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Primavera Blackstone #4
Deadly Business (Primavera Blackstone series, Book 4): A twisting crime novel of intrigue and suspense
It's the Fiesta de San Juan in Spain, the national celebration of the Summer Solstice, and there's much excitement about a huge firework display in the village of St Marti. But Primavera Blackstone is more inflamed by the appearance of a mysterious writer, Duncan Culshaw, who is determined to rake through the ashes of her past. And when extortion and blackmail are mentioned, Primavera realises the heat is on. Duncan has his fingers burned, playing fast and loose with the fiercely protective Prim, but when he marries a dying woman for her money, threatening the inheritance of Prim's son Tom, things are going to get explosive...but happily, there's a new guardian angel in town.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Quintin Jardine
97 books243 followersQuintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.
His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain
His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 14, 2022
This was another good edition in the Primavera Blackstone series.
Whilst a little fanciful at times the story worked well and was interesting - it was a little more believeable than the previous book. There were some good twists and turns as the plot developed. The ending was a bit abrupt (as was the case in previous books).
The addition of Liam was dissapointing, whilst he's a likeable character and the plot that saw Primavera and Liam meet was clever, it was sad that Jardine felt that a Knight in Shining Armour was needed.
Whilst a little fanciful at times the story worked well and was interesting - it was a little more believeable than the previous book. There were some good twists and turns as the plot developed. The ending was a bit abrupt (as was the case in previous books).
The addition of Liam was dissapointing, whilst he's a likeable character and the plot that saw Primavera and Liam meet was clever, it was sad that Jardine felt that a Knight in Shining Armour was needed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2021
As a strong woman Primavera has a mind and voice from the gutter. Definitely written by a man trying to think and act like a woman but missing it completely in my view. The story got better in the last third when the business dealings and take over entered and their was a point to the book. I much prefer his Bob Sinner mysteries. Primavera sounded like ‘female’ Skinner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2021
Brilliant read. Lots of drama and mystery throughout the read. Could not put the book down for the last 75 pages had to read to end as everything was happening to quickly and needed to read the outcome to so many twists…
Old characters are reintroduced and sadly some have their journeys into future reads ended.
Second last book in the series and is Oz really dead????
Old characters are reintroduced and sadly some have their journeys into future reads ended.
Second last book in the series and is Oz really dead????
October 12, 2024
I've never rooted for a protagonist more than for Primavera Blackstone whose fight for her son and his half-siblings is thwarted at every turn. Just as she solves one protentional disaster, she is faced with yet another.
December 19, 2020
Despite the fact that the ending was a little too convenient, this was a gripping novel.
February 5, 2013
Since 1993 Scottish author Quintin Jardine has written three popular series of crime novels. First there was Edinburgh policeman Bob Skinner, then came private detective turned Hollywood actor Oz Blackstone, now deceased, and since 2009 we've had Oz's former wife, the spirited Primavera. In her fourth outing, Deadly Business, Prim is nicely settled in St Marti in Spain when a blackmailer comes calling.
Duncan Culshaw is the boyfriend of Susie, who, like Primavera, had a child with Oz. The two former love rivals have since become friends and Prim is looking after Susie's two children when she offers to look at a novel manuscript that Culshaw has written, prior to possibly recommending it to an agent. However, the manuscript is thinly disguised hatchet job on Oz, Prim and the son they had together, young Tom.
Culshaw is a nasty piece of vileness, who in addition to being a blackmailer also once hit Tom and has a habit of ogling undressed school-age girls. Susie's children also disliked him immensely, so when their mother, who is dying from cancer, then marries him in a lonely moment of weakness, Prim and the whole family are horrified. When Susie dies they face the prospect of having a blackmailer in the family who can also get his hands on the huge business interests of the dead woman and the future inheritances of the three children.
As Prim mounts a fight-back – joining the board of the family business – she has a new ally in old friend Liam, who becomes her lover. The action switches to Glasgow and a boardroom battle between Primavera and Culshaw along with his uncle, Phil. Scams and hidden enemies plot against Prim, but with the odds mounting against her, the middle-aged mother comes out fighting.
Quintin Jardine shows a sure feminine touch in writing Primavera's first-person narrative, and she emerges as down to earth, strong and likeable. The novel gets off to a slow start as we're given a who's who rundown of all the players and their past connections, but the pace quickens enjoyably once battle commences in the second half of the book.
The title Deadly Business perhaps conveys more peril and action than the story contains, but the mystery is built around characters who are well drawn and easy to warm to, along with an intricate, nicely resolved plot.
