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The Touch of Ghosts by John Rickards. Crime fiction 5/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/31/2006 12:31 PM
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A convoluted, complicated plot, which challenges the reader to think of any motive. Narrative has strung-out action, a plethora of red herrings and thinnish characters. But …is quite compelling overall - I did read through to the end determined to find out how things turned out.
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Conviction by Richard North Pattison – Legal process thriller 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/30/2006 10:44 AM
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Richard North Pattison’s legal thriller Conviction, is a well structured story, slow in parts like many legal cases, with a narrative switching from current to past and plot twists and turns. The characterisation is only fair with (for me) too much family history of violence which does get confusing – using the family happenings as padding slows the pace considerably. The story concerns two brothers, Rennell and Payton, who are accused of murdering a nine year old girl.
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Jeffrey Deaver – The 12th Card - Crime/Murder Mystery Fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/29/2006 11:31 AM
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Jeffrey Deaver’s The 12th Card [ISBN 0 340 734566] is another one of the Lincoln Rhyme/Amelia Sachs crime fiction books. The plot is excellent and the narrative sometimes a little patchy and off-focus, but on the whole builds to good, tense suspense with interesting crime scene biology/chemistry background for the purists. The main characters remain pretty emotionless and do not interfere with the plot ! The ending goes on and on in this one !
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Rough Trade by Dominique Manotti – Excellent Eurocrime novel 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/28/2006 9:38 AM
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Rough Trade by Dominique Manotti [ISBN 1-900850-87-7] translated from the French by Margaret Crosland and Elfreda Powell is a complex, expertly drawn, atmospheric novel set in Le Sentier, the rag trade district of Paris where a number of themes - the fight of low paid illegal immigrants to acquire job status, traffic in heroin, the death of a young Thai girl used in a sinister video sex club, the involvement of police – are woven into a exciting plot.
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Linda Grant – When I lived in Modern Times –winner of the Orange Prize for fiction 2000 |
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By bookworm on
3/27/2006 2:53 PM
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This is a lyrical story, with the subject well-handled and an interesting viewpoint. The strong narrative uses a range of literary devices to break the flow – especially strong characterisation and excellent evocative description. The book themes are idealism, cultural belonging, youth and optimism, political naivety and particularly, the importance of identity.
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Ian Rankin – Watchman An early novel: crime/spy fiction 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/26/2006 12:34 PM
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Watchman was Ian Rankin’s 2nd novel, now re-released with a new introduction. It is a spy story rather reminiscent of Graham Greene. Miles, the “Watchman” is involved in watching “Latchkey” an IRA cell. The are a number of characters – the Director who is faintly caricatured, a newspaper reporter, the CIA an MP (the usual suspects). The story builds slowly and enigmatically, much happens that is unexplained, but adds to the problems of the main character and the build up of tension. The action moves across to Ireland as the secret service is obviously trying to get rid of Miles by setting him up, as he’s a problem. There is a good double-twist ending and a final denouement at Waverly station, that is quite atmospheric.
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The Wishing Game by Patrick Redmond – Psychological thriller 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/25/2006 12:53 PM
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Patrick Redmond’s The Wishing Game [ISBN 0 340 74818 4] is a real chiller – quite powerfully written, and also, even given that the setting may well not suit everyone, compelling readable. The setting is the strange hothouse of a boys public school, superbly contextualised and believable, where the characters of the boys, masters and their wives are exceptionally well drawn and draw the reader in with sympathy as the story unfolds. The story starts with a 40-years-on interview with one of the participant’s in the books drama revealing that there was even more to the awful happenings than was revealed to the press at the time. The narrative goes on then to tease out the story and motives from early, almost insignificant actions. Basically, this is a story about bullying by groups of boys and masters, and the development of a defence to this activity which gets out of hand. The narrative develops an increasingly fast pace, as “accidents” become more serious and people die. The ending is pretty weird a ...
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Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein Bk II– City of Night – Horror/thriller 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/24/2006 1:34 PM
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There are several threads in this new story of Frankenstein with a single simple theme of the return of Frankenstein after several centuries. It is quite pacy and very strange in parts – as much science fantasy as horror fiction. Substantially, Deucalion, the original monster, created by Victor Frankenstein (now Victor Helios). This legendary monster has survived the centuries to become a haunted and heroic figure dedicated to battling the truly monstrous evil that has also survived the years: the cruel genius who gave him life now Victor Helios who is still churning out replicant humans and replacing people. Having failed to kill his maker in the past, now scarred and strange, he lives with monks in Tibet until he hears about the new monsters and returns to try to kill him. One storyline follows two cops – Michael and Carson, who are trying to track Victor down whilst another focuses on Victor and his wife Erika (the 6th Erika who keeps needing replacement as she goes wrong and fails to please him) ...
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The 5th Horseman by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro – Crime fiction/murder mystery 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/23/2006 3:43 PM
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James Patterson’s The 5th Horseman [ISBN 0 7553 2307 6] is a deceptively fast-paced thriller. The plot is pretty straightforward, with two main, and unconnected throughout, story lines. The book is thinly related to others in the “Women’s murder club” series. The narrative chugs along with continued deaths, whilst most of the time the police have no clue what is happening – so although there is continued action, there is frustration wondering if the plot will ever be resolved. (It is by the last page). It is skilled writing for suspense, though characterisations are pretty superficial, so there is little to engage the reader only the problem-solving.
Set in San Francisco, the action begins with an unexpected death in a hospital, and a staged murder of a young woman found in a car, dressed after death in designer clothes. Resolving the first is the job of Lt Lindsay Boxer – and much much later she begins to look into the first. As many series stories of this ilk the private lives o ...
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The Other Boleyn Girl – by Philippa Gregory – Historical Fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/22/2006 11:49 AM
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The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory is extremely well researched and seems authentic to known facts about the life of Mary Boleyn, Anne’s younger sister. This book of historical “faction” puts the focus on the “minor” historical character in the Boleyn family, and the actions of the other Boleyns are seen from her perspective. There do seem to be a number of anachronisms in the phraseology of the letters and some dialogue, though this is a very minor issue.
The story begins with the shy 12 year old who is Katherine of Aragon’s maid who in the hothouse of the court attracts the attention of King Henry. Gregory has Mary positioned by her sister Anne (with her advanced ideas of lovemaking gained at the French court) and her brother George to become Henry’s mistress at 13. Her uncle and father are part of the plot using her to gain power and influence with the King. The narrative then follows the fall of Mary from favour and the rise of Anne – and then the increasing shrewishne ...
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Murder Suicide by Keith Ablow – Murder fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/21/2006 1:39 PM
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Keith Ablow’s Murder Suicide [ISBN 0 330 427636] catches the reader from the first page. It is a psychological thriller and a murder mystery, with the actions and thoughts of the characters deeply observed and allowing for a complex view of human motives and behaviour. The plot is, on the one hand, simple, but on the other, complicated by the ways in which the author leads the reader on a variety of different paths as information is uncovered and revealed through the story.
The book begins with the shooting of John Snow, flawed genius, on his way to a life-changing operation on his brain to cure his epilepsy and free his creativity at the expenses of his memories of his family and previous life. A couple of days later a women, who had been his mistress died of slashed wrists and throat. The central thesis of the book is whether these two were two murders, two suicides or a murder and a suicide. Looking at the evidence is Dr Frank Clevenger, a forensic psychologist, is brought in by the poli ...
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Barrie Roberts – Crowner & Justice – Crime fiction 5/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/19/2006 3:00 PM
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Barrie Roberts’ Crowner and Justice is a fairly pedestrian British crime fiction novel – though to be truthful I did read it to the end in order to find out how he managed to resolve the improbable plot. The book starts with an introduction to Chris Tyrell’s three new cases. As a litigation lawyer in the West Midlands he has a variety of cases, and in this case it’s an Employment Tribunal, the seizure of ponies grazing in a pasture, and a mother who wants a Coroner’s verdict of suicide overturned. Typically the narrative goes through each thread at a time making this, as usual, choppy reading in split narratives. The characterisations are quite thin – but probably as well drawn as possible given the number involved in the various cases. The ending is particularly improbable, given that the motives for the various mayhem and murder are thinnish.
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Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben – Crime fiction at its best 10/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/17/2006 3:14 PM
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Quite an old book (1995) by now but a really great read –this is masterclass crime fiction. The plot is just believable and challenging to the reader, the characters are slightly caricatured but memorable, the narrative weaves threads of stories skilfully and without losing the reader or annoying her unduly. But what makes this book so good is the smart, funny dialogue and wonderful descriptions which just delight and surprise and keep you awake and looking for more. What about this for an intro to a meeting
“There were several things Myron enjoyed more than visiting Herman Ache. Having his eyeball removed with a grapefruit spoon, for example”.
The story begins with Myron Bolitar, an Agent in Sports Representation, trying unsuccessfully to negotiate a contract with one of his ball ...
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Sinister Heights by Loren D. Estleman: Quality Detective fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/16/2006 3:09 PM
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Sinister Heights by Loren D. Estleman deserves an 8 out of 10 if only for the quality of the writing – the dialogue and descriptions are clever and evocative. Reminiscent of the traditional hard-boiled detectives of Chandler and Robert B Parker, Esteman’s detective Amos Walker has the fast talking, ironic quips of the masters, together with the seemingly endless capacity to be beaten up and shot at.
Set in Detroit this novel tells the story of Walker’s search for the illegitimate offspring of the enormously rich Rayellen Sutch’s late husband. Thereafter follows his harassment by the police, and what ends up as a war between those interested in the money, and in between a horrific murder, more attempted murders and a kidnapping keep the action keen.
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The Dead by Ingrid Black - Serial murder/crime fiction 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/16/2006 2:54 PM
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The Dead by Ingrid Black – A crime fiction novel about a serial murderer. It has a very good plot, though a strung-out narrative with a searchlight turned on a number of possibles leading the reader backwards and forwards among the suspects. It has rather broad-brush characterisations, but effective enough. Set in Dublin the book features Chief Superintendent Grace Fitzgerald who believes a serial murderer of prostitutes has started up again. The murderer uses quotes from the bible at each murder suggesting clues for catching him or her. Using two profilers to try to track down the murderer, Grace has to field scepticism from colleagues about her theories. There are many turns and twists in the story –especially the ending which has twist after twist up to the last page.
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The Used Women's Book Club by Paul Bryers Murder mystery/ Crime Fiction 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/15/2006 2:52 PM
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Paul Bryers' The Used Women's Book Club is an excellent murder mystery story. It is well written and has a enough complexity and interest in the plot to keep you interested and guessing to the end. The narrative based around a group of friends who read the same books, switches from perspectives of different charactors in the book which not only helps the build of behaviour and personality to give depth to the charactors but also mose the narrative along a number of threads that become woven together. The dialogue, context and background are authentic and has good use of descriptive language and the pacing builds up considerable tension and suspense.
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Robert Barnard - Touched by the Dead Mystery/Crime fiction 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/15/2006 2:26 PM
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Touched by the Dead by Robert Barnard is a nicely put together mystery novel. This book has a good, fairly tight plot, fairly convincing charactors and a straightforward narrative that moves along pretty well. The plot is based around an adopted child finding out about the adoption by coincidences as an adult and then trying to track down information about his parents. The information he finds out links him to an unsolved mystery in the past, that he then tries to solve. Some of the coincidences from the first chapter to the last do stretch our credibility but are needed as plot devices to link the action together. The context of the House of Commons and the work of an MP does seem on the surface to be fairly realistic though it doesn't appear to involve a great deal of actual work ! Not bad for an evening's relaxing read, though I did find the ending rathe poor and therefore put this down from a 7/10 to 6/10.
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Angel and the French Widow by Anthea Cohen Crime Fiction 4/10 |
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By bookworm on
3/15/2006 2:02 PM
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Anthea Cohen's Angel and the French Widow has unconvincing plot with unlikely coincidences coupled with equally strange charactors, which makes me wonder why I read it to the end. The narrative does, however, move along quite nicely and as long as you are able to suspend your disbelief as to the reality of any of it, it is quite readable. There are a number of books in this series, I notice, so the author must have some kind of following that likes this genteel, spuriously moral and old fashioned style of writing, which has been jazzed up by "modern" storylines and drug taking teenage charactors that speak as if they were middle aged cronies to the weirdest elderly central anti-heroine I have read for some time. Obviously some readers like this approach - but who on earth are they?
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Killer Smile by Lisa Scottoline – legal process crime fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/20/2006 6:51 PM
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Lisa Scottoline’s Killer Smile is one of a series featuring a firm of trial lawyers. The book has a good plot, with interesting contextualisation of material about world war two detainees in America. The narrative is well planned for cliff-hangers at suitable times, though sometimes the reader could wish for a quicker move forward. There are longish periods when the literary plot devices of delay become quite tedious. The number of times papers go missing is not just careless but literary boredom. It is, however, professionally written by an author who knows her stuff, and so, even though characterisation is a little superficial, worth a weekend read.
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The Lightening Cage by Alan Wall – enigmatic literary fiction – 4/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/19/2006 11:00 AM
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Alan Wall’s book The Lightening Cage is a novel of erudite but curious literary fiction. The plot as such is fairly simple and undramatic, the story is carried on with two narratives – one historical and one current. These narratives do set up a tension and cause the reader to be curious about what deep, possibly supernatural, happenings are being referred to in the various snippets of letters and poetry quoted. The writing appears impressively scholarly and yet manages to have considerable suspense. It is a pity that the closing chapters are so disappointing – but perhaps that’s it – perhaps my attention drooped to such a low level I missed any point there was. Not my key themes or ideas.
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Entombed by Linda Fairstein – good quality crime fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/18/2006 2:09 PM
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Linda Fairstein’s crime fiction book Entombed, is the latest in her series featuring Assistant DA Alex Cooper, and is, as usual with Fairstein’s books – well plotted, middling gruesome, and authentically detailed – this time with information about Edgar Allan Poe no less. The narrative moves along with high levels of suspense as relevant clues are only dribbled into the story along with a fair number of red herrings. The characters now verge on the tedious, as Linda Fairstein seems to be gripped by the problem of so many crime fiction writers who carry on a long series – the tendency to have the main characters lives with their partners afflicted by huge and earthshaking happenings as every day occurrences – just like a soap. They get less believable as each book appears. If you can just ride with the characters as backdrop, the book is very readable indeed.
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Last Tango in Abertystwyth by Malcom Pryce – Comic Noir crime fiction ! 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/17/2006 12:05 PM
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Malcom Pryce’s Last Tango in Aberystwyth is a strangely funny off the wall surreal blend between noir fiction and the League of Gentlemen. It is set in an Aberystwyth of 24 hour whelk stalls, opium and toffee apple dens and where young men were recruited to fight in Patagonia. The plot is impossible to summarise with any sense of sanity, and the characters are as weird as they need to be in the imaginative context. It is the effortless way the humour is woven into the structure of the story that makes this such a unexpected delight – the fluency of the writing and off-beat language and contrivances make this book.
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Property by Valerie Martin – Literary Fiction, Orange Prize Winner 2003 |
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By bookworm on
2/16/2006 4:47 PM
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Valerie Martin’s book Property, her Orange Prize winning novel of 2003, is, as might be expected, beautifully and carefully written. The theme of the bondage of slavery – both for the owned and the owner is an original perspective, and for one with little knowledge of the history of slavery in the American South, an eye opener in terms of what the book reveals anew of the unthinkingly cruel psychological as well as physical treatment of slaves by ordinary, even “good” people. The characters are all flawed and unlikeable, even the strange “heroine” narrating, and yet the book is quite compelling and powerful in delivering its moral – though this is not straightforward or easy.
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Donna Leon – Dressed to Kill – Italian Detective Brunetti – literate crime fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/15/2006 1:37 PM
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Donna Leon’s crime fiction book “Dressed to Kill” is quite an early book (1994) featuring her Detective Commisario Guido Brunetti – the Venetian context makes this novel particularly pleasurable, though the police and crime structure of Leon’s Venice seems very different from that of Massimo Carlotto (see last entry) – though the political manoeuvrings paint the same picture of corruption and intrigue. Not only is the context pleasurable and atmospheric, the plot is, as usual for Donna Leon – very well structured and the literate and polished narrative moves along quickly and deals with great consideration and human sympathy with the violence and horror. However, it is the characterisations that really make the Guido Brunetti books – of the detective and his moral and thoughtful nature, of his wife and family and of his colleagues and the victims of crime – where small pen pictures create an empathy in the reader. These are so good I shall work my way through her back catalogue in time.
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Massimo Carlotto – The Columbian Mule – Trans from Italian – Crime Fiction 8/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/14/2006 3:49 PM
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The Columbian Mule by Massimo Carlotti is based on fact (so says the author’s afterword) and shows an atmosphere and reality in setting and dialogue hard to capture in crime fiction. It seems true that fact is stranger than fiction given the convoluted plot – where the several threads appear to weave illogically and independently through the narrative. It’s a strange tale of gangster’s honour and infighting, and police ruthlessness. The line usually clear in crime fiction between “good” and “bad” even if not between “right” and “wrong” or even less so with “lawful” and “unlawful” is only for the reader to determine. The author tells a fascinating story. It is worth reading if only for the authentic sense of place – do try it.
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The Ice Harvest by Scott Philips – “Deeply noir” – thriller 5/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/13/2006 9:10 PM
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Scott Philips’ The Ice Harvest is an interesting debut novel. The blurb says this is “white noir” but certainly noir it is. Atmospherically placed in the quiet snow of Christmas eve. Quite relentlessly black in focus – though the blow-by-blow account of the action as Charlie tries to run away is written with sharp wit and insight into human frailties. Though set up to be wicked and deeply malevolent, the reader is increasing tied into reading the story to find out who, or if, anyone gets away with the crimes. The ending is quite outrageously unexpected.
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Tess Gerritsen – Body Double – Bestselling crime thriller 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/12/2006 11:55 AM
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Tess Gerritsen, Body Double - as the blurbs for this book say the plot is “horrific and gruesome” – though it isn’t in-your face at the outset – it’s a plot that keeps you guessing right to the end. There is a good authentic forensic background – for those who appreciate the details and there are some quite tantalising characterisations, though sometimes you wish there was more interest in the rather flat relationships. The narrative is brilliantly taut – being left hanging at the end of chapters is Tess Gerritsen’s forte – and it certainly keeps you reading to the end. A bone-chiller that keeps you on the end of the seat – not for the fainthearted - or pregnant, for that matter.
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Claire McNab – The Kookaburra Gambit – light detective novel 5/10 (and that’s being kind) |
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By bookworm on
2/11/2006 2:50 PM
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Claire McNab’s book - The Kookaburra Gambit is a lightish detective novel. It is easy to read and the plot moves along quickly. There are no complicated devices that slow you down (or add depth or interest for example) and it gets away with pretty grim dialogue with lightweight banter and any additional interest occasioned by following the fairly humdrum (by good crime novel standards, that it) life of a trainee gay detective (or rather a trainee detective who happens to be gay). Some amusing touches but not enough to recommend that you read it.
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Tunnel Vision by Sara Paretsky – Crime Fiction 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/10/2006 2:05 PM
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Sara Paretsky’s crime fiction book Tunnel Vision features her popular female private investigator V I Warshawski. This time, as usual, V I is scraping along financially and emotionally, and struggles through a morass of problems. The plot is well structured – and given the large size of Paretsky’s books, is geared to keep you guessing and reading onto the next chapter. The various separate themes eventually begin to be linked and the writing is focused and assured. Characterisations are well drawn and observed, and the background context is quite fascinating. The central character is well placed in the genre of fictional American private eyes – but Paresky’s particular gift is to be able to convince us that it is possible to be tough AND caring without losing credibility.
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Saturday by Ian McEwan – Major book by “Supreme Novelist of his Generation” |
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By bookworm on
2/9/2006 6:10 PM
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There are so many superlatives on the quoted reviews fort this book “Saturday” by Ian McEwan, that I hardly dare add anything to it ! Some of the adjectives used: “Dazzling, profound, urgent…outstanding subtlety… eloquent, restrained, …..observant, responsive, comprehending.” This is indeed very good literary fiction, though, if I dare to say it, expressing a primarily white, male and (educated and privilidged) middle class perspective. As the reviewers say, its not the story (there is very little of it really) it’s the wonderful writing and insightful psychological sympathetic characterisation, as well as the skill by which the various themes – personal and political - come together into the narrative of one day. It is about the fragility of our current lives, how an ideal family may well operate, how driven our lives are by our threads binding us to others. And lots more as they say.
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Paul Sussman’s book – The Last Secret of the Temple – An action-packed thriller 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/8/2006 6:14 PM
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Paul Sussman’s book – The Last Secret of the Temple is another Grail-type quest of a Jewish Holy Treasure, it has two main narratives woven together in a short-time frame thriller. The plot is as samey as other quest thrillers: ancient manuscript + modern triggers = thrilling action where villains and heroes race to find the prize. The geographical and historical context is certainly authentic and separates it from others, whilst the main characters are well fleshed and create empathy or dislike as clearly intended. It is a satisfying long book with most of the action integral to the story. It was a pleasure to read even if some of the more “magical” elements ring less true than the rest of it. Worth getting for a nice long weekend read.
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William Diehl’s crime fiction book – Sharkey’s Machine 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/7/2006 1:59 PM
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Sharkey’s Machine, William Diehl’s crime fiction novel is one of those things-now-caused-by-happenings-in-the-past kind of books, where the plot can get a little complicated to follow at times and the narrative often skips about. It’s a long book, and not the kind of at-one-sitting length so I found myself often backtracking to find out where I’d got to, I even had to re-read the first two chapters at one point to understand the thickening of the plot. I did keep going and it was just about worth it. The characters are a little woodenly drawn, and I didn’t care a great deal about most of them, though Sharkey, the hero, is quite rounded if not lovable. The good part is that the story is lively and interesting, not too introspective but with wide-ranging contexts and backgrounds for action, that reveal new ideas and worlds to the reader. Some novels are quite pedestrian in scope – this certainly isn’t !
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The Innocent – A book by Magdalen Nabb. Crime Fiction 9/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/6/2006 2:50 PM
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This book by Magdalen Nabb, The Innocent, features her police detective Marshal Guarnaccia. The Marshal is probably my favourite police detective – though not speedy or flashy in his way of working, he is endearing and convincing, human and empathic and tenacious in solving the murders. The Florentine background is so very detailed, evocative and pleasurable the book could serve as an advertisement for the Italian Tourist Board. The book is well plotted, the characterisations believable and so well knitted into the narrative that each interview adds drops of information to the story whilst at the same time fleshing out the psychology, drives and motives of behaviour. If you haven’t read a Magdalen Nabb book or been to Florence, plan to do both soon.
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Pel and the Nickname Game – A Crime fiction/police procedural book by Juliet Hebden 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/5/2006 1:54 PM
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The Crime Fiction book – Pel and the Nickname Game by Juliet Hebden – a “Eurothriller” says the blurb (though its not so much of the thriller, more the puzzler) features the popular Commissaire Evariste Clovis Desire Pel – the creature created by Juliet Hebden’s father and continued by her. The book is a pleasure for Francophiles, - it is well plotted, with a narrative that moves along briskly. The book is made by the characterisations, especially the taciturn, scruffy disagreeable Pel, who surprisingly is quite endearing and believable. The baddies are, unusually for crime fiction, more than a match for the police, and so the plot is kept tight and interesting.
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Jodi Compton – the 37th Hour - Crime thriller/Detective Novel 6/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/3/2006 4:24 PM
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Jodi Compton’s crime thriller The 37th Hour is a well written book of considerable suspense and movement. However, the starting-from- here-and- working- forward through-flashback ploy has never been my favourite structure for a novel as I feel it inhibits the flow –and often makes if difficult to plaster the bits together should you leave the book momentarily to have a cup of tea or gin (you may need the gin before you get to the end of this). It is truly mystifying in parts and it is only possible to begin to work out the ending as you get there. The characters are quite sketchily drawn in some cases, and those where more depth of description is given seem to be those who are not particularly endearing.
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The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri – Italian Police procedural /Crime thriller |
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By bookworm on
2/2/2006 1:24 PM
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Andrea Camilleri’s book The Snack Thief – is another novel featuring the idiosyncratic Inspector Montalbano. It has great authentic sense of place and atmosphere, larger-than life characters, and an excellent zippy but circuitous narrative. This led around by the hunches and flashes of brilliance of Inspector Montalbano, and frequently detouring into several restaurants and his delicious “light” meals or into descriptions of the food his housekeeper leaves in the fridge for him. It skirts around farce some of the time, though it is amusing and very readable. Do try this author and get this book if you like the sound of a more authentic Michael Dibdin !
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Spencerville by Nelson DeMille – book of the film – hope the film is better 5/10 |
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By bookworm on
2/1/2006 3:04 PM
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Spencerville by Nelson DeMille is a thriller – though its length does mean that the thrills are somewhat drawn out. The plot of this book is rather thin, though the action is driven by a unpredictable character – and much of the narrative relates to outguessing and bypassing him – it does, at times seem that the power this character carries is somewhat contrived. . It may be much more believable in American terms. It is tempting to think that the two main characters are rather too weak anyway, and feel that they should just get their act together !. The writing and in-built suspense does save the book , though it might be better if it were shorter. Try the film –it may be better !
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Dead Simple by Peter James – murder/thriller – 7/10 if you’re not squeamish ! |
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By bookworm on
1/31/2006 1:50 PM
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I found this book Dead Simple by Peter James as a major challenge to read past the first chapter or so – not because it was either poorly written or conceived – just the opposite – the initial action was so intense and opened up such horrifying possibilities, I wasn’t sure I would want to go through the pain barrier of the suspense so clearly signalled. I thought it was likely to continue to disturb me rather than be an interesting problem to be solved. It was so well written I found it difficult to detach. Not only does the plot milk the pain of claustrophobia but also the betrayal of friendship and the rising panic of all characters as the novel comes to the end. I did keep reading – Peter James is an excellent crime writer – but though I applaud the realism – I found the topics uncomfortable. Trythis book yourself and see what you think !
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John Lawton – Blackout – crime fiction. 7.5/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/30/2006 8:45 PM
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John Lawton’s Blackout is a well-presented novel : nicely written, good narrative and a convincing (at least I thought so) wartime-London context. The day-to-day life of the time seems to be well portrayed, and the plot utilises a number of wartime themes, and weaves them into a suspenseful story. The characterisations are variable in depth, though convincing of the “types” of the more class-based society of the time. Blackout starts out really well, and sets up the problem of identification of a body that could have been a murder or accidental to a German bomb.
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Gabrielle Lord – Feeding the Demons – busy crime thriller 6.5/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/29/2006 7:30 PM
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Gabrielle Lord – Feeding the Demons is a crime thriller with a number of interwoven plots and sub-plots, it has considerable psychological background and is full of pretty unstable characters who are unpredictable and can come under scrutiny of guilt in the murders at different times. Probably because of this unpredictability, the reader is led to keep reading through the narrative with its quickly escalating thriller action, even though sympathy for the characters does wane after one stupid decision follows another ! But an excellent sustaining of interest right up to the end.
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Dean Koontz – Velocity – speedy, scary, unfathomable – killer ending 10/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/27/2006 3:11 PM
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Dean Koontz – Velocity - this is a read-in-one-go novel says the book blurb – and its right, I had to finish it before I went to bed. The story is just so downright suspenseful and compelling that at each new acceleration of the nightmare it is essential to find out if it IS going to happen. This book has a multi-layered, clever plot, an absolutely outstandingly gripping narrative, a well-drawn central character we come to identify with as he struggles to take control, though the other characters are more background sketches we don’t know whether they will turn out to be innocent or complicit.
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Karin Fossum – He Who Fears the Wolf – well-characterised crime fiction 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/26/2006 1:52 PM
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He Who Fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum is a particularly interesting murder mystery. It may be that the rather mournful, clinical, almost detached, matter of fact view of the murder and its possible suspects is related to the third person narrative and that it is translated from the Norwegian. This does mean, however, that the background and context is interesting and authentic and with considerable detail and depth. The psychological expertise and empathy of the narrator for the characters lifts this book from the OK to the worth reading category.
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Henning Mankell – The Fifth Woman – another case for Inspector Wallender |
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By bookworm on
1/24/2006 8:04 PM
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Henning Mankell’s The Fifth Woman is now one of seven Inspector Wallender crime novels excellently translated from the Swedish – his novels give a wonderful sense of background and place, and capturing the space and isolation of rural life whilst at the same time an appreciation of the use of modern crime methods and techniques. The plot of the Fifth Woman is very clever, giving significant clues in every chapter, whilst at the time leaving the reader unsure how to knit them in, until the end. The narrative, therefore, is compelling. At times the descriptions of personality and nature gives a rather mournful impression of the characters – especially Kurt Wallender, though the thin personal life of overworked workaholic police is a constant theme in crime fiction.
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Frank Devlin – Love in all the wrong places – psychological/serial murders 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/23/2006 2:46 PM
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Love in all the wrong places by Frank Devlin is reminiscent of the American cop genre (though without the wry humour of, say, Robert B Parker). It has excellent and intriguing plot which in turn mystifies, lulls you into a false feeling of knowing the end, and then has a few sneaky switches at the end. A fast-paced narrative with a good characterisation of the usual squeeze on the strung-out lives of the overworked cops, relentless in their pursuit of their known killer.
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Straight into Darkness by Faye Kellerman – dark recent/history murder mystery/8/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/20/2006 7:06 PM
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Straight into Darkness - Faye Kellerman has written another “international bestseller” and deserves to be so – it is well researched with an authentic feel to the historical pre-war context. The plot is quite convoluted - murders are set against rapidly moving action within Germany at that time, and the related instability of the police force and incipient violence. The characterisation is good, and the narrative is suspenseful enough to keep the reader guessing. An excellent ending with a surprising final twist. Worth getting for the weekend.
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The Pact by Jodi Picoult – suspenseful and intriguing 7/10 |
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By bookworm on
1/19/2006 11:20 AM
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Jodi Picoult – the author of the Richard and Judy bestseller “My sister’s Keeper” – has written an interesting novel – the Pact – that explores the relationships between parents and children, and within families when faced with a serious trauma. The novel centres on a suicide pact between two young teenage lovers, and explores the myriad of factors involved in the inexorable progress to the death of the young girl, and the trial of the surviving boyfriend. There are compelling views of the families, both between and within them, the legal advisors and the time of incarceration. The ending could be better, I thought.
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Stalking the Angel by Robert Crais – Elvis Cole strikes again ! |
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By bookworm on
1/18/2006 1:36 PM
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Robert Crais’ detective crime novel “Stalking the Angel” gives another outing to that amusing detective Elvis Cole. As usual, Robert Crais writes a good story with narrative expertise. It has a good plot, with amusing characters and dialogue worth reading the book for if everything else were poor! The story moves along quickly, in a direction satisfying to the reader, with enough plot turns and twists to keep you guessing (there is nothing worse than reading towards the expected and then finding you’re right).
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The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith – 1st of new series |
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By bookworm on
1/17/2006 3:22 PM
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Alexander McCall Smith best known for the No1 Ladies Detective Agency Series has started a new series featuring an amateur sleuth set in middle-class Edinburgh. This is in the same amusing and rich style of his other books – wonderful characters, interesting and detailed background for Edinburgh-philics and an excellent plot – with layers of detecting giving clues to lead the reader to the inevitability of the ending. This is nicely written and a pleasure to read and if you’ve liked his other books, will give much pleasure. There is the point – rather like with Miss Marple, you do wonder what it all is to do with the main character and why is she pushing her nose into other people’s affairs !
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Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles – Civil War Historical fiction |
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By bookworm on
1/16/2006 2:44 PM
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For someone who knew very little about the American Civil War, this novel, Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles, (ISBN 0-00-714642-6] was particularly interesting, with a gritty, informative historical context revealing information about what happened during the Civil War in a realistic and hard-hitting way, as well as giving a realistic view of the harshness of country life in the mid nineteenth century in the United States (though they weren’t – united that is – at the time, of course). If your education missed American History (like most of us) you may well find this as fascinating as I did.
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