This is the 6th in the series and if anyone tells you that it’s a stand-alone story, they are wrong. This episode is a follow on to a couple of incideThis is the 6th in the series and if anyone tells you that it’s a stand-alone story, they are wrong. This episode is a follow on to a couple of incidents, a personal one from the last book and also a more serious business that was left open ended a few books ago .
Centre stage this time is Jay – Boyd’s number two’s boy friend who has to go on the run from both the police and the Georgian mafia. I cant say that I am a great fan of the tales concerning the mafia ( or put another way, I don’t like them and try to avoid them) and I was a little concerned about the way that this one was heading . The author’s skill shone through again and turned this into the most exciting of the series so far, in my opinion.
My only criticism was that I felt there was a chapter missing which could have dealt with the aftermath of action-packed finale. Not to give anything away but how the main victim came though it and the seriousness of injuries to others all seemed to be glossed over. Apologies in advance if these are covered in the next book.
Hidden in the story is a serious warning to everyone who uses social media, about the amount of personal information they are unconsciously giving away by even the most innocuous games and how this information is used, for far worse purposes than just doctoring, the adverts you see.
I have already got the next in the series on my shelf.
I was looking for a bit of a change for my next read and came across this one that my wife had dropped on our shelves. I have read quite a few books bI was looking for a bit of a change for my next read and came across this one that my wife had dropped on our shelves. I have read quite a few books by Japanese authors and was sure that my desire for “something different” would be satisfied. That this was in the nature of a locked room mystery made it even more inviting.
The book is written in the manner of someone who is keen to record an actual event that happened many years before and just before the outbreak of the second world war. Interestingly it gives a name check to several other “locked room mysteries” including one by an author far better remembered for his Winnie the Pooh books.
The story concerns the Ichiyanagi family and the events surrounding the deaths of the eldest son and his new wife on their wedding night. Most of the book takes place in and around the family house and gardens. The main character is the stranger looking but brilliant private detective Kosuke Kindaichi.
I very much enjoyed reading the story but have marked it down for a few reasons. The first may be a little unfair as the book was originally intended for a Japanese readership but I struggled to get the correct picture in my mind of the house and the murder scene because mainly of the Japanese style of the building. As this was critical for a mystery of this kind, I found it a major problem. Secondly, although I am not usually much good at solving this sort of mystery ahead of the denouement, I can’t believe that anyone could have pieced the bits of the puzzle together before it was explained. Thirdly, I appreciate that this is a difficulty in writing a story about a detective who thinks his way though a case to a conclusion but without a partner or team to discuss things with, it is difficult for any armchair detective to know what exactly is going on until the whole is explained. Finally, and I acknowledge that this could be a bit ‘picky’ but I thought that the explanation went on far too long.
In spite of all that, as I said, I did enjoy it and I will be adding another book by the author to my shelf very shortly....more
I'm not sure where I came across this author. It was one of those that you see and jot down and then forget about.
After the first couple of chapters, I'm not sure where I came across this author. It was one of those that you see and jot down and then forget about.
After the first couple of chapters, I started to lose track of the characters and decided to draw myself a character map to keep track. This proved most useful as there were quite a few although I did later realise that the books list of characters included people from the whole series. The number was further complicated as if included character in a play about the lives of some of the older people from the village and their annual trip from London's East End for the hop picking month in Kent. This is an intriguing tale of secrets from the Hop fields that still concern people in the present day village where a play about that time is about to be put on by the local AmDrams.
The central character is Libby Sarjeant (with a J). Unlike a film or TV version where she would undoubtedly be a young thin athletic bronzed wisp of a girl, our Libby is far more down to earth, mature and even dumpy. She is the producer of the play around which the modern day action takes place.
I suspect this book is a bit longer than usual as the author gets us involved with the lives of the family at the centre of village life now , and as they were in those earlier days. The reader feels involved in the present day village - a feeling that I last had in Three Pines of the Gamache series by Louise Penny.
There are 28 books in this series and I doubt that I will get through them all but I'm already searching for the next....more
The second book in the Rachel Savernake series set in England in the early thirties as our heroine comes across the Establishment's undercover agents The second book in the Rachel Savernake series set in England in the early thirties as our heroine comes across the Establishment's undercover agents of the time. In these pre second world war years, in a country still feeling the hurt from the first conflict, there is a desperate attempt to stabilize everything and keep unrest firmly under control by whatever means were required. As Rachel's young reporter friend Jacob said " Its wrong, its unjust"
Its another fast moving story with perhaps even a bit of 'Boy's Own' thrown in as the scene shifts from the private railway station of the London Necropolis Company to the coastal village of Montmain to the sleazy underworld of London.
Clues to what was behind the story are many. Not often does the reader find them all listed but here the author includes a 'Cluefinder'. This, we are told, was a familiar section in books written about the time in which this one is set. I though it well set out and covered every aspect of the case. I can think of several books that I have read which could have benefited from such an inclusion. ...more
I have previously read other books by this author mostly, from memory, modern day mysteries. He is indeed an accomplished and much awarded author and I have previously read other books by this author mostly, from memory, modern day mysteries. He is indeed an accomplished and much awarded author and his versatility was certainly shown in this first of series.
We are taken back to London in 1930 and a Jacob Flint a young crime reporter on The Clarion. He soon becomes fascinated by an enigmatic lady calling herself Rachel Savernake. From then on nothing is what it seems as the body count from the rich and famous of society and indeed the other end of the social scale , starts to mount.
An interesting read that keeps you guessing about what is actually going on, also what is going to happen next and what is this strange diary that is interposed among the chapters.
I must confess that I lost track of a few of the characters that appeared but it didnt unduly spoil my enjoyment of the read as a whole-neither did a few scenes that seemed a bit 'telegraphed'.
The latest of the series and, to my mind, the best yet.
In such a short time we have come to know all of the police team and followed their personal upThe latest of the series and, to my mind, the best yet.
In such a short time we have come to know all of the police team and followed their personal ups and downs, and so the story starts where the last left off with Becca's boyfriend. He wakes up from his year long coma with the news that it wasnt an accident that had caused his hospitalization but attempted murder.
Raven agrees to investigate the year old 'accident' after a works party at the family owned Brewery. Family intrigue and arguments are uncovered and much more in a story that keeps the readers on their toes. You could say that there are Red Herrings aplenty , but I would call it skillful gentle misdirection by the authors. I was sure that I had it worked out about halfway through , only to amend slightly at about 80% when another twist changed my mind . Of course all totally wrong.
I think a story's success isnt just about the crime and its solving but about the police involved. Here we have a group who we have come to know and like. With the final little section cliff hanger , it seems that there is more to come....more
After their successful DI Hart series, I wondered if the authors could match it with the new Tom Raven series. The first book 'Landscape of Death' wasAfter their successful DI Hart series, I wondered if the authors could match it with the new Tom Raven series. The first book 'Landscape of Death' was well up to the mark.
Now with the introductions completed, the background checks done and the ex-Met DI Tom Raven confirmed transfer to Scarborough, there is another case for him to take on when local flooding uncovers a skeleton. His number 2, DS Becca Shawcross is on a routine job of a possible suicide at an old peoples home. What could possibly bring the two together - as you know they surely will be connected.
There is a good plot here and I appreciated the small number of characters involved - which should have made it easier for the armchair detective but the abundance of clever misdirection distracts him/her from the task.
The members of the team are becoming better known to the reader now and personal problems certainly produce extra surprises when the case has been tidied up.
Its straight onto book 3 , for me I think.
There is one small point however and I would welcome comment. Early in the book when an old sixpence is found, Raven is told that the head on the coin was George VI, - "THE CURRENT KINGS GRANDFATHER". As I was reading this a day or two from Charles' coronation, I wondered if it would have been better to say "the Queens Father". Will the book be amended when William is crowned to refer to George VI as the King's Great Grandfather or am I missing something?...more
Let me say at first that I dont think that this was the copy that I read.
You might ask who do I think that I am to mark down a novelist of this staturLet me say at first that I dont think that this was the copy that I read.
You might ask who do I think that I am to mark down a novelist of this stature in this way. I have asked myself the same question.
There is no shadow of doubt that Sir Arthur Conan D'Oyle was a genius of a writer , to create a figure that is still universally known so many years after his death. Indeed even this story , perhaps as part of his weekly offering in The Strand could be well have been enjoyed by his readers of the day. However, I am reading it as a stand alone novella in 2023. It didnt take a great detective to see what was afoot from very early on and for me, it seemed a waste of effort and with very little substance
After finishing and thoroughly enjoying the D.I.Hart series by these authors, this was the obvious next choice.
I wasnt disappointed.
If you enjoyed theAfter finishing and thoroughly enjoying the D.I.Hart series by these authors, this was the obvious next choice.
I wasnt disappointed.
If you enjoyed the previous series, your enjoyment will continue as Tom Craven replaces Bridget Hart and Oxford changes to Scarborough. Despite vowing never to come back, Raven returns to his home town, to bury his father. Tiring of his job at the Met , he gets himself seconded to the local force in time to head up a case involving his boyhood nemeses and his own first real girlfriend.
As the case increases in complexity and old wounds are opened, Raven soon has his new team eating out of his hand, or bag of croissants.
Its a good introduction to this new DCI and his earlier life in the town and to his team....more
My next in this brilliant series. We are still involved with DI Boyd's home life with daughter,dog and now possible love interest but not so much of hiMy next in this brilliant series. We are still involved with DI Boyd's home life with daughter,dog and now possible love interest but not so much of his team in this one as for all except the first part , he is at home on sick leave.
On his way home by train and feeling definitely worse for wear, Boyd's police training takes over when the train is hijacked. The fellow passenger who helps him overcome the armed assailant becomes a reluctant hero. Boyd gets some sick leave.
DC Okeke plays a major role in Boyd's off duty investigation and perhaps learns an important personal lesson from the terrorist specialist DCI Williams brought in to take charge.
The background to the story is the civil war in the former Yugoslavia which, although only thirty years ago and in Europe seems to have been almost photoshopped from our history - to our shame....more
This is the third of the DCI Boyd series and once again I had left too long since reading the previous one. Even though I have read many books since I This is the third of the DCI Boyd series and once again I had left too long since reading the previous one. Even though I have read many books since I was last down in Hastings with DCI Boyd, it didnt take many pages before I felt at home with the team once again. The story starts with the report of a house fire which comes in just as Boyd starts his shift so lands on him. However, the details of what happened and the possible reasons for it take time to come to the surface.
The Police team that we have been introduced to us in the previous books have, after a difficult start when he moved in, now come together to support Boyd both on this case and also at an unexpectedly drug fueled garden clearance. Boyd's potential doubts about his superior 'Her Madge', from previous books, get an airing too.
Excitement builds as reader and police realise about the same time who is playing a double role but is it too late?
Did I enjoy it? Lets just say I am not going to make the same mistake I have in the past. I have already downloaded the rest of the series and am moving on to the next....more
Perhaps I have been wrong in my reading habits for too long. I honestly believe that this is the first time that I have read three books of a series oPerhaps I have been wrong in my reading habits for too long. I honestly believe that this is the first time that I have read three books of a series one after the other. I have felt so involved with the resident characters that I have needed to read on . This is that third and the last of the series.
Over 60 years ago when I was school , there was one things that I was told by my English teacher that I remember. I was told that all I needed to write a story was words. I didnt need any pictures, drawings or maps. To include any of these showed a weakness in my ability to convey the content well enough in my writing. I have often thought of that when, at the front of a story I have found a map of a village or the plan of a house, sometimes even by a well known author. As I started to get into this story, with the description of the village central to the plot, it struck me that the authors had a similar English teacher to me - there was certainly no need for a map.
I liked the way that Amy was introduced before there was any mention of her being Jakes new girl friend that we saw very briefly at the end of the previous book.
I do have one criticism of the story ( or proofreader) . Well into the book the village of Hambleton on Thames was described as ' with Abingdon to the North and Dorchester to the East'. Surely Dorchester must be to the West - or am I being just a little too pedantic?
This episode of the DI Hart series was very much of the classical English village drama. The death of the Lord of the Manor, the village busybody, the village Inn, the Parish church and its vicar, even a puzzling inscription of the church bells hinting at hidden treasure - all of the ingredients were in place. but the authors skill prevented it from being too stereotypical.
As well as a murderer to find , Bridget has other important decisions to make, like a new dress for the wedding of her exhusband and whether or not her daughter Chloe is revising enough for her GCSE exams.
And so it appears that this is the last of the series. I have enjoyed each of the stories. The authors have brought all of the loose ends together with a 'feel good' conclusion whilst perhaps, leaving the option there for DI Hart to return ( if the new series doesnt work out - but I'm sure it will) ...more
After 'A Dark Shining Star,' it was straight onto this one, the next in the series. This one is just as good.
Starting when an outspoken author is killAfter 'A Dark Shining Star,' it was straight onto this one, the next in the series. This one is just as good.
Starting when an outspoken author is killed whilst under D I Harts police protection, Bridget feels under extra pressure to solve the case herself. Her team comes to the rescue. Here its the welsh DC Ffion who comes up trumps in cracking the case this time.
There are many interesting leads to be followed up, but will any prove to be the right one. There is plenty going on away from the main storyline too, as most of the characters involved have their own personal dramas to face. In other books, this could have been a problem and distracted from the basic murder story. However, here the authors have them merged quite unobtrusively.
Yes, I enjoyed this one and I have decided to move straight on to the 7th of the series even though it is the last so far. It says a lot , but I cant remember reading three of a series one after the other other before....more
I usually like to vary my reading and rarely read books in a series one after the other. Of course there are times when I find a series that I really I usually like to vary my reading and rarely read books in a series one after the other. Of course there are times when I find a series that I really enjoy when the urge to carry on, takes over. The down side, and there is always one, isnt there, is that it hastens the day when you catch up with the authors output. I have already reached such a point with the Skelgill series by Bruce Beckham (even after rationing out the last few books) and although I am fast approaching the same point here, I know that my next read will be the next in the Bridget Hart set.
Like the previous books, this continues the police procedural narrative but somehow seems to have a more personal approach. Its not just that the main character's daughter and 'lover' (or boyfriend as she decides to call him in the next book) appear more but perhaps the reader has empathy with her more than other detectives read about recently. Certainly in this story the other members of the team are more involved. Then there is the relationship between DS Jake and DC Ffion that came to am abrupt halt in the last book. Will they or wont they get back together again?
As well as the personal dramas , there is the mystery of the Ghost Walk Guide and a missing girl from 25 years ago. During the course of the investigation, the finger of suspicion points to several people with some certainty , only to be explained away - maybe too quickly? I think that the investigation turns on what could only be a chance discovery. However, this is no 'Christie-like- cheat' introducing crucial information at the last minute, as the story hangs together well enough without it.
I have enjoyed the series so far and am moving on the #6 now. It must be time for a 5* ...more
I have read the first three of this series, enjoyed them and wonder why it has taken me so long to get onto this one. I suppose the book is in a group I have read the first three of this series, enjoyed them and wonder why it has taken me so long to get onto this one. I suppose the book is in a group now classed as "cozy".
I was soon back in the life of Bridget Hart - the recently appointed Detective Inspector in Oxford with her team and family. It is not only easy reading but its the kind of book that I actually looked forward to my next reading session. The characters are easily pictured and the action, on a few fronts becomes quite riveting and even led me to break my own imposed curfew and read well into the early hours to finish it. The clever use of misdirection certainly caught me out....more
I have just read and thoroughly enjoyed The Motion Picture Teller by the same author and while looking up the author found this series. Another seriesI have just read and thoroughly enjoyed The Motion Picture Teller by the same author and while looking up the author found this series. Another series by this author had for a long time been one of my favourites and so I jumped at the chance of this one even though I had not really got on with the the full length books about Jimm Juree.
I have to say that I really didnt see the point of this short story. May be I missed something but I didnt really understand which part of this short story was the 'case' that the introduction, apart from being an advert for the full length stories about this character, told me that it was. Sorry, I wont be continuing with.them....more
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