Monday, June 30, 2014

63. The Blackhouse – Peter May

 

DS Fin MacLeod is sent to the island where he was born and grew up when a murder there is eerily similar to one he’d been working on in the mainland of Scotland. He’s a mess, when he arrives, due to the death of his son and the subsequent breakup of his marriage. He hadn’t wanted to go but it was go or lose his job, so he went.

From the moment of his arrival, his childhood memories and connections to the murder victim and all the suspects force him to remember things from his childhood he’d buried and did not want to resurrect now. But the longer he stays, the worse it gets, and the more we learn of the murder victim, Fin, and the others on the island.

This is a powerful novel, not easy to read or stomach in parts, Fin comes across as a not very likeable fellow. But as we learn more of his childhood, we see how his past has formed him and how he’s had to deal with it.

The ending is very emotional, and I’d advise abuse victims that there are lots of triggers especially in the second half of the book.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

62. The Blue Sword – Robin McKinley

Listed as YA but not really in my opinion.  Well written, with lots of non-stop action and surprises. Character development was nicely done, and the world building and descriptions were gripping.

I could barely put the book down, I was so eager to see what was happening next.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

60. White Nights – Ann Cleeves

 

Second book of the Shetland Island series, Jimmy Perez returns to investigate the death of an Englishman found hanging in a fishing shack.

As usual, the setting is as important as the characters and the plot. Wonderful descriptions and complex characters, whose pasts are dredged up as Jimmy tries to understand just why this man is dead and just who he is.

59. The Absent One – Jussi Adler-Olsen

Second book in the Department Q series, Carl Mørck returns to follow a cold case, where the convicted killer might actually be innocent.

Adler-Olsen can paint the most horrific murderers, and he doesn’t fail to continue that trend here. Hard to read at times, but compelling and complex. His characterization of the murderers is impressive and convincing.

58. From Doon with Death – Ruth Rendell

First in the Inspector Wexler series. I was a bit disappointed in this, as we learned little of the Inspector and he came across, to me, as not at all the sort of guy I’d like to know better. Hopefully that will change as the series progresses.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

57. The Black Moth – Georgette Heyer

I am astonished it’s taken me so long to read Georgette Heyer. I guess the ‘romance’ label has kept me away. But I determined to read more of her (I’ve read several of her mysteries, and one or two other books of hers), so decided to try to read her in publication order.

The Black Moth was her first book, and it is quite witty and sassy and interesting. The story follows a young woman who has caught the attention of a rogue, who determines to kidnap her and do his worst with her.

The hero of the piece is enjoyable although the set up is a bit far-fetched. The heroine is not a wilting violet so I was delighted with that.:)

56. A Burial at Sea – Charles Finch

The sixth installment in the Charles Lenox series, a period mystery series.

Charles, recently elected to parliment, is tasked by his elder brother, to travel on a British Navy ship, and visit the Suez Canal and write up a report for Parliament on how Britain can outwit France in regard to the canal. He’s also given a secret mission, to make contact with a British spy and learn what he has found out about France’s intentions.

His nephew is assigned to the ship as he begins his military service and Charles is happy to keep an eye on the young man for his father as well.

But since it is Charles, of course the sea journey proves to be the most dangerous part of the mission, when shortly after leaving port, a crew member is found dead.

I enjoyed Charles having to get out of his comfort zone.

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

55. Midnight in Europe - Alan Furst

 

  

Furst is in his element in painting the febrile underside of life in Europe in the late 1930s as everyone knows a war is coming. He focuses in this book on expats from Spain who are attempting to send armament to the Republic despite the efforts of a number of countries to interfere in their efforts. Russia and Germany are both building up their own armaments so do not want those resources sent to Spain. Furst is very good at atmosphere and tension, and as usual downplays the violence, although there is some. He creates believable and complex characters who are multi-faceted and nowhere near what 007 taught us to expect of our spies.