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The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld. Literary/Historical Mystery Fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/30/2007 12:23 PM
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Jed Rubenfled’s historical mystery fiction novel The Interpretation of Murder [ISBN 978 0 7553 3142 0] is a quite amazing book in many different ways. Firstly, the historical background of early 20th century New York is fascinating – including the amusing social divisions – and equally well researched is the background to the story – Freud’s lecture visit (with Jung) to the states in 1909, which the author has cunningly contrived to write into a murder mystery. The psychoanalytic discourse is reassuringly authentic, but can be tedious when
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The Two Minute Rule by Robert Crais. Crime fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/29/2007 3:15 PM
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Robert Crais’ latest crime fiction novel The Two Minute Rule [ISBN 978 0 7528 7957 4] is not an Elvis Cole, but a gritty interesting and well-written table-turner where a newly released ex-con sets out to find a murderer. The plot is not all that complex, but the questions at the heart of it sets up a suspenseful narrative that builds and builds throughout the book – it only fails to get a 10/10 because he uses a couple of plot devices I find slightly cheating –and allows him to squirrel away key information until the end and then it looks a bit staged
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The Skin Gods by Richard Montanari. Thriller 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/28/2007 10:28 AM
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Richard Montanari’s novel The Skin Gods [ISBN 978 0 099 48689 3] is a dense book in many ways. It is not just that it’s a substantial read, but the plot is a complex mix of several stories which you feel may or may not come together. The narrative keeps moving forward all the time, but often adds only a sliver of information to the story out of context as each sub-story moves at the same pace. There are scads of red herrings and the reader can’t be sure which part of the plot each may well be connected with. The complexity is clever, and keeps you guessing.
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Darkness and Light by John Harvey. Crime thriller 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/24/2007 4:10 PM
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John Harvey’s Darkness and Light [ISBN 978 0 099 48995 5] is a well-written crime thriller, though the plot mechanism is so obvious that it begins to be hackneyed when you spot it. The crimes throw up suspects from the outset, each one is offered as a possibility, all but one are red herrings, but throughout the book you are invited to match the possibles against a flashback narrative of a young boy at a psychiatrist who is obviously our culprit
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Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman. Literary Fiction 10/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/23/2007 4:01 PM
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Alice Hoffman’s Skylight Confessions [CN 149600] is not my usual style of book. Its got an ethereal, ghostly feel, and though the story is simple (it could be told in a couple of sentences or so) the narrative is gripping and powerful and I confess I cried in several places. (This has not happened since the Kite Runner – but its not even as desperately sad as that was, its just so well written you are dragged into the story until you care what happens.)
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Brightness Falls by Jay McInerney. Literary Fiction 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/22/2007 11:04 AM
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Jay McInerney’s novel Brightness Falls [CN 5900] is one of those American almost riches to almost rags sagas full of angst and self-absorption. The plot is therefore simple, and the narrative predictable, even the underhand business dealings are no surprise. The characters are thoroughly drawn, (though American characters of this type get more and more foreign, I feel) and their foibles and views explored. The book is undoubtedly well written, which is why, even though it’s a long book, I did get to the end with only the minimal of skipping.
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Night Windows by Jonathan Smith. Thriller 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/21/2007 11:00 AM
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Jonathan Smith’s thriller Night Windows [ISBN 0 349 11893 0] gets some really good jacket crits – “an excellent and subtle novelist” “ a brilliant novel with a stunningly logical pay-off”, but I don’t think its quite so good. The plot is quite simple and revealed tediously – a double life or a doppleganger – and this is good as far as it goes, but the original character is quite stolid and boring – yes, I know this is to set against his shadow, but it doesn’t keep you on your seat, particularly. The writing is good, and. OK, subtle, but it’s only a fair read.
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Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan. Literary Fiction 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/19/2007 9:01 AM
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Amy Tan’s Saving fish from Drowning [ISBN 0 00 721616 5] is a deceptively light comedy, that has great depths to its underlying psychology, detailed observations and empathic views of difference. The plot is engaging and the narrative voice (of a dead person’s spirit) sets just the right viewpoint and tone for this amusing. ironic, multiculturally-playful, thought provoking novel.
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Twisted by Jeffrey Deaver. Crime fiction short stories 10/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/18/2007 7:34 PM
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Twisted, Jeffrey Deaver’s collection of short stories [ISBN 0 340 83389 0] is a delight of well-written superbly plotted and suspenseful stories. Though short stories are not my usual preferred medium, these are the very best of the genre. Each one delivers major twists on what is expected – as he says in his introduction, all rules for full-scale novels are off, and he can change the goalposts and expectations. There is a new Lincoln Rhyme short story – good it is too, and a plethora of seriously clever, intelligent other stories you should not miss.
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The Associate by Philip Margolin. Crime thriller 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/16/2007 1:28 PM
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Philip Margolin’s crime fiction novel The Associate [ISBN 0 7515 3243 6] is reminiscent of Scott Turow (without the overwhelming detail) and is a reasonable enough read. The plot is somewhat implausible, however, it starts off well and then goes off at a tangent for a long period and never really tightens up again. The narrative keeps going with some pace, and the characterisations are good enough for light fiction, but it isn’t as good as I expected it to be at the outset.
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