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DI Bob Valentine #2
A Taste Of Ashes
*** INTRODUCTORY OFFER PRICE ***
When DI Bob Valentine returns to duty after a narrow escape with death, he is faced with the discovery of a corpse on a kitchen table with a horrific neck wound and a mystery surrounding the victim's missing partner and her daughter. It's all too close to his own near-fatal stabbing.
When the murder investigation begins to reveal a tragic family drama, Bob Valentine struggles to deal with the rapidly unfolding events and the terrifying visions that haunt him. As he starts to uncover the illicit secrets of the family's past, can he keep a grip on the case and on his own sanity before the body count starts to rise?
"Tony Black is my favourite British crime writer."
IRVINE WELSH
When DI Bob Valentine returns to duty after a narrow escape with death, he is faced with the discovery of a corpse on a kitchen table with a horrific neck wound and a mystery surrounding the victim's missing partner and her daughter. It's all too close to his own near-fatal stabbing.
When the murder investigation begins to reveal a tragic family drama, Bob Valentine struggles to deal with the rapidly unfolding events and the terrifying visions that haunt him. As he starts to uncover the illicit secrets of the family's past, can he keep a grip on the case and on his own sanity before the body count starts to rise?
"Tony Black is my favourite British crime writer."
IRVINE WELSH
- GenresCrime
280 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2015
9 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Tony Black
77 books115 followersTony Black is the author of more than 20 books, most recently Her Cold Eyes. He has been nominated for eight CWA Daggers and was runner up in The Guardian's Not the Booker prize for The Last Tiger.
He has written three crime series, a number of crime novellas and two collections of short stories. His acclaimed author interviews series was collected under the title, Hard Truths.
His novella, The Ringer, was adapted for the stage and the Ayr Gaiety performance can be found on YouTube.
A former Young Journalist of the Year, he still writes for the press regularly.
For more information, and the latest news visit his website at: www.tonyblack.net or his blog: www.pulppusher.blogspot.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter or Linked-In.
He has written three crime series, a number of crime novellas and two collections of short stories. His acclaimed author interviews series was collected under the title, Hard Truths.
His novella, The Ringer, was adapted for the stage and the Ayr Gaiety performance can be found on YouTube.
A former Young Journalist of the Year, he still writes for the press regularly.
For more information, and the latest news visit his website at: www.tonyblack.net or his blog: www.pulppusher.blogspot.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter or Linked-In.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 25, 2019
DI Bob Valentine returns to normal duties in the small Scottish town of Ayr, following his previous case, which almost led to his demise, and resulted in a near death experience!
He is called to deal with a murder – a man found face down on his kitchen table with a knife wound in his neck. The man’s partner and her daughter are missing, which only adds to the mystery. As DI Valentine investigates, the family’s history becomes ever murkier. This is a difficult and disturbing case that won’t be particularly easy to resolve.
On the face of it, this would be a fairly mundane Scottish police procedural, but what makes it unusual is that it has a supernatural thread running through it, and since his near death experience, DI Valentine sees dead people!
I hadn’t read the first in the series, and I do feel that I was missing out on some aspects for that reason. I suspect that in order to get a true handle on Valentine’s psychological state, you need to start the series from the beginning.
Nevertheless, there’s much to like here: it was a gripping mystery with some intriguing characters, although some of them are intensely annoying. That said, there are also some I cared enough about to want to know what happened to them: DS Sylvia McCormack, for instance, who would be an interesting enough character even without the misogyny she has to face in her working life, which made me sympathise with her all the more.
Straddling a line between a straight police procedural and a supernatural crime drama, you’ll need an open mind if you are used to non-supernatural crime thrillers. However, it’s an exciting and well-plotted story, and well worth taking a chance on.
He is called to deal with a murder – a man found face down on his kitchen table with a knife wound in his neck. The man’s partner and her daughter are missing, which only adds to the mystery. As DI Valentine investigates, the family’s history becomes ever murkier. This is a difficult and disturbing case that won’t be particularly easy to resolve.
On the face of it, this would be a fairly mundane Scottish police procedural, but what makes it unusual is that it has a supernatural thread running through it, and since his near death experience, DI Valentine sees dead people!
I hadn’t read the first in the series, and I do feel that I was missing out on some aspects for that reason. I suspect that in order to get a true handle on Valentine’s psychological state, you need to start the series from the beginning.
Nevertheless, there’s much to like here: it was a gripping mystery with some intriguing characters, although some of them are intensely annoying. That said, there are also some I cared enough about to want to know what happened to them: DS Sylvia McCormack, for instance, who would be an interesting enough character even without the misogyny she has to face in her working life, which made me sympathise with her all the more.
Straddling a line between a straight police procedural and a supernatural crime drama, you’ll need an open mind if you are used to non-supernatural crime thrillers. However, it’s an exciting and well-plotted story, and well worth taking a chance on.
September 25, 2015
Really enjoyed this one again – the second in the Valentine series (you do not need to have read the first) – Tony Black writes really superb crime fiction, often it seems a little below the radar. He also, incidentally, writes great fiction – so if you haven’t come across his novels yet I’d advise going and taking a little look.
The Valentine novels are something a little different again – with a short sharp supernatural edge added to the mix with the visions that Valentine suffers, this is extraordinarily addictive reading.
