In the first of a series of novels featuring Adelia, we are introduced to this woman from Solerno, Italy who has come to England to help find the killIn the first of a series of novels featuring Adelia, we are introduced to this woman from Solerno, Italy who has come to England to help find the killer of several children without disclosing the fact that she’s a real doctor. It wasn’t easy for her but she understood peoples superstitions and was careful not to be regarded as a witch.
Adelia Aguilar is now one of my favourite historical characters, she’s a woman in a man’s world, way ahead of her time, intelligent, witty, independent and obsessed with the dead and what their bodies tell her.....and she’s not afraid of speaking her mind!
I thought the storyline was compelling …. there was a little romance … some gruesome details describing the childrens deaths and their injuries …... some wonderful warm and quirky characters, especially Gyltha the cook and housekeeper who is a big softy despite her rough exterior …... a few nasty characters …... a good steady build up to the killers identity, which I didn’t guess...... all simply told.
I would recommend this one for all medieval murder mystery fans.
This is the 1st book in the Bryant & May detective series and it introduces us to the two men who first met over 60 years ago. Arthur Bryant, the ‘briThis is the 1st book in the Bryant & May detective series and it introduces us to the two men who first met over 60 years ago. Arthur Bryant, the ‘bright-eyed and restless’ young man who was ‘filled to exhaustion with ideas’ , ‘distracted and a little awkward’ and who ‘said what he meant’ ….... and John May, the ‘reserved, serious one’ who ‘meant what he said’.
The story starts in the present on the night that a bomb has obliterated the PCU’s office where Bryant (who was an insomniac) was working. May is devastated and vows to solve the murder but, on investigating, he realises that the answer lies in the past.
The plot weaves nicely between the present and the past as we are introduced to a whole host of quirky characters in the dark, secret world of Theatre life in 1940. Bryant and May bicker and argue like an old married couple, trying to solve not one but several murders in the Theatre, and a strange phantom is sighted by several of the cast of the play. Could this be the murderer or is he just a figment of their nervous imagination?
This is a very enjoyable and dark comedy of a story, the character’s backgrounds are described in detail, the original and intelligent plot is full of twists, and Christopher Fowler’s use of language is very clever. Bryant and May are two very endearing grumpy old men who complemented each other very well and I did love their humorous conversations!
The narrative driven plot enhanced the story forwards very nicely to its unexpected and surprising conclusion.
When 17 year old Eddie learns about his brother's untimely death and is offered the chance to work undercover for an organisation who "operate somewheWhen 17 year old Eddie learns about his brother's untimely death and is offered the chance to work undercover for an organisation who "operate somewhere in the gap between the police and the more covert government agencies" he doesn't hesitate. Especially when he has to 'get to know' the pretty teenage daughter of the local ruthless killer and psychotic crime lord and try to infiltrate their notorious gang!
This is a real Boys Own adventure story with a likeable hero in Eddie Savage, beautiful but possibly dangerous women with a thrilling storyline and murderous gangsters.
There was a good pace to the story, a nice steady build up in suspense, with good characterisations.
A compelling and exciting read, recommended for readers aged 14+...more
After reading and loving the first two Eliza Graham novels -- Playing with the Moon and Restitution -- I was eagerly looking forward to another mysterAfter reading and loving the first two Eliza Graham novels -- Playing with the Moon and Restitution -- I was eagerly looking forward to another mystery with the backdrop of the War and I think she has once again come up with another excellent and compelling story!
The story starts with the now grown up Rachel reminiscing about the day of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 when she was aged 9 and her 10 year old cousin Jessamy seemingly vanished off the face of the earth, there were no signs of a struggle, no reports of a child being dragged off, she was happy and had no problems, so what could possibly have happened to her?
We are taken back and forth in time throughout the book, from the prison camps of the second World War , the Queen's Coronation in 1953, the Queen's Silver and Golden Jubilees, through to the present day, as we are slowly building up a picture of Jessamy and her family and of the secrets they hold. Indeed, on the day Jessamy vanished she said to Rachel that she hated keeping secrets.
Evie (Jessamy's mother) and her twin brother were evacuated to the Winters family farm in the country during WWII and I loved how we were given snippets of the letters that Robert Winter wrote, but never sent, to a young Evie while he was in a prisoner of war camp. It gave us an insight into not only the terrible conditions but also of the slowly deteriorating mind of a young man who struggles to live a normal life after the War has ended and he comes back to work on the family farm.
I enjoyed this book and was engrossed in the story from start to finish, I thought the prisoner of war camp was handled sensitively and knowledgeably, the characters both main and on the periphery were strong and believable, and overall a thoroughly good mystery....more
Peter Millar has been compared to Dan Brown, though having read 'Angels and Demons' I think that Peter Millar's storyline is more believable and excitPeter Millar has been compared to Dan Brown, though having read 'Angels and Demons' I think that Peter Millar's storyline is more believable and exciting and is much better written overall.
When Nazreem Hashrawi, Museum Curator, discovers "one of the most important, semi-legendary items in Christian lore" her life is instantly in danger from people who are not averse to brutally torturing and murdering people who get in their way. But just why these people would want the Madonna and why they would want to kill Nazreem is revealed slowly and tantalisingly in this very compelling story with twists and turns that I found hard to put down.
The tension built up steadily as Nazreem and her ex-lover Marcus Frey, an Oxford Professor, travel to Spain and Bavaria in an effort to seek out other similar idols while meeting people such as the devout Sister Galina in Germany who mysteriously vanishes after speaking to them.
I thought the plot was fascinating overall and Peter Millar has obviously done an amazing amount of research; it seemed that every character had an encyclopaedic memory of historical events and which sometimes seemed too much and I couldn't always take in all the facts and figures, though I could follow the story (just!) without it spoiling my enjoyment.
Even though it is a complicated plot at no time did I feel that I didn't know what was going on, the style of writing was very readable, most of the characters were believable (with a couple of exceptions) and I liked the way that an intelligent headstrong young Muslim woman was one of the lead characters.
Thoroughly recommended for anyone who enjoys a thriller with a historical lesson - the authors notes at the back of the book make for interesting reading too....more
Katie, a 17 year old student goes missing before Christmas. With no clues to go on, the police and her family are baffled by her disappearance.
In Lis W Katie, a 17 year old student goes missing before Christmas. With no clues to go on, the police and her family are baffled by her disappearance.
In Lis Wiehl's debut novel we are introduced to the 3 members of the 'Triple Threat' Club, who are Allison - a Federal Prosecutor, Cassidy - a Reporter and Nicole - an FBI Special Agent, all friends from way back.
As they all get involved in the case, we learn about developments from each different angle, from Nicole interviewing the distraught parents to Allison grilling the main suspect to Cassidy's nightly news reports of her 'scoops' which I found very compelling.
This is a very intelligent thriller, with just enough twists and turns to keep my interest going till the end.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys crime thrillers....more
This was Neil White's debut novel and it is the best crime fiction I've read this year. Freelance journalist Jack Garrett and his 'girlfriend' DC LauraThis was Neil White's debut novel and it is the best crime fiction I've read this year. Freelance journalist Jack Garrett and his 'girlfriend' DC Laura McGanity get involved in the seemingly random murders of two Premiership Footballers, which starts in London and then travels to the Lancashire town where Jack was born and where he started his career. From the first page to the last I was swept along on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, with the odd red herring here and there for good measure. It really was a book that I just couldn't put down, every few pages was a cliffhanger, and just when I thought Neil White was taking the story one way he turns and takes it in a completely different direction. He has been compared to crime writers such as Mark Billingham which is high praise indeed. If you're looking for someone new I would definitely recommend him, I don't think you will be disappointed....more
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