Last Seen Wearing (Pol Proc-Inspector Morse-England-Cont) – 2nd in series – Colin Dexter Corona – NR - I was not impressed with Morse spinning scenarios then looking for clues to fit. The story looked more & more like a bowl of spaghetti with just as much motivation of unraveling it. LJ – Poor - I read principally for character. When I don’t like the characters, I have a hard time getting through the book. Other than his love of opera, there was little to like about Morse. He drinks too much, is into pornography and leaps to conclusions about the case, then trying to make the clues fit his conclusion. Sgt Lewis is strictly a side kick and given little notice at all. Rather than real investigation being done there are a huge number of coincidences. The “procedure” of an investigation is seems disregarded at worst and is sloppy at best. A court would have a field day with the way in which evidence was, or wasn’t handled. I found this a slog to get through. With so many other good British police procedural authors available, Dexter is one I’ll leave behind.
Dance for the Dead (Susp-Jane Whitfield-US-Cont) – 2nd in series – Thomas Perry Corona – Good - I loved our heroine but I must admit I was more tolerant of her being super cool as I would have been of a man (her being American Indian also helped). The story was populated with people who knew their job well, could think 23 steps ahead and had little in common with us mortals. A great story, interesting characters, but enjoyable only in small portions. Linda F – DNF – What she read was okay but she decided it wasn’t worth her time to finish it. Linda S – VG – Really loved the character of Jane. Liked the poison scene but the ending was more brutal than it needed to be. LJ – VG - I love books that are both exciting and actually teach me something--trusts and banking--without slowing down the story. Jane is a fascinating character, a Native American whose culture and history are provided through visions and dreams, who is capable and inventive. This is a very good book in a fascinating series.
Bruno, Chief of Police (Pol. Proc-Bruno –France-Cont) – 1st in series – Martin Walker Corona – Ex – Had a lot of fun reading it. I loved our hero, endearing, reminded me a lot of Hamish and like Hamish, I had to keep reminding myself that he belonged to a younger generation. I liked the complex look at the murderers and insight of the political ramifications on the solving of the murder. But I especially liked spending time in rural France. Linda – DNF for his book “Caves of Perigore” which contains three story lines. She gave up after the first two chapters as the second chapter, set in the past, just didn’t work for her. LJ – VG+ - This may be Walkers first book, but it won’t be the last of his I read. I so enjoyed that the story is set in the countryside, rather than in Paris. He paints verbal pictures of the countryside and the food. I learned history of the WWII in France and the Resistance that I hadn’t known. The story is wonderfully plotted. But it’s the characters that really make this work. Bruno is an orphan who is a canny, sensitive character who loves his town, values his relations with his friend, the town’s mayor, and never carries a gun. This was a wonderful read.
Corona – NR - I was not impressed with Morse spinning scenarios then looking for clues to fit. The story looked more & more like a bowl of spaghetti with just as much motivation of unraveling it.
LJ – Poor - I read principally for character. When I don’t like the characters, I have a hard time getting through the book. Other than his love of opera, there was little to like about Morse. He drinks too much, is into pornography and leaps to conclusions about the case, then trying to make the clues fit his conclusion. Sgt Lewis is strictly a side kick and given little notice at all. Rather than real investigation being done there are a huge number of coincidences. The “procedure” of an investigation is seems disregarded at worst and is sloppy at best. A court would have a field day with the way in which evidence was, or wasn’t handled. I found this a slog to get through. With so many other good British police procedural authors available, Dexter is one I’ll leave behind.
Dance for the Dead (Susp-Jane Whitfield-US-Cont) – 2nd in series – Thomas Perry
Corona – Good - I loved our heroine but I must admit I was more tolerant of her being super cool as I would have been of a man (her being American Indian also helped). The story was populated with people who knew their job well, could think 23 steps ahead and had little in common with us mortals. A great story, interesting characters, but enjoyable only in small portions.
Linda F – DNF – What she read was okay but she decided it wasn’t worth her time to finish it.
Linda S – VG – Really loved the character of Jane. Liked the poison scene but the ending was more brutal than it needed to be.
LJ – VG - I love books that are both exciting and actually teach me something--trusts and banking--without slowing down the story. Jane is a fascinating character, a Native American whose culture and history are provided through visions and dreams, who is capable and inventive. This is a very good book in a fascinating series.
Bruno, Chief of Police (Pol. Proc-Bruno –France-Cont) – 1st in series – Martin Walker
Corona – Ex – Had a lot of fun reading it. I loved our hero, endearing, reminded me a lot of Hamish and like Hamish, I had to keep reminding myself that he belonged to a younger generation. I liked the complex look at the murderers and insight of the political ramifications on the solving of the murder. But I especially liked spending time in rural France.
Linda – DNF for his book “Caves of Perigore” which contains three story lines. She gave up after the first two chapters as the second chapter, set in the past, just didn’t work for her.
LJ – VG+ - This may be Walkers first book, but it won’t be the last of his I read. I so enjoyed that the story is set in the countryside, rather than in Paris. He paints verbal pictures of the countryside and the food. I learned history of the WWII in France and the Resistance that I hadn’t known. The story is wonderfully plotted. But it’s the characters that really make this work. Bruno is an orphan who is a canny, sensitive character who loves his town, values his relations with his friend, the town’s mayor, and never carries a gun. This was a wonderful read.