The first two thirds of The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal were fine. An enjoyable, evocative story, well written and cleverly constructed with very short chapters, alternating passages for Iris, Albie and Silas. Some good humour and wit with occasional menace. Lots of interesting stuff about painting, perhaps some study of art appreciation along the way. (I failed Art "O" Level). The studio was "brim full of clutter". Louis says " I've never believed in cataloguing things - of putting books here, and others there, and what not. It shows such a want of taste and imagination ........ such a dismal mechanical mind that tidies". (Well that's me told).
Then the last third changes direction completely to become a made for TV sordid thriller. Lots of repetition. Such unoriginal and gratuitous female abuse leading to an inevitable conclusion. I rushed through the last hundred pages. Such a shame.
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