Duncan Culshaw is the boyfriend of Susie, who, like Primavera, had a child with Oz. The two former love rivals have since become friends and Prim is looking after Susie's two children when she offers to look at a novel manuscript that Culshaw has written, prior to possibly recommending it to an agent. However, the manuscript is thinly disguised hatchet job on Oz, Prim and the son they had together, young Tom.
Culshaw is a nasty piece of vileness, who in addition to being a blackmailer also once hit Tom and has a habit of ogling undressed school-age girls. Susie's children also disliked him immensely, so when their mother, who is dying from cancer, then marries him in a lonely moment of weakness, Prim and the whole family are horrified. When Susie dies they face the prospect of having a blackmailer in the family who can also get his hands on the huge business interests of the dead woman and the future inheritances of the three children.
As Prim mounts a fight-back – joining the board of the family business – she has a new ally in old friend Liam, who becomes her lover. The action switches to Glasgow and a boardroom battle between Primavera and Culshaw along with his uncle, Phil. Scams and hidden enemies plot against Prim, but with the odds mounting against her, the middle-aged mother comes out fighting.
Quintin Jardine shows a sure feminine touch in writing Primavera's first-person narrative, and she emerges as down to earth, strong and likeable. The novel gets off to a slow start as we're given a who's who rundown of all the players and their past connections, but the pace quickens enjoyably once battle commences in the second half of the book.
The title Deadly Business perhaps conveys more peril and action than the story contains, but the mystery is built around characters who are well drawn and easy to warm to, along with an intricate, nicely resolved plot.
August 17, 2015
Wish you could have a half star in the rating as I would give this 3 1/2. Not a 4 but just better than average. I liked Jardines writing best when he had Primavera battling the villians in the board rooms and least when he nattered on continually about how mature and manly Tom, the 14 yr old had become. It added nothing to the understanding of the character as it wasnt relevant to the story in any way. The vulgar language used by Primavera seemed at odds to the picture of her being a sophisticated and articulate woman of the world. Her actions spoke more eloquently that she was also a woman of the world and not a pampered dilettante. Will read earlier novels in the series to see how they stack up.
February 27, 2014
It took me a lot to get into the flow of this book. And I am a bit disappointed with it. Every problem in the book seems to be too easily resolved to feel anything for the struggles of the charecters. I was drawn to read this book as Quintin Jardine's book were being promoted in my local library though The Reading Agency. Maybe I will try reading a different book by the same authour for comparison
January 5, 2015
I really didn't enjoy this book. Like others I found the main character unbelievable. She starts out being a devoted loving stay at home mom with high morals, then suddenly in one day becomes a killer executive, uses bad language, sleeps with a guy on the second day and has him move in with her and the 3 kids, even though she said she wasn't interested. Fortunately it picked up pace and I managed to finish it and have some closure about seeing the bad guy get his just deserts.
July 1, 2016
I'm a fan of Jardine's Bob Skinner's books so picked this up even though Skinner isn't in it and it has a very different main character in Primavera Blackstone. It's not bad exactly but Jardine writes the book in the first person of his woman lead character and I don't reckon he brought it off. It takes ages to get to the action. When the action does happen it's ok but I'm not sure it was worthwhile waiting for it. I'll stick to Bob Skinner and give Primavera a miss.
August 11, 2013
I loved this book, as I have loved all Mr Jardine's books.
I loved all the Oz books, as well as all the Skinner books. I was slow to take off with Primavera as I wanted Oz, but I have se enjoyed them and this one, is just like coming home.
I saw someone comment that she wasn't believable, to me she is - with all her faults and quirks, I couldn't put it down.
Missing her already
I loved all the Oz books, as well as all the Skinner books. I was slow to take off with Primavera as I wanted Oz, but I have se enjoyed them and this one, is just like coming home.
I saw someone comment that she wasn't believable, to me she is - with all her faults and quirks, I couldn't put it down.
Missing her already
February 22, 2013
I just kept getting irritated at folk bumming up other folk, going on about how amazing they were, even recalling how amazing the 'dead' Oz thought they were etc, I almost didn't continue reading a few times. Not sure if I'd read any more, think I preferred Skinner and Oz books.
April 21, 2013
Blechh! Can't write a believable woman's character.
October 26, 2013
I usually prefer Quintin's other series, the Skinner mysteries, but this one hooked me from the start. Well done.
August 4, 2013
brilliant
June 3, 2015
Bit far fetched but enjoyable
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews