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The Long close call by J. Wallis Martin. British crime fiction 10/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/30/2008 8:55 AM
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J. Wallis Martin’s crime fiction novel The Long Close Call [ ISBN 0 340 72817 5] is a gripping read – not only is this a good plot, and a clever, suspenseful, quickly moving narrative, but she has a way of revealing her knowledge of the backgrounds of her characters – and giving a realistic and engaging context. I don’t usually like the flashback narratives that splurge past information in dribbles through the book, but in this case it is well done and it works pretty well.
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Suffer the Little Children by Donna Leon. Eurocrime 10/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/29/2008 8:34 AM
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I really like Donna Leon’s crime fiction series featuring Commissario Brunetti and this latest one Suffer the Little Children [878 0 099 50322 4] is the usual pleasure of perfect atmosphere, good plot, rounded, interesting characters and relationships together with sensitive handling of pertinent social issues – no mean feat.
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Night Work by Steve Hamilton. American crime fiction 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/27/2008 8:17 AM
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Steve Hamilton’s crime fiction novel Night Work [ISBN 978 0 7528 8594] is a fair read – the plot is twisted and unfathomable, the with one of those relentless narratives that clobber the hero again and again until you wonder where it will end. Its probably just a bit too relentless for me, with rather too much action – it becomes less than plausible after a while.
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Last Witness by Jilliane Hoffman. American crime fiction 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/26/2008 8:43 AM
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Jilliane Hoffman’s debut crime fiction book Last Witness [ISBN 0 141 01712 0] is a very readable thriller, nicely plotted (not too obscure but not easily guessable) and nicely paced with a narrative that reveals enough new information regularly enough to keep you on the edge of the seat. Characters are well-written too.
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The Malice Box by Martin Langfield. Grail type thriller 5/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/18/2008 2:10 PM
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Martin Langfield’s thriller The Malice Box [ISBN978 0 141 02506 3] appears to be just a plot-mishmash of all the worst pseudo-religious ancient-secret-revealed-search type book, mixed with a strange modern doomsday-bomb kind of threat. Grim – I only made it with judicious skipping – and I wish I’d never bothered.
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Severed by Simon Kernick. British thriller 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/17/2008 9:05 AM
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Severed is Simon Kernick’s second book [ISBN 978 0 552 15313 3] – the first, Relentless (see this blog) was just that, fast and furious though the plot had gaps. This book is such a similar style – absolutely relentless from start to finish – you really start a roller coaster ride from page one – and it speeds up rather than slows down. It really is remarkable. The plot is also reminiscent of his first – based on the hero not having a clue why or what is happening to him- though this hero is more intelligent and active than the first book. What a pacy, exciting read !
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Not Dead Enough by Peter James. British crime fiction 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/15/2008 9:37 AM
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Peter James’s crime fiction thriller Not Dead Enough [ISBN 978 0 330 44612 9] has a brilliant plot, good, atmospheric background (Brighton etc) and meaty characters. The narrative is well-written and though it does meander along in parts, does keep its suspense. However, once the reader guesses what is happening then it does appear rather slow.
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Touched by the Dead by Robert Barnard. Crime fiction 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/11/2008 2:26 PM
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Robert Barnard’s Touched by the Dead [0 00 651326 3] is his usual well-crafted, straightforward, “civilised entertainment – Times” . You can’t say much more than that: they are literate without being literary, readable without being exciting, endings and plot-changes with rabbit out of the hat-type cheating. Just the thing for a wet afternoon
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Die with me by Elena Forbes. English crime fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/7/2008 11:30 AM
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Die with me by Elena Forbes [ISBN 978 1 84724 291 4] is quite cleverly plotted, starts well and is full of brooding tension and evil. The narrative is more gruesome and explicit than I feel particularly comfortable with and introduces a murderer with different types of motivation and who obviously is well camouflaged in his life. The angst within the murder squad also adds some interest and displays some human interest.
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Free Fall by John Francome. Horsy Crime fiction 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
4/4/2008 12:30 PM
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John Francome’s fiction novel Free Fall [ISBN 978 0 7553 2695 2] is pretty easy reading, nothing earthshaking or taxing. The plot is obviously authentic with a couple of twists, but without a great deal of depth, the narrative straightforward and not a lot of suspense, and the characters horsy but nonetheless ordinary (which is not all bad, but is less than exciting).
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