CJ Carver - Back With Vengeance

Jay MacCauley wakes up in a Russian hotel, covered in bruises, with absolutely no idea how she got there or why she is there.  Only snapshots appear in her memory of the previous 5 days, one of them devastating.  She gradually works out that she was looking for her uncle, who walked out without warning some days ago.  Jay has to piece the clues together, along with an ex-boyfriend and a mysterious MI5 agent, who has another agenda with her uncle, and an extra one with Jay.

My rating:8/10

Someone said, somewhere, that there are no decent British crime thrillers.  Hello, I've found one.  Full review on SHOTS, link posted here when it appears.

Update: Link to review is here.

Next:  A reread.  An abstract clue.  It's Christmas.

Reginald Hill - The Death of Dalziel

Andy Dalziel is critically injured after approaching a house when a bomb planted by terrorists explodes.  On face value, it appears to be linked to a royal visit to the area, as the house is by a main railway line.  However, Pascoe, albeit injured by the blast himself, is recruited into the Secret Service and discovers that rather than Muslim suspects, a group calling themselves the Knights Templar have admitted responsibility to similar incidents.  Pascoe is painfully aware that Dalziel is likely to die from his injuries, but are his motives personal or professional and can he keep the peace with his family?

My rating: 9/10

If Alanna Knight got me interested in medieval murder mysteries, and Mike Ripley got me interested in crime fiction in general, Reginald Hill is guilty of ensuring that the genre has remained my favourite.  At times, I barely know what Hill is talking about, as unfortunately I didn't get a university education, but he never makes reading his novels a frustrating experience, more an education in itself.  Where other authors have blown me away with one novel, disappointed me with the next, Hill has never failed to disappoint (but of course, I have only read three, maybe four, of the Dalziel and Pascoe series and one short story compilation - time yet, Reg.)  The Dalziel and Pascoe series really are thumping good reads, although I knew the outcome of what ultimately happens with Dalziel (as I read the book that came after some time ago)  I love the fact that although Dalziel is lying comatose in a hospital bed, his influence on the other characters decisions is striking and real, and his NDE/dream sequences are just simply delicious.

Next: CJ Carver - Back With Vengeance for SHOTS

Susanna Gregory - The Hand of Justice

The year is 1355, and two convicted felons are granted a pardon by the King and return to Cambridge, much to the shock and dismay of the affected citizens.  When a popular scholar and a merchant are found brutally murdered, naturally the finger is pointed at Mortimer and Thorpe.  As Matthew Bartholomew and Brother Michael unravel the mystery, all they can find at first is cast-iron alibis and confusing testimonies.  More seemingly unrelated deaths occur, but they all seem to centre around the so-called holy relic - supposedly the hand of a saint - the presence of which is making people believe it can perform miracles.

My rating: 7/10

First (I think) that I've read in the series, although I believe Gregory did write a short story for at least one of the Medieval Murderers compilations (which I like, but can never seem to find).  This one suffers a little from the, um, how can I describe it, somethingexcitinghappens -plod, plod, waffle -somethingexcitinghappens- plod, plod, waffle......get the idea?  That said, again, it suits my favourite style, a basic detective story - murder-detectives-suspect in the library and within the medieval context which I love.  So I guess that if it hadn't been written in a historical context, I probably would have rated it lower :-).  No, seriously, it is good, I haven't quite finished it yet (the story is wrapped up, I'm in the process of the 'epilogue' which is always an enjoyable part of a crime novel) but I don't think my opinion is going to be swayed by much else.  A surprise perpetrator as well, the puzzle is brilliantly brought together.  Also, I was surprised to learn it was the 10th in the series, and you do not feel at any time that you needed to read any previous book to this one (a BIG bugbear of mine).  It could have been 200 pages shorter, my only specific criticism.

Next: more modern, but I'm afraid on safe, biased ground again - Reginald Hill, The Death of Dalziel

Michael Jecks - The Templar's Penance

Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock are on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestela, after Baldwin unwittingly killed an innocent man.  Other pilgrims are there also, to pray to the saint for forgiveness, each with their different reasons, and all of them are under suspicion after a beautiful girl is raped, battered and murdered, and an old man who was once a Templar is stabbed.


My rating: 7/10

I'm pretty biased when it comes to medieval mysteries, I guess my interest was piqued by early reads, either the slushy romantic historic fiction I used to read, or (as I like to hope) by Alanna Knight's The Dagger in the Crown, the first piece of fiction I reviewed on Amazon.  Then I got into Bernard Knight, and the Crowner John series.  The Templar's Penance has all the ingredients I like; a jigsaw puzzle gradually put together; the detectives going down blind alleys; action and violence (if not too graphic); human characters with all their foibles.  Strange that, as Ripley's Angel is pretty straightforward (apart from the characters!), but I guess my other weakness is comedy crime.  If I had a criticism, this book is overlong, with Baldwin and Simon retracing their steps far too often.  Kept me reading though, but as I say, I'm biased.

Next: Susanna Gregory - The Hand of Justice

Uh...next.

Sorry to say I gave up on From Aberystwyth With Love.  Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it, maybe it just isn't my style.  I may go back to it, perhaps, but I was finding it far too surreal.  Can't give it a rating, not fair if I didn't even get half way through.

Instead...

Next: Michael Jecks, The Templars Penance.  Know where I am with medieval murder mysteries.

Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton - Now Discover Your Strengths

Non Fiction: Why are workplaces, employers, schools and teachers obsessed with concentrating on and trying to improve your weaknesses?  This book describes your strengths as your best assets, and gives you guidelines as to how to discover your talents so as to give world class performance at what you are good at.

My rating 9/10

I am not affiliated with this book in any way, I normally shy away from psycho-babble self-help books, but this book could well change my life.  In fact in some ways, it already has, by helping me recognise that just because I am not good at the stuff I want to be good at, it doesn't mean I'm a failure, my strengths can totally over-ride my weaknesses, and I can be a success by building on what I do have (but maybe not become what I think I want to be :-) ).  This book can help you in life choices, not just work choices.  I read this book in conjunction with a course from work, and the encouragement, tips and inspiration you can get from it are more than I have read from most "secular" material (although this book does not deny the existence of God).  I cannot recommend this highly enough, it doesn't get 10 as I felt there could have been a little more detail on the strengths.  Get a brand spanking new copy if you want to get the best from it, as there is a code at the back of the book that can only be used once, to help on a website to identify your strengths.  As a further tip, if you get an "older" copy of the book (i.e. first edition, but unused) the website is not as stated in the book, it is http://sf1.strengthsfinder.com/.

Next: Malcom Pryce - From Aberystwyth With Love. I've been avoiding it so long, it's about time I read it.

Author note

The purpose of this blog is already being fulfilled.  Here I said I should look up Edward Marston - in fact I have already read a book of his, The Vagabond Clown, discovered this as I was looking along the shelves of my local library.

I seem to remember enjoying it, and if I see any more at the local library will probably borrow them.   Can't remember enough to review it or even describe it, but what I do remember is that it contained rich characters and a strong-ish plot.  So I can't rate it really, not officially here.  Maybe I'll take it out again at some point.

4 books out of the library, and I haven't decided which one first, needless to say they are all crime fiction.  However, am reading a bit of non fiction at the moment which I would like to complete and note here.

Graham Phillips - Act of God

Non Fiction - Whilst looking for the tomb of Tutankhamen, a group of archaeologists uncover a tomb with a mummy interred in a bizarre fashion and with no obvious identity.  Who was he, and what was his link to Tut and the presumed heretic Akhenaten?

My rating: 8/10

Hardly surprising really, that a favourite work of non fiction is really a detective story.  I think this book has been in my "library" the third longest (the other two, incidentally, are The Compleet Works of molesworth and Watership Down, discounting a very old King James Bible) - books have come and gone prior to this but this has never hit the bin or Amazon Marketplace.  It's not that I agree with everything that Phillips has to say about the whole Akenaten/Nefertiti/Smenkhare/Tut era, in fact there's bits in there which don't quite gel.  Loads has been written about the era, and in more detail - and I must get hold of Aldred's Akhenhaten at some point which I have only read once -  it's the fact he delivers his theories believably and succinctly, and leaves you room for thought.  If you are interested in the era, give it a go, with an open mind, and you will find it enjoyable.

Next: Library tomorrow, watch this space, cos I really don't know.

Frances Fyfield - Cold To The Touch

Jessica Hurly won't go home to her idyllic-sounding birth town, and her friend Sarah Fortune doesn't know why, although she knows that Jess has a volatile and complicated personality.  Sarah is persuaded to test the waters by moving to her seaside town and find out if everything has been forgiven and forgotten.  Shortly after Sarah moves, there are reported sightings of Jessica in the community, but why did she make no attempt to contact Sarah or Jessica's mother with the news before she somehow ends up in the butcher's chiller?

My rating: 5/10

Hmmm.  I really wanted to like this book.  Full review will be on SHOTS, and as I will write it this weekend it will probably be there next month.  Will update this post when it is but it's best if I leave the full synopsis/review there rather than feeling like I'm repeating myself.  Needless to say, I doubt I'll read anything more by this author.

Update 16.12.09.  Full review is here.

Next: Um.  Nothing from Mr Stotter (to be fair, I only gave him the green light earlier this week)/pending for SHOTS, can't get to the library until Saturday, so will probably be a re-read.  Oh indecision.

Author Note

Have noted one M D Ripley's review on Amazon for George Sims - The Terrible Door.  Must look for it some time but I don't "do" TBR.

Robert B Parker - School Days

Two teenagers go on a shooting spree at their school, killing 7.  The perpetrators have been caught and both have confessed, however the grandmother of one of them believes him innocent.  Spenser isn't one to turn down a challenge.

My rating: 4/10

I've read a few Spenser novels and this isn't a very good example.  It lacks humour and spice, and plods along to it's conclusion which is contained in one short chapter.  A mildly surprising ending, but hardly original.  The absence of his girlfy and his usual 'heavies' also make this book rather dull.  I like the fact that Spenser is hardly hapless, and gets out of danger violently, but Parker does not lay on the gore.  As I have enjoyed 2 or 3 other Spensers, it hasn't put me off.

Next: Frances Fyfield - Cold To The Touch, for SHOTS

Ellis Peters - The Virgin In The Ice

The niece and nephew of a renowned knight of Empress Maud are lost after an attack on Worcester during the civil war in medieval Britain.  Cadfael discovers their tracks after being sent to care for a monk who has been attacked and left for dead, but he also discovers a horrible murder.

My rating: 7/10.

I only recently discovered this gem of a series, I am astonished that it started over 30 years ago.   Yes, it's the old style of detective stories, a jigsaw puzzle gradually put together, but I love them and want to track down all of them, they're great, short reads.  This one isn't quite as good as the other two I've read (chronicles 1 and 2 - this one is chronicle 6), but the ending sure gives you a warm feeling inside as Cadfael also discovers a secret about the eventual saviour of the two children.

Next: Robert B Parker....and darn it I've forgotten what it's called.  Told you my memory was bad.

Author note

Look up Edward Marston at some point.  No, it's not because he's Welsh.

Peter Lovesey - The Circle

Murder mystery involving the Chichester Writing Circle - a series of murders are linked to a group of writers, but none of them have cast-iron alibis, so who is the arsonist?

My rating: 6/10.

Lovesey leaves you with so few options as to who the murderer could be, in the words of Sherlock Holmes (and Spock): "Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth" however incredible.  Good how he unravels it though, albeit rather plodding at times.

First read Lovesey as Peter Lear, Goldengirl, which I quite liked, a sorta modern Frankenstein.  In the same vein, In Suspense (or Spidergirl as it was in the US) - which I didn't like (stretched the imagination just a little too far).  Loved Keystone though, I guess I forgot about Lovesey, as those three were probably the only titles in Sunbury library that I came across.  Will look for more by him in Abergele.

Next: Ellis Peters's The Virgin In The Ice.