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Dr Power #4
Schrödingers God
Schrödinger’s God is a tense psychological thriller and the fourth novel in the Dr Power and Superintendent Lynch series. The novel is set in Northern Spain and leafy Cheshire.
A peaceful holiday walking St James's Way to Santiago del Compostela takes a tragic turn leaving Power and Lynch trying to solve two shocking murders, while unraveling secrets and a conspiracy that spans the Continent.
Schrödinger’s God follows The Darkening Sky, The Fire of Love
and The Good Shepherd.
www.hughgreene.com
Illustrations by Paul Imrie. Eduted by Judith Eddles
A peaceful holiday walking St James's Way to Santiago del Compostela takes a tragic turn leaving Power and Lynch trying to solve two shocking murders, while unraveling secrets and a conspiracy that spans the Continent.
Schrödinger’s God follows The Darkening Sky, The Fire of Love
and The Good Shepherd.
www.hughgreene.com
Illustrations by Paul Imrie. Eduted by Judith Eddles
376 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2017
6 people are currently reading
319 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Greene
8 books94 followersHugh Greene was born in Chester and is a scientist and author. He has published numerous peer-reviewed books and scientific papers and brought his experience working with the police and victims of crime to bear on the popular Dr Power novels. He lives in Cheshire/Shropshire.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 30, 2018
Another brilliant Powers and Lynch tale, this time taking us on a pilgrimage through Spain. The prologue of the book really sums up why I love Hugh Greene's books - murder is never pleasant subject, especially murder that involves sexual exploitation of minors, and in many books there is far too much gritty and salacious detail for my taste - designed, perhaps, to provide some dark titillation? - but Greene uses the power of what is left unsaid to create suspense and horror that is far more chilling.
The balance between the horror of what is happening to the children, the bond of friendship between Powers and Lynch and the beautiful descriptions of the places along the way, the night sky and the food and drink combine to make a superb read, and yet again one that makes me want to visit the area. The theological concept of "Schrödinger's God" had the same thought-provoking effect on me as it did on Dr Powers, and yet again Paul Imrie has produced the perfect cover for the book.
As a footnote, my husband also read the book - his first Hugh Greene, and also loved it although he said the descriptions of the meals were so good that he felt hungry all the way through!
The balance between the horror of what is happening to the children, the bond of friendship between Powers and Lynch and the beautiful descriptions of the places along the way, the night sky and the food and drink combine to make a superb read, and yet again one that makes me want to visit the area. The theological concept of "Schrödinger's God" had the same thought-provoking effect on me as it did on Dr Powers, and yet again Paul Imrie has produced the perfect cover for the book.
As a footnote, my husband also read the book - his first Hugh Greene, and also loved it although he said the descriptions of the meals were so good that he felt hungry all the way through!
March 27, 2017
The subject of this novel is of topical interest today and is a difficult and emotional one. To temper it with what is almost a travelogue, all well researched and packed with information, description and detail, running alongside and woven into the story is, I think, a brilliant concept.
As always with Greene the dialogue is natural, rings true and is well adjusted to suit individual characters. The depth of understanding and camaraderie between the two friends is well developed and their informal banter is lively and convincing. Both Power and Lynch, especially Lynch, have life changing decisions to make, bringing in emotions to be dealt with on different levels.
The tension is kept throughout, and there are twists and turns and a well hidden, very surprising final reveal. A murder mystery with a difference.
As always with Greene the dialogue is natural, rings true and is well adjusted to suit individual characters. The depth of understanding and camaraderie between the two friends is well developed and their informal banter is lively and convincing. Both Power and Lynch, especially Lynch, have life changing decisions to make, bringing in emotions to be dealt with on different levels.
The tension is kept throughout, and there are twists and turns and a well hidden, very surprising final reveal. A murder mystery with a difference.
December 14, 2017
This is not going to be an easy review... Schrödinger's God is not a book I would imagine many people wanting to write, and I suspect it's a book that even fewer people could write. Luckily, Hugh Greene is one of the people with both the willing and the skills to deliver this book.
Let's start with the elephant in the room. Or more accurately the young girl and the priest in the prologue. Hold on though, don't react to that yet. There's a fair chance you have strong views about something like that appearing in a book. Take a deep breath, relax, and hang in there because somehow this book manage to walk the incredibly fine line of separating individuals and organisations. When I read the first few lines I held my breath certain that Greene would slip up and drop in a position that would offend someone, but against all odds he navigated that minefield sublimely.
How? Well the two protagonists help a lot. Both are extremely natural and relatable. We've seen before that Lynch's colleagues regard him as somewhat pious and preachy, but Power's presence has always muted that. That dynamic is only enhanced by the background for the story - the pair taking a pilgrimage along St James's Way. A devout man following a religious path, accompanied by his close friend who may not share his beliefs but respects both them and the man enough to join him on such a trip. This relationship gives Greene a broad scope to deal with religious issues in a calm, mature, and respectful manner. Both respect each other too much for any poorly thought out radical blatherings that would offend the other, or the reader. It is an incredible act of craftsmanship.
St James's Way is actually a superb metaphor for the book in general. You arrive expecting an easy stroll to your reward, then at times you realise it gets a bit harder but you're invested so you keep going, and at times you can feel quite uncomfortable but you persevere because you have faith it will all be worth it in the end.
And yeah, at times this book can be a bit more of a struggle. On page one you're faced with an ugly part of this world and much as you can let yourself be distracted by other events, it's always lurking in the shadows and there are times you can't avoid it. Also, Greene has never shied away from diving deep into the background topics of his books and depending on your background those sections can be fascinating, or in my case with this one just slightly dry and dense. I'm not a physicist but apparently I know enough about the subject that a review of it is a bit dry. And unfortunately we're talking about a deep enough subject it can take a couple of pages to get through a concept which personally, I found myself using as an excuse for a break and such. But, while they were slight energy slumps for me, they seemed a good guide to the subject and I know I've appreciated similar sections in previous books that dealt with topics I was less familiar with. In fact thinking about it that arises in this book too. That's the thing, most of the time when Greene educates they are brief and subtle lines that you glide over. I just suffered personally because probably the area that needs most time to explain is also one I am most aware of already, but not enough for it to really detract from the rest of the book.
And truly, the rest of the book is superb. Greene is one of those artists who manages to make everything seem simple and effortless, but the more you look at it the more detail you see, and the more you can't help but admire those delicate touches. His characters are human. They don't have a storytelling veneer, they are people. Plausible, recognisable, everyday people. He brings them to life and makes them interesting without turning them into fantastical parodies of life. The plot unfolds like a flower - you see petals while they are still tightly wrapped up and you smile when they take shape, but suddenly out of nowhere you have a full bloom and it still manages to surprise you. But without doubt, huge credit goes to handling such a sensitive topic so well. Yeah, the book may need a trigger warning for some just because the very mention of anything like that can be a problem, but for the rest of us? I strongly encourage you to walk the path of this book because it delivers. Incredibly, even with the background this book has, there are still some wry smiles to be found. The timing and placement of them is spot on - they don't diminish anything serious, they just give a little lift to your reading and keep the book from falling too far into darkness.
An incredible piece of writing. It may not always be the easiest thing to read and I am grateful that I could put it down and find some lighter respite at times, but it was impressive. And the more I think about it all the more impressive it gets.
Let's start with the elephant in the room. Or more accurately the young girl and the priest in the prologue. Hold on though, don't react to that yet. There's a fair chance you have strong views about something like that appearing in a book. Take a deep breath, relax, and hang in there because somehow this book manage to walk the incredibly fine line of separating individuals and organisations. When I read the first few lines I held my breath certain that Greene would slip up and drop in a position that would offend someone, but against all odds he navigated that minefield sublimely.
How? Well the two protagonists help a lot. Both are extremely natural and relatable. We've seen before that Lynch's colleagues regard him as somewhat pious and preachy, but Power's presence has always muted that. That dynamic is only enhanced by the background for the story - the pair taking a pilgrimage along St James's Way. A devout man following a religious path, accompanied by his close friend who may not share his beliefs but respects both them and the man enough to join him on such a trip. This relationship gives Greene a broad scope to deal with religious issues in a calm, mature, and respectful manner. Both respect each other too much for any poorly thought out radical blatherings that would offend the other, or the reader. It is an incredible act of craftsmanship.
St James's Way is actually a superb metaphor for the book in general. You arrive expecting an easy stroll to your reward, then at times you realise it gets a bit harder but you're invested so you keep going, and at times you can feel quite uncomfortable but you persevere because you have faith it will all be worth it in the end.
And yeah, at times this book can be a bit more of a struggle. On page one you're faced with an ugly part of this world and much as you can let yourself be distracted by other events, it's always lurking in the shadows and there are times you can't avoid it. Also, Greene has never shied away from diving deep into the background topics of his books and depending on your background those sections can be fascinating, or in my case with this one just slightly dry and dense. I'm not a physicist but apparently I know enough about the subject that a review of it is a bit dry. And unfortunately we're talking about a deep enough subject it can take a couple of pages to get through a concept which personally, I found myself using as an excuse for a break and such. But, while they were slight energy slumps for me, they seemed a good guide to the subject and I know I've appreciated similar sections in previous books that dealt with topics I was less familiar with. In fact thinking about it that arises in this book too. That's the thing, most of the time when Greene educates they are brief and subtle lines that you glide over. I just suffered personally because probably the area that needs most time to explain is also one I am most aware of already, but not enough for it to really detract from the rest of the book.
And truly, the rest of the book is superb. Greene is one of those artists who manages to make everything seem simple and effortless, but the more you look at it the more detail you see, and the more you can't help but admire those delicate touches. His characters are human. They don't have a storytelling veneer, they are people. Plausible, recognisable, everyday people. He brings them to life and makes them interesting without turning them into fantastical parodies of life. The plot unfolds like a flower - you see petals while they are still tightly wrapped up and you smile when they take shape, but suddenly out of nowhere you have a full bloom and it still manages to surprise you. But without doubt, huge credit goes to handling such a sensitive topic so well. Yeah, the book may need a trigger warning for some just because the very mention of anything like that can be a problem, but for the rest of us? I strongly encourage you to walk the path of this book because it delivers. Incredibly, even with the background this book has, there are still some wry smiles to be found. The timing and placement of them is spot on - they don't diminish anything serious, they just give a little lift to your reading and keep the book from falling too far into darkness.
An incredible piece of writing. It may not always be the easiest thing to read and I am grateful that I could put it down and find some lighter respite at times, but it was impressive. And the more I think about it all the more impressive it gets.
May 29, 2017
A well written book highly recommend
October 9, 2019
An Excellent Mystery
I received this through Goodreads Giveaways and while it started a little slow for me it really ended up delivering the suspense that I was anticipating. In addition, it took me through some interesting locations. The characters are quite engaging, the story is well told and the twist at the end was exceptional. I enjoyed this book very much!
I received this through Goodreads Giveaways and while it started a little slow for me it really ended up delivering the suspense that I was anticipating. In addition, it took me through some interesting locations. The characters are quite engaging, the story is well told and the twist at the end was exceptional. I enjoyed this book very much!
December 20, 2019
There’s so much interesting in this book. Of course, there’s the horrendous crime to solve but, frankly, that didn’t turn out to be the part I enjoyed the most. I really liked all the little side information ... the St. Order of St James, the discussion of evil, how one dies in a sealed room, how the Romans brought down mountains to obtain gold, all the historic facts along the Way and much more. And I really thought Power and Lynch were great; both were different characters and their relationship really added to the story. In fact, there were quite a few side characters that I liked but the Count lit up the story. This is a well-written, well- researched book that makes me look forward to the next in this series.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
April 18, 2017
I received a free copy of this book directly from the author for review purposes.
