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Hazel Micallef #2
The Taken
'NIGHTMARE': WHEN FACT AND FICTION COLLIDE
Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef is recovering from a bad year, and a traumatic back operation that has left her in the care of her ex husband and his new wife.
But Hazel is lured back to work when a body is pulled from a nearby lake: a discovery that eerily mirrors a disturbing story printed in the local newspaper.
The author of the tale can't be found, and when gruesome, taunting clues begin to arrive Hazel realises she's dealing with a master manipulator, a crazed soul who knows her every move . . .
Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef is recovering from a bad year, and a traumatic back operation that has left her in the care of her ex husband and his new wife.
But Hazel is lured back to work when a body is pulled from a nearby lake: a discovery that eerily mirrors a disturbing story printed in the local newspaper.
The author of the tale can't be found, and when gruesome, taunting clues begin to arrive Hazel realises she's dealing with a master manipulator, a crazed soul who knows her every move . . .
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
56 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Inger Ash Wolfe
11 books180 followersInger Ash Wolfe is the pseudonym of the Canadian fiction writer Michael Redhill.
Michael Redhill is a poet, playwright and novelist whom has written two novels, a collection of short fiction, three plays, and five collections of poetry. His play, Building Jerusalem (2001) garnered him the Dora Award, the Chalmers Award, and a nomination for the Governor General’s award. His first novel, Martin Sloane (2001), won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, and was also nominated for the Giller Prize, the City of Toronto Book Award, and the Trillium Book Award. His most recent novel, Consolation (2006), won the City of Toronto Book Award and was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He has acted as an editorial board member for Coach House Press, and is one of the editors, and former publisher, of Brick Magazine.
Michael Redhill is a poet, playwright and novelist whom has written two novels, a collection of short fiction, three plays, and five collections of poetry. His play, Building Jerusalem (2001) garnered him the Dora Award, the Chalmers Award, and a nomination for the Governor General’s award. His first novel, Martin Sloane (2001), won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize, and was also nominated for the Giller Prize, the City of Toronto Book Award, and the Trillium Book Award. His most recent novel, Consolation (2006), won the City of Toronto Book Award and was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He has acted as an editorial board member for Coach House Press, and is one of the editors, and former publisher, of Brick Magazine.
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December 20, 2016
The Taken by Inger Ash Wolfe.
This is the 2nd in the Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef series.
Hazel is recuperating after having major back surgery. Since her 90 year old Mother,Emily, is unable to care for her at this time Hazel's ex, Andrew, and his wife, Glynnis, have opened their home to her. Hazel, now living in their basement has her meals served to her by Glynnis and also assists with her bathing. The pain at times (which is often) is unbearable and the need for pain killers becomes part of everyday life.
Then a body is fished out of the water and Hazel is called in to action. But...this is no ordinary body...it's not even human. It turns out to be a mannequin with some sort of a code written on the back. As Hazel hunts every which was possible to find the meaning behind this code another mystery is set before her. A mystery that does include a human being. An abduction that sends Detective Inspector Hazel Macallef on a chase that leads back to Detective Constable James Wingate former stomping grounds and a history he rather hoped he left behind.
I very much enjoy this series for several reasons. The human frailties are so realistic as well as the the team work. There is nothing superficial when reading this story or this series.There is always a mystery that uncovers another mystery and no one is as they appear.
This is the 2nd in the Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef series.
Hazel is recuperating after having major back surgery. Since her 90 year old Mother,Emily, is unable to care for her at this time Hazel's ex, Andrew, and his wife, Glynnis, have opened their home to her. Hazel, now living in their basement has her meals served to her by Glynnis and also assists with her bathing. The pain at times (which is often) is unbearable and the need for pain killers becomes part of everyday life.
Then a body is fished out of the water and Hazel is called in to action. But...this is no ordinary body...it's not even human. It turns out to be a mannequin with some sort of a code written on the back. As Hazel hunts every which was possible to find the meaning behind this code another mystery is set before her. A mystery that does include a human being. An abduction that sends Detective Inspector Hazel Macallef on a chase that leads back to Detective Constable James Wingate former stomping grounds and a history he rather hoped he left behind.
I very much enjoy this series for several reasons. The human frailties are so realistic as well as the the team work. There is nothing superficial when reading this story or this series.There is always a mystery that uncovers another mystery and no one is as they appear.
June 16, 2016
I am really liking this author, finished this one in two days.
Another mystery featuring 60+ old Hazel Micallef, this time involved with a rather convoluted mystery/puzzle involving revenge. It takes a while for Hazel to sort this one out, what with being laid up after surgery and living in her ex's house - with her ex's new wife taking care of her. Yeah, it gets a little tangly here and there, but for a good, solid, basic whodunnit-and-why, this writer can't be beat.
A body is found in a lake. From there various clues take the police on a wild ride - or are they being led? - from one place to another. Add in a video feed showing a man possibly being held captive and tortured and many a witness or source perhaps not telling the whole truth, and Micallef is up and down and all around in this one.
(Inger Ash Wolfe is the pseudonym for a Canadian writer who usually writes literary, but his foray into the mystery genre is spot-on. Brilliant!)
Can ya tell I read too many books by British or Canadian writers? :D
Another mystery featuring 60+ old Hazel Micallef, this time involved with a rather convoluted mystery/puzzle involving revenge. It takes a while for Hazel to sort this one out, what with being laid up after surgery and living in her ex's house - with her ex's new wife taking care of her. Yeah, it gets a little tangly here and there, but for a good, solid, basic whodunnit-and-why, this writer can't be beat.
A body is found in a lake. From there various clues take the police on a wild ride - or are they being led? - from one place to another. Add in a video feed showing a man possibly being held captive and tortured and many a witness or source perhaps not telling the whole truth, and Micallef is up and down and all around in this one.
(Inger Ash Wolfe is the pseudonym for a Canadian writer who usually writes literary, but his foray into the mystery genre is spot-on. Brilliant!)
Can ya tell I read too many books by British or Canadian writers? :D
October 14, 2010
This is Wolfe’s second novel featuring DI Hazel Micallef. Micallef has recently had back surgery and must temporarily move into her ex-husband’s basement to recuperate. The police are called to a local lake where a body has been reported found. From that point the story begins to develop.
Rather than the author giving the reader key information, it seems that he has assumed that everyone has read the first book where, hopefully, he explicitly tells the reader where the book is set, why Micallef needed back surgery, what motivated her to move in with her ex-husband and his new wife, etc.
There were a plethora of scenes that stopped my reading, for instance, introducing minor characters, but not giving enough information about them so that when he reintroduces them later, the reader is left wondering who these people are. Or having Micallef confined to bed only to jump up a few pages later and rush out of the house to go to a crime scene. Or the one that really stopped me cold was Micallef getting into the bath tub by herself, having her husband appear with her dinner and feeding it to her while she sits in the tub and then she purposely drops a greasy rib into her bath water.
I think some of the problem I had with this book was that the story line was implausible. Here is a 62-year-old woman who has only just had major back surgery (and still has stitches in) getting out of bed to go to crime scene. Surely, her recovery time would be longer - much longer. Add to all this, he throws in my pet peeve: a supposedly intelligent cop goes into a potential suspect’s home alone and, in this case, goes into a dark basement with him and then remains in the basement while he goes back upstairs.
I wanted to like this book. It has everything that would make me like it - a mature woman detective, an interesting sounding plot, and starred reviews. But I felt no connection to any of the characters and the story moved so slowly that it was hard to stay engaged, in fact, my mind wandered to other matters, like my grocery list, as I read it.
Rather than the author giving the reader key information, it seems that he has assumed that everyone has read the first book where, hopefully, he explicitly tells the reader where the book is set, why Micallef needed back surgery, what motivated her to move in with her ex-husband and his new wife, etc.
There were a plethora of scenes that stopped my reading, for instance, introducing minor characters, but not giving enough information about them so that when he reintroduces them later, the reader is left wondering who these people are. Or having Micallef confined to bed only to jump up a few pages later and rush out of the house to go to a crime scene. Or the one that really stopped me cold was Micallef getting into the bath tub by herself, having her husband appear with her dinner and feeding it to her while she sits in the tub and then she purposely drops a greasy rib into her bath water.
I think some of the problem I had with this book was that the story line was implausible. Here is a 62-year-old woman who has only just had major back surgery (and still has stitches in) getting out of bed to go to crime scene. Surely, her recovery time would be longer - much longer. Add to all this, he throws in my pet peeve: a supposedly intelligent cop goes into a potential suspect’s home alone and, in this case, goes into a dark basement with him and then remains in the basement while he goes back upstairs.
I wanted to like this book. It has everything that would make me like it - a mature woman detective, an interesting sounding plot, and starred reviews. But I felt no connection to any of the characters and the story moved so slowly that it was hard to stay engaged, in fact, my mind wandered to other matters, like my grocery list, as I read it.
November 29, 2018
A cracking read that I found unputdownable & read within 24 hours. Hazel is, as the cover blurb says "..a nice twist on the traditional middle-aged alcoholic male cop" & other than Miss Marple & Vera Stanhope, I certainly can't think of any other female detectives in this age bracket. She's cranky & flawed & I really like her!
The storyline is quite grim & gruesome at times (just the way I like 'em!) yet the writing style makes it an easy read. However, one or two of the deductions that Hazel reached seemed to be down to hunches - almost plucked out if thin air - rather than following a logical process, well as far I could see anyway. Still with the storyline being so gripping I was more than happy to let that ride. One of the "events" at the end of the book caught me unaware but the signs had been there...I just didn't pick up on them.
All-in-all this was a pleasure from start to finish.
The storyline is quite grim & gruesome at times (just the way I like 'em!) yet the writing style makes it an easy read. However, one or two of the deductions that Hazel reached seemed to be down to hunches - almost plucked out if thin air - rather than following a logical process, well as far I could see anyway. Still with the storyline being so gripping I was more than happy to let that ride. One of the "events" at the end of the book caught me unaware but the signs had been there...I just didn't pick up on them.
All-in-all this was a pleasure from start to finish.
January 5, 2016
3.5 stars
December 23, 2016
I am reading this series due to the character of Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef. She is a marvelous well drawn character. She is 62 years old and is the interim leader in the Port Dumas police force in Canada. She has hopes of making it a permanent position.
At the beginning of the book, she is living in the basement of her ex-husband of 36 years and his new wife Glynnis. She recently had back surgery and can't care for herself at home. Her mother moved to their house too. She is close to 90. Hazel is still in love with her ex-husband. His new wife is helping to care for her her. Glynnis is kind to Hazel as she cooks etc for her but will be happy when she heals and is on her own again..
Hazel is a feisty out the box thinker. I enjoyed her humor at times. She isn't trying to be funny but her comments have a dry wit about them. I especially liked her description of the new young head of the police force when asked what he was like. She traveled to talk to him. At first, she thought that maybe he was going to be better than the last head. Then he start started talking about dinosaurs to her and then he started to equate dinosaurs to the police force.
The second in command in Port Dumas is DC James Wingate who is helping hold down the fort while Helen heals His character is also being developed and well drawn.
The only drawbacks for me was I thought the book could have been shortened and I didn't find the plot very realistic. It is a work of fiction so maybe I should discount that. However, If you like crime fiction with strong, interesting characters who do their job in an interesting setting, you should enjoy this series. It should be read in order due to the character development. Hazel is a great character!
At the beginning of the book, she is living in the basement of her ex-husband of 36 years and his new wife Glynnis. She recently had back surgery and can't care for herself at home. Her mother moved to their house too. She is close to 90. Hazel is still in love with her ex-husband. His new wife is helping to care for her her. Glynnis is kind to Hazel as she cooks etc for her but will be happy when she heals and is on her own again..
Hazel is a feisty out the box thinker. I enjoyed her humor at times. She isn't trying to be funny but her comments have a dry wit about them. I especially liked her description of the new young head of the police force when asked what he was like. She traveled to talk to him. At first, she thought that maybe he was going to be better than the last head. Then he start started talking about dinosaurs to her and then he started to equate dinosaurs to the police force.
The second in command in Port Dumas is DC James Wingate who is helping hold down the fort while Helen heals His character is also being developed and well drawn.
The only drawbacks for me was I thought the book could have been shortened and I didn't find the plot very realistic. It is a work of fiction so maybe I should discount that. However, If you like crime fiction with strong, interesting characters who do their job in an interesting setting, you should enjoy this series. It should be read in order due to the character development. Hazel is a great character!
December 14, 2011
Picked this up in the library whilst browsing and Mo Hayder had added a comment on the cover, so I thought I'd check it out. This, I discovered is a second in series, although it was fine to read it without having read the first one. It is a story of a D.I. called Hazel Micaleff and it is set in Port Dundas in Toronto, Canada. Hazel is a little different to other police characters in that she is considerably older (62 years), you usually get an age ranging between 30 and 50, so it was refreshing to get the perspective of an older more experienced detective. She is a character in more ways than one, she's tough, witty and smart. It was a good story, Hazel is recovering from major back surgery, in her ex-husbands converted basement, with his new wife in attendance and also Hazels mother. The reason for her back injury is I suspect explained in the first book, however, that's for another reading day. She returns to work a little earlier than she expects when a rather bizarre case presents itself and she is directly drawn in when certain items are posted to her. It's a tale of cryptic messages that Hazel and her team are expected to follow and figure out and it's pretty clever and intriguing. I worried for her back back all the way through, I could feel her pain on occasions. It's witty in a dry sort of manner, but works well and keeps you hooked. I also liked that the author kept the ending open for another book with Hazel returning. She is 62 years old, so there can't be too much to pack in before she retires. Good book, interesting direction to take and worth a read.
January 5, 2018
Maybe the plot is a bit far fetched, but Hazel is a great character. She reminds me of Ann Cleeves' "Vera".
November 23, 2009
Reason for Reading: Next in series.
Summary: Reports of a body found at the edge of a nearby lake have Detective Inspector Micallef and her sidekick DC Wingate investigating. What appears to be an apparent drowning is by no means a mere murder but only the beginning of a twisted game being played out by a psycho. The drowning seems familiar and is found detail for detail in the last issue of the local paper's summer serial story. When the next installment is printed the police begin a frantic investigation to save the life of a kidnap victim before he is killed or not enough of him is left to be rescued.
Comments: This second book by Wolfe was even better than the first. A very unique murder mystery case unlike any I've read before kept me riveted to the book. The gruesome factor is enough to make the squeamish squirm and keep the interest of hardened thriller readers as myself. A well-paced story with a mystery that kept me guessing to the end and I really enjoyed the read. The book also focuses on Hazel's personal life and progresses her character forward to a more likeable one than in The Calling, yet I still just do not find her someone I particularly like. I think there are also moments within the story when one must suspend reality a tad. I suppose that is inevitable with most crime thrillers, to a point, but this just stands out for me with a 62 year old woman taking on so much action. Ultimately, though, the plot is unique, the case is quirky and The Taken is a compelling read. I'll be looking forward to seeing what case Hazel must solve in her next book.
Summary: Reports of a body found at the edge of a nearby lake have Detective Inspector Micallef and her sidekick DC Wingate investigating. What appears to be an apparent drowning is by no means a mere murder but only the beginning of a twisted game being played out by a psycho. The drowning seems familiar and is found detail for detail in the last issue of the local paper's summer serial story. When the next installment is printed the police begin a frantic investigation to save the life of a kidnap victim before he is killed or not enough of him is left to be rescued.
Comments: This second book by Wolfe was even better than the first. A very unique murder mystery case unlike any I've read before kept me riveted to the book. The gruesome factor is enough to make the squeamish squirm and keep the interest of hardened thriller readers as myself. A well-paced story with a mystery that kept me guessing to the end and I really enjoyed the read. The book also focuses on Hazel's personal life and progresses her character forward to a more likeable one than in The Calling, yet I still just do not find her someone I particularly like. I think there are also moments within the story when one must suspend reality a tad. I suppose that is inevitable with most crime thrillers, to a point, but this just stands out for me with a 62 year old woman taking on so much action. Ultimately, though, the plot is unique, the case is quirky and The Taken is a compelling read. I'll be looking forward to seeing what case Hazel must solve in her next book.
March 19, 2019
Fast paced from the get go – we follow DI Hazel Micallef from her recovery from back surgery from injuries made worse from the first novel. I can’t help it – I love this character! Totally irascible and equally quick thinking, Hazel doesn’t let anyone off the hook – coworkers, mother, daughter, ex husband and especially people who go outside the lines of the law. Especially those who go outside the lines of the law.
This case sees her come back to the game to help her team figure out a particularly gruesome and villainous crime being enacted in front of their eyes on screen but with no idea where or by whom or who the victim is. It becomes a race to the end –Hazel trying to figure it out while trying to keep her group on track, she comes up against wall after wall of bureaucracy which just endures her to her fellow officers all the more. It’s a good thing she thinks outside the box as she gets results, but as soon as it threatens her family – she’s all mother bear.
Great series! Can’t wait to carry on!
This case sees her come back to the game to help her team figure out a particularly gruesome and villainous crime being enacted in front of their eyes on screen but with no idea where or by whom or who the victim is. It becomes a race to the end –Hazel trying to figure it out while trying to keep her group on track, she comes up against wall after wall of bureaucracy which just endures her to her fellow officers all the more. It’s a good thing she thinks outside the box as she gets results, but as soon as it threatens her family – she’s all mother bear.
Great series! Can’t wait to carry on!
April 13, 2015
PROTAGONIST: DI Hazel Micallef
SETTING: Ontario, Canada
SERIES: #2 of 2
RATING: 4.25
If, like me, you are a fan of police procedurals, you have probably come to expect certain characteristics to be present in the protagonist's makeup. Confounding all expectations, Wolfe has created a unique lead character in Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef. She has a way of doing her job and relating to people that is quite different from the standard. She's sixty-two years old, flawed, a bit of a curmudgeon, and does her job by following her gut instead of the rules.
As the book opens, DI Hazel Micallef is out on a disability leave. Due to an earlier incident, she's had severe problems with her back and is quite incapacitated. The first surgery she had to correct the problems didn't work at all. Now she's had a second surgery, and if that doesn't deliver results, she will likely be unable to resume her police career. Her elderly mother is unable to adequately care for her; in an odd twist, the two of them move in with Hazel's ex-husband, Andrew, and his second wife, Glynnis, who care for her. The fact that Hazel is still in love with Andrew and can barely tolerate Glynnis is a complicating factor.
Prior to her leave of absence, Hazel was serving as the temporary in-charge for the Port Dundas police district. For the time being, her second-in-command, DC James Wingate, is filling her shoes. When there's a strange death involving a drowning, Hazel gets called back into action. It appears that the killer is playing some kind of game, a fact that is reinforced when a serialized story appears in the local newspaper with a plot that almost exactly matches the facts of the murder. As that story unfolds, there are indications that more murders will occur. Hazel and James are up against a very clever and manipulative killer and struggle to interpret the limited data that they have in front of them. And then they are provided with a connection to an Internet link that shows live coverage of something horrible about to happen in a dark basement. Has this been staged, or is it reality?
My only issue with the book was with the inclusion of the serial story in full within the narrative. A summary of what was in that story would have sufficed; I felt that the flow of the book was interrupted and diminished by incorporating it in detail. There was also an indication that the story was some kind of anagram, which confused me. As the book proceeded, the story content became more or less irrelevant.
The plot is complex and involving, with the investigation made even more difficult by several extenuating circumstances, including meddling by the bureaucracy of the police higher-ups. While they are working on the case, Hazel is dealing with her own recovery and personal issues in the form of a wayward, depressed daughter as well as dealing with her feelings about Andrew and Glynnis. At the same time, James is working through his own grief after the loss of a loved one. They are a good team, balancing out each other's strengths and deficiencies.
I found THE TAKEN to be suspenseful, engrossing and satisfying. Hazel was a very three-dimensional character, with a lot of nuances that made her come alive in all of her complexity. James Wingate, too, is fully formed; we learn only gradually about his very touching personal struggles. My plan now is to be properly introduced to Hazel and company by reading the first book in the series, THE CALLING. After that, I'll eagerly await the next installment in this fascinating procedural series.
SETTING: Ontario, Canada
SERIES: #2 of 2
RATING: 4.25
If, like me, you are a fan of police procedurals, you have probably come to expect certain characteristics to be present in the protagonist's makeup. Confounding all expectations, Wolfe has created a unique lead character in Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef. She has a way of doing her job and relating to people that is quite different from the standard. She's sixty-two years old, flawed, a bit of a curmudgeon, and does her job by following her gut instead of the rules.
As the book opens, DI Hazel Micallef is out on a disability leave. Due to an earlier incident, she's had severe problems with her back and is quite incapacitated. The first surgery she had to correct the problems didn't work at all. Now she's had a second surgery, and if that doesn't deliver results, she will likely be unable to resume her police career. Her elderly mother is unable to adequately care for her; in an odd twist, the two of them move in with Hazel's ex-husband, Andrew, and his second wife, Glynnis, who care for her. The fact that Hazel is still in love with Andrew and can barely tolerate Glynnis is a complicating factor.
Prior to her leave of absence, Hazel was serving as the temporary in-charge for the Port Dundas police district. For the time being, her second-in-command, DC James Wingate, is filling her shoes. When there's a strange death involving a drowning, Hazel gets called back into action. It appears that the killer is playing some kind of game, a fact that is reinforced when a serialized story appears in the local newspaper with a plot that almost exactly matches the facts of the murder. As that story unfolds, there are indications that more murders will occur. Hazel and James are up against a very clever and manipulative killer and struggle to interpret the limited data that they have in front of them. And then they are provided with a connection to an Internet link that shows live coverage of something horrible about to happen in a dark basement. Has this been staged, or is it reality?
My only issue with the book was with the inclusion of the serial story in full within the narrative. A summary of what was in that story would have sufficed; I felt that the flow of the book was interrupted and diminished by incorporating it in detail. There was also an indication that the story was some kind of anagram, which confused me. As the book proceeded, the story content became more or less irrelevant.
The plot is complex and involving, with the investigation made even more difficult by several extenuating circumstances, including meddling by the bureaucracy of the police higher-ups. While they are working on the case, Hazel is dealing with her own recovery and personal issues in the form of a wayward, depressed daughter as well as dealing with her feelings about Andrew and Glynnis. At the same time, James is working through his own grief after the loss of a loved one. They are a good team, balancing out each other's strengths and deficiencies.
I found THE TAKEN to be suspenseful, engrossing and satisfying. Hazel was a very three-dimensional character, with a lot of nuances that made her come alive in all of her complexity. James Wingate, too, is fully formed; we learn only gradually about his very touching personal struggles. My plan now is to be properly introduced to Hazel and company by reading the first book in the series, THE CALLING. After that, I'll eagerly await the next installment in this fascinating procedural series.
April 30, 2012
This book is one in the attempt I make to read mysteries that aren’t set in America (... or England). It is tad bit difficult to find mysteries that aren’t set in those locations, as that is where I live, but sometimes I manage to get to really large wonderful bookstores that have so much space that they actually have to have more than just the basic set of books, and I can usually find something there.
This book is actually set in Canada! And, to boot, it follows a detective at a police station who is in her 60s. And not in her Miss Marple 60s, but in her ass kicking 60s - where she has a whole lot of surly built up to use with all that crime fighting wisdom she has acquired. I knew the book was a win from the get-go with that kind of protagonist.
Hazel, the main character, has just had back surgery and finds herself having to live at her x-husbands house because there isn’t anyone else in her life who can take care of her. Even though she hasn’t fully recovered she gets a call from her second in command - there has been a citing of something like a body found at by people fishing in the local lake. Would she come out and head up the inquiry. Given that her little local troop of police normally handle small town crimes, the thought of a body seems above their capability without her. So she agrees to go out, and what does she find? Not a body, but a manaquin, with a strange clue that leads to a streaming video of someone being held in a basement tied to a chair. That is some scary stuff right there.
While the plot pulling the book forward is interesting, it isn’t what made me necessarily enjoy it. I really liked the thought that the author, Inger Wolfe, had the guts to create such an interesting character. Most detectives have super human powers, wonderful social skills, and funny quirks. Hazel was more than a bit rough and real, and that is what kept me reading. I’m not sure I’m going to pick up the next book, because the plot was a tad bit off for me (I know too much about computers), but I did enjoy the character and seeing the Canadian landscape.
This book is actually set in Canada! And, to boot, it follows a detective at a police station who is in her 60s. And not in her Miss Marple 60s, but in her ass kicking 60s - where she has a whole lot of surly built up to use with all that crime fighting wisdom she has acquired. I knew the book was a win from the get-go with that kind of protagonist.
Hazel, the main character, has just had back surgery and finds herself having to live at her x-husbands house because there isn’t anyone else in her life who can take care of her. Even though she hasn’t fully recovered she gets a call from her second in command - there has been a citing of something like a body found at by people fishing in the local lake. Would she come out and head up the inquiry. Given that her little local troop of police normally handle small town crimes, the thought of a body seems above their capability without her. So she agrees to go out, and what does she find? Not a body, but a manaquin, with a strange clue that leads to a streaming video of someone being held in a basement tied to a chair. That is some scary stuff right there.
While the plot pulling the book forward is interesting, it isn’t what made me necessarily enjoy it. I really liked the thought that the author, Inger Wolfe, had the guts to create such an interesting character. Most detectives have super human powers, wonderful social skills, and funny quirks. Hazel was more than a bit rough and real, and that is what kept me reading. I’m not sure I’m going to pick up the next book, because the plot was a tad bit off for me (I know too much about computers), but I did enjoy the character and seeing the Canadian landscape.
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October 1, 2012The Taking, by Inger ash Wolfe, a-minus, narrated by Bernadette Dunn, produced by BBC Audio America, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the second Hazel Micallef mystery taking place in rural Ontario. Hazel is still recovering from the injuries she got in “The Calling”, first book, and from back surgery. She and her 87-year-old mother can’t take care of themselves and live alone during this recovery, so they move in with Hazel’s ex-husband and his new wife. Some awkward moments caused mostly by Hazel, the second wife is very nice to her. Hazel is still working, however, and she is called in on a new case. While fishing, some tourists came upon what appeared to be a body. When the body was dragged up, it turned out to be a headless manikin. Eerily, there is a story being run in the local paper, and as the details unfold, the issue seems to be about a girl who was killed some time ago where the case had been closed. Then someone seems to be using a live computer camera coverage to show a man being held, tied in a chair with a hand missing, and Hazel is sent the hand in a box. More bizarre things happen and it’s clear that Hazel and her officers are being led along in a game being perpetrated by someone who feels the girl’s case was closed too early and the murderer not found. Excellent story. A thriller with Hazel performing some improbable stunts, but I find this series very entertaining. The narrator is perfect. Hazel is always coming up with weird questions that lead to clues, and the narrator poses those questions with just the kind of vagueness and stubbornness you would expect Hazel to exhibit in the circumstances. Very good.
This is the second Hazel Micallef mystery taking place in rural Ontario. Hazel is still recovering from the injuries she got in “The Calling”, first book, and from back surgery. She and her 87-year-old mother can’t take care of themselves and live alone during this recovery, so they move in with Hazel’s ex-husband and his new wife. Some awkward moments caused mostly by Hazel, the second wife is very nice to her. Hazel is still working, however, and she is called in on a new case. While fishing, some tourists came upon what appeared to be a body. When the body was dragged up, it turned out to be a headless manikin. Eerily, there is a story being run in the local paper, and as the details unfold, the issue seems to be about a girl who was killed some time ago where the case had been closed. Then someone seems to be using a live computer camera coverage to show a man being held, tied in a chair with a hand missing, and Hazel is sent the hand in a box. More bizarre things happen and it’s clear that Hazel and her officers are being led along in a game being perpetrated by someone who feels the girl’s case was closed too early and the murderer not found. Excellent story. A thriller with Hazel performing some improbable stunts, but I find this series very entertaining. The narrator is perfect. Hazel is always coming up with weird questions that lead to clues, and the narrator poses those questions with just the kind of vagueness and stubbornness you would expect Hazel to exhibit in the circumstances. Very good.
December 4, 2012
Hazel Micallef, is a 62 year old tough, independent woman, a Detective Superintendent in a small Ontario town. And she is recovering from back surgery, staying in the basement of her ex-husband's house, being tended to by him, his new wife, and Hazel's crotchety 82 year old mother. It's not a happy position for her, and she's become a little too fond of her pain pills. When James Wingate, her second in command, calls her back to work because some fisherman have found a body in the lake, Hazel is happy to be out of the basement and back on the job.
The case is a creepy puzzle and an interesting one that takes Hazel and Wingate from Port Dundas to Toronto and back any number of times while they try to figure out what is happening and to whom, and who is doing it. But interesting though the plot is, it is the characters and their relationships that are the most compelling.
Hazel’s feelings for her ex-husband are beyond mixed – there’s anger, resentment, jealousy, sadness, and still the vestiges of love. The ex is a decent man who is still fond of her, willing to help and his skill at crosswords and cryptics help to shed light on the case. His new wife is a remarkable woman, kind but not overly so, open to Hazel for her part in her husband’s past. Hazel’s mother is a salty take no prisoners type who specializes in tough love and her 33 year old daughter is a not quite lost child who is still trying to figure herself out. Wingate, a good cop, is a loyal lieutenant and gay. His partner was murdered in a hate crime in Toronto. They are all three dimensional people that I want to know better.
The case is a creepy puzzle and an interesting one that takes Hazel and Wingate from Port Dundas to Toronto and back any number of times while they try to figure out what is happening and to whom, and who is doing it. But interesting though the plot is, it is the characters and their relationships that are the most compelling.
Hazel’s feelings for her ex-husband are beyond mixed – there’s anger, resentment, jealousy, sadness, and still the vestiges of love. The ex is a decent man who is still fond of her, willing to help and his skill at crosswords and cryptics help to shed light on the case. His new wife is a remarkable woman, kind but not overly so, open to Hazel for her part in her husband’s past. Hazel’s mother is a salty take no prisoners type who specializes in tough love and her 33 year old daughter is a not quite lost child who is still trying to figure herself out. Wingate, a good cop, is a loyal lieutenant and gay. His partner was murdered in a hate crime in Toronto. They are all three dimensional people that I want to know better.
November 2, 2013
I did really like this book, but not as well as the first book in the series, The Calling. I'm now reading A Door in the River, the third book in the series, so obviously I like the main character and her situation enough to want to know more.
This is set in Canada, which I also like, but I wish the location, which is fictional, had been described more in relation to real places. All we know is that it is about an hour north of Barrie, which would put it somewhere in the area where my family has its summer cottage, so it would have been interesting to read more about the topography, etc. (All we do know is that there are a lot of lakes.)
The main character is a character and I like her outlook on life and detective work, as well as her spunk. The fact that she's my age, 61, is an added plus. It gives her a perspective that a younger character would not have had. She has grown daughters and a strong-willed mother and an ex-husband whom she is still quite attached to. Her relationship with his new wife added another dimension to the story.
But mostly it's how she interacts with other law enforcement types that creates the most interest. She's a bit of a renegade and even though she would deny it, as strong-willed as her mother. I didn't know that the author is a man. I would grade him a B for his ability to get into a woman's head, especially a 61-year-old woman.
This is set in Canada, which I also like, but I wish the location, which is fictional, had been described more in relation to real places. All we know is that it is about an hour north of Barrie, which would put it somewhere in the area where my family has its summer cottage, so it would have been interesting to read more about the topography, etc. (All we do know is that there are a lot of lakes.)
The main character is a character and I like her outlook on life and detective work, as well as her spunk. The fact that she's my age, 61, is an added plus. It gives her a perspective that a younger character would not have had. She has grown daughters and a strong-willed mother and an ex-husband whom she is still quite attached to. Her relationship with his new wife added another dimension to the story.
But mostly it's how she interacts with other law enforcement types that creates the most interest. She's a bit of a renegade and even though she would deny it, as strong-willed as her mother. I didn't know that the author is a man. I would grade him a B for his ability to get into a woman's head, especially a 61-year-old woman.
October 24, 2010
I have to admit feeling a little let down with this book. I have fond memories of the first book, “The Calling”, thinking it was the start of a great series with a unique and interesting protagonist. This book however, felt like more of the same stuff we’ve already read.
The good:
* Hazel recovering from back surgery at her ex-husband’s house and his new wife. Talk about uncomfortable positions for all! I liked that the author explored each person’s feelings and attitudes about the arrangement.
* We also learn more about the history of DC Wingate. One of the bright spots in the books, I like his character and want to know more. He’s an interesting supporting character and needs a bit more attention in my opinion.
The bad:
* Unfortunately the mystery itself was not very well plotted. It had a preposterous premise and went on for far too long.
* The city police were unbelievable in their responses to Hazel. The fact that they would try to impede the investigation while a person’s life was at serious risk came off as implausible.
* I also must mention the writing itself. Supposedly Inger Ash Wolfe is a pen name for a known literary author. The prose in the book, while functional, was not up to the standard I would expect from a literary author. I know several other crime fiction authors whose writing I would rate above Wolfe’s.
I enjoy the characters enough that I will read the next book, but will hope for better plotting next time.
The good:
* Hazel recovering from back surgery at her ex-husband’s house and his new wife. Talk about uncomfortable positions for all! I liked that the author explored each person’s feelings and attitudes about the arrangement.
* We also learn more about the history of DC Wingate. One of the bright spots in the books, I like his character and want to know more. He’s an interesting supporting character and needs a bit more attention in my opinion.
The bad:
* Unfortunately the mystery itself was not very well plotted. It had a preposterous premise and went on for far too long.
* The city police were unbelievable in their responses to Hazel. The fact that they would try to impede the investigation while a person’s life was at serious risk came off as implausible.
* I also must mention the writing itself. Supposedly Inger Ash Wolfe is a pen name for a known literary author. The prose in the book, while functional, was not up to the standard I would expect from a literary author. I know several other crime fiction authors whose writing I would rate above Wolfe’s.
I enjoy the characters enough that I will read the next book, but will hope for better plotting next time.
July 16, 2013
This was actually not bad at all, an improvement over I.A. Wolfe's first Hazel Micallef police procedural. Inger must have read my review of that one, where I complained about 23 characters being introduced in the first 23 pages. This one has many fewer. And if you can ignore all the cringe-inducing bits about 62-year-old Hazel's personal life, like how she's living with her ex-husband and his new wife because she has a bad back, and how they both bathe her, and spareribs end up in the tub as her ex washes her nude body, so much the better.
Two people on a paid fishing expedition hook what seems to be a female body. Micallef & Co. are called in to retrieve it from the lake; it turns out to be a mannequin. On the mannequin's back is a number, which doesn't seem to be a serial number, phone number, or Jeff Bezos's annual income. It's an IP address (Hazel has to have a youngster explain it all to her) which leads to a horrifying discovery: a webcam capturing the torture of a man in a basement. Who is this man, and how does his mistreatment relate to a serial story being published in a local newspaper whose details strangely replicate many of the details of Hazel's crime case? There are satisfying twists throughout, although I will never understand what Canadians have against calling in backup. Or taking your partner with you to question a person who might have something to do with the crime.
June 3, 2016
book 2 in the series was almost as good as the first; some of my favorites: page 6 "smiling so tightly thought her lipstick would squirt off her lips"; page7 "he cooked all in the key of cow"; p36 "I get seasick looking at the back of a dime" (means the back of the 2009 Canadian dime depicts Bluenose a fishing schooner on the waves); page 155 "planned to make a drive-through breakfast at the Timmie's" (I assume this is the Canadian Tim Hortons); p165 "Martha passed her a full two-sixer of J&B" (Canadian full bottle of hard liquor); page 196 "bring me a peameal bacon sandwich" (Canadian bacon), a signature dish of Toronto's St Lawrence Market; page 247 "You're not the kind of person to butter someone up with a twenty-sixer" (Canadian 26oz bottle of liquer); page 248 "you could have gone to the big smoke" (Toronto is known as The Big Smoke (bacon perhaps?)); page 327 "putting down a toonie" (Canadian 2 dollar coin featuring on the reverse side an adult polar bear in early summer on an ice floe)
August 7, 2010
The Taken is Wolfe's second novel set in rural Ontario and featuring the prickly, 60-ish Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef. In this one, she's trying to determine the whereabouts of a man whose captivity and torture are being broadcast on a web site.
As much as I loved the first book, The Calling, I was a bit disappointed in The Taken because of an over-contrived plot line and some serious technical gaffes.
NOTE TO AUTHORS: If you're going to include technical details in your story, at least make an attempt to insure that they're accurate. In this book a server IP address is referred to as a "DNS Number" - whatever that is. And the address itself contains numbers in the 400's which isn't possible.
Most readers probably wouldn't notice or care about stuff like that but it really annoyed me and cost the book a star in my rating. It's just sloppy.
That said, though, Hazel is such an endearing and sympathetic character that I still look forward to her next appearance.
As much as I loved the first book, The Calling, I was a bit disappointed in The Taken because of an over-contrived plot line and some serious technical gaffes.
NOTE TO AUTHORS: If you're going to include technical details in your story, at least make an attempt to insure that they're accurate. In this book a server IP address is referred to as a "DNS Number" - whatever that is. And the address itself contains numbers in the 400's which isn't possible.
Most readers probably wouldn't notice or care about stuff like that but it really annoyed me and cost the book a star in my rating. It's just sloppy.
That said, though, Hazel is such an endearing and sympathetic character that I still look forward to her next appearance.
January 11, 2017
I'm really enjoying this series featuring the complicated and conflicted Hazel Micallef, 61 year old Detective Inspector for a rural district north of Toronto. This second in the series starts with the discovery of a mannequin in a lake and a trail of clues that lead Hazel and her crew into a case where a man's life is in danger if they can't find him in time. Well written suspense, this one was hard to put down.
September 7, 2012
Another excellent Hazel Micallef mystery from Inger Ash Wolfe. Wonderfully written and very, very exciting (even creepy at times) - the description of the police team in a helicopter is amazing. Now to read the next in this series....
July 14, 2011
This Canadian series is new to me. Not overly gripping but I like having a protagonist who's my age, or close to it, without stretching credibility too much.
December 15, 2013
Really enjoyed this sequel to The Calling. A chilling mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Looking forward to the third installment of this series.
March 13, 2019
This book feels tighter and more assured than its predecessor. I think that's because the plot didn't involve a serial killer motivated by forces or impulses only he/she can hear or make sense of. It's such a tired trope, to be honest, and thus tough to do in a way that feels fresh and compelling. I haven't read the first book in awhile but I do remember this plot kind of coming apart at the end.
So at least this time Wolfe focuses on a plot that far more grounded in real people, real actions, and real consequences. Although I will say that, even with that, the story has a number of stumbles along the way to its end. The big one for me was the deductive leap Wingate makes
There are other smaller annoyances, such as the time spent explaining IPs, ISPs, etc. when Hazel wants to find out where a webcam feed is being broadcast from, when in the end it goes nowhere. Like, balance out the detail with the knowledge that it's not going to turn into anything in the story. Then there's Hazel's apparent lightening fast recovery from a second serious back surgery whereby she goes from having difficulty leaning forward to eat while laying in bed (dated May 19 at the start of the book) to This is from a chapter dated June 2. Two weeks later. Dude, come on. Make an effort at realism here.
Even with all that, though, the unique voice and presence of Hazel Micallef shines through. I found the challenges she has to face with respect to her job and the fact she's a woman nearing retirement age well written and are a compelling facet to her character, as is the relationship between herself and Wingate. I liked him a lot in the first book and was glad to see he continues to grow and be a great counterpoint to Hazel's rough and prickly edges.
I'd keep reading this series for them alone but also because much of the narrative is solidly written (setting aside some of the plot's clumsiness). There are many wonderful images conveyed by the prose, and I liked how Wolfe presented Paritas's Having said that, I think
So at least this time Wolfe focuses on a plot that far more grounded in real people, real actions, and real consequences. Although I will say that, even with that, the story has a number of stumbles along the way to its end. The big one for me was the deductive leap Wingate makes
There are other smaller annoyances, such as the time spent explaining IPs, ISPs, etc. when Hazel wants to find out where a webcam feed is being broadcast from, when in the end it goes nowhere. Like, balance out the detail with the knowledge that it's not going to turn into anything in the story. Then there's Hazel's apparent lightening fast recovery from a second serious back surgery whereby she goes from having difficulty leaning forward to eat while laying in bed (dated May 19 at the start of the book) to This is from a chapter dated June 2. Two weeks later. Dude, come on. Make an effort at realism here.
Even with all that, though, the unique voice and presence of Hazel Micallef shines through. I found the challenges she has to face with respect to her job and the fact she's a woman nearing retirement age well written and are a compelling facet to her character, as is the relationship between herself and Wingate. I liked him a lot in the first book and was glad to see he continues to grow and be a great counterpoint to Hazel's rough and prickly edges.
I'd keep reading this series for them alone but also because much of the narrative is solidly written (setting aside some of the plot's clumsiness). There are many wonderful images conveyed by the prose, and I liked how Wolfe presented Paritas's Having said that, I think
January 8, 2021
About ten years ago my cousin gave me the the first Hazel Micallef mystery, which though out of my reading norm and terribly gruesome, I enjoyed. I liked the older protagonist and found it better-written than others I had read in this genre. The book and author stayed with me and I finally picked up the second book in the series.
I must admit that, at times, I didn't carefully read, and retain, all the crime details. I was more interested in Hazel's life outside her work - her relationships with her ex-husband and his wife, her daughter, Martha, and, to a lesser degree in this book, her mother. The new inspector, James Wingate was also an interesting character with a "past" that plays into the mystery.
The plot concerns a body (or is it?) found in a fishing lake near the Canadian town of Port Dundas where Hazel serves as Detective Inspector, though she is currently on medical leave after back surgery. She gets drawn into the case by her "acting" James Wingate. Two fishing tourists, a newspaper serial and a webcam play into the mystery which takes many twists and turns. There is a theme of both parental and partner love, in both Hazel's and James' life and in aspects of the case.
I will not wait 10 years to read the others in this series.
"She saw the possibility, in Martha, of a future of accepting second best just to have something and it terrified her." (157)
I must admit that, at times, I didn't carefully read, and retain, all the crime details. I was more interested in Hazel's life outside her work - her relationships with her ex-husband and his wife, her daughter, Martha, and, to a lesser degree in this book, her mother. The new inspector, James Wingate was also an interesting character with a "past" that plays into the mystery.
The plot concerns a body (or is it?) found in a fishing lake near the Canadian town of Port Dundas where Hazel serves as Detective Inspector, though she is currently on medical leave after back surgery. She gets drawn into the case by her "acting" James Wingate. Two fishing tourists, a newspaper serial and a webcam play into the mystery which takes many twists and turns. There is a theme of both parental and partner love, in both Hazel's and James' life and in aspects of the case.
I will not wait 10 years to read the others in this series.
"She saw the possibility, in Martha, of a future of accepting second best just to have something and it terrified her." (157)
March 11, 2021
This second in the series keeps me wanting more. Hazel Micallef is the antithesis of most female detectives. She is not young, she is not beautiful, she is not in great physical shape. She resembles more the seasoned male detectives we have come to love.
In this novel a fishing expedition leads to the discovery of something that looks like a body. The fishers are unable to retrieve it so it is several hours before the police team can get to it and discover what it is.
What Detective Micallef sees is the scene's resemblance to a story being serialized in the local newspaper. It appears to have been staged. But why? Like a dog with a bone, Hazel investigates relentlessly. Except when she is dealing with recovery from a back surgery, necessitating a stay at the house of her ex-husband and his new wife.
The personal intrudes on her work life, rather like it does for most of us in the real world.
The investigation leads to the discovery of a determined manipulator who has targeted Micallef for some reason. This person sends Hazel and her team all over the map, including to the police department in Toronto where Hazel's protege, Wingate, had worked previously. Hazel doesn't make friends easily and the Toronto team is not in love with her, but they do reluctantly follow her lead when they must.
A highly complicated plot with an obsessive criminal at the head of it. I'm getting the impression that nothing is simple in Hazel's world.
In this novel a fishing expedition leads to the discovery of something that looks like a body. The fishers are unable to retrieve it so it is several hours before the police team can get to it and discover what it is.
What Detective Micallef sees is the scene's resemblance to a story being serialized in the local newspaper. It appears to have been staged. But why? Like a dog with a bone, Hazel investigates relentlessly. Except when she is dealing with recovery from a back surgery, necessitating a stay at the house of her ex-husband and his new wife.
The personal intrudes on her work life, rather like it does for most of us in the real world.
The investigation leads to the discovery of a determined manipulator who has targeted Micallef for some reason. This person sends Hazel and her team all over the map, including to the police department in Toronto where Hazel's protege, Wingate, had worked previously. Hazel doesn't make friends easily and the Toronto team is not in love with her, but they do reluctantly follow her lead when they must.
A highly complicated plot with an obsessive criminal at the head of it. I'm getting the impression that nothing is simple in Hazel's world.
October 28, 2023
This is the second in the Detective Hazel Micallef mysteries. The story revolves around the death of a young female addict originally ruled a suicide by the Toronto police. Two individuals believe it was murder and the story unfolds to address the efforts of a disgraced, rogue policeman and the girl's mother to find her killer and bring him to justice. They believe they know the killer and have "Taken" him hostage. He is of course a sexual predator but innocent of the murder. The two conspirators suck the provincial police into the investigation with an unrealistic series of cryptic clues and an internet video of mutilation. Hazel and her team set about following the clues and conflict along the way with smarmy supervisors in her own force and in the Toronto city police. There is some high action sequences where the team rescues the guy and neutralizes the rogue cop. The actual killer actually come out of left field as a largely unsatisfying conclusion. I still liked and would recommend it to Hazel's fans and mystery fans alike.
June 8, 2018
This book felt like it had 2 distinct halves. The first was Hazel dealing with the aftermath of her back surgery. She was forced to confront how she felt about her job and how she felt about her ex-husband and his new wife, as she and her mother were staying with them and they were caring for Hazel. It left all sorts of awkward situations, but by the end I think everyone was ok with each other and the roles and connections they had, which was nice to see.
Hazel's work life on the other hand looks to be a bit crazy! She made it back to work, drawn into a maybe murder that just seemed to get crazy and crazier. On her quest to solve the crime Hazel pissed some people off, high up people, she also wow'ed some junior officers and learned that a big change coming to her station might not be as bad as she initially thought. It will be interesting to see how things shake out.
Hazel's work life on the other hand looks to be a bit crazy! She made it back to work, drawn into a maybe murder that just seemed to get crazy and crazier. On her quest to solve the crime Hazel pissed some people off, high up people, she also wow'ed some junior officers and learned that a big change coming to her station might not be as bad as she initially thought. It will be interesting to see how things shake out.
October 11, 2018
Hazel is recovering from her second back surgery, and she and her mother are staying at her ex-husband's house with his wife helping Hazel. Being helpless and having to beg for help during her recovery has made it hard for Hazel to mend emotionally. She even needed help with bathing. But now she is on the mend, and there is a mystery in town. A manikin has been caught by a couple fishing, but it is not as it seems. Embedded is a website address that shows someone in the shadows who is tied to a chair. This all leads to a cold case suicide that may or may not be a suicide, and a renegade cop. And if that's not enough, Hazel's boss is looking to replace her with someone who left her department on bad terms. Lots of action, twists and turns. Hazel as a person becomes more and more human as the story unfolds. Really great mystery read.
October 16, 2019
This was the audiobook version for me.....and if you are going to have a Canadian setting, you should at least have a Canadian narrator....so many words grated on me...Spadina is SPA-DINAH, Z is ZED and seconded is SE-CON-DED, not as pronounced by the narrator in this story. Doesn't the author sign off on the narrator? Anyway, the story was a bit too long for my liking, and somewhat convoluted. There was no cooperation between police forces, which at least if there is no cooperation, there should not be road blocks, like the Toronto Police Services were throwing up. I figured out who killed Brenda pretty early on...there really was only one viable suspect, so that wasn't too hard. Despite all the sticking points, the story was good, the characters are well developed and likeable, and I will be interested in reading more of Hazel Macliffe. Hopefully I can find some at the library.
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