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The Mindful Detective #1
Art of Death
Buddhism, love, art and murder - welcome to the world of the Mindful Detective
When a famously narcissistic performance artist is found floating in a tank of formaldehyde at her own private view, suspicion falls on those closest to her . . .
Leading the murder investigation is DI Shanti Joyce, recently transferred from London to Yeovil following the collapse of her marriage and a case that went wrong. She soon concludes that the mystery requires left-field thinking, and when a colleague at the station suggests Vince Caine, aka the Mindful Detective, Shanti tracks him down to his remote cabin on the Undercliff at Lyme Regis.
The pair delve into the artist's Bohemian circle and discover a hotbed of resentment and jealousy stretching all the way back to her scandalous art school days in Falmouth. But as they soon realise, the murderer is both canny and elusive - someone with a complex, warped motive who will do anything to point them elsewhere.
Has Shanti made the wrong decision enlisting the unconventional and enigmatic Caine? Can the unlikely mix of her down-to-earth pragmatism and his otherworldly intuition really prove a winning combination?
Or will a killer escape justice and leave Shanti's reputation in tatters?
When a famously narcissistic performance artist is found floating in a tank of formaldehyde at her own private view, suspicion falls on those closest to her . . .
Leading the murder investigation is DI Shanti Joyce, recently transferred from London to Yeovil following the collapse of her marriage and a case that went wrong. She soon concludes that the mystery requires left-field thinking, and when a colleague at the station suggests Vince Caine, aka the Mindful Detective, Shanti tracks him down to his remote cabin on the Undercliff at Lyme Regis.
The pair delve into the artist's Bohemian circle and discover a hotbed of resentment and jealousy stretching all the way back to her scandalous art school days in Falmouth. But as they soon realise, the murderer is both canny and elusive - someone with a complex, warped motive who will do anything to point them elsewhere.
Has Shanti made the wrong decision enlisting the unconventional and enigmatic Caine? Can the unlikely mix of her down-to-earth pragmatism and his otherworldly intuition really prove a winning combination?
Or will a killer escape justice and leave Shanti's reputation in tatters?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2019
3 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Laurence Anholt
243 books84 followersIn a career spanning three decades, Laurence Anholt has produced over 200 children's books, which are published in more than 30 languages. Titles like the self-illustrated Anholt's Artists series have sold many millions of copies around the world. Laurence has also collaborated on numerous picture books with his wife, the artist, Catherine Anholt.
Laurence's first YA / Crossover novel THE HYPNOTIST was published by Penguin Random House on 6th October 2016.
The Hypnotist was described by The Bookseller as 'gripping, powerful storytelling with a powerful anti-racist message.' The book has been officially endorsed by Amnesty International, it was the winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award, shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award and four major book awards. It is currently longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2018.
Born in 1959, Laurence Anholt was brought up mainly in Holland where he developed a lasting love of Art. He went on to study Painting for 8 years, culminating in a Master's Degree from the Royal Academy of Art in London. Catherine and Laurence live and work in a house on a hill with studios and wild flower meadows, overlooking the sea in Devon, southwest England.
Laurence's books have won many awards, including the UK's prestigious Nestlé Smarties Gold Award on two occasions. For more than a decade, Laurence has been amongst the top 200 Most Borrowed Authors from UK libraries across all genres. He was included in the Independent on Sunday's Top 10 Children's Authors in the UK and was described by William Watt as "one of the most versatile authors writing for children today".
Catherine and Laurence have been closely involved with a number of literacy schemes such as the UK Government funded Bookstart scheme. Their publication Babies Love Books (also a much-loved picture book) encourages parents to share books with babies from the earliest possible age. Their work has taken them inside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on several occasions.
Laurence's self‐illustrated Anholt's Artists series, is an introduction to great artists for young children. These beautiful books are used as part of the national school curriculum in many countries and are sold in galleries and museums all over the world. The books, which include Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Camille and the Sunflowers, Degas and the Little Dancer and The Magical Garden of Claude Monet have taken Laurence on many fascinating journeys of discovery. Each scrupulously researched story is based on an actual encounter between a real child and a great artist. In several instances, Laurence has been assisted by relatives of the artists or by the protagonists themselves - for example, Laurence developed a long-standing friendship with Sylvette David, Picasso's Girl With a Ponytail. This series currently includes 10 titles and it has been adapted in many forms, including Apps for iPads, stage and TV productions and a full scale van Gogh musical which Laurence launched in Korea. The Anholt's Artists books are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their life-affirming themes of aspiration, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.
Laurence Anholt is a much sought after public speaker, talking about literature and his own zany view of life at conferences all over the world.
The Anholts have three grown up children, Claire and twins, Tom and Maddy. Claire is an anthropologist who works for the UN in Geneva, Maddy is an actor living in London and Tom is a successful artist based in Berlin. They also have twin grandchildren, Felix and Nina.
Laurence Anholt's interests include art, literature, adventure travel and Buddhist meditation.
For further information visit the Anholts' website: http://www.anholt.co.uk
Laurence's first YA / Crossover novel THE HYPNOTIST was published by Penguin Random House on 6th October 2016.
The Hypnotist was described by The Bookseller as 'gripping, powerful storytelling with a powerful anti-racist message.' The book has been officially endorsed by Amnesty International, it was the winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award, shortlisted for the Southern Schools Book Award and four major book awards. It is currently longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2018.
Born in 1959, Laurence Anholt was brought up mainly in Holland where he developed a lasting love of Art. He went on to study Painting for 8 years, culminating in a Master's Degree from the Royal Academy of Art in London. Catherine and Laurence live and work in a house on a hill with studios and wild flower meadows, overlooking the sea in Devon, southwest England.
Laurence's books have won many awards, including the UK's prestigious Nestlé Smarties Gold Award on two occasions. For more than a decade, Laurence has been amongst the top 200 Most Borrowed Authors from UK libraries across all genres. He was included in the Independent on Sunday's Top 10 Children's Authors in the UK and was described by William Watt as "one of the most versatile authors writing for children today".
Catherine and Laurence have been closely involved with a number of literacy schemes such as the UK Government funded Bookstart scheme. Their publication Babies Love Books (also a much-loved picture book) encourages parents to share books with babies from the earliest possible age. Their work has taken them inside Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on several occasions.
Laurence's self‐illustrated Anholt's Artists series, is an introduction to great artists for young children. These beautiful books are used as part of the national school curriculum in many countries and are sold in galleries and museums all over the world. The books, which include Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Camille and the Sunflowers, Degas and the Little Dancer and The Magical Garden of Claude Monet have taken Laurence on many fascinating journeys of discovery. Each scrupulously researched story is based on an actual encounter between a real child and a great artist. In several instances, Laurence has been assisted by relatives of the artists or by the protagonists themselves - for example, Laurence developed a long-standing friendship with Sylvette David, Picasso's Girl With a Ponytail. This series currently includes 10 titles and it has been adapted in many forms, including Apps for iPads, stage and TV productions and a full scale van Gogh musical which Laurence launched in Korea. The Anholt's Artists books are renowned not only for their educational value, but also for their life-affirming themes of aspiration, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.
Laurence Anholt is a much sought after public speaker, talking about literature and his own zany view of life at conferences all over the world.
The Anholts have three grown up children, Claire and twins, Tom and Maddy. Claire is an anthropologist who works for the UN in Geneva, Maddy is an actor living in London and Tom is a successful artist based in Berlin. They also have twin grandchildren, Felix and Nina.
Laurence Anholt's interests include art, literature, adventure travel and Buddhist meditation.
For further information visit the Anholts' website: http://www.anholt.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 10, 2020
I think it is fair to say that a Buddhist police detective is pretty much a rarity in crime fiction but Laurence Anholt's DI Vincent Caine is one such police officer who we find at the beginning of the story on an extended sick leave, undergoing a long retreat, finding that normal police work serves to be a major block to living a life of serenity. It appears as if he is on the cusp of reconsidering his future on the force, living in a remote cabin that he has built himself on the Undercliff at Lyme Regis. DI Shanti Joyce is a recent transfer to Yeovil from Camden, London, after making a major hash of a case, now a single mother to her young son, Paul, after undergoing a tumultuous divorce. She is struggling to juggle her work and the demands of motherhood, relying on her mother for critical childcare. She is feeling the pressure of having to prove herself among her new colleagues and is desperate to demonstrate her professional competence after the debacle in London.
At a uber hip art gallery in Somerset, The Meat Hook, controversial fame hungry, narcissistic and notorious performance artist Kristal Havfruen is showcasing her latest art show after a considerable period with her career in the doldrums of obscurity. The scene is set on the opening night, with the local movers and shakers of the art world and the press salivating to see what her latest secretive major work of art is. When the exhibit is unveiled, no-one initially realises that the Kristal model, in the artist's lifelong signature white dress and red DMs, floating in a tank of formaldehyde is in fact the actual murdered body of the artist herself. In an art world where the shock factor is often everything and where death raises the artist's profile and profitability, Kristal is to realise a level of fame she failed to attain whilst alive. It is Shanti's first big case, the heat is on with the intense media scrutiny, but she is shorthanded, and takes the advice of DS Bennett, of persuading and co-opting the brilliant, if offbeat, veggie detective DI Caine on the investigation.
The two detectives have distinctly different approaches, approaches where there would appear to be very little middle ground. Shanti is hard nosed, logical, evidence led, with a rational style and she struggles to comprehend Caine's more other worldly perspectives. However, his people skills are second to none, and his methods have surprisingly unexpected results. The major focus of this debut crime series is the development of their relationship as they work their way through the small circle of family and friends that comprise the suspects in the case. Anholt provides a strong sense of location with the woods and coastline of the West country in a crime fiction tale that drew me in with its protagonists, they have a certain charm in the way they interact, whilst painting an authentic and richly detailed picture of the contemporary art world. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
At a uber hip art gallery in Somerset, The Meat Hook, controversial fame hungry, narcissistic and notorious performance artist Kristal Havfruen is showcasing her latest art show after a considerable period with her career in the doldrums of obscurity. The scene is set on the opening night, with the local movers and shakers of the art world and the press salivating to see what her latest secretive major work of art is. When the exhibit is unveiled, no-one initially realises that the Kristal model, in the artist's lifelong signature white dress and red DMs, floating in a tank of formaldehyde is in fact the actual murdered body of the artist herself. In an art world where the shock factor is often everything and where death raises the artist's profile and profitability, Kristal is to realise a level of fame she failed to attain whilst alive. It is Shanti's first big case, the heat is on with the intense media scrutiny, but she is shorthanded, and takes the advice of DS Bennett, of persuading and co-opting the brilliant, if offbeat, veggie detective DI Caine on the investigation.
The two detectives have distinctly different approaches, approaches where there would appear to be very little middle ground. Shanti is hard nosed, logical, evidence led, with a rational style and she struggles to comprehend Caine's more other worldly perspectives. However, his people skills are second to none, and his methods have surprisingly unexpected results. The major focus of this debut crime series is the development of their relationship as they work their way through the small circle of family and friends that comprise the suspects in the case. Anholt provides a strong sense of location with the woods and coastline of the West country in a crime fiction tale that drew me in with its protagonists, they have a certain charm in the way they interact, whilst painting an authentic and richly detailed picture of the contemporary art world. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
October 19, 2024
4.5 ⭐️= Good (not quite an excellent).
Audio.
Crikey, I did enjoy this! Having found this by chance on my Xigxag audio book site, it’s always a pleasant surprise when you find something unexpectedly.
A decent storyline involving an unlikely pairing of two detectives. One a mindful male Buddhist and the other a fairly chaotic and female. A perfect combination.
This held my interest from the start. Give it a go if you fancy starting a new series.
Audio.
Crikey, I did enjoy this! Having found this by chance on my Xigxag audio book site, it’s always a pleasant surprise when you find something unexpectedly.
A decent storyline involving an unlikely pairing of two detectives. One a mindful male Buddhist and the other a fairly chaotic and female. A perfect combination.
This held my interest from the start. Give it a go if you fancy starting a new series.
December 19, 2020
It was ok - nothing special. Just an average, middle of the road read. Nothing particularly memorable.
January 17, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy of Art of Death, the first novel to feature West Country detectives DI Shanti Joyce and DI Vincent Caine.
When performance artist Kristal Havfruen is found dead in a tank of formaldehyde at her comeback exhibition recent transplant from London, DI Shanti Joyce, is assigned the case. She soon realises that the case might require some lateral thinking and enlists the aid of her predecessor, DI Vincent Caine who is on sick leave.
I thoroughly enjoyed Art of Death which is a very complete novel with an interesting plot and a lively tone. The plot is well done with Shanti and Caine uncovering motives and secrets in a small group of artists and family. I like the confined circle of suspects as it keeps the plot tight and gives more room for character development. It also gives the reader a good look at the victim, a nasty, narcissistic woman whom any of the suspects had reason to kill. I also liked the steady stream of reveals as Shanti bulldozes and Caine meanders through the case.
I must admit that I know very little about the art world, being more of the “I know what I like” school, and this novel is enough to reinforce all my prejudices. It takes a fairly large potshot at the pretentiousness and outrageousness for the sake of it performance art. I found it extremely funny and can imagine the fun the author had devising Kristal’s “happenings”.
The novel, however, is dominated by Shanti and Caine’s relationship. She is the tough, no nonsense cop who relies on facts, science and logic and keeps people at a distance, hence Caine rather than Vincent. Caine is a Buddhist with good people skills, hence Shanti, and a lateral way of thinking. Their relationship is chalk and cheese but it works. There is friction and frustration from Shanti over Caine’s serene approach but it is rarely ill tempered and is mostly highly amusing, especially the in-joke about the mugs.
The novel has a good sense of location, never a given in crime fiction, with the coast and surrounding woodland providing a wild atmosphere.
Art of Death is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending. 4.5*
When performance artist Kristal Havfruen is found dead in a tank of formaldehyde at her comeback exhibition recent transplant from London, DI Shanti Joyce, is assigned the case. She soon realises that the case might require some lateral thinking and enlists the aid of her predecessor, DI Vincent Caine who is on sick leave.
I thoroughly enjoyed Art of Death which is a very complete novel with an interesting plot and a lively tone. The plot is well done with Shanti and Caine uncovering motives and secrets in a small group of artists and family. I like the confined circle of suspects as it keeps the plot tight and gives more room for character development. It also gives the reader a good look at the victim, a nasty, narcissistic woman whom any of the suspects had reason to kill. I also liked the steady stream of reveals as Shanti bulldozes and Caine meanders through the case.
I must admit that I know very little about the art world, being more of the “I know what I like” school, and this novel is enough to reinforce all my prejudices. It takes a fairly large potshot at the pretentiousness and outrageousness for the sake of it performance art. I found it extremely funny and can imagine the fun the author had devising Kristal’s “happenings”.
The novel, however, is dominated by Shanti and Caine’s relationship. She is the tough, no nonsense cop who relies on facts, science and logic and keeps people at a distance, hence Caine rather than Vincent. Caine is a Buddhist with good people skills, hence Shanti, and a lateral way of thinking. Their relationship is chalk and cheese but it works. There is friction and frustration from Shanti over Caine’s serene approach but it is rarely ill tempered and is mostly highly amusing, especially the in-joke about the mugs.
The novel has a good sense of location, never a given in crime fiction, with the coast and surrounding woodland providing a wild atmosphere.
Art of Death is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending. 4.5*
December 19, 2024
Spannend und unterhaltsam. Habe mir die anderen zwei Bücher schon gekauft.
February 26, 2021
I shall read more in this series - different!
December 5, 2019
Der "Veggie-Cop" ermittelt im Kunstmilieu
Um im Krimigenre hervorstechen, muss man sich heutzutage schon etwas Besonderes ausdenken, um nicht in der Masse unterzugehen. Laurence Anholt, seines Zeichens Kinderbuch-Autor und Illustrator, hat sich nun an diese Aufgabe herangewagt und ich würde sagen: mit Erfolg.
Sein Ermittler Detective Vincent Caine ist so ganz anders als alle anderen, die diesen Job in der Kriminalliteratur je gemacht haben (zumindest soweit es mir bekannt ist). Caine ist praktizierender Buddhist, er wohnt wie ein Eremit in einer einsamen Hütte in der Natur, seine Credos heißen Achtsamkeit, Karma, Meditation, Serendipität und Symbiose, statt eines Handys verlässt er sich auf seinen "Boten" und er isst bevorzugt selbst angebautes Gemüse aus dem Garten. Darüberhinaus ist er noch überaus belesen und clever. Gutes Aussehen (lange Haare und durchtrainierter Körper) gehört ebenfalls zu seinen Vorzügen.
Seine Kollegin, DI Shanti Joyce, ist das vermeintliche Gegenteil vom in sich ruhenden Caine. Nachdem sie von London nach Südwestengland "strafversetzt" wurde, muss sie sich nun an Caines alter Position erneut beweisen. Neu in Somerset, frisch geschieden und alleinerziehend, hat sie keine Zeit, sich auch noch um gesunde Ernährung, ein aufgeräumtes Büro und inneren Frieden zu kümmern.
Der Fall ist dann ähnlich skurril wie der Ermittler Caine, der eigentlich krank geschrieben ist, weil er eine Zeit der inneren Reinigung durchmacht. Die kurz vor ihrem großen Comeback stehende Performance-Künstlerin Kristal Havruen wurde in ihrer eigenen Installation - einem mit Formaldehyd gefüllten Glastank - ermordet aufgefunden.
Anholt hat eine herrlich skurrile Ansammlung von Figuren erschaffen, die alle irgendwie verdächtig sind. Vom dürren Kurator mit einer Vorliebe für karierte Anzüge, der kettenrauchenden alten Kunstlehrerin, über den ewig in das Opfer verliebten "tumben Tor", der gerne Tauben füttert bis hin zum lebenden Kunstwerk ("A boy named Art"), dessen hervorstechendste Eigenschaft zum Leidwesen seiner Künstler-Mutter die Gewöhnlichkeit ist, ist an markanten Charakteren alles dabei.
Besonders gefallen hat mir - neben dem ungewöhnlichen Ermittlerduo, den skurrilen Charakteren und der Story an sich - die Struktur dieses Krimis. Die Kapitelüberschriften sind zum Großteil allegorisch ("Die tödliche Sirene", "Das Haus der Knochen", etc.). Sie geben den Inhalt des jeweiligen Kapitels auf metaphorische Art und Weise wieder.
Bei dem sehr linearen Aufbau und den malerischen Schauplätzen in Südwestengland sowie den eingängigen Charakteren, hatte der Autor sicher schon eine Verfilmung im Hinterkopf, was für mich auch stimmig wäre.
Dieser Whodunit-Krimi ist außerdem voll von Zwischentönen und zwischen den Zeilen gestellten, indirekten Fragen: Wo verläuft die Grenze zwischen Kunst und Personenkult? Kann ein Mensch ein Kunstwerk sein? Wie "human" darf ein Polizist - der Arm des Gesetzes - sein?
Objektiv gesehen hat der Fall an sich eine sehr bizarre, wenn man so will "unrealistische" Komponente, die nicht bei allen Lesern auf Gefallen stoßen dürfte. Ich persönlich konnte damit sehr gut umgehen, wollte es aber dennoch erwähnen, dass der Krimi doch etwas speziell und abseits des Mainstream ist.
Ich jedenfalls freue mich sehr auf den nächsten Fall des "Veggie-Cops" und seiner Kollegin Shantala, der im Sommer 2020 erscheinen wird. Bislang sind 3 Bände geplant. Das Buch kann ich allen empfehlen, die “Cosy crime”, schräge Krimis und ungewöhnliche Ermittler mögen.
Um im Krimigenre hervorstechen, muss man sich heutzutage schon etwas Besonderes ausdenken, um nicht in der Masse unterzugehen. Laurence Anholt, seines Zeichens Kinderbuch-Autor und Illustrator, hat sich nun an diese Aufgabe herangewagt und ich würde sagen: mit Erfolg.
Sein Ermittler Detective Vincent Caine ist so ganz anders als alle anderen, die diesen Job in der Kriminalliteratur je gemacht haben (zumindest soweit es mir bekannt ist). Caine ist praktizierender Buddhist, er wohnt wie ein Eremit in einer einsamen Hütte in der Natur, seine Credos heißen Achtsamkeit, Karma, Meditation, Serendipität und Symbiose, statt eines Handys verlässt er sich auf seinen "Boten" und er isst bevorzugt selbst angebautes Gemüse aus dem Garten. Darüberhinaus ist er noch überaus belesen und clever. Gutes Aussehen (lange Haare und durchtrainierter Körper) gehört ebenfalls zu seinen Vorzügen.
Seine Kollegin, DI Shanti Joyce, ist das vermeintliche Gegenteil vom in sich ruhenden Caine. Nachdem sie von London nach Südwestengland "strafversetzt" wurde, muss sie sich nun an Caines alter Position erneut beweisen. Neu in Somerset, frisch geschieden und alleinerziehend, hat sie keine Zeit, sich auch noch um gesunde Ernährung, ein aufgeräumtes Büro und inneren Frieden zu kümmern.
Der Fall ist dann ähnlich skurril wie der Ermittler Caine, der eigentlich krank geschrieben ist, weil er eine Zeit der inneren Reinigung durchmacht. Die kurz vor ihrem großen Comeback stehende Performance-Künstlerin Kristal Havruen wurde in ihrer eigenen Installation - einem mit Formaldehyd gefüllten Glastank - ermordet aufgefunden.
Anholt hat eine herrlich skurrile Ansammlung von Figuren erschaffen, die alle irgendwie verdächtig sind. Vom dürren Kurator mit einer Vorliebe für karierte Anzüge, der kettenrauchenden alten Kunstlehrerin, über den ewig in das Opfer verliebten "tumben Tor", der gerne Tauben füttert bis hin zum lebenden Kunstwerk ("A boy named Art"), dessen hervorstechendste Eigenschaft zum Leidwesen seiner Künstler-Mutter die Gewöhnlichkeit ist, ist an markanten Charakteren alles dabei.
Besonders gefallen hat mir - neben dem ungewöhnlichen Ermittlerduo, den skurrilen Charakteren und der Story an sich - die Struktur dieses Krimis. Die Kapitelüberschriften sind zum Großteil allegorisch ("Die tödliche Sirene", "Das Haus der Knochen", etc.). Sie geben den Inhalt des jeweiligen Kapitels auf metaphorische Art und Weise wieder.
Bei dem sehr linearen Aufbau und den malerischen Schauplätzen in Südwestengland sowie den eingängigen Charakteren, hatte der Autor sicher schon eine Verfilmung im Hinterkopf, was für mich auch stimmig wäre.
Dieser Whodunit-Krimi ist außerdem voll von Zwischentönen und zwischen den Zeilen gestellten, indirekten Fragen: Wo verläuft die Grenze zwischen Kunst und Personenkult? Kann ein Mensch ein Kunstwerk sein? Wie "human" darf ein Polizist - der Arm des Gesetzes - sein?
Objektiv gesehen hat der Fall an sich eine sehr bizarre, wenn man so will "unrealistische" Komponente, die nicht bei allen Lesern auf Gefallen stoßen dürfte. Ich persönlich konnte damit sehr gut umgehen, wollte es aber dennoch erwähnen, dass der Krimi doch etwas speziell und abseits des Mainstream ist.
Ich jedenfalls freue mich sehr auf den nächsten Fall des "Veggie-Cops" und seiner Kollegin Shantala, der im Sommer 2020 erscheinen wird. Bislang sind 3 Bände geplant. Das Buch kann ich allen empfehlen, die “Cosy crime”, schräge Krimis und ungewöhnliche Ermittler mögen.
January 18, 2025
The Mindful Detective #1. So many authors have written so many police procedurals that desperation must set in to find something different.
In this one we have an avant garde artist murdered by submerging her in a glass tank of formaldehyde during an art exhibition. Could this be a copycat killing?
DI Shanti Joyce is on the nose with superiors because of a recent botched case. She's anxious to redeem herself, and so she takes charge in a precipitate fashion, doing the obvious things with overconfidence. The son is a clear suspect, and luckily some drugs are found on him, reinforcing the decision to take him into custody for a "sweat" session.
Shanti's offsider DS "Benno", suggests she ask for advice from a DI Caine, currently on sick leave. Maybe she can shift some blame if things go pear-shaped. Without even a call to HR, off she goes to find him, grumbling all the way. She finds Vincent "Kwai Chang" Caine meditating in a Buddhist health retreat. He's fond of high minded Confucian pronouncements, and isn't planning to help out with her case. Strangely, within a few minutes, he is in her car heading for a crime scene. Did she flash her pearlies or something? "At least I made her drive", said he gleefully.
After that we are treated to examples of Shanti's bull at a gate policing, and Kwai Chang's thoughtful restraint. It happens somehow that he is invited to Shanti's home, where he gets along famously with her troublesome son, damaged by his father's absence.
Later, when Kwai Chang comes back tired and covered in mud after a rescue, Shanti roughly sponges the mud from his soft cheeks, his muscular back, his hard flat stomach and ... wait a minute, this isn't a romance! It's two professionals working together to solve a vicious crime. Better call HR PDQ!
If you haven't already got the message, you'll have to read on for the cliched ending. Maybe whodunnit lovers will figure it out, if so "good on YOU"!
Caine could have been an interesting character, but in the end he's no different from any other guy when a pretty face appears. He's just using an unusual technique.
Rating 2.1.
In this one we have an avant garde artist murdered by submerging her in a glass tank of formaldehyde during an art exhibition. Could this be a copycat killing?
DI Shanti Joyce is on the nose with superiors because of a recent botched case. She's anxious to redeem herself, and so she takes charge in a precipitate fashion, doing the obvious things with overconfidence. The son is a clear suspect, and luckily some drugs are found on him, reinforcing the decision to take him into custody for a "sweat" session.
Shanti's offsider DS "Benno", suggests she ask for advice from a DI Caine, currently on sick leave. Maybe she can shift some blame if things go pear-shaped. Without even a call to HR, off she goes to find him, grumbling all the way. She finds Vincent "Kwai Chang" Caine meditating in a Buddhist health retreat. He's fond of high minded Confucian pronouncements, and isn't planning to help out with her case. Strangely, within a few minutes, he is in her car heading for a crime scene. Did she flash her pearlies or something? "At least I made her drive", said he gleefully.
After that we are treated to examples of Shanti's bull at a gate policing, and Kwai Chang's thoughtful restraint. It happens somehow that he is invited to Shanti's home, where he gets along famously with her troublesome son, damaged by his father's absence.
Later, when Kwai Chang comes back tired and covered in mud after a rescue, Shanti roughly sponges the mud from his soft cheeks, his muscular back, his hard flat stomach and ... wait a minute, this isn't a romance! It's two professionals working together to solve a vicious crime. Better call HR PDQ!
If you haven't already got the message, you'll have to read on for the cliched ending. Maybe whodunnit lovers will figure it out, if so "good on YOU"!
Caine could have been an interesting character, but in the end he's no different from any other guy when a pretty face appears. He's just using an unusual technique.
Rating 2.1.
October 14, 2022
Inhalt:
Vincent Caine hat sich eine Auszeit vom Polizeialltag gegönnt und genießt mit Meditation und Ruhe seine Zeit. Als Ersatz soll DI Shanti Yoyce den Polizeidienst übernehmen. Bedauerlicherweise benötigt sie dann aber doch die Hilfe von Caine und eine interessante Zusammenarbeit beginnt ...
Stil:
Was als Krimi angekündigt wird, ist eher eine schleichende Ermittlung, welche sich wie von selbst löst, nur durch Ruhe und Abwarten und schlaue Sprüche von Caine. Als Krimi also nicht wirklich zu gebrauchen. Die Darstellung des Falles, an sich, ist interessant und auch die Auflösung, wer achtsam ist, kommt allerdings schnell selber drauf ;) Die Stimme von Brigitte Carlsen ist gewöhnungsbedürftig. Sie liest ruhig (achtsam), aber leider sehr monoton. Es ist kaum herauszuhören, wer nun gerade spricht und was wer gerade denkt.
Charaktere:
Caine wirkt durch seine besonnene Art sehr sympathisch und wird auch von allen sehr geschätzt, dies überträgt sich irgendwie.
Shanti Joyce ist flippig, unruhig und dies lässt sie eher nervend wirken. Sie ist überspitzt und wirkt absolut fehl am Platze.
Die anderen Charaktere erfüllen ihre Rollen, aber es entwickelt sich einfach nichts, sie bleiben in ihrer Art stecken und können nicht gegriffen werden.
Cover:
Das Cover wirkt unruhig, unausgewogen und auch die Figur in der Mitte kann keinen Ausgleich schaffen, es passt daher nicht zur Geschichte.
Fazit:
Eine Handlung, welche mich nicht wirklich überzeugen konnte, weil sie zu gestellt erschien und der Fortgang zu erzwungen wirkte. Auch die Sprecherin konnte nicht wirklich punkten. Daher vergebe ich nur 2 Sterne an das Hörbuch und spreche keine Hörempfehlung aus. Hier muss mehr Pep rein.
Vincent Caine hat sich eine Auszeit vom Polizeialltag gegönnt und genießt mit Meditation und Ruhe seine Zeit. Als Ersatz soll DI Shanti Yoyce den Polizeidienst übernehmen. Bedauerlicherweise benötigt sie dann aber doch die Hilfe von Caine und eine interessante Zusammenarbeit beginnt ...
Stil:
Was als Krimi angekündigt wird, ist eher eine schleichende Ermittlung, welche sich wie von selbst löst, nur durch Ruhe und Abwarten und schlaue Sprüche von Caine. Als Krimi also nicht wirklich zu gebrauchen. Die Darstellung des Falles, an sich, ist interessant und auch die Auflösung, wer achtsam ist, kommt allerdings schnell selber drauf ;) Die Stimme von Brigitte Carlsen ist gewöhnungsbedürftig. Sie liest ruhig (achtsam), aber leider sehr monoton. Es ist kaum herauszuhören, wer nun gerade spricht und was wer gerade denkt.
Charaktere:
Caine wirkt durch seine besonnene Art sehr sympathisch und wird auch von allen sehr geschätzt, dies überträgt sich irgendwie.
Shanti Joyce ist flippig, unruhig und dies lässt sie eher nervend wirken. Sie ist überspitzt und wirkt absolut fehl am Platze.
Die anderen Charaktere erfüllen ihre Rollen, aber es entwickelt sich einfach nichts, sie bleiben in ihrer Art stecken und können nicht gegriffen werden.
Cover:
Das Cover wirkt unruhig, unausgewogen und auch die Figur in der Mitte kann keinen Ausgleich schaffen, es passt daher nicht zur Geschichte.
Fazit:
Eine Handlung, welche mich nicht wirklich überzeugen konnte, weil sie zu gestellt erschien und der Fortgang zu erzwungen wirkte. Auch die Sprecherin konnte nicht wirklich punkten. Daher vergebe ich nur 2 Sterne an das Hörbuch und spreche keine Hörempfehlung aus. Hier muss mehr Pep rein.
January 22, 2020
DI Shanti Joyce, recently of Camden in London, now based in the West Country, is called to investigate a dead body found floating in a tank of formaldehyde. Shanti is a tough woman, a caring mother, and a determined cop. Going through a messy divorce, Shanti made a major screw up on a case and as a result was relocated to the hinterland of the West Country. She is now frantically trying to prove herself to herself, as well as the new team she leads.
The murder of Kristal Havfruen is front page news, an over the top, over the hill performance artist, this was to be her comeback show with the finale being a replica of the artist in the tank. Instead it was the artist in the tank!
Vincent Caine, the DI Shanti replaced has been on an extended medical leave. A Buddhist, he is questioning how he can stay being a cop amidst the crime and evil that surrounds the job. Shanti seeks out his assistance and he reluctantly joins the investigation.
The contrast between Vincent and Shanti is profound, but working together they find they complement each other. Gradually through the investigation they develop a beneficial relationship.
A satisfying mystery with well drawn characters, I enjoyed this book very much. It’s also given me a bit of an interest in exploring Buddhism. I look forward to this developing into a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown for an electronic copy.
The murder of Kristal Havfruen is front page news, an over the top, over the hill performance artist, this was to be her comeback show with the finale being a replica of the artist in the tank. Instead it was the artist in the tank!
Vincent Caine, the DI Shanti replaced has been on an extended medical leave. A Buddhist, he is questioning how he can stay being a cop amidst the crime and evil that surrounds the job. Shanti seeks out his assistance and he reluctantly joins the investigation.
The contrast between Vincent and Shanti is profound, but working together they find they complement each other. Gradually through the investigation they develop a beneficial relationship.
A satisfying mystery with well drawn characters, I enjoyed this book very much. It’s also given me a bit of an interest in exploring Buddhism. I look forward to this developing into a series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown for an electronic copy.
August 21, 2022
Everything I need in a good detective book is in here. From the very first page until the last page, this book never bore me but keep me turning the page, even yearning to finish it in a day!
The detective police in this book are a perfect pair, just like yin and yang for they are almost opposite of each other. But surely in a loving way. One is very logical and relies much on facts, while the other one is very intuitional and observant. They complement each other and together solve the case. During the process, I enjoy the character building of those two cops, be it during the case investigation or their personal cases. The writer knows the balance so that the book keeps the main theme. I also enjoy their conversations which sound witty and sometimes wise without sounding patronising. All in all, I have no issue with this book, I do also find a few scenes between these two cops are cute and couldn't stop making me blush. But there were also times when I shed my tears for this book is imbued with some truths about humanism.
With such excellence, I wonder why this book has not been widely noticed by many. When you meet this book, pick it up, I guarantee you a fun time and if you let yourself a bit, you will learn one or two life lessons here :)
The detective police in this book are a perfect pair, just like yin and yang for they are almost opposite of each other. But surely in a loving way. One is very logical and relies much on facts, while the other one is very intuitional and observant. They complement each other and together solve the case. During the process, I enjoy the character building of those two cops, be it during the case investigation or their personal cases. The writer knows the balance so that the book keeps the main theme. I also enjoy their conversations which sound witty and sometimes wise without sounding patronising. All in all, I have no issue with this book, I do also find a few scenes between these two cops are cute and couldn't stop making me blush. But there were also times when I shed my tears for this book is imbued with some truths about humanism.
With such excellence, I wonder why this book has not been widely noticed by many. When you meet this book, pick it up, I guarantee you a fun time and if you let yourself a bit, you will learn one or two life lessons here :)
November 1, 2022
As an art loving Buddhist I expected to really enjoy this book. I did like the characters of Vincent Caine and Marlene and the crime was interesting, but the writing style and quite a lot of the police dialogue required a lot of practice of the paramitas to get through!
I doubt very much that a female Asian DI would have the same attitudes and phrases as a 1970s male detective. It was very Shanti does the Sweeney!
Throughout the book, but most noticeably in the first third, the writing was so heavy with speech that it almost read like a play. Some people might enjoy this style but it’s not for me. I was also driven half insane by Shanti using Benno’s name every single time she addressed him within a long conversation. People just don’t do that.
I think with a few less cliches, tighter writing, and a better drawn companion character, I might be interested in giving the mindful detective himself one more chance, because I like the premise.
I doubt very much that a female Asian DI would have the same attitudes and phrases as a 1970s male detective. It was very Shanti does the Sweeney!
Throughout the book, but most noticeably in the first third, the writing was so heavy with speech that it almost read like a play. Some people might enjoy this style but it’s not for me. I was also driven half insane by Shanti using Benno’s name every single time she addressed him within a long conversation. People just don’t do that.
I think with a few less cliches, tighter writing, and a better drawn companion character, I might be interested in giving the mindful detective himself one more chance, because I like the premise.
February 3, 2020
I enjoyed reading Art of Death enormously. I dipped into it while mid-way through the Goldfinch and was so enchanted by this murder mystery that I continued reading it immediately. I loved the context of the book, in Lyme Regis and the West Country. I loved the characters and the plot. It kept me gripped throughout and when I wasn’t reading it, I kept looking forward to doing so. I was told by my wife that I kept chuckling all the way through. It was brilliant. The development of the relationship between the two police officers was sensitively portrayed and I am really looking forward to seeing how it develops in the next books.
August 9, 2024
The first of the mindful detective series and this book is also based in and around Lyme Regis.
It follows DI Shanti Joyce as a famous performance artist is found dead at her own private showing. Keen to solve the case, she turns to Vince Caine, the Mindful Detective to solve the case
I liked the chemistry and different between the two detectives and I loved all the references to Lyme Regis and the surrounding areas - I thought I might look up and see them on the beach!!!!
I liked this concept in the book : “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at another. You are the one who gets burned”
It follows DI Shanti Joyce as a famous performance artist is found dead at her own private showing. Keen to solve the case, she turns to Vince Caine, the Mindful Detective to solve the case
I liked the chemistry and different between the two detectives and I loved all the references to Lyme Regis and the surrounding areas - I thought I might look up and see them on the beach!!!!
I liked this concept in the book : “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at another. You are the one who gets burned”
January 30, 2020
Slabý průměr. Úvod byl skvěle napsaný, a tak nějak jsem doufala, že autor bude ve stejném duchu pokračovat dál. Nestalo se tak. Na mě to bylo moc pomalé, bez velkých napínavých akcí. Inspektorka Shanti mě neohromila a její parťák Caine byl až moc velký klaďas. Za mě tedy menší zklamaní. Kdo zklamaný nebude, bude určitě ten, kdo má rád poklidné detektivky bez stresu a bez nervů.
August 1, 2020
Příběh není špatný, ale řekla bych, že je to zatím jen průměr na rozjezd. Takové seznamování se s detektivy, stylem psaní. Zápletka nebyla špatná a celkově se mi to četlo dobře. Mám ráda tento druh "klidnějších" detektivek, ale nějak tomu něco málo chybělo. Určitě se ale pustím do pokračování a uvidíme, jestli se to rozjede tím správným směrem.
February 17, 2020
Full review at classicmystery.blog
March 29, 2020
Děj se točí okolo umění a policejní dvojice pátrá pouze v uzavřeném rodinném kruhu. Takové detektivky mám ráda. Zde bohužel nefungovalo nic tak, jak bych očekávala. Čekalo na mě jen nudné a rutinní vyšetřování opepřené barvitou minulostí mrtvé Kristal a její rodiny. Bohužel v knize chyběl jakýkoliv náznak napětí či motivace k dalšímu čtení. Podle mého názoru se jedná jen o průměrnou detektivu, na kterou si za pár dní už ani nevzpomenu. Škoda, přitom našlápnuto měla dobře.
Celá recenze zde
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Celá recenze zde
https://zaostrenonaknihy.blogspot.com...
January 15, 2021
Quite a differen approach to a crime story ... and Caine has a calming effect even while reading! Great story!
July 30, 2021
Another awesome novel featuring Caine and shanti, the depth of art knowledge in this and love of art shine through, the novel is Pacy and fascinating and I hope there are many more to come
October 10, 2021
Brilliant read. Thoughtful, poignant yet still fast-paced. Great discussion around the philosophy of art emerges as a result of the novel.
Do give it a try!
Do give it a try!
February 1, 2022
Gripping and different!
June 1, 2022
An enjoyable read from the first series of The Mindful Detective. The writing style makes it an easy read, and the plot keeps moving forward as the pages turn.
October 22, 2021
Buku ni memang menggamit bila terselit pada sinopsisnya "Buddhist Detective". Tapi ceritanya terlalu biasa, tak ada yg kompleks, selain bebelan Shanti yg terlalu cuba utk solve the case yg kita tahu, semua akhirnya akan diselesaikan oleh The Mindful Detective yg hujung²nya akan romantically involved with Shanti (gosh!). Dan apa yg buat aku benci dengan ceritanya bila the culprit ada sealmari novel Agatha Christie (astaga, petunjuk apa ni?) Tapi cara membunuh dia sangat meh sekali. I know bukan senang nak tulis novel detektif, lagi² ini percubaan pertama penulis bertukar genre. Tapi buku ni mengecewakan sedikit diri aku yg mengharap cerita detektif yg sepatutnya kompleks & genius. Maafkan saya, encik penulis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2019
Enjoyable but the ending was a bit weak.
September 12, 2019
I tried hard to start this book and to appreciate the concept, but it took three tries and it ended with a realisation that its structure was formulaic almost scriptlike in a made for tv sense. Quirky, reluctant detective meets hard case career colleague seeking to estsblish themselves whilst meeting family demads whilst all the while working on a weird case has been a staple of the genre for such a long period and this was meant to be a fresh approach. So, despite wanting to enjoy and appreciate its uniqueness I found it was ulimately disappointing even though I could appreciate the underlying effort.
January 25, 2024
I'd not heard of this Author before, but during my trip to Lyme Regis in September, I saw this locally based Crime Series in the Independent Bookshop, so was intrigued to try one ..
Obviously I loved the location - all around the Lyme Bay area ..
The Crime grabbed me straight from the off & it had a really clever ending ..
The Crime fighting duo are both original and have grown on me - need to get hold of the next book ..
Obviously I loved the location - all around the Lyme Bay area ..
The Crime grabbed me straight from the off & it had a really clever ending ..
The Crime fighting duo are both original and have grown on me - need to get hold of the next book ..
March 8, 2020
Wonderful to read a book set in and around Lyme Regis, a place I have been visiting all my life, so an extra star for that. The mindfulness is a nice twist, but I found the plot a bit predictable at times.
August 31, 2019
I loved the sense of place within the book as well as the concept of a mindful detective. The conclusion to the story was very satisfying.
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