In this case Bob is faced with a dead man and a missing family – a family full of the kind of secrets that can kill – and things twist and turn and generally mess with your head (and Bob’s) as we head towards the final solution.
The writing is gritty and realistic, descriptively speaking Tony Black manages to put the reader right in the moment. Bob as a character is endlessly fascinating – I like his rather grumpy outlook on life and his struggles to work out what is going on inside his own head. The mystery of Bob Valentine is just as intriguing, if not more so, than the mystery of the dead man in the kitchen…
Clever intuitive prose and a great deal of storytelling art makes “A Taste of Ashes” rather more delicious than the title would suggest. Black is indeed back. Highly Recommended.
The Valentine novels are something a little different again – with a short sharp supernatural edge added to the mix with the visions that Valentine suffers, this is extraordinarily addictive reading.
In this case Bob is faced with a dead man and a missing family – a family full of the kind of secrets that can kill – and things twist and turn and generally mess with your head (and Bob’s) as we head towards the final solution.
The writing is gritty and realistic, descriptively speaking Tony Black manages to put the reader right in the moment. Bob as a character is endlessly fascinating – I like his rather grumpy outlook on life and his struggles to work out what is going on inside his own head. The mystery of Bob Valentine is just as intriguing, if not more so, than the mystery of the dead man in the kitchen…
Clever intuitive prose and a great deal of storytelling art makes “A Taste of Ashes” rather more delicious than the title would suggest. Black is indeed back. Highly Recommended.
July 30, 2020
Yeah, a solid piece of crime fiction. I knew the character's from the first book which encouraged me to go for the second.
Some great dialogue between the police and great humour, but as the first book delivered, I found this was slightly drawn out, but equally, I enjoyed it.
I didn't read it in one sitting, but it's a book you could. Also, it reads well as a standalone, but I'd give the first one a go.
Some great dialogue between the police and great humour, but as the first book delivered, I found this was slightly drawn out, but equally, I enjoyed it.
I didn't read it in one sitting, but it's a book you could. Also, it reads well as a standalone, but I'd give the first one a go.
November 20, 2015
Following a disturbingly close brush with death, DI Bob Valentine is back at work, and under pressure – and scrutiny – right from the off. Balancing both the stresses and strains of family versus duty and solid fact versus supernatural phenomena, he treads a fine line between coping and cracking.
As the plot unfolds, Valentine deals with people who are driven by strong passions – love, lust, guilt and greed – and threats from both worldly and otherworldly sources.
The novel is filled with skilfully handled twists and turns, realistic dialogue and fully rounded characters – some to cheer, others to fear – and there are deeply disturbing elements, from casual cruelty to creepy coincidences. One thing’s for sure – no matter who is centre stage, they all keep you turning the pages.
This is Tony Black’s second Bob Valentine book; based on what I’ve read so far, I eagerly anticipate the third. This is a first rate read from a world class writer, and it comes highly recommended.
As the plot unfolds, Valentine deals with people who are driven by strong passions – love, lust, guilt and greed – and threats from both worldly and otherworldly sources.
The novel is filled with skilfully handled twists and turns, realistic dialogue and fully rounded characters – some to cheer, others to fear – and there are deeply disturbing elements, from casual cruelty to creepy coincidences. One thing’s for sure – no matter who is centre stage, they all keep you turning the pages.
This is Tony Black’s second Bob Valentine book; based on what I’ve read so far, I eagerly anticipate the third. This is a first rate read from a world class writer, and it comes highly recommended.
January 19, 2023
I love the visits back to the auld toon. Black knows Ayr weel. It's funny to me though how close some of the locations are that get mentioned in the book. Ayr is awfy wee. The story was good, but I definitely added a star because of the setting. It really talks to some of my feelings when I head back to Ayr, here and there. I plan on reading the last 2 books in the series before the year is out, as well.
February 3, 2017
Another great book by Tony Black.
Each book he writes get`s better and better no matter what Genre he`s writing.
I`m not one to leave spoilers, so check this book/ author out.
You will not regret it
Each book he writes get`s better and better no matter what Genre he`s writing.
I`m not one to leave spoilers, so check this book/ author out.
You will not regret it
June 30, 2018
This book is brilliant read it from start to finish and could not put it down. It was a very easy read and it was the first time I have heard about this author. I would read more of his books.
August 23, 2022
I can't say I enjoyed this very much. Setting aside the psychic interludes, I found the main character unsympathetic, and the whole police team to be dysfunctional. The whole thing seemed disjointed and unrealistic to me.
It may not have helped that I have not read the original book in the series, so did not know the backstory, such as it was. Nevertheless I won't be reading any more in this series .
It may not have helped that I have not read the original book in the series, so did not know the backstory, such as it was. Nevertheless I won't be reading any more in this series .
January 15, 2016
Crime thriller series with an unexpected psychic twist and a grim West of Scotland humour.
After reading books 1 and 2 in quick succession am now impatiently waiting the next Bob Valentine installment ... don't leave it too long.
After reading books 1 and 2 in quick succession am now impatiently waiting the next Bob Valentine installment ... don't leave it too long.
September 23, 2015
A no spoilers review of a crackingly good read here http://lindasbookbag.com/2015/09/23/a...
November 4, 2015
A good solid tale with a satisfying end. I do, however, like my crime fiction a little darker.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews