The next in the DCI Wilfred Dover series - and just as good as the first.
Once again, Dover is sent out into the sticks to solve a seemingly unsolvableThe next in the DCI Wilfred Dover series - and just as good as the first.
Once again, Dover is sent out into the sticks to solve a seemingly unsolvable crime by the Ass. Commission, whom Dover suspects (quite rightly) dislikes him. Considering these little outings are far beneath his position within Scotland yard, Dover is on the look out to solve the crime quite quickly and head back home.
But solving the "Sleeping Beauty" mystery is not going to be that easy as Dover and his trusty Sergeant MacGregor find themselves in a town segregated along religious lines, with a fair bit of tit-for-tat going on. And Sleeping Beauty is just one incident amid many. But someone has it in for the comatose girl, who is murdered, resulting in Dover being sent.
Dover blusters about in his usual manner, throwing round accusations alike breadcrumbs to birds, raising the hackles of all whom he comes into contact with, whilst poor old MacGregor is once again assigned all the leg work so that Dover can spend the majority of his day, sitting idly by, filling his belly and getting his daily nap. And again, as usual, and always in the absence of trusty MacGregor, Dover claims the kudos for himself.
I am loving this series - Dover is despicable whilst we cannot but have a soft spot for MacGregor, who hopes that one day, someone will hears his pleas and re-assign him to another DCI.
Merged review:
The next in the DCI Wilfred Dover series - and just as good as the first.
Once again, Dover is sent out into the sticks to solve a seemingly unsolvable crime by the Ass. Commission, whom Dover suspects (quite rightly) dislikes him. Considering these little outings are far beneath his position within Scotland yard, Dover is on the look out to solve the crime quite quickly and head back home.
But solving the "Sleeping Beauty" mystery is not going to be that easy as Dover and his trusty Sergeant MacGregor find themselves in a town segregated along religious lines, with a fair bit of tit-for-tat going on. And Sleeping Beauty is just one incident amid many. But someone has it in for the comatose girl, who is murdered, resulting in Dover being sent.
Dover blusters about in his usual manner, throwing round accusations alike breadcrumbs to birds, raising the hackles of all whom he comes into contact with, whilst poor old MacGregor is once again assigned all the leg work so that Dover can spend the majority of his day, sitting idly by, filling his belly and getting his daily nap. And again, as usual, and always in the absence of trusty MacGregor, Dover claims the kudos for himself.
I am loving this series - Dover is despicable whilst we cannot but have a soft spot for MacGregor, who hopes that one day, someone will hears his pleas and re-assign him to another DCI....more
Murder mystery set in a Police Training College where the victim, the suspects, and the investigators are police officers. What could possibly go wronMurder mystery set in a Police Training College where the victim, the suspects, and the investigators are police officers. What could possibly go wrong!
Though by (my) normal standards this is a short book at only 164 pages, it feels much longer. The chapters are not overly long, as we follow DS Ralph Blade and his team as they investigate the murder of a man for whom many will not shed a tear, and as such, there is an abundance of suspects and motives that need to be investigated.
I enjoyed the storyline and the fact that the author used a real location and object in which to set his crime.
Merged review:
Murder mystery set in a Police Training College where the victim, the suspects, and the investigators are police officers. What could possibly go wrong!
Though by (my) normal standards this is a short book at only 164 pages, it feels much longer. The chapters are not overly long, as we follow DS Ralph Blade and his team as they investigate the murder of a man for whom many will not shed a tear, and as such, there is an abundance of suspects and motives that need to be investigated.
I enjoyed the storyline and the fact that the author used a real location and object in which to set his crime....more
If you pick up this tome and have watched Hitchcock's film, you will no doubt find yourself making comparisons. This tome is a slow build with a plot If you pick up this tome and have watched Hitchcock's film, you will no doubt find yourself making comparisons. This tome is a slow build with a plot line slightly different to the one Hitchcock presents.
Like most tomes of the period, there is usually a secondary narrative or social commentary or political propaganda. Many early 20th century books embraced modernist techniques, such as stream-of-consciousness narration, nonlinear storytelling, and fragmented narratives; and focused on character to unravel the intricate web of an individual's thoughts and feelings . This is no exception.
Still, read it for the enjoyment of this being a classic mystery....more
More of a case of the author providing a central figure around which to delve into the history of the period rather than the other way around. Jazz AgMore of a case of the author providing a central figure around which to delve into the history of the period rather than the other way around. Jazz Age New York is the star and Vivian Gordon is the understudy.
However, it is a highly compelling look at the huge amount of graft and corruption taking place in all levels of government, as well as an insight into some of the legendary characters of the period - gangsters, cops, politician and madams. The reader will not be failed to be entertained.
Nice wrap up at the end with a chapter dedicated to what happened to those key players mentioned in the book....more
Another one for that genre of "bad guy hero" - this time from actor and comedian Hugh Laurie. Told in Why has it taken me so long to find this tome???
Another one for that genre of "bad guy hero" - this time from actor and comedian Hugh Laurie. Told in first person narrative by the man in the title - gun seller / assassin for hire Thomas Lang - we are taken on a non-stop, oft tongue-in-cheek adventure as Lang tries to right a wrong, save the life of the man he was hired to kill and the life of the damsel in distress, whilst at the same time saving the world under the guise of terrorist from evil villains (ie: businessmen) who are hoping to start WWIII in order to drum up sales.
It is witty, humourous (in a dry, sartirical sort of way), it is action packed - with action and fabulous one-liners - and has a hero intent on doing good under extreme circumstances - does he get the girl in the end, read on and find out!
Yet another entertaining story from Foley using her trademark multiple narrative that once again, moves between past and present events. This time, thYet another entertaining story from Foley using her trademark multiple narrative that once again, moves between past and present events. This time, the setting is in a Parisienne apartment complex, where all residents are hiding some sort of secret, both from those within and those without. It brings not one but two outsiders to bring fast held secrets to the fore - and with tragic consequences.
Knocked this one over in the space of a few hours as the format was familiar and the stroryline engaging.
Another great read from Lucy Foley. Stuck on a remote Irish island, past secrets and long-held jealousies came to the fore as guests gather for a weddAnother great read from Lucy Foley. Stuck on a remote Irish island, past secrets and long-held jealousies came to the fore as guests gather for a wedding. Once again, the golden child comes off as rather tarnished once the surface of their facade begins to crumble. The past raises its ugly head as a number of the guests come to realise that their own long concealed skeletons are being slowly let out of the cupboard - and incidents, once unexplained, are now given substantial meaning.
And then the lights go out ...... one victim but more than one guest with ample motive and opportunity.
Foley once again retells events from the viewpoint of the main characters, with the narrative being told in both the past and present tense. Along the way, little pieces of each of these people is being revealed in such a way as to create the "aha"moment as the final few (short) chapters bring events to the apogee we all know is imminent.
Not so much a thriller but a rather engaging mystery wherein you know there is a murder, there are multiple suspects, but the victim is never identifiNot so much a thriller but a rather engaging mystery wherein you know there is a murder, there are multiple suspects, but the victim is never identified as such until the last few chapters. The narrative moves between the present and the few days leading up the deed, whilst each of those involved add a voice and perspective to chronicle of events. Clues are scattered like the proverbial breadcrumbs in a forest - but not to the extent that they are obvious and leading the reading down the path to deliverance. Much is muted and subtle - a bit like the landscape that provides the setting for our tale of jealousy, deception, betrayal and ultimately ... murder.
Barely a quarter of the way in, I gave this four stars. It deserves five - what a roller-coaster ride through the murky underworld and the shady worldBarely a quarter of the way in, I gave this four stars. It deserves five - what a roller-coaster ride through the murky underworld and the shady world of espionage. The bad guy is the good guy and the villains are suitably bad.
Rick Carter is a recruiter - he lines up "staff" for those who are willing to pay big bucks for a job to be done - no questions asked. However, things go a little awry (understatement) when a new client comes on the scene and makes Rick an offer he cannot refuse. Now Rick must use his skills and contacts to ensure that this new client does not achieve their end game - and it will come at a personal cost.
It is so easy to become invested in Rick's narrative as the tale rockets along - sometimes a break-neck speed - to an inevitable outcome, which is not a a tidy affair at all. The body count is high, the violence oft times gratuitous, the humour suitable dark, the undertones noirish, the action non-stop. For a first novel, the reader could not ask for anything more. Except more!
A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to read a number of books of a similar genre. Podolski is in good company and I look forward to reading more. ...more
Two rival crime authors must collaborate to seek the truth about a mysterious cult. Who will live to write about it and will all be revealed or hiddenTwo rival crime authors must collaborate to seek the truth about a mysterious cult. Who will live to write about it and will all be revealed or hidden once again.
The story format is told by way of more modern forms of communication - whatsapp messages, texts, emails, sticky notes, transcribed interviews etc. We don't actually "meet" the to rivals in the flesh, so to speak. I am not really a fan of this style of narrative - and found myself taking longer to read than I usually would. However, the story was engaging enough that I was compelled to read on until the mystery was solved....more
An autofictional account of a much publicised murder that occurred in 2016 in Rome, Italy. The first part of the account, told in the third person narAn autofictional account of a much publicised murder that occurred in 2016 in Rome, Italy. The first part of the account, told in the third person narrative, deals with the crime, the arrest. The second part, told in the first person narrative, continues on, and is punctuated by personal recollections and statement of friends. It is written in a style that sort of plays of events as they are happening.
Unfortunately, I was not at all engaged with the writing style or presentation. I did persevere till the end but there really was no really interest except to finish....more
Our narrator Kevin finds himself in a situation not initially of his making, but one that he just keeps making"sometimes it just all goes to hell .."
Our narrator Kevin finds himself in a situation not initially of his making, but one that he just keeps making worse the more he tries to deal with it.
An at times, unlikely and unlikable anti-hero, which fits in perfectly with noirish overtones of this work.
Louis succeeds perfectly in conveying the lengths a man will go to in ensuring that he gets away with it ... but does he?? The walls are closing in on all sides, and everyone wants their pound of flesh from Kevin.
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