Inhuman Remains

Primavera Blackstone #1

by Quintin Jardine

Shock!: Oz Blackstone has died and his feisty, tough-talking ex-wife enters centre stage. Primavera Blackstone takes the lead in this thrilling new crime series.

Her mind still filled with thoughts of her dead ex-husband, Primavera Blackstone is in Spain with son Tom when their peace is breached again with the arrival of her elderly but formidable aunt, Adrienne McGowan. All is not well in Auntie Ades world; her roguish son Frank has become involved with a shady international casino project and has disappeared. Prim flies to Seville to track him down, only to find herself a fugitive, with her life under threat, as her aunt joins the missing persons list, and Tom is forced to flee to safety. As she and her companion-in-danger cross Spain in a struggle to keep themselves alive, and to free Adrienne, Prim finds herself at the centre of a maelstrom of mystery...

Genres: Crime, Mystery

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 5, 2009

About the author

Quintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.

His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain

Reviews

[Ulana Dabbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was ok but I wasn't on the edge of my seat. It was interesting enough to keep me reading but it lacked depth and I was disappointed by the twist at the end. I don't think I will remember this book and its plot for very long.

[Christopher Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read the full (to date) Bob Skinner Series so was interested to try something different from Quentin Jardine.

This story lived up to expectations with well developed characters and an interesting story line. The story was, as is Jardine's style, a little far fetched in place but that's part of the fun. I really felt like I could connect with the characters and it was good to see, as always, that the mystery unfolded during real life.

I've not read any of the Oz Blackstone stories but that was not an issue - I didn't feel like I was missing out by not knowing Primavera's background. The things I needed to know were all explained without creating the sense of me having missed out.

All in all a good read. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Ljohnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primavera Phillips is alive she did not die in the plane crash as the Oz Blackstone final book told us she did. But she thinks Oz set her up to die. Everyone tells her it is not so but she does not believe ( at least not yet).
Anyway Prim gets involved with her cousin in a scheme he gets involved in or he created as it is his forte. Her aunt goes missing as well and cousin Frank and Prim have to track her kidnapped down, save her and themselves. It don’t work that way however…. Read and find out.

[Wendy Hearder-moan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read in spite of the murders and mayhem. Primavera is an engaging narrator. There are so many plot reversals that you don’t know who/what to believe. I did guess about Frank before Prim did (but not everything about the cross/double-cross by a long shot). This is described as a new series. I wonder if Frank will turn up in the next episode...

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to quite like the Oz Blackstone mysteries so I was delighted to have found the first one featuring his ex-wife Primavera Blackstone who set up her new life in Spain. Fast paced, with a good sense of humour and sassiness I enjoyed this one immensely. Some of the plot is maybe a bit too far fetched but nonetheless a pretty good entertaining read.

[John Breckenridge]

Primavera is the ultimate Tiger Mum and with a great ability to befriend people who help her defeat those who would wish her harm. A crashing start and the story of a con within a con. Jardine's writing at its best

[Aya Fareha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not prefer secret agent kinda stuff and this is exactly it with a very much expected ending.

[Alison Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of the Blackstone books I have read. Pretty good if a bit predictable.

[Esther Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book okay.....character interesting enough to try next one in the series.

[Heather Sutherland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. The main character reminded me of Phryne Fisher, the main character in another series by Kerry Greenwood. I'm not sure if I'll continue with this one.

[Rhia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clearly there are many people who love this sort of thing, given the 3.7 Goodreads rating, and the fact this guy has been paid to write entire series of books. But to my mind... appalling.

[Giovanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Um bom plot desperdiçado em um livro ruim. Me senti lendo o roteiro de daqueles filmes do Netflix. Essa personagem principal precisa de uma reformulação urgente. Infelizmente não é pra mim.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Inhuman Remains’ by Quintin Jardine
Published by Headline February 2009. ISBN 978-0-7553-4201-7

Following the death of her husband, Primavera Blackstone has settled in Spain with her son Tom. Although Primavera has started a new chapter in her life her thoughts turn often to Oz Blackstone. Whilst we learn of the final chapter of their lives from the opening part of book there is still, uncertainty as to Oz Blackstones motives.

But Primavera’s mind is taken off Oz when Auntie Ade arrives unexpectedly and asks for Primavera’s help in locating her son Frank, who seems to have disappeared. The search takes Primavera to Seville where she becomes privy to a shady project involving millions. And then on a nightmare cat and mouse game across Spain as she endeavours to keep out of the clutches of baddies. But who exactly are the bad guys.

It’s an enjoyable mystery, with an unexpected ending.
-----
Lizzie Hayes

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quintin Jardine is always readable, but whether it is a Bob Skinner story or Oz or Primavera Blackstone is the main character, the voice is always remarkably consistent, and a sense of Primavera's female emotions, especially as a mother, were not always very convincing. However, this is a pacey thriller, set mainly in Spain, involving fraud, spying, multiple identities and the death of people close to Prim, plus betrayal. She's a feisty girl, is Prim, with a strong sense of survival. There was a feeling that this was almost written with an action thriller film in mind, a sort of female James Bond... Would be an excellent holiday read, to enjoy on the sunbed with a jug of sangria within reach.

[Nancy Zorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would put this one between one and two stars. I didn't hate it, but it didn't quite measure up to a full "it was OK" two stars. The lead character's name, Primavera Blackstone, was annoying to me. Then, at the top of page 3: "But for me, he'd never have met Dawn, my actress sister, and Miles, her film-director husband, who in a drink-fuelled moment decided to give him the break that he seized with both hands, both feet, and that almost prehensile cock of his." Insert eye-roll. Buckle your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Add a little all-in-the-family sex-capade. I'm not a prude, but it seemed a little improbable. Funny, I started this book knowing nothing about the author, including gender. By page 3 it was pretty clear Quintin is male. Sexist? Maybe.

[Lynn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Irritating book! The plot is convoluted enough to be interesting but protagonist, the improbably-named Primavera Blackstone is not plausible to me. Is this always true when a male author creates a female protagonist or am I being sexist? I"m sure there are exceptions, but I can't think of any.

[Monica Akinyi Odhiambo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow,so unexpected.There was a time I thought how is Quintin going to wind up this story but I must say am impressed.Frank and his mom are geniuses, escaping all that fraud and never being caught.It was all an act,a lying game.I was entertained.Good stuff

[Jr · Rating 2 out of 5]

a thriller whodunnit. plenty of twists. a single mom protagonist. some odd "romance" and a more than occasional focus on food. it was ok for the train commutes.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A follow on series from the Oz Blackstone stories and quite enjoyable, set mainly in Spain.

[EssentiallyMeagan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of this book. The mystery was meh and the ending left it hanging. I like resolutions in my mysteries....

[Kevin Orrman-Rossiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mystery read - sure its not literature, but then neither were Miss Marple or Lord Peter Wimsey & Harriet Vane!

[Ros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Couldn't put book down, had to get to the end. All Quintin Jardine books are enjoyable and very exciting too

[thatgirlwithyellowboots · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with twists and turns of events which baffles your mind and keeps the interest solid throughout the book. I highly recommend this book if you love thriller and crime.