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Far South #1
One Last Kill
IF YOU HURT SOMEONE BAD ENOUGH THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM DO.
Bobby Ress is a cop with a simple life.
He believes in making a difference.
He loves his wife and his daughter.
He has a place in the world.
Then people start dying, a lot of them, in horrible ways. It's a case like no other. And step by gruesome step the simple, true things Bobby knew to be right and good begin to make less and less sense. Because Bobby is learning about pain. He doesn't like to admit it. He doesn't like to know, but he's slowly realizing: If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, you can’t make them do.
*Please Note: This book was originally titled ‘Pancake Money.’
Bobby Ress is a cop with a simple life.
He believes in making a difference.
He loves his wife and his daughter.
He has a place in the world.
Then people start dying, a lot of them, in horrible ways. It's a case like no other. And step by gruesome step the simple, true things Bobby knew to be right and good begin to make less and less sense. Because Bobby is learning about pain. He doesn't like to admit it. He doesn't like to know, but he's slowly realizing: If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, you can’t make them do.
*Please Note: This book was originally titled ‘Pancake Money.’
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
822 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Finn Bell
5 books58 followersFinn Bell lives in the far south of New Zealand where he writes full time. To find out more about him or his books visit www.finnbellbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 11, 2018
Detective Bobby Ress and his partner Detective Pollo were suddenly neck deep in murder with no clue as to the motive or who had done it. An elderly priest brutally murdered was only the start – as the bodies piled up and the evidence remained non-existent, the Dunedin police force on the south island of New Zealand set up a task force. And still it continued. Feared Maori gangs who remained stonily silent when spoken to by the police – Ress and Pollo were frustrated and angry.
And then it worsened. How was that possible? Bobby knew he wanted to be home with his wife Em and daughter Eva – but his job was to stop the crime; to protect the innocent. Could he and the police force stop the senseless killings?
Something a friend wrote in a review recently resonated with me with Pancake Money, and that was “Just lately it seems mystery and crime authors are competing with each other to create the most disgusting and nauseating murder scenes” – and that’s how it feels with this book. Bloody, gory and gruesome! But the pace is electric; the plot is well done. Finn Bell is a new author for me and for fans of thrillers and crime procedurals, Pancake Money is a good read. Recommended.
And then it worsened. How was that possible? Bobby knew he wanted to be home with his wife Em and daughter Eva – but his job was to stop the crime; to protect the innocent. Could he and the police force stop the senseless killings?
Something a friend wrote in a review recently resonated with me with Pancake Money, and that was “Just lately it seems mystery and crime authors are competing with each other to create the most disgusting and nauseating murder scenes” – and that’s how it feels with this book. Bloody, gory and gruesome! But the pace is electric; the plot is well done. Finn Bell is a new author for me and for fans of thrillers and crime procedurals, Pancake Money is a good read. Recommended.
September 3, 2017
Finn Bell made quite an impact on the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Awards with two shortlistings - his first novel DEAD LEMONS in Best First Novel, and PANCAKE MONEY in Best Crime Novel. Grouped together as The Far South Series, these aren't series books as such, so you can read them in any order, but read them you most definitely should.
PANCAKE MONEY features police detective Bobby Ress, who did have a cameo appearance in DEAD LEMONS. He's a straight-forward sort of cop, loves his wife and daughter, has a successful marriage even though they married young and everyone said it wouldn't last. He's also from a straight-forward sort of a place where mostly people are law abiding, and life is uncomplicated even tranquil. Which makes the way that people start dying even more horrific than what are some pretty horrific ways to die. The case is bad enough at that level as far as Ress is concerned, but it's the way that he must confront some uncomfortable truths about human behaviour that is really doing his head in.
PANCAKE MONEY is a traditional police procedural in structure, but as with Bell's earlier books, it's his ability to build characters who are accessible and believable into plots that often lurch into controlled frenzy that really stands out. Ress is paired up with another very approachable, very likeable Pacific Islander policeman - Pollo Latu. Both men are happy men, content with their lot, which contrasts elegantly against the brutality that they must confront. Even as somebody is torturing and killing local clergymen in increasingly bizarre ways, there's nothing expected about the plot which is driven forward strongly, and balanced beautifully with the very human reactions of these two interesting cops.
The dialogue is spot on as well, particularly between the two characters who wise-crack and short-hand their way through some pretty horrible stuff. They obviously care about each other, and their respective families but it's not delivered in an overt manner. There's a connection between these two that's palpable, there's also a connection between them and the place that they live in that's completely believable.
Ultimately what's really good about both books by Finn Bell is that this is an author who can spin a yarn. He sets up a sense of place and character that gives the reader an immersive experience without labouring the point. He's got well delivered plot elements that combine pace and forward drive with strong dialogue and he gives permission to the reader to extrapolate their own theories on who did it along with the cops. He's also brave enough to go into some difficult territory, giving any reader edging towards complacency a darn good wake up call when required. Having been lucky enough to read DEAD LEMONS first there was plenty of promise there, and PANCAKE MONEY delivered on every required element.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
PANCAKE MONEY features police detective Bobby Ress, who did have a cameo appearance in DEAD LEMONS. He's a straight-forward sort of cop, loves his wife and daughter, has a successful marriage even though they married young and everyone said it wouldn't last. He's also from a straight-forward sort of a place where mostly people are law abiding, and life is uncomplicated even tranquil. Which makes the way that people start dying even more horrific than what are some pretty horrific ways to die. The case is bad enough at that level as far as Ress is concerned, but it's the way that he must confront some uncomfortable truths about human behaviour that is really doing his head in.
PANCAKE MONEY is a traditional police procedural in structure, but as with Bell's earlier books, it's his ability to build characters who are accessible and believable into plots that often lurch into controlled frenzy that really stands out. Ress is paired up with another very approachable, very likeable Pacific Islander policeman - Pollo Latu. Both men are happy men, content with their lot, which contrasts elegantly against the brutality that they must confront. Even as somebody is torturing and killing local clergymen in increasingly bizarre ways, there's nothing expected about the plot which is driven forward strongly, and balanced beautifully with the very human reactions of these two interesting cops.
The dialogue is spot on as well, particularly between the two characters who wise-crack and short-hand their way through some pretty horrible stuff. They obviously care about each other, and their respective families but it's not delivered in an overt manner. There's a connection between these two that's palpable, there's also a connection between them and the place that they live in that's completely believable.
Ultimately what's really good about both books by Finn Bell is that this is an author who can spin a yarn. He sets up a sense of place and character that gives the reader an immersive experience without labouring the point. He's got well delivered plot elements that combine pace and forward drive with strong dialogue and he gives permission to the reader to extrapolate their own theories on who did it along with the cops. He's also brave enough to go into some difficult territory, giving any reader edging towards complacency a darn good wake up call when required. Having been lucky enough to read DEAD LEMONS first there was plenty of promise there, and PANCAKE MONEY delivered on every required element.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
February 12, 2019
I was really looking forward to reading this, I'd thoroughly enjoyed this authors previous book Dead Lemons, he has a penchant for odd titles! In this novel we meet Bobby and Polo, friends and mates who are policemen. They have been partners for years and know each other well, they've been through a lot together and are very close, they have complimentary skills and their relationship is fantastic. When the Catholic priests of Dunedin start being summarily executed in violent and bloody fashion Polo and Bobby are assigned the case. As the bodies pile up Pollo and Bobby work hard, never sleep and work incredibly hard to try to find clues to solve the case.
Their enquiries lead them to a mysterious building in The Catlins south of Dunedin where there is a secret Catholic institution which attempts to rehabilitate priests who have committed abuse against young children. Bobby encounters his lecturer from the university course in Psychology he is doing and she becomes a powerful influence in the proceedings.
The first half of this book is great, the pace is full on. From about half way things slow down a bit and I became a bit frustrated with the psychological aspect of the novel. Bobby ruminates a lot on what his lecturer has been teaching and I began to find it very slow moving while he processed all the things he was learning and applied them to the crime. I ended up skipping and hopping through these bits.
It is an enjoyable read but not a patch on Dead Lemons. I think this is an author trying new things and that is to be admired. He has a great way of writing action and when the pace is on he is fantastic.
Their enquiries lead them to a mysterious building in The Catlins south of Dunedin where there is a secret Catholic institution which attempts to rehabilitate priests who have committed abuse against young children. Bobby encounters his lecturer from the university course in Psychology he is doing and she becomes a powerful influence in the proceedings.
The first half of this book is great, the pace is full on. From about half way things slow down a bit and I became a bit frustrated with the psychological aspect of the novel. Bobby ruminates a lot on what his lecturer has been teaching and I began to find it very slow moving while he processed all the things he was learning and applied them to the crime. I ended up skipping and hopping through these bits.
It is an enjoyable read but not a patch on Dead Lemons. I think this is an author trying new things and that is to be admired. He has a great way of writing action and when the pace is on he is fantastic.
November 25, 2019
This book was a bit disappointing. It promised to be a fast-paced read but it was slow in places and repetitive in detail.
August 17, 2017
“Pancake money. Me and my brother and sister.”
Finn Bell lives in the far south of New Zealand where he writes full time. Perhaps it is the mysterious beauty of that area that inspires him to find stories that require an atmosphere of the strange, the inexplicable, but then again perhaps it is simply the finely tuned craftsmanship of Finn Bell’s writing that makes this novel so satisfying to read.
After reading his debut novel DEAD LEMONS it should come as no surprise to the reader that a commitment to an author is forming: few writing today can match the quality of prose inherent in this thriller that is bound to keep you up all night without waiting to know the finish. And that is what PANCAKE MONEY delivers.
Finn’s unique style of writing is evident form the manner I which he opens this story – ‘We’re not close to done yet. We’re still in the middle somewhere. He’s getting hot and sticky. Reddening skin turns slick, beading sweat that stinks more than it should. He hasn’t stopped shaking and crying. All this time. Tears and thin snot mixing into a slippery oil that makes it hard to keep my hand over his mouth. My gloves are already dripping and it’s smeared up onto my sleeves. I can feel the shuddering breath from his nostrils play a warm rhythm against my cheek. He’s still trying to fight, feebly clawing at me. But he’s too weak to win now. Broken. We both know it. Through my hand clamped over his mouth I can feel him try to shake his head. No. No. Again and again. His face is turned up to mine. Close. Keeps trying to catch my eye. So much hurt there. Pleading. Shock. Intimate. He doesn’t understand that we could be doing this. That this is us now. He finally stops fighting me. I sense the moment he accepts it. Then he slowly puts his hands on mine. Gently now. Like he used to. I can feel his lips move. I think he’s trying to talk. Say something to me, one last time. I know he loves me. Even now. Can’t stop himself. Can’t help it. Dear God. Father Mucci told me once that when people are dying, right near the end, when they know it’s coming for them, they become their real selves. That their souls come out. That you can see them. And right then, whether full of grace or covered in sin, every soul is beautiful. I don’t know if that’s going to happen. But then, we’re not close to done yet. We’re still in the middle somewhere.’
Finn condenses the complex lot well – ‘‘Bobby Ress is a cop with a simple life. He believes in making a difference. He loves his wife and his daughter. He has a place in the world. Then people start dying, a lot of them, in horrible ways. It's a case like no other. And step by gruesome step the simple, true things Bobby knew to be right and good begin to make less and less sense. Because Bobby is learning about pain. He doesn't like to admit it. He doesn't like to know, but he's slowly realizing: If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, they won't do.’
Enough commentary – the book is so brilliantly conceived and written that to attempt to digest it into a review is not feasible or fair. Best to simply read this intense book – it will stay with you always. Highly recommended.
Finn Bell lives in the far south of New Zealand where he writes full time. Perhaps it is the mysterious beauty of that area that inspires him to find stories that require an atmosphere of the strange, the inexplicable, but then again perhaps it is simply the finely tuned craftsmanship of Finn Bell’s writing that makes this novel so satisfying to read.
After reading his debut novel DEAD LEMONS it should come as no surprise to the reader that a commitment to an author is forming: few writing today can match the quality of prose inherent in this thriller that is bound to keep you up all night without waiting to know the finish. And that is what PANCAKE MONEY delivers.
Finn’s unique style of writing is evident form the manner I which he opens this story – ‘We’re not close to done yet. We’re still in the middle somewhere. He’s getting hot and sticky. Reddening skin turns slick, beading sweat that stinks more than it should. He hasn’t stopped shaking and crying. All this time. Tears and thin snot mixing into a slippery oil that makes it hard to keep my hand over his mouth. My gloves are already dripping and it’s smeared up onto my sleeves. I can feel the shuddering breath from his nostrils play a warm rhythm against my cheek. He’s still trying to fight, feebly clawing at me. But he’s too weak to win now. Broken. We both know it. Through my hand clamped over his mouth I can feel him try to shake his head. No. No. Again and again. His face is turned up to mine. Close. Keeps trying to catch my eye. So much hurt there. Pleading. Shock. Intimate. He doesn’t understand that we could be doing this. That this is us now. He finally stops fighting me. I sense the moment he accepts it. Then he slowly puts his hands on mine. Gently now. Like he used to. I can feel his lips move. I think he’s trying to talk. Say something to me, one last time. I know he loves me. Even now. Can’t stop himself. Can’t help it. Dear God. Father Mucci told me once that when people are dying, right near the end, when they know it’s coming for them, they become their real selves. That their souls come out. That you can see them. And right then, whether full of grace or covered in sin, every soul is beautiful. I don’t know if that’s going to happen. But then, we’re not close to done yet. We’re still in the middle somewhere.’
Finn condenses the complex lot well – ‘‘Bobby Ress is a cop with a simple life. He believes in making a difference. He loves his wife and his daughter. He has a place in the world. Then people start dying, a lot of them, in horrible ways. It's a case like no other. And step by gruesome step the simple, true things Bobby knew to be right and good begin to make less and less sense. Because Bobby is learning about pain. He doesn't like to admit it. He doesn't like to know, but he's slowly realizing: If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, they won't do.’
Enough commentary – the book is so brilliantly conceived and written that to attempt to digest it into a review is not feasible or fair. Best to simply read this intense book – it will stay with you always. Highly recommended.
July 24, 2018
Pancake Money by Finn Bell
**I received this book from the Online Book Club in exchange for an honest review**
"When something really bad happens, people feel better if they can find someone to blame. Even if they know it doesn't change anything. Pain. Maybe the hurt is easier to deal with if we know someone did something wrong to cause it. It makes it easier somehow. Maybe we need sin."
I'm usually not the crime novel reading type, but I was pleasantly surprised by Pancake Money by Finn Bell. This book is set in New Zealand and revolves around two homicide detectives, Bobby and Pollo. They are working on a case that involves multiple murders. Pretty brutal murders might I add. The book is set in a weeks time where each chapter is dedicated to a single day. The premise of the story is basically them trying to figure out the who and why before the killer strikes again.
I'm extremely picky when it comes to book. If it doesn't hold my attention from the beginning and keep my attention throughout the book, I'm totally okay with giving up on it. I never once had that feeling with Pancake Money. The story was so interesting and Bell makes the reader really think about who the killer may be. I'm not saying that other crime novels don't leave readers guessing, but this book took a deeper look into what makes someone snap like that and why.
The writing was superb as well. A lot of books that I have read tend to give too much background on the characters. Unnecessary details that never really add anything to the plot. I felt like with this book, readers get enough information to connect with the characters without taking away from the story. Bell kept me guessing the entire time and I was pretty shocked with how it all turned out.
I really love the format of this book as well. It wasn't dragged out for too long and having the whole book be just a week in the life of these detectives was like nothing I have ever read before. Bell also gives some background tidbits after the end of the book, which was quite enjoyable to read.
This book beyond exceeded my expectations. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime novel paired with excellent writing. I really enjoyed all of the characters, even the ones you're probably not supposed to like.
As a warning to potential readers, it is a bit graphic. Which is to be expected with murder case, but it did leave me a bit shocked on multiple occasions. I didn't bother me too much, as I've read a lot of books and watching a lot of movies that were graphic. Bell was very thoughtful in the way that he painted a picture for readers without describing too many details of the murder scenes, but it still may be graphic for some.
**I received this book from the Online Book Club in exchange for an honest review**
"When something really bad happens, people feel better if they can find someone to blame. Even if they know it doesn't change anything. Pain. Maybe the hurt is easier to deal with if we know someone did something wrong to cause it. It makes it easier somehow. Maybe we need sin."
I'm usually not the crime novel reading type, but I was pleasantly surprised by Pancake Money by Finn Bell. This book is set in New Zealand and revolves around two homicide detectives, Bobby and Pollo. They are working on a case that involves multiple murders. Pretty brutal murders might I add. The book is set in a weeks time where each chapter is dedicated to a single day. The premise of the story is basically them trying to figure out the who and why before the killer strikes again.
I'm extremely picky when it comes to book. If it doesn't hold my attention from the beginning and keep my attention throughout the book, I'm totally okay with giving up on it. I never once had that feeling with Pancake Money. The story was so interesting and Bell makes the reader really think about who the killer may be. I'm not saying that other crime novels don't leave readers guessing, but this book took a deeper look into what makes someone snap like that and why.
The writing was superb as well. A lot of books that I have read tend to give too much background on the characters. Unnecessary details that never really add anything to the plot. I felt like with this book, readers get enough information to connect with the characters without taking away from the story. Bell kept me guessing the entire time and I was pretty shocked with how it all turned out.
I really love the format of this book as well. It wasn't dragged out for too long and having the whole book be just a week in the life of these detectives was like nothing I have ever read before. Bell also gives some background tidbits after the end of the book, which was quite enjoyable to read.
This book beyond exceeded my expectations. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good crime novel paired with excellent writing. I really enjoyed all of the characters, even the ones you're probably not supposed to like.
As a warning to potential readers, it is a bit graphic. Which is to be expected with murder case, but it did leave me a bit shocked on multiple occasions. I didn't bother me too much, as I've read a lot of books and watching a lot of movies that were graphic. Bell was very thoughtful in the way that he painted a picture for readers without describing too many details of the murder scenes, but it still may be graphic for some.
August 1, 2018
This book was very easy to get into, it just up and started.
Some parts were repetitive and drawn out though, eg, Bowlby lectures. And even more than the lectures. They kept on going over the motive almost ad nauseum. It's sex. It's power. It's money. It's vengeance. Oh, that's power. I get that's probably how real life police detectives work, but, this is a novel after all. Not tiny details of possibilities and minutiae.
I could relate with some of the characters though. Well written human characters with their anger and their humour. Made losing them really painful. I'm glad when an author can still do that. Makes you care enough.
Some parts were drawn out too long, probably for dramatic effect and space filling. Like I said, repetitive. How many times have I repeated that? An example is the conversation between Bobby and Ben.
And soooooooooooo many questions. This is why I think first person narratives don't really work so well. Sometimes we're just stuck in the minds of the narrators. (Will he actually go through with this and deliver into my hands? Keep an unlikely promise? Dare I believe it—an incredible offer from an untrustworthy man? Will he turn on , his friend, his family? Or will he turn on me? And if so, will it be before? Or after)
All in all, this is NOT a terrible book. It was even fun in some places. And funny and touching and scary and real. It was also not mind blowing, but, I guess the author wasn't really going for that. He just had a story to tell. And he delivered. I don't regret reading it, mainly because of its honesty and the narrator.
I'm supposed to put a disclaimer somewhere about how I got this book from onlinebookclub.org in exchange for an honest review.
And, yeah. The ending. I'm not sure it was a resolution. And since I'm not sure...😕
Some parts were repetitive and drawn out though, eg, Bowlby lectures. And even more than the lectures. They kept on going over the motive almost ad nauseum. It's sex. It's power. It's money. It's vengeance. Oh, that's power. I get that's probably how real life police detectives work, but, this is a novel after all. Not tiny details of possibilities and minutiae.
I could relate with some of the characters though. Well written human characters with their anger and their humour. Made losing them really painful. I'm glad when an author can still do that. Makes you care enough.
Some parts were drawn out too long, probably for dramatic effect and space filling. Like I said, repetitive. How many times have I repeated that? An example is the conversation between Bobby and Ben.
And soooooooooooo many questions. This is why I think first person narratives don't really work so well. Sometimes we're just stuck in the minds of the narrators. (Will he actually go through with this and deliver into my hands? Keep an unlikely promise? Dare I believe it—an incredible offer from an untrustworthy man? Will he turn on , his friend, his family? Or will he turn on me? And if so, will it be before? Or after)
All in all, this is NOT a terrible book. It was even fun in some places. And funny and touching and scary and real. It was also not mind blowing, but, I guess the author wasn't really going for that. He just had a story to tell. And he delivered. I don't regret reading it, mainly because of its honesty and the narrator.
I'm supposed to put a disclaimer somewhere about how I got this book from onlinebookclub.org in exchange for an honest review.
And, yeah. The ending. I'm not sure it was a resolution. And since I'm not sure...😕
August 11, 2018
"Superb crime thriller on any level"
There's so much going on in this thriller it's impossible to put down. The New Zealand setting is vast and beautiful and the Maori imprint is indelible, just like the ubiquitous tattoos. The interplay between the two cops, Ress and Pollo is familiar yet fascinating. Family life with Bobby, Em & Eva Ress is woven into the fabric of the story to counterbalance the horrors of the crimes. Yet, even that life isn't without its problems. Death punctuates the book with unnerving regularity. The pace is unrelenting and although the killer and his motivation weren't a great surprise, nothing spoiled the overall feel of the book.
I'm not a great thinker, nor do I profess to understand the passages analysing pain, for instance. I'm a simple man who reads for pleasure. That's why this thriller works on any level. You can take from it what you need. If you want a fast-paced thriller with non-stop action, it's there. If you want a challenging, thought-provoking book to keep your mind absorbed for days after you've finished reading, that's here too.
There's so much going on in this thriller it's impossible to put down. The New Zealand setting is vast and beautiful and the Maori imprint is indelible, just like the ubiquitous tattoos. The interplay between the two cops, Ress and Pollo is familiar yet fascinating. Family life with Bobby, Em & Eva Ress is woven into the fabric of the story to counterbalance the horrors of the crimes. Yet, even that life isn't without its problems. Death punctuates the book with unnerving regularity. The pace is unrelenting and although the killer and his motivation weren't a great surprise, nothing spoiled the overall feel of the book.
I'm not a great thinker, nor do I profess to understand the passages analysing pain, for instance. I'm a simple man who reads for pleasure. That's why this thriller works on any level. You can take from it what you need. If you want a fast-paced thriller with non-stop action, it's there. If you want a challenging, thought-provoking book to keep your mind absorbed for days after you've finished reading, that's here too.
October 25, 2018
This is my first book by Finn Bell, but he definitely has a way of writing thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the way the author was able to carefully add information about his country in order to make the story more detail-oriented and believable. I was able to guess some of the story before it happened, but for the most part, the mystery at the end came as a surprise to me, and I loved it. The intricacies of the murders were unlike other books in the same genre, and I know I’ll be looking forward to reading more works by this author.
December 6, 2019
Good read...a mystery to the end
July 30, 2017
When I look back on my crime reading for the 2017 year, no matter what books I rate as my top reads, I am pretty sure that I'll consider Finn Bell as my 'find of the year' in terms of new-to-me authors. This is the second of Bell's books I've read, after his terrific debut Dead Lemons, and this is equally as good. Perhaps better, depending on your personal tastes.
Whereas Bell's debut centred on a wheelchair bound amateur sleuth, this one has a more traditional hero, police detective Bobby Ress (who makes an appearance in Dead Lemons in a supporting role).
Partnered up with the likeable Pollo Latu, one of New Zealand's many Pacific Islands policemen, Ress is called out to the brutal murder of a Dunedin priest. It's a particularly horrific crime, where it's clear the victim was made to suffer. When another tortured priest is found, it's clear someone is targeting the local clergy, but why? Could this be payback for abuse at the hands of the church? Were the victims men of God who'd fallen from grace? What do the medieval style deaths represent?
While the 'killer targeting priests' trope is hardly new, Bell's writing comes across as fresh and packed with power and narrative drive. There's just something about his crime storytelling that drags you in and keeps you welded to your seat, whirring the pages. While in Dead Lemons he did a great job evoking the remote south of the south setting of small-town Riverton, here he balances urban life and the countryside that lurks closely wherever you are when you're in New Zealand.
I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Ress and Latu, the two main cops. There's an authentic sense of long-time partners who care for each other, joke around with each other, and worry for each other, even as they try to do their best in a very tough job, and maintain their sanity despite the horrors they see. Bell peppers the narrative with interesting characters and philosophy as well as action. Occasionally he has a tendency to go slightly monologue-y, delivering chunks of information or philosophy - but for me it didn't come across as too expository. Maybe because it was fascinating, or delivered in an interesting way, or wrapped up in enough other good things it didn't bother me.
Bell has real storytelling talent, and has shown in his first two books that he's a powerful new voice in antipodean crime writing. Wherever you are in the world, I'd recommend you give him a go.
Whereas Bell's debut centred on a wheelchair bound amateur sleuth, this one has a more traditional hero, police detective Bobby Ress (who makes an appearance in Dead Lemons in a supporting role).
Partnered up with the likeable Pollo Latu, one of New Zealand's many Pacific Islands policemen, Ress is called out to the brutal murder of a Dunedin priest. It's a particularly horrific crime, where it's clear the victim was made to suffer. When another tortured priest is found, it's clear someone is targeting the local clergy, but why? Could this be payback for abuse at the hands of the church? Were the victims men of God who'd fallen from grace? What do the medieval style deaths represent?
While the 'killer targeting priests' trope is hardly new, Bell's writing comes across as fresh and packed with power and narrative drive. There's just something about his crime storytelling that drags you in and keeps you welded to your seat, whirring the pages. While in Dead Lemons he did a great job evoking the remote south of the south setting of small-town Riverton, here he balances urban life and the countryside that lurks closely wherever you are when you're in New Zealand.
I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Ress and Latu, the two main cops. There's an authentic sense of long-time partners who care for each other, joke around with each other, and worry for each other, even as they try to do their best in a very tough job, and maintain their sanity despite the horrors they see. Bell peppers the narrative with interesting characters and philosophy as well as action. Occasionally he has a tendency to go slightly monologue-y, delivering chunks of information or philosophy - but for me it didn't come across as too expository. Maybe because it was fascinating, or delivered in an interesting way, or wrapped up in enough other good things it didn't bother me.
Bell has real storytelling talent, and has shown in his first two books that he's a powerful new voice in antipodean crime writing. Wherever you are in the world, I'd recommend you give him a go.
August 28, 2019
Ho hum...not terrible, not exciting...kind of all over the place...is Bobby a good guy or a bad guy. I had enough of his wife after 2 chapters...who talks like that? The mystery was pretty obvious but there was so much else thrown in that I had no idea what was going on. Thankfully it is a quick read!
April 22, 2018
NOTE: The author graciously gave me a copy of this book and asked me to write a review.
The closest I’ve ever come to New Zealand has been watching the Lord of the Ring movies, but after reading Finn Bell’s novels, I feel as if I’ve spent my last vacation there, soaking up the atmosphere in some of the southernmost civilized locations in the world. Like Bell’s other novels, Pancake Money takes place on the southern part of the South Island, and the locale, native culture, and psychological insights that Bell provides turn what might have been an ordinary serial killer novel in the hands of another writer into something quite special.
Pancake Money takes place in a medium size town in New Zealand, large enough to have a decent sized police force and an organized crime problem, while small enough to be surrounded by some rugged countryside where some of the book’s action takes place. A serial killer is murdering local priests in a very brutal, ritual fashion, and Detective Bobby Rees, the book’s narrator, and his partner Pollo, a native New Zealander, are the lead investigators. Although the killings have the earmarks of a ritualistic serial killer, some rather tough organized crime figures wind up getting in Rees’s way as well as he investigates.
Pancake Money is more of a whydunit than a whodunit. The mystery itself isn’t that hard to figure out, although some of the details will probably evade many readers (myself included). However, what perplexes Rees is the killer’s motivation, and, to get to the heart of that, he spends a good bit of time talking with Pollo and with a local criminologist who teaches a class Bobby attends. The professor’s lectures and the conversations between Bobby and Pollo take up a good bit of space in the book, but it’s far from wasted. The ruminations on human behavior and motivation make for fascinating reading, so much so that, at times I almost regretted Bell returning to his main story.
Equally fascinating are the author’s description of the locale, the nearby environment, the area’s history and native Maori culture, much of which plays a part in Pancake Money. In fact, at the end of the book, Bell includes a brief addendum expanding on some of the points he made in the main book. One fascinating tidbit has to do with the world’s steepest street, with a 19 degree pitch, which in the book is the location of a key scene that takes place in a bar. After reading Bell’s description, I wanted to go there to have a brew, only to discover, alas, that the bar was fictional, although the street was not.
Although author Bell’s side trips are interesting and entertaining, the main action in the book will satisfy thriller fans as well. There’s a good bit of action in the book, including a major nighttime shootout in the wilderness, and Bobby and Pollo get in several other scuffles in the course of the book as well. Some of the action could have been staged a bit better (the first person narration gets in the way a couple of times), and the ending is a little bit of a letdown, but overall, “Pancake Money” has some solid action. In addition, the main characters are quite well developed for this short of a book. Bobby and Pollo have an easy camaraderie of longtime partners, and their repartee is fun to follow. And Bobby’s home life has its share of complications as well, although nothing of distracting soap operatic proportions.
Some mysteries are driven by plot alone, like Agatha Christie stories. But others depend far more on character, setting, and atmosphere, and Finn Bell’s Pancake Money is a perfect example of this type. The mystery is secondary to the other elements, and they enhance the book tremendously. For mystery fans or fiction fans in general, investing a couple of bucks on Pancake Money will be a good investment indeed.
The closest I’ve ever come to New Zealand has been watching the Lord of the Ring movies, but after reading Finn Bell’s novels, I feel as if I’ve spent my last vacation there, soaking up the atmosphere in some of the southernmost civilized locations in the world. Like Bell’s other novels, Pancake Money takes place on the southern part of the South Island, and the locale, native culture, and psychological insights that Bell provides turn what might have been an ordinary serial killer novel in the hands of another writer into something quite special.
Pancake Money takes place in a medium size town in New Zealand, large enough to have a decent sized police force and an organized crime problem, while small enough to be surrounded by some rugged countryside where some of the book’s action takes place. A serial killer is murdering local priests in a very brutal, ritual fashion, and Detective Bobby Rees, the book’s narrator, and his partner Pollo, a native New Zealander, are the lead investigators. Although the killings have the earmarks of a ritualistic serial killer, some rather tough organized crime figures wind up getting in Rees’s way as well as he investigates.
Pancake Money is more of a whydunit than a whodunit. The mystery itself isn’t that hard to figure out, although some of the details will probably evade many readers (myself included). However, what perplexes Rees is the killer’s motivation, and, to get to the heart of that, he spends a good bit of time talking with Pollo and with a local criminologist who teaches a class Bobby attends. The professor’s lectures and the conversations between Bobby and Pollo take up a good bit of space in the book, but it’s far from wasted. The ruminations on human behavior and motivation make for fascinating reading, so much so that, at times I almost regretted Bell returning to his main story.
Equally fascinating are the author’s description of the locale, the nearby environment, the area’s history and native Maori culture, much of which plays a part in Pancake Money. In fact, at the end of the book, Bell includes a brief addendum expanding on some of the points he made in the main book. One fascinating tidbit has to do with the world’s steepest street, with a 19 degree pitch, which in the book is the location of a key scene that takes place in a bar. After reading Bell’s description, I wanted to go there to have a brew, only to discover, alas, that the bar was fictional, although the street was not.
Although author Bell’s side trips are interesting and entertaining, the main action in the book will satisfy thriller fans as well. There’s a good bit of action in the book, including a major nighttime shootout in the wilderness, and Bobby and Pollo get in several other scuffles in the course of the book as well. Some of the action could have been staged a bit better (the first person narration gets in the way a couple of times), and the ending is a little bit of a letdown, but overall, “Pancake Money” has some solid action. In addition, the main characters are quite well developed for this short of a book. Bobby and Pollo have an easy camaraderie of longtime partners, and their repartee is fun to follow. And Bobby’s home life has its share of complications as well, although nothing of distracting soap operatic proportions.
Some mysteries are driven by plot alone, like Agatha Christie stories. But others depend far more on character, setting, and atmosphere, and Finn Bell’s Pancake Money is a perfect example of this type. The mystery is secondary to the other elements, and they enhance the book tremendously. For mystery fans or fiction fans in general, investing a couple of bucks on Pancake Money will be a good investment indeed.
October 25, 2018
“If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, they won’t do.”
This is what the whole story of Pancake Money revolves around (but with some added twists). Winner of the Indie Reader Award for Best Fiction 2018, Pancake Money by Finn Bell, a psychotic thriller, is not your average whodunit. It is truly psychotic in every sense of the term and delves into great depths of the human mind and reveals how “Love and hate. That’s all people really are.”
Bobby Ress, a cop who believes in making a difference, is a family man who loves his wife and daughter. However, his world is turned upside down by the gruesome murders of some old retired priests, all of which have been done in the lines of the tortures inflicted by the church in the medieval days. Thus begins the pursuit of this murderer, who seems to be sick to the core. Bobby, accompanied by his friend Pollo Latu (another cop) enter this tornado and find themselves getting sucked into the vortex as they unravel certain incidents and places which had been kept hidden as secrets. To top this up is the escapade of Jonas Maihi, leader of a native gang Manga Kahu, which apparently had no relation to the earlier case. However, later things take a different turn, people are killed, corpses keep piling up and ultimately end in revenge and justice.
Set against the backdrop of New Zealand, it is sprinkled with colourful images of the lives of the people, the notorious local gangs, their sentiments and feelings, the strong family bonds of brotherhood they share, the Māori Culture. To spice it up are added little facts about the place like- the city of Dunedin, Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the world), the beautiful coasts and mountains, the Aramoana Beach.The characters have been developed over the pages of the novel. Both the internal and the external actions have been carefully attended to and their actions are mostly based on their deep inner feelings, which range from the two extremities of love and affection to intense violence, mental instability and a lust for revenge because after all “The prime motivator of human behaviour is pain.”
What impressed me most was the casual writing style and the imagery which made it seem like a reel playing in front of the eyes. The complicated working of the human mind has been presented quite simply through the lectures of the forensic psychology professor. However, the details regarding the gruesome murders made me feel a bit nauseated. But this can be seen as the author’s approach to make the incidents more realistic. What bothered me a bit was the last scene where two people discuss the situations leading up to the murders and the motives of the murder, as I felt it to be somewhat unbelievable that someone could discuss something so calmly, standing in a room splattered with blood and two corpses.
The author has dealt with several important issues of the day like- child abuse and violence, sexual violence, paedophilic church priests and impacts of past experiences of violence and abuse on a person’s psychology. He has also touched upon the idea of colonisation and the deep resentment it caused in the minds of the locals. Being from a country which had been colonised for 200 long years, I myself can relate quite well with them. The last part of the book titled- SLIGHTLY BIASED MOSTLY TRUE THINGS contains several titbits and interesting facts on which the setting and characters are based.
If you are ready for an engrossing action-packed thriller with some crazy plot twists, this is THE book I would recommend you.
This is what the whole story of Pancake Money revolves around (but with some added twists). Winner of the Indie Reader Award for Best Fiction 2018, Pancake Money by Finn Bell, a psychotic thriller, is not your average whodunit. It is truly psychotic in every sense of the term and delves into great depths of the human mind and reveals how “Love and hate. That’s all people really are.”
Bobby Ress, a cop who believes in making a difference, is a family man who loves his wife and daughter. However, his world is turned upside down by the gruesome murders of some old retired priests, all of which have been done in the lines of the tortures inflicted by the church in the medieval days. Thus begins the pursuit of this murderer, who seems to be sick to the core. Bobby, accompanied by his friend Pollo Latu (another cop) enter this tornado and find themselves getting sucked into the vortex as they unravel certain incidents and places which had been kept hidden as secrets. To top this up is the escapade of Jonas Maihi, leader of a native gang Manga Kahu, which apparently had no relation to the earlier case. However, later things take a different turn, people are killed, corpses keep piling up and ultimately end in revenge and justice.
Set against the backdrop of New Zealand, it is sprinkled with colourful images of the lives of the people, the notorious local gangs, their sentiments and feelings, the strong family bonds of brotherhood they share, the Māori Culture. To spice it up are added little facts about the place like- the city of Dunedin, Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the world), the beautiful coasts and mountains, the Aramoana Beach.The characters have been developed over the pages of the novel. Both the internal and the external actions have been carefully attended to and their actions are mostly based on their deep inner feelings, which range from the two extremities of love and affection to intense violence, mental instability and a lust for revenge because after all “The prime motivator of human behaviour is pain.”
What impressed me most was the casual writing style and the imagery which made it seem like a reel playing in front of the eyes. The complicated working of the human mind has been presented quite simply through the lectures of the forensic psychology professor. However, the details regarding the gruesome murders made me feel a bit nauseated. But this can be seen as the author’s approach to make the incidents more realistic. What bothered me a bit was the last scene where two people discuss the situations leading up to the murders and the motives of the murder, as I felt it to be somewhat unbelievable that someone could discuss something so calmly, standing in a room splattered with blood and two corpses.
The author has dealt with several important issues of the day like- child abuse and violence, sexual violence, paedophilic church priests and impacts of past experiences of violence and abuse on a person’s psychology. He has also touched upon the idea of colonisation and the deep resentment it caused in the minds of the locals. Being from a country which had been colonised for 200 long years, I myself can relate quite well with them. The last part of the book titled- SLIGHTLY BIASED MOSTLY TRUE THINGS contains several titbits and interesting facts on which the setting and characters are based.
If you are ready for an engrossing action-packed thriller with some crazy plot twists, this is THE book I would recommend you.
August 30, 2018
The opening scene doesn't disappoint. I could feel myself dying with the person being smothered. I could taste the sweat and snot. I could feel the fear and the silent and feeble attempt of the victim begging for life. Then, the author is brilliant and brings his readers into the forensic psychology of deviant serial killers - a classroom where the main character Pollo is a student. The instructor is an immediate powerhouse, challenging the students knowledge of what motivates human behavior at its evil worst.
(On a personal note I was very interested in the professor's understanding or explanation of what motivates behavior and although the answer of it being pain is true in the most inhumane way for the purposes of her class on what motivates such inhumane behavior. It is not only about the pain being inflicted by someone else but rather the pain of the individuals behaviors - the outcomes of which are painful - choices, according to Dr. William Glasser's Theory of Choice .Also, pleasure is equally as effective in determining and motivating behaviors. Also, the professor speaks of needs - which yes, every behavior chosen is an attempt to meet a need. According to Glasser, the four basic psychological needs which are equal to survival needs are, 1- Love and belonging, 2 - power and control, 3- freedom, 4 - fun. Every behavior chosen is a person’s best attempt to meet one or all f thse needs from the day we are born until the day we die, known as “Need-satisfying behaviors” The first learned behavior is crying - works like a charm!! ))
The author then creates a violent crime scene which actually made me nauseous by the description as Pollo and his partner Bobby begin to try to understand what they are dealing with.. This book is not for the faint of heart. The horrifying images detailed at the crime scenes are unimaginable. And the blending of old world Catholic ritualistic punishment often by a horrible tortured death is sickening and eerie. This is blended with the secrets of Catholic priests of sexual abuse and other evil doings. These perpetrating clergy are hidden in a ‘facility’ in the name of treatment.. This is all tangled together and the author is skilled in making his readers get tangled in the web of harsh realities scratching to get answers, wanting and yet not wanting to know the unthinkable truths of evil.. I was not just reading this book I was part of it. I shivered and sighed out loud. There's also a complicated and long-standing tribal influence that is mostly gang and criminal. Their rituals and traditions and family loyalties wrapped themselves in and around all of what the detectives had to unravel to solve the gruesome murders. The twists and turns and secrets that come to light were heart pounding and disturbing, evil. This book will leave you questioning what motivates behavior and how people can be capable of such evil in the name of religion power and need - it's always about satisfying a nee
(On a personal note I was very interested in the professor's understanding or explanation of what motivates behavior and although the answer of it being pain is true in the most inhumane way for the purposes of her class on what motivates such inhumane behavior. It is not only about the pain being inflicted by someone else but rather the pain of the individuals behaviors - the outcomes of which are painful - choices, according to Dr. William Glasser's Theory of Choice .Also, pleasure is equally as effective in determining and motivating behaviors. Also, the professor speaks of needs - which yes, every behavior chosen is an attempt to meet a need. According to Glasser, the four basic psychological needs which are equal to survival needs are, 1- Love and belonging, 2 - power and control, 3- freedom, 4 - fun. Every behavior chosen is a person’s best attempt to meet one or all f thse needs from the day we are born until the day we die, known as “Need-satisfying behaviors” The first learned behavior is crying - works like a charm!! ))
The author then creates a violent crime scene which actually made me nauseous by the description as Pollo and his partner Bobby begin to try to understand what they are dealing with.. This book is not for the faint of heart. The horrifying images detailed at the crime scenes are unimaginable. And the blending of old world Catholic ritualistic punishment often by a horrible tortured death is sickening and eerie. This is blended with the secrets of Catholic priests of sexual abuse and other evil doings. These perpetrating clergy are hidden in a ‘facility’ in the name of treatment.. This is all tangled together and the author is skilled in making his readers get tangled in the web of harsh realities scratching to get answers, wanting and yet not wanting to know the unthinkable truths of evil.. I was not just reading this book I was part of it. I shivered and sighed out loud. There's also a complicated and long-standing tribal influence that is mostly gang and criminal. Their rituals and traditions and family loyalties wrapped themselves in and around all of what the detectives had to unravel to solve the gruesome murders. The twists and turns and secrets that come to light were heart pounding and disturbing, evil. This book will leave you questioning what motivates behavior and how people can be capable of such evil in the name of religion power and need - it's always about satisfying a nee
September 6, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].
‘Pancake Money’ by Finn Bell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on September 5, 2018
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Detective Bobby Ress loves his family, and he believes in doing the right thing. Often, things are black and white for him -- good and evil -- but when Catholic priests start being mutilated and murdered, his perceptions begin to change.
If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, they won't do.
MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters are almost instantly likable, even the most despicable ones, but none more so than Bobby and Pollo. They make a great team and complement one another in just the right ways.
Bobby is a stand-up family man who wants nothing more than to make the world safe and okay for his troubled daughter and his loving wife. His life as a cop doesn’t always make it easy for him to help them feel safe, but he does everything in his power to make it so.
Pollo is seasoned, funny, and a downright good man. He has an inherent understanding of people in general. Pollo is one of those characters that makes you wish you could be their friend.
I liked being given a slice of New Zealand with this book, too. As an American, I don’t know much about their police procedure or the intricacies of the many native cultures, but I felt like I was given a good look at them both.
There were a couple parts in which I felt it got a little repetitive surrounding the psychology behind the means and motive of the crimes, but it wasn’t too bad. I have definitely read worse. I don’t like it when books repeatedly explain a bit of information as if I didn’t understand it the first time.
Overall, this is a fun, exciting and, at times, a heartbreaking book. I will absolutely read more of Bell’s work in the future.
‘Pancake Money’ by Finn Bell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on September 5, 2018
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Detective Bobby Ress loves his family, and he believes in doing the right thing. Often, things are black and white for him -- good and evil -- but when Catholic priests start being mutilated and murdered, his perceptions begin to change.
If you hurt someone bad enough for long enough then there's nothing, absolutely nothing, they won't do.
MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters are almost instantly likable, even the most despicable ones, but none more so than Bobby and Pollo. They make a great team and complement one another in just the right ways.
Bobby is a stand-up family man who wants nothing more than to make the world safe and okay for his troubled daughter and his loving wife. His life as a cop doesn’t always make it easy for him to help them feel safe, but he does everything in his power to make it so.
Pollo is seasoned, funny, and a downright good man. He has an inherent understanding of people in general. Pollo is one of those characters that makes you wish you could be their friend.
I liked being given a slice of New Zealand with this book, too. As an American, I don’t know much about their police procedure or the intricacies of the many native cultures, but I felt like I was given a good look at them both.
There were a couple parts in which I felt it got a little repetitive surrounding the psychology behind the means and motive of the crimes, but it wasn’t too bad. I have definitely read worse. I don’t like it when books repeatedly explain a bit of information as if I didn’t understand it the first time.
Overall, this is a fun, exciting and, at times, a heartbreaking book. I will absolutely read more of Bell’s work in the future.
November 10, 2017
Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman
Bobby Ress is a young detective who works homicide in the small city of Dunedin at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. He has a firm conviction of who he is and what his role is in this crazy world of good guys vs bad guys. In Pancake Money, by Finn Bell, with his more experienced partner Pollo beside him to guide him, Bobby firmly believes that what he does, makes a difference. When elderly priests, who appear, on the surface, to be almost saintly start turning up dead, alarm bells start ringing in Dunedin. These priests have not only been murdered, but were also tortured and died in abject misery, their bodies arranged in some sort of ritualistic representation of Catholic history. It seems, somehow, the local gang, The Manga Tahu, must be involved, but why and why kill these priests so horrifically? Bobby and Pollo must solve this horrific crime before more people wind up dead.
When I started reading and discovered this story took place in my old hometown of Dunedin, it definitely did bring it more alive for me. The places and references made total sense to me. Pancake Money is an out and out thriller, cop mystery and does extremely well on that level alone. The tension is tight, the main characters are well-defined and the story rollicks along from one killing, one mystery, to another. It’s a hard book to put down. What I appreciated even more, from Finn Bell, was his attempt to examine some of the more interesting aspects of human behavior through the narrative. The author doesn’t shy away from asking and attempting to answer the big questions of good vs evil and what makes moral man turn to violence and even progress to insanity. I was super impressed with this book and it has opened my eyes up to another new author worth following. I particularly liked the section at the end of the book, where the author makes some attempt to share his own philosophy on some of these issues. It definitely made me smile. A great job by this author.
Bobby Ress is a young detective who works homicide in the small city of Dunedin at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. He has a firm conviction of who he is and what his role is in this crazy world of good guys vs bad guys. In Pancake Money, by Finn Bell, with his more experienced partner Pollo beside him to guide him, Bobby firmly believes that what he does, makes a difference. When elderly priests, who appear, on the surface, to be almost saintly start turning up dead, alarm bells start ringing in Dunedin. These priests have not only been murdered, but were also tortured and died in abject misery, their bodies arranged in some sort of ritualistic representation of Catholic history. It seems, somehow, the local gang, The Manga Tahu, must be involved, but why and why kill these priests so horrifically? Bobby and Pollo must solve this horrific crime before more people wind up dead.
When I started reading and discovered this story took place in my old hometown of Dunedin, it definitely did bring it more alive for me. The places and references made total sense to me. Pancake Money is an out and out thriller, cop mystery and does extremely well on that level alone. The tension is tight, the main characters are well-defined and the story rollicks along from one killing, one mystery, to another. It’s a hard book to put down. What I appreciated even more, from Finn Bell, was his attempt to examine some of the more interesting aspects of human behavior through the narrative. The author doesn’t shy away from asking and attempting to answer the big questions of good vs evil and what makes moral man turn to violence and even progress to insanity. I was super impressed with this book and it has opened my eyes up to another new author worth following. I particularly liked the section at the end of the book, where the author makes some attempt to share his own philosophy on some of these issues. It definitely made me smile. A great job by this author.
August 17, 2018
I enjoyed this book but it was pretty intense. It was well edited and actually made me cry at times. Not that it's a bummer of a read or anything. Just had some sad parts.
The two detectives live in New Zealand and were up against some gangs and some gristly murders. They didn't seem to be getting anywhere but they kept at it. It came to a head but at one point I was suspicious of who dun it and it turned out I was right. That was okay because it wasn't obvious and the reading was so good that I "forgot" who I suspected until it was revealed.
One interesting part that I liked the best about this story was information on the aboriginals that made up a big part of the story including the gangs and those who chose to live within the law. As an American Indian, Cherokee tribe, I want to know more about the Maori and I have been reading a bit about them. I love entertaining stories that I also learn important things.
I was annoyed a bit about the catholic religion. I don't like attacks on the church and there was some anti-God and anti-catholic. The anti-catholic only bothers me because no one should have their religion attacked. I do admit that the Catholic Church has given some reason for verbal attacks. I'm a Christian but I would like the world to know that the Catholic Church does not define Christianity. They have moved so far from the teachings of Jesus that it is a bit heartbreaking to see/hear that they can be so devout but so wrong. Doing good things is awesome though. Not that this distracts from the book which is a fabulous story that basically told the truth about how some people feel about religion.
I received this book from Online BookClub which has their own review section but I voluntarily came here to Goodreads because I wanted to give my honest review here as well. This book is very good.
The two detectives live in New Zealand and were up against some gangs and some gristly murders. They didn't seem to be getting anywhere but they kept at it. It came to a head but at one point I was suspicious of who dun it and it turned out I was right. That was okay because it wasn't obvious and the reading was so good that I "forgot" who I suspected until it was revealed.
One interesting part that I liked the best about this story was information on the aboriginals that made up a big part of the story including the gangs and those who chose to live within the law. As an American Indian, Cherokee tribe, I want to know more about the Maori and I have been reading a bit about them. I love entertaining stories that I also learn important things.
I was annoyed a bit about the catholic religion. I don't like attacks on the church and there was some anti-God and anti-catholic. The anti-catholic only bothers me because no one should have their religion attacked. I do admit that the Catholic Church has given some reason for verbal attacks. I'm a Christian but I would like the world to know that the Catholic Church does not define Christianity. They have moved so far from the teachings of Jesus that it is a bit heartbreaking to see/hear that they can be so devout but so wrong. Doing good things is awesome though. Not that this distracts from the book which is a fabulous story that basically told the truth about how some people feel about religion.
I received this book from Online BookClub which has their own review section but I voluntarily came here to Goodreads because I wanted to give my honest review here as well. This book is very good.
October 9, 2018
Loved it from the very beginning to the end. Couldn’t put it down. The very first thing that I loved about the book was its location, it was not the USA, as most books are, not even the United Kingdom which is the second favorite of most authors. Our dear writer didn’t even go to Rome like Dan Brown in Da Vinci Code though the crimes may seem in similar taste; it happened in New Zealand which was quite refreshing, to say the least.
Despite the gruesome nature of the crimes and high frequency of their occurrence, this book will slow-down your heart rate rather than increase it and make your mouth go dry in the anticipation of what is to happen next.
The book gives you the perfect dose of New Zealand’s scenic beauty, Maori culture, people and their beliefs to get you excited about the country and make it your next holiday destination.
I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures of professor Bowlby though one might find them getting a little repetitive and too detailed towards the end.
The emotion laced writing style of Fin Bell got me so attached to the characters that I am still in denial about Pollo’s death and to the end kept hoping that he will make a come back but as in real life, one does not get a happy ending after these many killings and people do not come back from the dead.
Even though it took me a while to accept it, the writer has offered its readers a realistic ending rather than a fantastical one.
However, the way Detective Ress reaches the conclusion, that too while deducing with the help of THE gang leader who all of sudden seemed to get too big in the story felt a little off.
All in all, Pancake money is of the few good psychological thrillers I have read in a while. I will be sure to pick up the rest of the books by Finn Bell.
Despite the gruesome nature of the crimes and high frequency of their occurrence, this book will slow-down your heart rate rather than increase it and make your mouth go dry in the anticipation of what is to happen next.
The book gives you the perfect dose of New Zealand’s scenic beauty, Maori culture, people and their beliefs to get you excited about the country and make it your next holiday destination.
I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures of professor Bowlby though one might find them getting a little repetitive and too detailed towards the end.
The emotion laced writing style of Fin Bell got me so attached to the characters that I am still in denial about Pollo’s death and to the end kept hoping that he will make a come back but as in real life, one does not get a happy ending after these many killings and people do not come back from the dead.
Even though it took me a while to accept it, the writer has offered its readers a realistic ending rather than a fantastical one.
However, the way Detective Ress reaches the conclusion, that too while deducing with the help of THE gang leader who all of sudden seemed to get too big in the story felt a little off.
All in all, Pancake money is of the few good psychological thrillers I have read in a while. I will be sure to pick up the rest of the books by Finn Bell.
August 12, 2019
If you thought that the excellence of Finn Bell’s debut novel The Killing Ground (originally Dead Lemons) was a fluke, you would be wrong. He does it again in One Last Kill (originally titled Pancake Money). I hesitate to say One Last Kill is better than The Killing Ground, because there was absolutely nothing wrong with Bell’s first book. And it continues. There is just something about his writing that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the end of the story. The surrounding and atmosphere and events and people are unfamiliar, strange, exciting, often dangerous, but described so fully that you feel you are there, that you know them, and you can’t walk away. The pace is unrelenting. What happens may well make you cringe but the plot moves so smoothly, the characters are so well-developed and compelling and the unknown looms so large that you have to keep reading.
In One Last Kill, Bobby Ress is just a man with a family, a job as a cop with a great partner, who thinks he’s making a difference; just a regular guy settled into a regular life. But then things start to go sideways and Bobby learns about people and thinks and does things he never even thought about before.
I don’t like spoilers, and to try to write a detailed review would surely spoil your reading experience. Just find Finn Bell’s books and read them, all of them, now. His books are entertaining and thought-provoking and will stay with you and make you think long after you’ve finished. He is an author I hope keeps writing and writing and writing so I can keep reading and reading and reading.
Note author Finn Bell provided a copy of One Last Kill for my honest review.
In One Last Kill, Bobby Ress is just a man with a family, a job as a cop with a great partner, who thinks he’s making a difference; just a regular guy settled into a regular life. But then things start to go sideways and Bobby learns about people and thinks and does things he never even thought about before.
I don’t like spoilers, and to try to write a detailed review would surely spoil your reading experience. Just find Finn Bell’s books and read them, all of them, now. His books are entertaining and thought-provoking and will stay with you and make you think long after you’ve finished. He is an author I hope keeps writing and writing and writing so I can keep reading and reading and reading.
Note author Finn Bell provided a copy of One Last Kill for my honest review.
July 25, 2018
Full review on bluedragonsii.blogspot.com
Pancake Money by Finn Bell centers on Bobby and Pollo, detectives attempting to solve the savage murder of a priest. Over the course of a few days more grizzly deaths occur, and the detectives face what seems to be an unsolvable case. Pancake Money is highly engaging. Where the story succeeds most for me is when it focuses on the detective's relationships and deductive processes. Worth noting, the entire book takes place in New Zeland. I have never visited New Zeland and was glad to realize this was not a problem. The author delivers the necessary descriptors to paint the background picture with clarity.
Being fond of a decent mystery novel I frequently read from this genera. Going in, I hold onto the hope that the book's resolution is not glaringly evident. The big question here is, did I figure out the end before the reveal? The answer is an emphatic no, and for me, that is a huge deal. I consistently try to anticipate the resolution in anything I read. In Pancake Money, the full story was not entirely evident until the crime solver dictated the clues, and solution, at the end. I was then able to pinpoint the evidence referred to and found it entirely believable. It was quite a ride getting there. I would highly recommend Pancake Money to anyone who enjoys a great murder mystery.
Pancake Money by Finn Bell centers on Bobby and Pollo, detectives attempting to solve the savage murder of a priest. Over the course of a few days more grizzly deaths occur, and the detectives face what seems to be an unsolvable case. Pancake Money is highly engaging. Where the story succeeds most for me is when it focuses on the detective's relationships and deductive processes. Worth noting, the entire book takes place in New Zeland. I have never visited New Zeland and was glad to realize this was not a problem. The author delivers the necessary descriptors to paint the background picture with clarity.
Being fond of a decent mystery novel I frequently read from this genera. Going in, I hold onto the hope that the book's resolution is not glaringly evident. The big question here is, did I figure out the end before the reveal? The answer is an emphatic no, and for me, that is a huge deal. I consistently try to anticipate the resolution in anything I read. In Pancake Money, the full story was not entirely evident until the crime solver dictated the clues, and solution, at the end. I was then able to pinpoint the evidence referred to and found it entirely believable. It was quite a ride getting there. I would highly recommend Pancake Money to anyone who enjoys a great murder mystery.
August 18, 2019
What a wonderful, enjoyable, well written book. So many detective stories are only about the chase. This one is so thoughtful, with such great character development and dialogue, that it turns an interesting whodunit into a philosophical whirlwind. Deeply thoughtful and great questions. The Afterward is also excellent. My only criticism is that in her Afterward, Finn Bell takes aim at "old [white] men" as the source of so much that is wrong in the world (a criticism I find simplistic, ageist and sexist and certainly not permissible if in the reverse, and odd, since everything else is so thoughtful) but her characters are so deep, likable and thoughtful, including her male characters, that I can't really be critical, just point out that it was a disappointing final word.
She is one of the authors who would be terrific to engage in conversation. She does her homework, is great with her New Zealand history. her religious history, and geography, and has written a page turner without last minute impossible escapes and unbelievable plot twists. Well worth reading. A joy.
She is one of the authors who would be terrific to engage in conversation. She does her homework, is great with her New Zealand history. her religious history, and geography, and has written a page turner without last minute impossible escapes and unbelievable plot twists. Well worth reading. A joy.
April 6, 2023
A truly amazing read, One Last Kill by Finn Bell is a dark crime story interspersed with philosophical vignettes. Set in the rugged beauty of far south New Zealand, it’s the first book of the Far South police procedural series. Bobby Ress is a young Kiwi detective, whose senior partner Pollo Latu is an experienced, philosophical, Māori family man. The gruesome murder of an old priest is followed by another the next day and there are few leads and no clear motives. As the crime duo investigates what the press labels the ‘holy man killer’, the race is on to find the serial killer. A highly unusual and gripping dark crime tale, with philosophical musings and insight, as well a subtext of the impact of inhuman crimes on police and their families. This book may not suit all readers, but it’s a five star plus rating with a tantalising mix of hard crime and a thoughtful philosophical montage of life. There is a second book in the series, but it has very different characters and circumstances. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
May 8, 2019
2.75 Stars I loved Bell's book Dead Lemons. Apparently the main character in this book, Bobby Ress, actually appears in Dead Lemons, many many years after this one. I did not remember him, and only learned this when reading an afterward by the author. In this book, Bobby Ress is a rookie cop in Dunedin, New Zealand. He and his training officer Pollo respond to the scene of a brutal murder of a Catholic priest. Despite a task force being assigned, Bobby and Pollo continue to investigate. There are Maiori gangs, Catholic Church issues, policing issues, and a lot of psychology. The underlying story is quite interesting, and the book is very good when something actually happens and there is real dialogue. It fell short for me with the long passages about psychology and philosophizing about all sorts of things. And the ending was quite abrupt and again with more telling and theorizing than actual proof and dialogue.
February 10, 2018
My second Bell book and it's another winner. We follow two partner cops in Dunedin, New Zealand. They enjoy a close bond, as do their respective families. The inciting incident is an exceptionally brutal murder of a local priest with a seemingly blameless reputation in the community. What follows is more murders and more questions than answers. Key players in the story are the local Maori gangs, fiercely loyal and familial and completely uncooperative with the local police. The pall of colonialism is ever present in the novel and I found myself asking whether the Maori would have resorted to forming such brutal gangs without Europeans forcing their will upon them.
I like Bell's writing style; it is accessible and reflective. He manages to craft a quick read and make you think at the same time.
I like Bell's writing style; it is accessible and reflective. He manages to craft a quick read and make you think at the same time.
August 30, 2018
Excellent read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first venture into the writing of Finn Bell. This high action thriller hit all the right buttons with me. The writing is sharp, the plot intense, the characters exceedingly well drawn and relatable. I appreciate writing where the action scenes are easy to picture and follow especially when a lot is going on and that is true with Bell's writimg. The crimes are grisly... the first one in particular was breathtakingly horrible, so be ready to take that in. This is an intense book. At times, I gasped out loud and other times I felt great empathy and sadness. Not a book for the faint of heart. Very highly recommended.
I was furnished a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Now... I'm off for more Finn Bell!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first venture into the writing of Finn Bell. This high action thriller hit all the right buttons with me. The writing is sharp, the plot intense, the characters exceedingly well drawn and relatable. I appreciate writing where the action scenes are easy to picture and follow especially when a lot is going on and that is true with Bell's writimg. The crimes are grisly... the first one in particular was breathtakingly horrible, so be ready to take that in. This is an intense book. At times, I gasped out loud and other times I felt great empathy and sadness. Not a book for the faint of heart. Very highly recommended.
I was furnished a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Now... I'm off for more Finn Bell!
August 1, 2018
I was surprised by how much I liked this book, though, admittedly, I went in with (perhaps unfair) lower expectations knowing that it was a self-published book that I bought for $.99 to fulfill a reading challenge. I'm not sure how well others from the region received this book, but I enjoyed the change of pace (for me) of a mystery set in New Zealand, and I'm actually interested in learning more about how contemporary Maori in New Zealand live. Anyway, I found the main investigators appealing, and the pacing of the book kept me reading. There were a few too many infodumps about forensic psychology and didactic moments about gray morals and the absurdity of life, but overall I found it to be a satisfying mystery, even if I did manage to put many of the pieces together before the end.
August 11, 2022
The story starts with gruesome torture and continues with more. There were dumb things and not subtle philosophies of life thrown in for later use. Ok, what detective finds 4 people have a connection and 2 of them were just murdered and doesn't think, hey, maybe we should watch over the other 2? Seems like a first step to me and I ain't no detective.
These are some of the rough edges to this book. And haven't we all learned that a cop never drops his weapon when faced with a real nasty murderer? I guess not.
In the end, pages and pages were spent on all the explanations and wrap-up of the detective explaining to a mob kingpin who did what why and when. Yeah, more than a bit forced.
If you go with the flow and ignore these stabs at writing, it was a good story with good action.
These are some of the rough edges to this book. And haven't we all learned that a cop never drops his weapon when faced with a real nasty murderer? I guess not.
In the end, pages and pages were spent on all the explanations and wrap-up of the detective explaining to a mob kingpin who did what why and when. Yeah, more than a bit forced.
If you go with the flow and ignore these stabs at writing, it was a good story with good action.
August 18, 2018
WOW!!! I have to say this book started a little slow for me but there was a nugget of something that made me stick with it. This is one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time and even though the lecture scenes seemed a little long they fit into the book completely by the end. Yes, it is a murder mystery that shows the bond between partners of different cultures investigating gruesome crimes of the clergy but it's more than that. It shows how a country of people of all different cultures are really so very alike in the end. This author's very descriptive and I thoroughly enjoyed the last few pages that gave you more insight into the country and the ways of the people.
April 23, 2018
I am so glad I came across this author! It's not written in the genre I write in but is one that I have long adored. Finn Bell is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors and it doesn't hurt that he sets his mesmerizing tales in a land I long to visit.
His characters are complicated and real and the way he weaves the culture of New Zealand and its people into his stories is pure magic. If you are into Thrillers, Suspense, and the occasional murder, do yourself a favor and check him out! You won't regret it!
His characters are complicated and real and the way he weaves the culture of New Zealand and its people into his stories is pure magic. If you are into Thrillers, Suspense, and the occasional murder, do yourself a favor and check him out! You won't regret it!
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