. Roz just uses her old fashioned gut instincts to get at the truth. Don’t be put off by the age of this book. It’s a ripping yarn.
June 20, 2012
I don't care what anyone thinks, I LOVE this author's work! Disturbing, yup. Gory, yup. Dark, dark, dark! Does this mean I'm mentally sick, probably, but I don't mind because this woman knows her ____! Could not put this book down! Thought about it for days afterwards! That my friend are the signs of a great book.
June 13, 2017
This is an okay book if you can ignore it's occasional far-fetchedness! Convoluted, improbable plot. Unlikely characters doing unlikely things in unlikely circumstances.
Rosalind Leigh is commissioned to write a book about Olive Martin, an obese woman known as The Sculptress, after hacking up her mother and sister with an ax and rearranging the pieces. Now she carves little wax figurines in her prison cell, including one of Rosalind after their first interview. Olive convinces Rosalind that she did not commit the crime, in spite of her own confession and a mountain of evidence.
Initially, I was quite interested in Olive and her mindset, the reasons as to why she may or may not have committed the atrocity, and the influences on her. However, beyond that, the heroine (Rosalind) was an embarrassment and her love interest was simply ridiculous. Too many conveniences thinly disguised as apparent twists and turns. Towards the end, when the tension should be building, it becomes confusing and the story oddly boring. I didn't find the ending as dissatisfying as others did. It's a pretty clear whodunit...the question is whether they'll get away with it.
I realize this book won the Edgar Award, but if it's the best Minette Walters has to offer, then I think I'll pass on the rest.
Rosalind Leigh is commissioned to write a book about Olive Martin, an obese woman known as The Sculptress, after hacking up her mother and sister with an ax and rearranging the pieces. Now she carves little wax figurines in her prison cell, including one of Rosalind after their first interview. Olive convinces Rosalind that she did not commit the crime, in spite of her own confession and a mountain of evidence.
Initially, I was quite interested in Olive and her mindset, the reasons as to why she may or may not have committed the atrocity, and the influences on her. However, beyond that, the heroine (Rosalind) was an embarrassment and her love interest was simply ridiculous. Too many conveniences thinly disguised as apparent twists and turns. Towards the end, when the tension should be building, it becomes confusing and the story oddly boring. I didn't find the ending as dissatisfying as others did. It's a pretty clear whodunit...the question is whether they'll get away with it.
I realize this book won the Edgar Award, but if it's the best Minette Walters has to offer, then I think I'll pass on the rest.
Want to read
January 20, 2019This hardcover edition is signed by Minette Walters.
January 9, 2009
A chilling story from a master of the crime/suspense genre. A monstrously obese woman is in prison having confessed and pled guilty to the murder and brutal dismembering of her mother and younger sister some years previously. A writer, who is dealing with emotional damages of her own, is assigned by her publisher to write a book about the affair. She uncovers several discrepancies between the confession and the facts in the case which lead her to dig ever deeper until she finally reveals the truth and sets a great miscarriage of justice right. Or, is that what happens? With Ms. Walters we are never sure. This is the fourth story of hers I have recently read and I can now say she is incredibly gifted at doling out the relevant information in such a way that one is always caught by surprise by the ending. Maybe not in total, but the fine details are kept close to the vest right up until the last paragraph. In this particular case, we are left with the uneasy feeling that maybe the truth is still hidden, or has been twisted to suit. We are not sure whether another travesty has not been set in motion. Ms Walters' sleuths are rarely the professionals that populate other crime novels. There are usually policemen involved, but not as the prime movers. She always seems to use a regular Joe or Jane with multiple layers of damage and mistrust, and rampant insecurities to ferret out the truth. This tale is no different. Part of the joy of reading Ms Walters is becoming acquainted with her protagonist. They are always presented with their warts and blemishes in full view and we are all the more ready to accept them as fellow seekers of truth because they are so 3-dimensional. I have a couple more of her books on my shelf. I shall soon have to begin looking for more! Long may she write!
November 30, 2016
Crackling-good mystery, one of the best I've ever read! In early 1990's England author Roz Leigh investigates the gruesome murders of a mother and daughter six years before. All the journalists' "W's" have been answered except WHY the murders were committed. So at the behest of her boss, Roz sets out to find motivation. She plans to write a book on this case. Why did the murderess, Olive Martin, confess so quickly? Roz finds inconsistencies and niggling questions. She sets out to prove the girl's innocence and that Olive has been wrongly imprisoned, with the aid of a retired policeman turned restauranteur. I liked the psychological aspect, revealed gradually through Roz's interviews for her book. "The Sculptress" is a nickname for Olive in prison because of Olive's habit of molding clay figures--possibly for voodoo?
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 25, 2022
It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on body image, eating practices, & others.
Firstly, if you are someone who is sensitive about body image (in theory or personally) I encourage you to stray from this book. Walters spends a great deal of time describing Olive, the declared antagonist & Sculptress. Olive is a tall woman but also a woman who carries a lot of fat on her body & we review that fact on every possible occasion.
This might seem to some as a simple tactic to allow the reader to understand how imposing Olive's presence was & therefore lead one to understand how everyone was led to be so terrified of her (crime aside). However, by the third instance of Walters describing how fat Olive was I didn't get why we spent so much time on these facts & rather (what seemed to me) little time on Olive's personality, her tendencies, her actual crime, etc.
We hear about how round her face is, how she struggles to walk, how she's out of breath etc. & truthfully, we didn't need so many instances of physical description; we get it she's a large person. But what really highlights the number of times we are led to read about Olive's physical features is the lack of times we received physical descriptions for any other character.
Roz is described as a 'Venus' because she's so very thin & has a beautiful face. Hal is a brute of a man because he has a hairy chest, a muscular body & scars from physical assaults. These descriptions are given once, maybe twice, in comparison to the constant referral to Olive's round/fat face every time she's in a scene. It was annoying & left me feeling as though Walters ran out of ways to introduce the person who was in prison for a brutal murder.
That aside, I did appreciate the gist of the plot. A young adult (Olive) confesses to murdering her mother & sister in a most gruesome way & an author (Roz), who has seemingly given up on herself & her life, is forced to interview Olive for a book relating to the crimes. I wasn't a huge fan of the sub-plot; the ex-cop (Hal) faces brute force opposing the success of his restaurant. But, it did tie into the whole story in a decent, though somewhat unbelievable, way.
In any case, I did enjoy this story. I do appreciate Walters' writing & thought process behind the plot. Though I do wish we had more opposition to the clean-cut ending. It seems to me that if there was such real opposition to what Roz had been driving at, her shouting from the rooftops wouldn't have gone over so smoothly.
Regardless, I read this book in a day & though it's about 440 pages, it's a quick read which doesn't require a great deal of thought processing on the part of the reader.
Firstly, if you are someone who is sensitive about body image (in theory or personally) I encourage you to stray from this book. Walters spends a great deal of time describing Olive, the declared antagonist & Sculptress. Olive is a tall woman but also a woman who carries a lot of fat on her body & we review that fact on every possible occasion.
This might seem to some as a simple tactic to allow the reader to understand how imposing Olive's presence was & therefore lead one to understand how everyone was led to be so terrified of her (crime aside). However, by the third instance of Walters describing how fat Olive was I didn't get why we spent so much time on these facts & rather (what seemed to me) little time on Olive's personality, her tendencies, her actual crime, etc.
We hear about how round her face is, how she struggles to walk, how she's out of breath etc. & truthfully, we didn't need so many instances of physical description; we get it she's a large person. But what really highlights the number of times we are led to read about Olive's physical features is the lack of times we received physical descriptions for any other character.
Roz is described as a 'Venus' because she's so very thin & has a beautiful face. Hal is a brute of a man because he has a hairy chest, a muscular body & scars from physical assaults. These descriptions are given once, maybe twice, in comparison to the constant referral to Olive's round/fat face every time she's in a scene. It was annoying & left me feeling as though Walters ran out of ways to introduce the person who was in prison for a brutal murder.
That aside, I did appreciate the gist of the plot. A young adult (Olive) confesses to murdering her mother & sister in a most gruesome way & an author (Roz), who has seemingly given up on herself & her life, is forced to interview Olive for a book relating to the crimes. I wasn't a huge fan of the sub-plot; the ex-cop (Hal) faces brute force opposing the success of his restaurant. But, it did tie into the whole story in a decent, though somewhat unbelievable, way.
In any case, I did enjoy this story. I do appreciate Walters' writing & thought process behind the plot. Though I do wish we had more opposition to the clean-cut ending. It seems to me that if there was such real opposition to what Roz had been driving at, her shouting from the rooftops wouldn't have gone over so smoothly.
Regardless, I read this book in a day & though it's about 440 pages, it's a quick read which doesn't require a great deal of thought processing on the part of the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2012
I picked this up having a vague memory of really enjoying the drama that was screened a fair few years ago and wanting to read something a bit dark without scaring the poo out of myself.
I started off really enjoying it, it was the right side of acceptable trash and kept my attention ticking along.
Then Ros met the policeman and it all got rather annoying rather quickly. Olive, The Sculptress of the title almost vanished from the book as we were dragged along by rather tedius, predictable and utterly unnecessary sub plots.
I would have enjoyed the book alot more if it had focussed entirely on The Sculptress and Ros instead of shifting focus to a banal "failing resturant" storyline and an eye rollingly dull love story.
Rather than feeling like Ros had been submerged by the mind of a psychopath and was tackling the personal psychological trauma this would inevitably bring, it was more like watching someone skip about on a Famous Five adventure, bungling burglars and all, ending up with the dream man, dream house and dream book deal at the end of it.
A good read, but it's just left me wanting to read Silence of The Lambs again.
I started off really enjoying it, it was the right side of acceptable trash and kept my attention ticking along.
Then Ros met the policeman and it all got rather annoying rather quickly. Olive, The Sculptress of the title almost vanished from the book as we were dragged along by rather tedius, predictable and utterly unnecessary sub plots.
I would have enjoyed the book alot more if it had focussed entirely on The Sculptress and Ros instead of shifting focus to a banal "failing resturant" storyline and an eye rollingly dull love story.
Rather than feeling like Ros had been submerged by the mind of a psychopath and was tackling the personal psychological trauma this would inevitably bring, it was more like watching someone skip about on a Famous Five adventure, bungling burglars and all, ending up with the dream man, dream house and dream book deal at the end of it.
A good read, but it's just left me wanting to read Silence of The Lambs again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2021
A friend recommended this book, and I was not disappointed. This was my first Walter’s book, but won’t be my last. Interesting and complex characters, driving plot and just a very enjoyable read.
July 15, 2016
Chilling.
If this book doesn't frighten you, then you don't know that many monsters who just happens to be humans.
October 31, 2020
Ponavljanje gradiva... Opet odlična Minette Walters. Mislim čak da joj je ovo najpoznatija knjiga... Ima i serija.
January 21, 2021
When I saw this book in one of those public book shelves in Utrecht station, I just had the sudden need to pick it up. Just by reading the back cover I wanted to read it. Don’t regret it.
I don’t know who this author was, had no idea how her writing is either. Somehow I liked what I read. It’s such as easy read with no exceptional language or decorations but the book is really gripping. Interesting storyline and character development. Some places felt like rushed on but I like the little twists.
A female journalists digging into a convicted murderess felt a bit too feminist but I didn’t really care. It was gruesome enough to hold my attention. I would say, there are lot of chick lit qualities but I wouldn’t be in a hurry to put it into that lot. Must say the book has some interestingly eccentric characters. Olive, a morbidly obese woman who’s out behind bars solely for the reason of lack of evidence, Roz, a pain in the ass journalist who was pushed to work on Olive who ends up trying to prove her innocence and Hal, a retired insufferable policemen and all other minor and major characters were equally interesting.
I think the end is a bit rushed but I would say if it wasn’t the whole thing would’ve been a drag and killed the enjoyment. I don’t know whether I’d read any more books of hers, well I might, given they have the same dark, morbid and bloody bits in them.
Book #05 of 2021...
Around The Year in 52 Books -"A book with a female villain or criminal "
I don’t know who this author was, had no idea how her writing is either. Somehow I liked what I read. It’s such as easy read with no exceptional language or decorations but the book is really gripping. Interesting storyline and character development. Some places felt like rushed on but I like the little twists.
A female journalists digging into a convicted murderess felt a bit too feminist but I didn’t really care. It was gruesome enough to hold my attention. I would say, there are lot of chick lit qualities but I wouldn’t be in a hurry to put it into that lot. Must say the book has some interestingly eccentric characters. Olive, a morbidly obese woman who’s out behind bars solely for the reason of lack of evidence, Roz, a pain in the ass journalist who was pushed to work on Olive who ends up trying to prove her innocence and Hal, a retired insufferable policemen and all other minor and major characters were equally interesting.
I think the end is a bit rushed but I would say if it wasn’t the whole thing would’ve been a drag and killed the enjoyment. I don’t know whether I’d read any more books of hers, well I might, given they have the same dark, morbid and bloody bits in them.
Book #05 of 2021...
Around The Year in 52 Books -"A book with a female villain or criminal "
December 1, 2020
Fatphobia. Homophobia. Ableism. Mental illness stigma. This book has it all! At times it judges characters who are perpetuating these things, but mostly the book promotes them nicely itself. I was giving it the benefit of the doubt, at least a little, until I got near the end {spoiler} and it turns out the fat lady (the book goes on and on about how fat) confessed to something she didn't do because of her "insatiable craving for food." They promised her dinner and she agreed to go to jail for 25 years for brutal murder. That's how much fat people want food at all times. Obviously.
Did this book come out in 'a different time'? Sure. I'm comfortable with consigning it to the dustbin of history, never to be heard from again. (And it was 1993, not the 50s or anything.)
Did this book come out in 'a different time'? Sure. I'm comfortable with consigning it to the dustbin of history, never to be heard from again. (And it was 1993, not the 50s or anything.)
August 28, 2016
Minette Walters' second novel. This author is a natural storyteller and hardly puts a single foot wrong in her complex, psychological plotting. Her characterisation has tightened up considerably with this second book. A riveting read; I romped through it in an afternoon, unfortunately. Yet another case of wishing I could learn, somehow, how to read more slowly.
June 27, 2024
Occasionally I throw into my reading mix a mystery that won the Edgar Award for Best Novel or Best First Novel. They never disappoint.
Minette Walters’ “The Sculptress”, which I found at the Constant Reader used bookstore while passing through Cheyenne, WY, was no exception.
This novel has a gripping story; a haunted and mostly sympathetic protagonist/“detective” (blocked author Roz who unwillingly begins researching a true crime story after getting deadline threats from her agent/friend, Iris;); and a unique, unprepossessing, angry, lying, psychologically complex jailed murderess (Olive), whom Roz and the reader quickly suspect may have been wrongly accused, even though she confessed to the butchering of her mother and sister.
Roz’s investigations introduce her to a cast of colorful, memorable characters and draw her into the dark world of Olive’s family and circle of acquaintances.
Along the way a potential romance develops, adding an interesting and enjoyable subplot, though at times it felt a little corny, but, hey, even real-life love is sometimes wonderfully corny.
Some of the final pages felt a bit summarized with “here’s what happens to the characters in the future” info, but that aside it was well-written, suspenseful, and twisty-turny! Kept me intrigued and guessing all the way through.
Minette Walters’ “The Sculptress”, which I found at the Constant Reader used bookstore while passing through Cheyenne, WY, was no exception.
This novel has a gripping story; a haunted and mostly sympathetic protagonist/“detective” (blocked author Roz who unwillingly begins researching a true crime story after getting deadline threats from her agent/friend, Iris;); and a unique, unprepossessing, angry, lying, psychologically complex jailed murderess (Olive), whom Roz and the reader quickly suspect may have been wrongly accused, even though she confessed to the butchering of her mother and sister.
Roz’s investigations introduce her to a cast of colorful, memorable characters and draw her into the dark world of Olive’s family and circle of acquaintances.
Along the way a potential romance develops, adding an interesting and enjoyable subplot, though at times it felt a little corny, but, hey, even real-life love is sometimes wonderfully corny.
Some of the final pages felt a bit summarized with “here’s what happens to the characters in the future” info, but that aside it was well-written, suspenseful, and twisty-turny! Kept me intrigued and guessing all the way through.
April 25, 2020
Minette Walters has long been one of my favorite mystery writers. Over the past few years, I've enjoyed six of her novels. The Sculptress was her second novel, published originally in 1993. It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did, it moved along very nicely.
Rosalind (Roz) Leigh is an author looking for her next novel. Her agent suggests that she interview Olive Martin, currently in prison for the murders of her mother and sister six years previously. Reluctantly, Roz interviews Olive and others involved in the original case. One of the interviewees is ex-Police Sgt Hal Hawksley, now owner of a restaurant, which seems to have no customers. Hawksley, like many of the characters in this story, has his own issues and he and Roz develop a fractious relationship.
The story jumps around quite a bit but grabs your attention. There are many premises; is Olive actually guilty? Was she set up by the police? Did someone else commit the murders? What the heck is going at Hawksley's restaurant?
It's all interesting and confusing. But gradually things begin to come together; we learn more about Roz and her issues, more about Olive (she is something of an enigma), about Hal's issues. There is surprisingly a fair bit of action in this story and many interesting characters. Everything was resolved to my satisfaction, even to the point of leaving things somewhat unsettling. All in all, Walters never disappoints, excellent story. (4 stars)
Rosalind (Roz) Leigh is an author looking for her next novel. Her agent suggests that she interview Olive Martin, currently in prison for the murders of her mother and sister six years previously. Reluctantly, Roz interviews Olive and others involved in the original case. One of the interviewees is ex-Police Sgt Hal Hawksley, now owner of a restaurant, which seems to have no customers. Hawksley, like many of the characters in this story, has his own issues and he and Roz develop a fractious relationship.
The story jumps around quite a bit but grabs your attention. There are many premises; is Olive actually guilty? Was she set up by the police? Did someone else commit the murders? What the heck is going at Hawksley's restaurant?
It's all interesting and confusing. But gradually things begin to come together; we learn more about Roz and her issues, more about Olive (she is something of an enigma), about Hal's issues. There is surprisingly a fair bit of action in this story and many interesting characters. Everything was resolved to my satisfaction, even to the point of leaving things somewhat unsettling. All in all, Walters never disappoints, excellent story. (4 stars)
May 5, 2020
What a brilliant story. A genuine page turner as nff dc psychological thriller.
Olive Martin is an obese woman sentenced for 25 years in prison for the gruesome murder of her sister Amber and mother Gwen. She chopped them up with an axe in the kitchen. She confessed to the crime and the only odd thing is five psychiatrists found her sane.
Rosalind Leigh a burnout author with her own demons. A failed marriage and the loss of her daughter is given an ultimatum to write a book about the murders and interviews Olive in prison. Where she is known as the sculptress for her human clay figures.
Rosie finds inconsistencies with Olives confession and begins to build a story from witnesses that makes her think Olive is innocent. If so, why confess the murders?
Roz teams up with the ex detective and arresting officer of Olive who now runs The Plough a failing restaurant. There is a sub plot of someone trying to get Hal to sell his restaurant by violence. Roz and Hal also get romantically involved.
Roz In her investigation comes up against Peter Cree the solicitor who defended Roz and now manages her dead fathers estate worth 500 000. The Clarke’s who lived next door. Mr Clarke looks after his wife who is senile and mad. She also meets a dysfunctional family who reveal more clues.
What I like about the book is the twists and turns plus the ending. It’s a bit like My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maunier and you are left thinking and wondering is Olive good or evil. Now planning to watch the tv series.
Olive Martin is an obese woman sentenced for 25 years in prison for the gruesome murder of her sister Amber and mother Gwen. She chopped them up with an axe in the kitchen. She confessed to the crime and the only odd thing is five psychiatrists found her sane.
Rosalind Leigh a burnout author with her own demons. A failed marriage and the loss of her daughter is given an ultimatum to write a book about the murders and interviews Olive in prison. Where she is known as the sculptress for her human clay figures.
Rosie finds inconsistencies with Olives confession and begins to build a story from witnesses that makes her think Olive is innocent. If so, why confess the murders?
Roz teams up with the ex detective and arresting officer of Olive who now runs The Plough a failing restaurant. There is a sub plot of someone trying to get Hal to sell his restaurant by violence. Roz and Hal also get romantically involved.
Roz In her investigation comes up against Peter Cree the solicitor who defended Roz and now manages her dead fathers estate worth 500 000. The Clarke’s who lived next door. Mr Clarke looks after his wife who is senile and mad. She also meets a dysfunctional family who reveal more clues.
What I like about the book is the twists and turns plus the ending. It’s a bit like My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maunier and you are left thinking and wondering is Olive good or evil. Now planning to watch the tv series.
May 20, 2015
GOLDEN OLDIE
THE SCULPTRESS
Minette Walters
A very dear friend wanted to share one of her favorite books with me and I couldn't be more pleased to be sharing it with you! A journalist has been assigned to write a book about the woman named the Sculptress. She was found with her mother and sister dead in her arms and pled guilty to the murders. There's a lot more to the story and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Thank you Alice!! You're the best!!
THE SCULPTRESS
Minette Walters
A very dear friend wanted to share one of her favorite books with me and I couldn't be more pleased to be sharing it with you! A journalist has been assigned to write a book about the woman named the Sculptress. She was found with her mother and sister dead in her arms and pled guilty to the murders. There's a lot more to the story and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Thank you Alice!! You're the best!!
October 14, 2017
Una novela en la que no todo es lo que parece o sí?
Olive ha confesado un crimen horrible: ha matado a su madre y a su hermana. una familia modélica, una hermana hermosa y caritativa, ella mentirosa y horrible.
Y entra en escena Roz: con una vida personal turbulenta y en la que para seguir trabajando se le exige escribir un libro sobre la matanza cometida por Olive.
Un misterio que se adentra en la psicología tenebrosa de Olive y que las apariencias son solo apariencias.
trepidante, un libro de 4,5 estrellas.
Olive ha confesado un crimen horrible: ha matado a su madre y a su hermana. una familia modélica, una hermana hermosa y caritativa, ella mentirosa y horrible.
Y entra en escena Roz: con una vida personal turbulenta y en la que para seguir trabajando se le exige escribir un libro sobre la matanza cometida por Olive.
Un misterio que se adentra en la psicología tenebrosa de Olive y que las apariencias son solo apariencias.
trepidante, un libro de 4,5 estrellas.
December 31, 2012
Five psychiatrists have pronounced Olive Martin in full possession of her sanity. She is not a psychopath, despite dismembering her mother and sister like parting a chicken for Sunday dinner. Although the police ensured Olive's solicitor was present when she gave her confession, both society and justice were quick to accept Olive's guilty plea. It turns out that no one looks too closely or thinks to hard about a morbidly obese, hideously ugly woman who has professed her own guilt - not even when there are inconsistencies between the confession and the forensics of the scene that should have raised a reasonable doubt.
That's where the novel's protagonist, Rosalind Leigh, comes into the story. Roz has suffered the loss of her daughter, the disintegration of her marriage, and is about to lose her contract as an author if she doesn't write a book about Olive Martin. The Sculptress, by Minette Walters, follows Roz's investigation, a bit of amateur detecting that leaves many a closet bereft of its skeletons. There are enough surprising twists and lurid details to keep the plot engaging. The truth remains veiled, even after the end of the novel, but that is not a flaw so much as a bold statement about the nature of reality as it is experienced by the Walters's characters. Violence, betrayal, death, and greed pull the strings of reality, and often the characters trying to do what is right end up just as twisted up in the tangled webs as those who intentionally did wrong.
The Sculptress is a detective story, but the heart of the book is romance. Not beautiful boy meets beautiful girl romance, but the more realistic heart-breaking, face-bruising, life-ending romances entered into by damaged characters. Walters gives Roz and her new beau a break in the end, letting them have a view of the ocean as they make love, but given the darkness pervading all relationships in the novel, it is questionable that this love, like the others, is any more lasting or less corrosive than the salty spray coming in off of the ocean.
The Sculptress is the first novel I've read by Minette Walters, and I will be reading more. My only regret is that she didn't amplify the hints of supernatural voodoo being played at by Olive. Or maybe not; now that I think about it, the creepy wax dolls stuck with their pins, and Olive's "look of gloating triumph" does more to unsettle me than any more straightforward explanation could have done.
That's where the novel's protagonist, Rosalind Leigh, comes into the story. Roz has suffered the loss of her daughter, the disintegration of her marriage, and is about to lose her contract as an author if she doesn't write a book about Olive Martin. The Sculptress, by Minette Walters, follows Roz's investigation, a bit of amateur detecting that leaves many a closet bereft of its skeletons. There are enough surprising twists and lurid details to keep the plot engaging. The truth remains veiled, even after the end of the novel, but that is not a flaw so much as a bold statement about the nature of reality as it is experienced by the Walters's characters. Violence, betrayal, death, and greed pull the strings of reality, and often the characters trying to do what is right end up just as twisted up in the tangled webs as those who intentionally did wrong.
The Sculptress is a detective story, but the heart of the book is romance. Not beautiful boy meets beautiful girl romance, but the more realistic heart-breaking, face-bruising, life-ending romances entered into by damaged characters. Walters gives Roz and her new beau a break in the end, letting them have a view of the ocean as they make love, but given the darkness pervading all relationships in the novel, it is questionable that this love, like the others, is any more lasting or less corrosive than the salty spray coming in off of the ocean.
The Sculptress is the first novel I've read by Minette Walters, and I will be reading more. My only regret is that she didn't amplify the hints of supernatural voodoo being played at by Olive. Or maybe not; now that I think about it, the creepy wax dolls stuck with their pins, and Olive's "look of gloating triumph" does more to unsettle me than any more straightforward explanation could have done.
January 2, 2024
We kiezen niet altijd het juiste, maar als we eenmaal een besluit hebben genomen, moeten we ermee leven.
Olive Martin zit al zes jaar vast voor de moord op haar moeder en zusje. Waarom ze heeft gedaan is al zes jaar lang een groot mysterie. Wanneer journalist Roz Leigh de opdracht krijgt om een boek over Olive te schrijven, bezoekt ze haar in de gevangenis. Na dit bezoek gaat Roz twijfelen aan haar schuld en gaat op zoek naar de waarheid. In haar zoektocht spreekt ze met vrienden van de familie, de advocaat van Olive en de politieagent die haar destijds heeft verhoord. Tijdens haar zoektocht ontdekt ze een aantal schokkende gebeurtenissen.
Het boek maakt heel erg duidelijk dat Olive dik en lelijk zou zijn. Dit wordt zo'n beetje iedere keer benadrukt wanneer er een passage over haar wordt beschreven. Niet altijd even respectvol, maar misschien leef je om deze reden meer met haar mee.
Verder leest het verhaal als een whodunnit. Ik heb me tijdens het lezen geen seconde verveelt. Het verhaal zit goed in elkaar met een aantal verrassende plottwists.
Mede door het blijven benadrukken dat Olive dik en lelijk zou zijn 4 sterren in plaats van 5.
Olive Martin zit al zes jaar vast voor de moord op haar moeder en zusje. Waarom ze heeft gedaan is al zes jaar lang een groot mysterie. Wanneer journalist Roz Leigh de opdracht krijgt om een boek over Olive te schrijven, bezoekt ze haar in de gevangenis. Na dit bezoek gaat Roz twijfelen aan haar schuld en gaat op zoek naar de waarheid. In haar zoektocht spreekt ze met vrienden van de familie, de advocaat van Olive en de politieagent die haar destijds heeft verhoord. Tijdens haar zoektocht ontdekt ze een aantal schokkende gebeurtenissen.
Het boek maakt heel erg duidelijk dat Olive dik en lelijk zou zijn. Dit wordt zo'n beetje iedere keer benadrukt wanneer er een passage over haar wordt beschreven. Niet altijd even respectvol, maar misschien leef je om deze reden meer met haar mee.
Verder leest het verhaal als een whodunnit. Ik heb me tijdens het lezen geen seconde verveelt. Het verhaal zit goed in elkaar met een aantal verrassende plottwists.
Mede door het blijven benadrukken dat Olive dik en lelijk zou zijn 4 sterren in plaats van 5.
June 18, 2018
I decided to try a Minette Walters - found it to be well written - interesting characters, the autobio writer and 'the Sculptress', an immensely obese woman, falsely accused of murder.
As far as murder-mystery goes - it's extremely well done - if you like that kind of thing.
As far as murder-mystery goes - it's extremely well done - if you like that kind of thing.
September 16, 2009
Out of 50+ winners of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, I had only read 13 before beginning my challenge to myself to read all of them. The Sculptress was one of them. I had read the first three or four of Walters' novels, and then stopped keeping up with them for some reason or no reason. I may have to rethink that decision.
Walters' books are characterized as psychological thrillers, and they certainly do have many of the traits of that subgenre. Unlike some, though, Walters has said that there is always some love, some redemption in her books, and I think that's why I find them easier to take than some of the other authors who focus on deviance.
In The Sculptress a non-fiction writer, still reeling from the death of her young daughter, is being pressed by her agent to get busy and write another book. She decides to interview a woman known as The Sculptress who is in prison for the murder and dismemberment of her mother and sister several years before. As she gets to know the prisoner, she begins to doubt the guilt of the self-confessed murderer. Her investigations lead her down unexpected paths and also introduce her to a former policeman who worked on the case, with romantic consequences.
Although I gave this book five stars, I wasn't really completely happy with the ending, specifically the epilogue. Still, the writing, plot, characters and setting were all excellent. Highly recommended for anyone who missed it the first time around.
Walters' books are characterized as psychological thrillers, and they certainly do have many of the traits of that subgenre. Unlike some, though, Walters has said that there is always some love, some redemption in her books, and I think that's why I find them easier to take than some of the other authors who focus on deviance.
In The Sculptress a non-fiction writer, still reeling from the death of her young daughter, is being pressed by her agent to get busy and write another book. She decides to interview a woman known as The Sculptress who is in prison for the murder and dismemberment of her mother and sister several years before. As she gets to know the prisoner, she begins to doubt the guilt of the self-confessed murderer. Her investigations lead her down unexpected paths and also introduce her to a former policeman who worked on the case, with romantic consequences.
Although I gave this book five stars, I wasn't really completely happy with the ending, specifically the epilogue. Still, the writing, plot, characters and setting were all excellent. Highly recommended for anyone who missed it the first time around.
November 29, 2013
Minette Walters, The Sculptress (St. Martin's, 1993)
[originally posted 19Sep2000]
Back when I was reading The Breaker, I noticed that a lot of reviews of it compared it quite unfavorably to Walters' other novels. I still consider those reviews somewhat wrongheaded, but now I realize it's not because people didn't realize The Breaker was any good; it's because people were seeing the same kinds of plot devices as Walters has used int he past, but Walters is now getting too subtle for the average mystery reader.
The Sculptress relies on exactly the same pacing and plot twists as does The Breaker, but the manipulations are more out in the open. Walters introduces her characters early on, throws in a number of suspects, an irrelevant but intriguing subplot, and a few clues, and then allows the reader to form a conclusion which, while seeming rational (and allowing the reader to think "man, am I smart for figuring this out in the first sixty pages!"), turns out to be utterly absurd, and as the book comes to a close the plot twists come fast and furious. Not that they weren't always there, we were just lulled into a false sense of security.
While I consider The Breaker a superior novel, this isn't to say that Walters' more visible manipulations in The Sculptress makes the latter a bad novel. Far from it, in fact. Walters has the blackest of wits, a deft hand with the management of suspects and clues, and the ability to come up with the most devilish alternate (but obvious) explanations for the behavior of her characters. Walters is already considered a national treasure in the British Isles; here's to hoping we Americans catch up soon. *** ½
[originally posted 19Sep2000]
Back when I was reading The Breaker, I noticed that a lot of reviews of it compared it quite unfavorably to Walters' other novels. I still consider those reviews somewhat wrongheaded, but now I realize it's not because people didn't realize The Breaker was any good; it's because people were seeing the same kinds of plot devices as Walters has used int he past, but Walters is now getting too subtle for the average mystery reader.
The Sculptress relies on exactly the same pacing and plot twists as does The Breaker, but the manipulations are more out in the open. Walters introduces her characters early on, throws in a number of suspects, an irrelevant but intriguing subplot, and a few clues, and then allows the reader to form a conclusion which, while seeming rational (and allowing the reader to think "man, am I smart for figuring this out in the first sixty pages!"), turns out to be utterly absurd, and as the book comes to a close the plot twists come fast and furious. Not that they weren't always there, we were just lulled into a false sense of security.
