Rare -Denise Hamilton PRISONER OF MEMORY First edition SIGNED Hardback DJ Mystery L.A. [Hardcover] Denise Hamilton

Eve Diamond Mystery #5

by Denise Hamilton

This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Detective

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Denise Hamilton is a Los Angeles-based writer-journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Wired, Cosmopolitan, Der Spiegel, and New Times. A reporter for the L.A. Times for ten years, she covered not only L.A. stories, but also the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the breakup of the Soviet Union, and burgeoning youth movements in Japan. A Fulbright scholar, she taught in the former Yugoslavia during the Bosnian War. She lives in a Los Angeles suburb with her husband and two young children. Her first novel, The Jasmine Trade, received wide acclaim and was a finalist for the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and WILLA Awards.

Series:
* Eve Diamond Mystery

Reviews

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing like a bit of spring cleaning in October, but that’s what this is on two levels. First, it’s the final book in the Eve Diamond series, and second, I’ve had this on a hard drive for more than 13 years. Time to red and delete for sure.

Who murdered Denny Lukin? That’s not the question Eve Diamond originally set out to answer the day her editor assigned a story about mountain lions running free in part of Los Angeles. While tracking a big cat, Eve finds the body of the teen with Russian parents. Someone executed him.

Naturally, she digs into the story. There are lots of things that aren’t right about what she saw. Not only did someone murder the kid, but a lion or some other animal tore his body in horrid ways.

Her investigation ultimately leads her to a disenchanted FBI agent and a sketchy nightclub apparently owned by a Russian mafia leader. They warn her repeatedly to stop asking questions, but she refuses to give up. Presumably because of her investigation, the older brother of the dead teen nearly dies in a pedestrian hit-and-run incident. Eve suspects blackmail when the phrase “prisoner of memory” turns up on documents she finds.

Eve, too, had a parent born of Russian emigres. She finds, while looking for her own birth certificate, a series of aged documents that tie her grandmother to living ancestors of the dead teen and his brother.

I enjoyed this, but it seemed a weird way to end the series. It appears that poor Eve, like the industry in which she worked, has sputtered out of gas or something close enough to it.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be fair, I knew before beginning Prisoner of Memory that this book was not in my wheelhouse. I finished it because it's this month's book club selection but I doubt I would have gotten very far otherwise. Eve was a *very* frustrating protagonist and her decision-making skills are shockingly bad considering (as this is the fifth in the series) she must have been in difficult situations before. Overall, I felt that Prisoner of Memory was a disappointing cliche and I can't imagine ever returning to this series.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series and was disappointed to discover that this was the last one. As with all the others in the series, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read, with well-defined characters and a strong story line involving Russian spies and Mafia figures. Although it's been a while since this came out, I'm holding out hope that there will someday be more in the Eve Diamond series.

[Harold Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a wee bit dense to my taste.

[LK · Rating 1 out of 5]

Prisoner of the Obvious: Denise Hamilton's Prisoner of Memory

I've been so nearly beaten senseless with the most obvious, brutal, heavy-handed foreshadowing I think I have ever endured in a work of fiction.

Something kept me reading, though...what was it?...Oh, that's right: I didn't have anything else and the library was closed.

I see that the author of Prisoner of Memory, Denise Hamilton, has actually won awards. Must be who you know. Or maybe it was a lean year. I got this title off of a list of recommendations on public radio, no less.

Not only did I feel this was lacking finesse, there are loose ends that were never tied up. That's fine in real life, but a serious problem in crime fiction, as far as I'm concerned.

The "new Raymond Chandler"? I think not.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prisoner of Memory is a solid mystery novel that combines believable plot lines with relatable characters. The pacing and logical manner in which the story progresses makes for a very enjoyable read except for the black sheep that is Chapter 22. This chapter seems wholly out of place and ruins an otherwise enjoyable read with a trashy, romance novel-like sex scene that adds nothing of value to the plot or character development. Skip over that chapter and you won't be missing much for apart from Chapter 22, this book is a compelling read that's worth reading through.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denise Hamilton's Eve Diamond character is a reporter for the LA Times who always seems to find trouble that leads to a mystery and a story. In this installment, she has moved to the downtown office and while covering a story discovers a body in Griffith Park. This leads to a well-written story with plenty of twists and surprises. I found this to be my favorite Eve Diamond novel- more action, better character development and less romance.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Denise Hamilton does a great job of describing the multi-ethnic mosaic that is modern LA. Strong sense of place, good mystery, and a sharp, very human heroine in LATimes reporter, Eve Diamond. This one was especially fun for me to read (a former student of Russian language and lit) as her ethnic group of focus this time is Russian-Americans.

[Laraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book in the series of 4 Eve Diamond novels is a 4 star read. Diamond is a reporter and daughter of Russian immigrants. In this book, she finds the body of a young man, shot in the hills. Her investigation into this death leads to the Russian Mafia and Cold War Russian spies. An interesting read with interesting and believable characters.

[Georgiann Mclellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamilton brings a humanizing element to her journalist, Eve Diamond in this story about the Cold War, spies, emigration, and the Russian Mafia. Intriquing use of espionage and counterespionage. Who is to be believed and who isn't?

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best one I have read since it was hard to keep the characters straight but I will definitely read more of her books.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One in a good series of mysteries with a likable lead character whose sleuthing leads to different areas and cultures in the spread-out city of LA.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun read.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve Diamond mystery, set in Los Angeles

[Auntjenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

The coincidences were a bit much for me-- this did not feel polished or believable. Pretty bad, actually, but I really like Denise Hamilton so I'm giving it 2 stars anyway.

[Samantha Sifleet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book! Really well written. Excellent character development and a great who done it. THis is an author i will continue reading.

[meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Obvious and crappy

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

As these are Los Angeles books I love them.

[LilBib’Phile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story with lots of details about the USSR, but I felt it was too long. I got a little bored before the end.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. It helped that I met the author. I have a signed hardback copy.