I admit I still haven't read the immediately prequel to this (mostly as I don't shop online and no bookseller locally stocks it) but I did enjoy the first two books in the series.
The series has definitely evolved and also become bigger. This story mostly takes place in Spain. As always the research the author did means the book has more levels than a typical skyscraper.
This is definitely not a cosy detective story. It also goes deeper into both the human psyche and theology than most books ever would consider. It has descriptions that made me shudder. It deserves a trigger warning but I won't give one as it would be a spoiler.
I read for pleasure and to be surprised. Hugh Greene gives me both pleasure and surprise in his words. He should be a lot more famous then he is.
5 stars.
I admit I still haven't read the immediately prequel to this (mostly as I don't shop online and no bookseller locally stocks it) but I did enjoy the first two books in the series.
The series has definitely evolved and also become bigger. This story mostly takes place in Spain. As always the research the author did means the book has more levels than a typical skyscraper.
This is definitely not a cosy detective story. It also goes deeper into both the human psyche and theology than most books ever would consider. It has descriptions that made me shudder. It deserves a trigger warning but I won't give one as it would be a spoiler.
I read for pleasure and to be surprised. Hugh Greene gives me both pleasure and surprise in his words. He should be a lot more famous then he is.
5 stars.
October 26, 2017
I was lucky enough to win The Schrodinger’s God by Hugh Greene on Goodreads. I have never read a book by this author before and I wanted to expand my book choices and authors, so after reading the description about the book I was intrigued.
At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but I found that once I’d started, I found it hard to put down and was eager to carry on. The references to past high profile cases had me reliving and remembering the details about them, making the book more dramatic.
I enjoyed reading The Schrodinger’s God and now Hugh Greene has sparked my interest to read more of his writing in the future.
At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but I found that once I’d started, I found it hard to put down and was eager to carry on. The references to past high profile cases had me reliving and remembering the details about them, making the book more dramatic.
I enjoyed reading The Schrodinger’s God and now Hugh Greene has sparked my interest to read more of his writing in the future.
March 25, 2017
Best of the series so far. Read it on Kindle. Loved this mystery - a true quest like in Cervaantes- the two heroes set off along the St James Way and this makes a really special setting for an ingenious thriller, with some shocks along the way. I love the way the books dovetail together, although they can be read as stand alones. The subtle hints and clues about the series in the text and illustrations add to the depth of the books.
Dr Power does meet monsters doesn't he? Hugh Greene never fails to deliver thrills and new insights.
Dr Power does meet monsters doesn't he? Hugh Greene never fails to deliver thrills and new insights.
August 11, 2024
Another fantastic installment in the Lynch/Power set!
There are so many interesting concepts in this one. One of the themes that comes up is trust. Trusting those in power, particularly those intended to protect us such as a priest, police office, Dr or judge. Whether we can trust ourselves, those around us and what appears, at first glance, to be irrefutable evidence. It can almost be as though we're gaslighting ourselves. Someone couldn't be in different places at the same time. Could they? ....
I love that the novel explores that often, humans aren't all good or bad but somewhere in between. I liked the analogy of it being a case of not letting our "shadow" get too big.
Sometimes the guise of doing something good such as priesthood, can be used to undertake malevolent acts. It made me think of the Catatonia lyrics "altruism stinks of fallacy".
A well researched and interesting read!
There are so many interesting concepts in this one. One of the themes that comes up is trust. Trusting those in power, particularly those intended to protect us such as a priest, police office, Dr or judge. Whether we can trust ourselves, those around us and what appears, at first glance, to be irrefutable evidence. It can almost be as though we're gaslighting ourselves. Someone couldn't be in different places at the same time. Could they? ....
I love that the novel explores that often, humans aren't all good or bad but somewhere in between. I liked the analogy of it being a case of not letting our "shadow" get too big.
Sometimes the guise of doing something good such as priesthood, can be used to undertake malevolent acts. It made me think of the Catatonia lyrics "altruism stinks of fallacy".
A well researched and interesting read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews