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
I finally started this a couple of days ago and finished it today. I would have completed it in one sitting was was rudely interrupted by life.
A compeI finally started this a couple of days ago and finished it today. I would have completed it in one sitting was was rudely interrupted by life.
A compelling mystery dripping in ancient culture and superstitions, the land of Goree and its people swept evocatively across the pages, as Rahme demonstrates her mastery of story-telling. Without giving too much away, the reader, like Leroux, is beguiled and bewitched by Goree, succumbing to the rhythmic tam-tams and its ancient magic, a distraction from the task at hand - finding a killer that may not be human.
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
Thought I'd read a couple of pages but a few hours later had found that I had finished - that's how much I was invested in the prose. A great first boThought I'd read a couple of pages but a few hours later had found that I had finished - that's how much I was invested in the prose. A great first book in a series where I began with book two, but this sets up things up nicely. Horowitz is a master storyteller....more
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.
Initial thoughts: * well written * evocative * engaging * great read * start of a series
There is a cadre of writers who set their protagonist in these sameInitial thoughts: * well written * evocative * engaging * great read * start of a series
There is a cadre of writers who set their protagonist in these same times - Furst, Kerr, Gardner - Jackson slots in nicely.
Suffice to say, this does not disappoint. Highly Recommended.
Backstory of the character of Stapleton from Conan Doyle's "Hound of the Baskervilles". Very well done and in keeping with Conan Doyle's story. The evBackstory of the character of Stapleton from Conan Doyle's "Hound of the Baskervilles". Very well done and in keeping with Conan Doyle's story. The events are told through the eyes of Stapleton / Baskerville and are written in a way to elicit empathy for the narrator.
Heartily recommended for lovers of Holmes and those looking to add to their own SH collections. Definitely one for my own!...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
Written along the same style as The Appeal, this was a more engaging read as it was, quite simply, more concise that the first in the series. Again, tWritten along the same style as The Appeal, this was a more engaging read as it was, quite simply, more concise that the first in the series. Again, the author uses all the "modern day" electronic forms of communication to set out and ultimately solve this little christmas mystery....more
Unfortunately, yet another book that I found myself far from being as engaged as I thought I would be. I mean, a mystery set at the time of one of my Unfortunately, yet another book that I found myself far from being as engaged as I thought I would be. I mean, a mystery set at the time of one of my favourite authors - Agatha Christie - using the person of her housekeeper as the main character, and from who's "adventures in crime" Agatha bases her own stories around. This outting - I believe to be the second or third in a potential series - becomes the inspiration for Agatha's book, A Death Is Announced.
For sake of continuity, I would suggest reading this series from the start and not jumping in somewhere is the middle. I also found no connection with any of the characters, including Agatha herself....more
Loading...
