The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam (Novelist/Thief-Charlie Howard-Amsterdam-Cont) – 1st in series – Chris Ewan Andrea – Ex – Liked the characters and the plot did not stretch her credulity. It was well written, did not include a stupid romance and there was nothing that bothered her about the story. She had been to Amsterdam a few years ago and felt the author conveyed a good sense of place. Charlotte – G+/VG – She started liking it but at the end felt it was a bit farfetched. She did enjoy it but felt let down by the ending. Libby – VG – She liked it a lot. She lived in Holland as a teenager, although not in Amsterdam. Still she felt the author created a good sense of being there. There were two things that bothered her; the constant attraction to women and the role of the older woman at the end when everyone was gathered in a room. She also thought it was strange that his editor had never met him, didn’t know his real name or what he looked like, but he had told her about his thievery. LJ – G+ - Ewan begins with a very good, intriguing opening chapter and a delightful writing style and voice. Charlie is a likeable, albeit crooked, character and I appreciated the back story Ewan provided. I also enjoyed the discussions Charlie had with his agent in London, Victoria. They’ve never met; she thinks he looks like his jacket cover photo. Their relationship reminded me of the Richard Diamond television series from the late 1950’s and his conversations with Sam (voice of Mary Tyler Moore) whose legs where the only thing you saw. All of Ewan’s characters were well done. Ewan’s voice is one wry humor but never out of place. He takes the characters and the action seriously. His sense of place was not as strong as I might have liked, although it did improve as the story went on. What I didn’t particularly care for, or is not my preferred style, was the round-up-all-the-players-and-expose-the-truth, ending. It took away from a story that, up to that point, had been very well plotted and filled with unexpected twists right up to the ending. Overall, it was a clever, intelligent and very enjoyable book.
Mad Hatter’s Holiday (Pol. Proc-Sergeant Cribb-England-1882) – 4th in series – Peter Lovesey Andrea – G – She was turned off by how creepy the character Moscrop was but she loved it once the detectives appeared. However, she read another book by Lovesey in his Peter Diamond series and loved it. Libby – G – Libby also though Moscrop was creepy and didn’t enjoy the book until Cribb and Thackeray showed up. She felt the scene in the aquarium did a good job of capturing the atmosphere. She though it was a good book and might read another by Lovesey. LJ – VG - Although written in 1973, this is a gem of a Victoria-period book. Lovesey has captured the societal restrictions as well as the richness and formality of the language of the time. Where else does a character admire the perpendicularity of a pier. I loved Cribb’s analogy of the pier to the city, being all sparking and fresh on top while slimy with weeds and black water underneath. The story is very much plot driven, and well-plotted it is with some very good twists along with way. This was the fist Lovesey I had read, but it is not going to be my last. Marcy – G – Marcy, too, was turned off by Moscrop and felt the first 100 pages dragged. She became involved when Moscrop was made aware that the maid, Bridget had been observing him as she was observing others. Then, Marcy was hooked. However, she’s not certain she’d read another by this author, at least in this series.
Resolution (Hist. Mys-Hitch and Cole-Amer. West-1800s) – 2nd in series – Robert B. Parker Charlotte – G+ - A very different book—not really a mystery—but she enjoyed it. Very short sentences. She did wonder about the realism of gunfighters with a conscience, but she did like the book. Libby – VG – Really liked it. This may be the first Parker book she’s read. It is clear that dialogue is his strong point, but she also like the characters. She would read more in this series. LJ – G+ - I’m not much of a Western fan, but I am a fan of Parker. All those elements at which he excels are in evidence, regardless of the time period. Parker plays on the eternal themes of justice, honor, loyalty and friendship. He is an expert at crisp, tight dialogue and fast-paced stories with very good suspense and violence that is never gratuitous. He creates strong characters in both his men and women, and makes them come to life. I am never bored with a Parker book and never tire of reading him. The Old West may have found a new fan.
Andrea – Ex – Liked the characters and the plot did not stretch her credulity. It was well written, did not include a stupid romance and there was nothing that bothered her about the story. She had been to Amsterdam a few years ago and felt the author conveyed a good sense of place.
Charlotte – G+/VG – She started liking it but at the end felt it was a bit farfetched. She did enjoy it but felt let down by the ending.
Libby – VG – She liked it a lot. She lived in Holland as a teenager, although not in Amsterdam. Still she felt the author created a good sense of being there. There were two things that bothered her; the constant attraction to women and the role of the older woman at the end when everyone was gathered in a room. She also thought it was strange that his editor had never met him, didn’t know his real name or what he looked like, but he had told her about his thievery.
LJ – G+ - Ewan begins with a very good, intriguing opening chapter and a delightful writing style and voice. Charlie is a likeable, albeit crooked, character and I appreciated the back story Ewan provided. I also enjoyed the discussions Charlie had with his agent in London, Victoria. They’ve never met; she thinks he looks like his jacket cover photo. Their relationship reminded me of the Richard Diamond television series from the late 1950’s and his conversations with Sam (voice of Mary Tyler Moore) whose legs where the only thing you saw. All of Ewan’s characters were well done. Ewan’s voice is one wry humor but never out of place. He takes the characters and the action seriously. His sense of place was not as strong as I might have liked, although it did improve as the story went on. What I didn’t particularly care for, or is not my preferred style, was the round-up-all-the-players-and-expose-the-truth, ending. It took away from a story that, up to that point, had been very well plotted and filled with unexpected twists right up to the ending. Overall, it was a clever, intelligent and very enjoyable book.
Mad Hatter’s Holiday (Pol. Proc-Sergeant Cribb-England-1882) – 4th in series – Peter Lovesey
Andrea – G – She was turned off by how creepy the character Moscrop was but she loved it once the detectives appeared. However, she read another book by Lovesey in his Peter Diamond series and loved it.
Libby – G – Libby also though Moscrop was creepy and didn’t enjoy the book until Cribb and Thackeray showed up. She felt the scene in the aquarium did a good job of capturing the atmosphere. She though it was a good book and might read another by Lovesey.
LJ – VG - Although written in 1973, this is a gem of a Victoria-period book. Lovesey has captured the societal restrictions as well as the richness and formality of the language of the time. Where else does a character admire the perpendicularity of a pier. I loved Cribb’s analogy of the pier to the city, being all sparking and fresh on top while slimy with weeds and black water underneath. The story is very much plot driven, and well-plotted it is with some very good twists along with way. This was the fist Lovesey I had read, but it is not going to be my last.
Marcy – G – Marcy, too, was turned off by Moscrop and felt the first 100 pages dragged. She became involved when Moscrop was made aware that the maid, Bridget had been observing him as she was observing others. Then, Marcy was hooked. However, she’s not certain she’d read another by this author, at least in this series.
Resolution (Hist. Mys-Hitch and Cole-Amer. West-1800s) – 2nd in series – Robert B. Parker
Charlotte – G+ - A very different book—not really a mystery—but she enjoyed it. Very short sentences. She did wonder about the realism of gunfighters with a conscience, but she did like the book.
Libby – VG – Really liked it. This may be the first Parker book she’s read. It is clear that dialogue is his strong point, but she also like the characters. She would read more in this series.
LJ – G+ - I’m not much of a Western fan, but I am a fan of Parker. All those elements at which he excels are in evidence, regardless of the time period. Parker plays on the eternal themes of justice, honor, loyalty and friendship. He is an expert at crisp, tight dialogue and fast-paced stories with very good suspense and violence that is never gratuitous. He creates strong characters in both his men and women, and makes them come to life. I am never bored with a Parker book and never tire of reading him. The Old West may have found a new fan.