While I consider The Breaker a superior novel, this isn't to say that Walters' more visible manipulations in The Sculptress makes the latter a bad novel. Far from it, in fact. Walters has the blackest of wits, a deft hand with the management of suspects and clues, and the ability to come up with the most devilish alternate (but obvious) explanations for the behavior of her characters. Walters is already considered a national treasure in the British Isles; here's to hoping we Americans catch up soon. *** ½
August 26, 2019
This book is identified as a classic, influencing the genre development since its publication in 1994- but i found it quite mediocre with characters quite thinly drawn, unconvincing with little likability or empathy - and the whole premise implausible.
The basic premise is hugely obese young woman imprisoned after admitting brutal murder of mother and sister - after years of torment - and author (tormented by death of child and divorce) is sent to write a book about her. But why would a girl in 1994 be tormented by being a size 18-20 (thats size/height listed so not grossly obese by any standard... and the author character seems to be able to beat up men despite being almost anorexic (5'6" and 7 stone)... and the reason for the guilty plea- to hide her fathers homosexuality... it is something that might have hung together with a 1950s setting but it doesn't work for 1990s and twenty years later it looks even more preposterous.
The book is full of body shaming imagery which can only be from the prejudices of Walters and the Ros/Hal relationship very weird and contrived. (She offers to buy out his restaurant on their second meeting). The Olive characters is described as bright & devious but all her characterisation (text of admission, strange wax doll modelling, fear of release etc) make her appear mentally slow.
Rather than a crescendo towards the reveal the book becomes more clinched, with odd coincidences and becomes quite flat (and a little boring).
I think books like Miss Smelia's feeling for Snow ( which led to scandi-crime wave), and Val McDermott far more influential.
Even in the 1990s this was dated.
The basic premise is hugely obese young woman imprisoned after admitting brutal murder of mother and sister - after years of torment - and author (tormented by death of child and divorce) is sent to write a book about her. But why would a girl in 1994 be tormented by being a size 18-20 (thats size/height listed so not grossly obese by any standard... and the author character seems to be able to beat up men despite being almost anorexic (5'6" and 7 stone)... and the reason for the guilty plea- to hide her fathers homosexuality... it is something that might have hung together with a 1950s setting but it doesn't work for 1990s and twenty years later it looks even more preposterous.
The book is full of body shaming imagery which can only be from the prejudices of Walters and the Ros/Hal relationship very weird and contrived. (She offers to buy out his restaurant on their second meeting). The Olive characters is described as bright & devious but all her characterisation (text of admission, strange wax doll modelling, fear of release etc) make her appear mentally slow.
Rather than a crescendo towards the reveal the book becomes more clinched, with odd coincidences and becomes quite flat (and a little boring).
I think books like Miss Smelia's feeling for Snow ( which led to scandi-crime wave), and Val McDermott far more influential.
Even in the 1990s this was dated.
September 28, 2018
Odd. Liked it less as it went on. The whole subplot with the love interest's bar kinda lost me (zoned out due to lack of interest). It passed the time and held my interest for the most part, so I'd continue reading books by this author (I've read a few previously).
I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was odd. I've never heard a book that takes place entirely in England be narrated by an American (or at least not one that was speaking in their native American accent). It was jarring to keep going back and forth between the American narration of action and thought and the various British accents of dialogue. Also, the British accents didn't quite ring true. A lot of time they came out New Zealand, New England, or American Southern.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was odd. I've never heard a book that takes place entirely in England be narrated by an American (or at least not one that was speaking in their native American accent). It was jarring to keep going back and forth between the American narration of action and thought and the various British accents of dialogue. Also, the British accents didn't quite ring true. A lot of time they came out New Zealand, New England, or American Southern.
June 14, 2021
I liked the premise of this book and once I started reading I became intrigued straight away. The story follows along nicely until reaching a clever and natural (yet thought-provoking) conclusion.
I especially enjoyed the scenes with Olive, such a fascinating character and I would love to have had more scenes with her rather than so much of following Roz around.
I found the whodunnit plot well thought out and engaging. However, the storyline of the relationship between Roz and Hal was so implausible it was just odd. This extends to the story about and The Poacher which was rather bizarre. Therefore this arc of the story was a bit disappointing.
Nearly 30 years since published, I found the book a bit dated in some of its stereotyping.
I especially enjoyed the scenes with Olive, such a fascinating character and I would love to have had more scenes with her rather than so much of following Roz around.
I found the whodunnit plot well thought out and engaging. However, the storyline of the relationship between Roz and Hal was so implausible it was just odd. This extends to the story about and The Poacher which was rather bizarre. Therefore this arc of the story was a bit disappointing.
Nearly 30 years since published, I found the book a bit dated in some of its stereotyping.
April 15, 2010
Complex, psychologically dark, repelling & fascinating!
November 24, 2017
Cela faisait bien longtemps que je n'avais pas lu de roman policier ou de thriller, mais j'avais bon espoir puisque les critiques de ce livre semblaient se rejoindre pour dire qu'il valait le coup. Si j'ai plutôt bien accroché à l'histoire, j'en ressors plutôt mitigée.
Meurtrière obèse de 120 kg, Olive Martin a été condamnée à perpétuité pour avoir massacré sa mère et sa sœur, débitées en morceaux à la hache sur le sol de la cuisine familiale. Rosalind Leigh, qui a décidé de relater son histoire, réussit à surmonter le dégoût qu'inspire cette créature grotesque et prend le risque de plonger dans les abîmes d'une âme manipulatrice, habituée à être méprisée par son entourage.
Nous suivons donc Rosalind, surnommée Roz, dans sa quête de vérité au sujet de ce meurtre abominable. Dès sa première entrevue avec Olive, l'écrivain sentit que la prisonnière n'est pas coupable et qu'elle protège peut-être quelqu'un. C'est sur cette hypothèse se concrétisant au fur et à mesure des incohérences repérées dans les témoignages, que l'écrivain tente d'élucider cette affaire sanglante.
Que dire sur ce livre ? L'écriture de l'autrice est très fluide. Les phrases s'articulent bien et s'écoulent au point que l'on peine à décrocher du roman. Au niveau du vocabulaire, rien de très recherché, il s'agit d'un style simple et efficace, chose très appréciable si l'on ne veut pas perdre le lecteur dans une enquête interminable. Mais qu'en est-il du contenu ? Chacun l'appréhendera à sa manière.
En effet, Olive Martin est une femme qui est décrite comme un monstre aussi bien physiquement que mentalement et les personnages gravitant autour de cette histoire s'accordent complètement sur ce point. Cependant, dès sa première apparition, le lecteur peut constater que la prisonnière est dotée d'esprit et d'intelligence, si bien qu'elle semble manipuler les entrevues avec Roz. Par ailleurs, le titre original fait référence à une occupation à laquelle s'applique Olive, la sculpture. Sa cellule abrite donc des petites figurines représentant certaines personnes importantes dans sa vie, que ce soit en bien ou en mal, pouvant à loisir s'en servir comme exutoire à sa rancœur. Nous faisons donc face à une criminelle représentant à elle seule le proverbe : il ne faut pas juger un livre sur sa couverture.
En ce qui concerne l'avancement de l'enquête, la façon de procéder reste la même tout au long du livre. Rosalind interroge quelqu'un ayant un lien avec la famille plus ou moins ancré, pour en faire la synthèse et comparer les propos avec la déposition d'Olive ainsi que les autres témoignages. À chaque étape, une nouvelle incohérence se greffe, permettant ainsi à l'écrivain de recoller les morceaux du puzzle. Les personnes questionnées appartiennent à un large panel, voisins, ancien professeur, ancien employeur, avocats, policier, réceptionniste d'hôtel, bref tant de versions différentes que de raisons pour dissimuler des secrets. Au milieu de tout cela, l'autrice prend soin de développer le passé de Roz et de lui construire une romance.
Pourquoi Cuisine sanglante peut aussi plaire que déplaire à son lectorat ? Tout simplement parce les idées de l'autrice sont inégales et ne s'imbriquent pas parfaitement.
Avoir fait Olive monstrueuse est sans nul doute une manière de dénoncer le comportement des gens envers ceux qui sont différents d'eux. De suite, par la révulsion qu'elle inspire rien qu'en la regardant, tout le monde veut la savoir coupable, et particulièrement capable d'un tel acte. Peu d'entre eux cherchent vraiment à chercher si c'est la vérité. C'est certes une solution de facilité de l'imager ainsi et non avec un autre moyen, mais quelque part, il y a un aspect réaliste : une gamine obèse peinera à cause de son physique de se faire des amis. C'est triste et sûrement un cliché vieux comme le monde, mais c'est ainsi. Les enfants peuvent être spécialement cruels au collège envers les différences des autres, surtout si leurs parents ne leur montrent pas un exemple de tolérance. Au fil de l'histoire, nous apprenons qu'Olive n'avait qu'une seule amie, ou plutôt qu'une seule personne acceptant de lui parler lors de sa scolarité. En revanche, cette "copine" pensait comme ses autres camarades qu'elle était déviante et voyait surtout en Olive une garde du corps. Une autre façon de montrer que les enfants peuvent être parfaitement cruels mais également influençables.
Cependant, était-ce nécessaire de lui imposer une telle famille ? Certains choix de l'autrice ont réellement du sens, même s'ils manquent de subtilité comme le désir de prouver que les apparences peuvent être trompeuses, mais plus on avance dans le roman, plus on réalise à quel point le sort s'acharne sur la famille Martin. Entre les parents qui s'entendent si peu que le père vit barricadé dans une pièce de la maison, et la sœur qui paraît bien trop propre sur elle, il y avait déjà des éléments qui malgré leur logique semblaient forcés. Les révélations finales sont justes ahurissantes tant elle complique la situation et la rende surréaliste.
De même, faire de Rosalind une dépressive qui trouvera sa rédemption dans la sympathie qu'elle éprouve pour la meurtrière ainsi que dans la romance qu'elle entretiendra avec un ancien policier est peut-être surfait. C'est surtout ce dernier point qui m'a chagrinée. Chacun réagit différemment à la douleur, et vu le passé de Roz, je ne pouvais juger son attitude. Cependant, tomber dans les bras d'un tel butor ne me paraissait ni le meilleur remède, ni le meilleur moyen de rapprocher les personnages. Car cette romance permet aussi de développer une sous-intrigue autour de ce policier qui sera inévitablement reliée à l'intrigue principale. L'une des idées les plus abracadabrantesques qui soit tant cela sonne ridicule.
Par ailleurs, il est triste de constater que finalement, Olive n'est pas si centrale que ça à l’œuvre et l'on peine à comprendre le choix du titre original. Les sculptures de la prisonnière pourraient servir de fil conducteur si leur apparition étaient mieux gérées. Cependant, le lecteur a surtout l'impression qu'il s'agit d'un défoulement pour Olive sans réelle signification jusqu'à ses dernières œuvres : Eve aux deux visages et l'Homme aux milles vices. Il est dommage que l'autrice n'ait pas insisté sur les aspects spirituels et psychologiques de cette occupation. Cela aurait pu fournir des réflexions très intéressantes sur l'humanité.
Alors que penser de ce roman ? Les passages faisant évoluer l'enquête sont tout à fait plaisants à suivre, même s'ils possèdent un effet caricatural avec la pipelette, l'indiscrète, l'indigné, et d'autres personnages ayant un rôle défini. Si l'on observe le désir de prouver que la société rejette ce qu'elle considère comme anormal, ces caricatures font terriblement sens. En effet, chaque personnage représentera un caractère prompt à juger selon un certain point de vue, et mis bout à bout, ils forment tous les multiples facettes de l'hypocrisie humaine.
En revanche, comme évoqué précédemment, la sous-intrigue avec l'ancien policier fait un peu office de remplissage et se révèlent de plus en plus difficile à concevoir. L'ultime bémol étant tout de même la fin alambiquée. Elle est tellement tirée par les cheveux qu'on le lecteur aura l'impression que l'autrice cherchait à le surprendre, mais pour le coup il ne demeure pas surpris mais abasourdi par ce choix improbable. Mais il demeure tout de même un bon divertissement tant l'histoire est prenante.
Meurtrière obèse de 120 kg, Olive Martin a été condamnée à perpétuité pour avoir massacré sa mère et sa sœur, débitées en morceaux à la hache sur le sol de la cuisine familiale. Rosalind Leigh, qui a décidé de relater son histoire, réussit à surmonter le dégoût qu'inspire cette créature grotesque et prend le risque de plonger dans les abîmes d'une âme manipulatrice, habituée à être méprisée par son entourage.
Nous suivons donc Rosalind, surnommée Roz, dans sa quête de vérité au sujet de ce meurtre abominable. Dès sa première entrevue avec Olive, l'écrivain sentit que la prisonnière n'est pas coupable et qu'elle protège peut-être quelqu'un. C'est sur cette hypothèse se concrétisant au fur et à mesure des incohérences repérées dans les témoignages, que l'écrivain tente d'élucider cette affaire sanglante.
Que dire sur ce livre ? L'écriture de l'autrice est très fluide. Les phrases s'articulent bien et s'écoulent au point que l'on peine à décrocher du roman. Au niveau du vocabulaire, rien de très recherché, il s'agit d'un style simple et efficace, chose très appréciable si l'on ne veut pas perdre le lecteur dans une enquête interminable. Mais qu'en est-il du contenu ? Chacun l'appréhendera à sa manière.
En effet, Olive Martin est une femme qui est décrite comme un monstre aussi bien physiquement que mentalement et les personnages gravitant autour de cette histoire s'accordent complètement sur ce point. Cependant, dès sa première apparition, le lecteur peut constater que la prisonnière est dotée d'esprit et d'intelligence, si bien qu'elle semble manipuler les entrevues avec Roz. Par ailleurs, le titre original fait référence à une occupation à laquelle s'applique Olive, la sculpture. Sa cellule abrite donc des petites figurines représentant certaines personnes importantes dans sa vie, que ce soit en bien ou en mal, pouvant à loisir s'en servir comme exutoire à sa rancœur. Nous faisons donc face à une criminelle représentant à elle seule le proverbe : il ne faut pas juger un livre sur sa couverture.
En ce qui concerne l'avancement de l'enquête, la façon de procéder reste la même tout au long du livre. Rosalind interroge quelqu'un ayant un lien avec la famille plus ou moins ancré, pour en faire la synthèse et comparer les propos avec la déposition d'Olive ainsi que les autres témoignages. À chaque étape, une nouvelle incohérence se greffe, permettant ainsi à l'écrivain de recoller les morceaux du puzzle. Les personnes questionnées appartiennent à un large panel, voisins, ancien professeur, ancien employeur, avocats, policier, réceptionniste d'hôtel, bref tant de versions différentes que de raisons pour dissimuler des secrets. Au milieu de tout cela, l'autrice prend soin de développer le passé de Roz et de lui construire une romance.
Pourquoi Cuisine sanglante peut aussi plaire que déplaire à son lectorat ? Tout simplement parce les idées de l'autrice sont inégales et ne s'imbriquent pas parfaitement.
Avoir fait Olive monstrueuse est sans nul doute une manière de dénoncer le comportement des gens envers ceux qui sont différents d'eux. De suite, par la révulsion qu'elle inspire rien qu'en la regardant, tout le monde veut la savoir coupable, et particulièrement capable d'un tel acte. Peu d'entre eux cherchent vraiment à chercher si c'est la vérité. C'est certes une solution de facilité de l'imager ainsi et non avec un autre moyen, mais quelque part, il y a un aspect réaliste : une gamine obèse peinera à cause de son physique de se faire des amis. C'est triste et sûrement un cliché vieux comme le monde, mais c'est ainsi. Les enfants peuvent être spécialement cruels au collège envers les différences des autres, surtout si leurs parents ne leur montrent pas un exemple de tolérance. Au fil de l'histoire, nous apprenons qu'Olive n'avait qu'une seule amie, ou plutôt qu'une seule personne acceptant de lui parler lors de sa scolarité. En revanche, cette "copine" pensait comme ses autres camarades qu'elle était déviante et voyait surtout en Olive une garde du corps. Une autre façon de montrer que les enfants peuvent être parfaitement cruels mais également influençables.
Cependant, était-ce nécessaire de lui imposer une telle famille ? Certains choix de l'autrice ont réellement du sens, même s'ils manquent de subtilité comme le désir de prouver que les apparences peuvent être trompeuses, mais plus on avance dans le roman, plus on réalise à quel point le sort s'acharne sur la famille Martin. Entre les parents qui s'entendent si peu que le père vit barricadé dans une pièce de la maison, et la sœur qui paraît bien trop propre sur elle, il y avait déjà des éléments qui malgré leur logique semblaient forcés. Les révélations finales sont justes ahurissantes tant elle complique la situation et la rende surréaliste.
De même, faire de Rosalind une dépressive qui trouvera sa rédemption dans la sympathie qu'elle éprouve pour la meurtrière ainsi que dans la romance qu'elle entretiendra avec un ancien policier est peut-être surfait. C'est surtout ce dernier point qui m'a chagrinée. Chacun réagit différemment à la douleur, et vu le passé de Roz, je ne pouvais juger son attitude. Cependant, tomber dans les bras d'un tel butor ne me paraissait ni le meilleur remède, ni le meilleur moyen de rapprocher les personnages. Car cette romance permet aussi de développer une sous-intrigue autour de ce policier qui sera inévitablement reliée à l'intrigue principale. L'une des idées les plus abracadabrantesques qui soit tant cela sonne ridicule.
Par ailleurs, il est triste de constater que finalement, Olive n'est pas si centrale que ça à l’œuvre et l'on peine à comprendre le choix du titre original. Les sculptures de la prisonnière pourraient servir de fil conducteur si leur apparition étaient mieux gérées. Cependant, le lecteur a surtout l'impression qu'il s'agit d'un défoulement pour Olive sans réelle signification jusqu'à ses dernières œuvres : Eve aux deux visages et l'Homme aux milles vices. Il est dommage que l'autrice n'ait pas insisté sur les aspects spirituels et psychologiques de cette occupation. Cela aurait pu fournir des réflexions très intéressantes sur l'humanité.
Alors que penser de ce roman ? Les passages faisant évoluer l'enquête sont tout à fait plaisants à suivre, même s'ils possèdent un effet caricatural avec la pipelette, l'indiscrète, l'indigné, et d'autres personnages ayant un rôle défini. Si l'on observe le désir de prouver que la société rejette ce qu'elle considère comme anormal, ces caricatures font terriblement sens. En effet, chaque personnage représentera un caractère prompt à juger selon un certain point de vue, et mis bout à bout, ils forment tous les multiples facettes de l'hypocrisie humaine.
En revanche, comme évoqué précédemment, la sous-intrigue avec l'ancien policier fait un peu office de remplissage et se révèlent de plus en plus difficile à concevoir. L'ultime bémol étant tout de même la fin alambiquée. Elle est tellement tirée par les cheveux qu'on le lecteur aura l'impression que l'autrice cherchait à le surprendre, mais pour le coup il ne demeure pas surpris mais abasourdi par ce choix improbable. Mais il demeure tout de même un bon divertissement tant l'histoire est prenante.
June 7, 2024
Incredible storyline, i loved the love interest and the way it integrated and interacted with the story rather being a sideline plot twist. I loved the end of the epilogue that really keeps you guessing as to whether the end of the book was truly the correct outcome or if the entire story had been fabricated by a sociopath, even though she had been diagnosed as normal throughout. The end links to the middle of the book and keeps you guessing even after you’ve finished it and i loved this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 442 reviews