Danny > Recent Status Updates

This was a bit of a 'spur of the moment' reading selection - even though I've read & enjoyed a couple of this authors' books before. I've already found some repeat themes in the writing but I'm hoping there could be a very interesting plot twist that I've already spotted?
Will stick with this one for a little bit longer but may also put it aside..?

This is not a bad read - fairly typical of this author's style, but I'll have to admit that I'm enjoying it a little more than my previous attempt at reading her work. Still only using at a 'fill-in' read though.......

This was one that I thought really struggled to get going (and hold my attention) but finally managed it well past halfway in to the book.
The reveal (finally) of the relationship between 2 of the 3 main female characters - not what I was expecting, by the way - really helped move the story along. I thought subsequent events were a little too conveniently plotted but all up led to a satisfying conclusion.

I am really enjoying this one, as I did the author's first book (even though it wasn't written as a series, strictly speaking)
There are direct connections to the first book early on and then events make it very easy to recall other events - this was a slight concern of mine, but well done to the author for making it fairly seamless.

This is probably overall not what I was expecting but it is an an area of history that I find interesting so I will stick it out to the end I think.
Like a lot of historical fiction that I read my critical feelings are guided more by structure than general writing style, etc.

This is definitely leading up to a big climax now that it's clear 'The Beast' (serial killer from an early on in the series) has resurfaced.
There is not as much development with the personal side stories (Ridpath's health, daughter, police/legal bureaucracy, etc) this time but I do hope there will be some positive development for the coroner, Mrs Challinor, before the end..?

Another real interesting book - I know, I keep saying that after I've finished each one!
This one had a new aspect in the use of DNA / ancestry databases to help solve crimes, something happening quite a bit these days I believe, which added a topical element to the story.
There was also a personal tragedy with another main character (with cliffhanger), which was nice to move beyond the eponymous Ridpath's character.

This was an interesting instalment in this series of which have become a definite fan!
There was a fairly nicely disguised reveal of the 'insider' - I had already twigged to the allusion of some inside help / corruption. There was also some interesting use of formatting to look like a real document - I am curious how accurate this might be?

This one is proving to be another good read and bringing back a baddie from very early on in the series I suspect??

Getting to the 'pointy end' of this one, thankfully. A little unfortunate that I can't put it down for a little bit and come back to it, so will plough on - that's not to say that I'm not enjoying (reserving my judgement)

I'm pleased that this one finally seems to be coming together. I'll re-iterate my previous thoughts that this one is good but too slow to get going, not helped by being a bit overstuffed. Hope to see it come to a satisfying conclusion.

This is proving to be quite an interesting book of this series with which I'm well acquainted - some topical themes being explored (the effects of the covid pandemic) and could a previous killer be back...?

Still going with this one, even though my preference would be to put it down for a little while and come back to it.
It's really too long (just getting to the heart of the story now, over halfway through) and a little too much going on....

Just getting in to this one - having read the ebook preview. What a downer it's the last one left in the series (book #10)!!

Just getting in to this one - although I'm unfortunately a bit 'under the pump' with this book as it's only a short library loan.
I'll therefore reserve my opinion on it for now but my initial feelings are a little ambivalent, despite how much I like this author's first book and looked forward to reading this new book.

While I am generally enjoying this - having really liked the author's first book in this now series - TBH it is bloated. I'm already past halfway and finally the real interesting part is starting to get going.
I'm struggling a bit with it and will have to come back to it.

Not really 100% convinced on this one, but staying with it and reading it 'bit-wise' as a fill-in.
It's an ebook and the page numbering is really screwed up, so only guessing how far I am actually in to it!! Currently in section 5 of 6 - there's no separate chapters in this one.

This was a Christmas Eve book gift. Had always meant to try reading some of this well-known Aust author I'll have to admit.
While I'm finding this an interesting read it really isn't what I was expecting. Still, mercifully short so will stick it out...

Another 'impulse selection' to read - a book that just happened to pop up via Google Play ebooks.
The style of the book was interesting with the illustrations throughout (which could have been a little gimmicky, but wasn't). While I thought the writing was ok, it could have been better (especially being only from the one POV) but thankfully also relatively short & sharp.

Another book that was a bit of an 'impulse choice' of reading.
Again, not a bad read but it wasn't really what I was expecting. It started off quite well in setting the scene of the historical period but then petered out in the second half after covering an already obvious conclusion. The writing style also grated with me a little - trying a bit to hard to invoke the vernacular of the time period.

This was a bit of an 'impulse choice' of reading.
I wouldn't say that it wasn't a decent read but it wasn't really what I was expecting. It had some good intentions of showing the problems in war-torn parts of Africa but went about telling the story in a rather confused way.

Picked this one up to read as a bit of an impulse thing - thought the topic sounded interesting. It's not bad but I'm finding the rather 'disconnected' style in which it's written doesn't help connect with the characters; as a result it's a rather dry read.
Will keep with it though - like I said the historical subject matter always keeps me interested.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I am now very familiar with this author's style: his trademarks are there but on the whole the book has left me a little unsatisfied.
I think it was left a little too long for the 'final reveal' (it's not much of a shock as it's been alluded to all along) so the sympathy for the main characters is somewhat diluted.
Still, would also like to revisit the film adaption again...

This had a very convoluted with (very deliberate, I suspect) obfuscation but I think this made the 'big reveal' at the end (and hinted at in the prologue/first chapter) feel a little rushed. The long covered up child abuse also felt a little too 'put on' - this was clearly very much a hot-button topic at the time.
Still, can't fault the author for trying to include new themes and overall still enjoying this series.

Skipped over in to this book (no. 9) in the series. It is a bit different as the main case seemingly is being shared with a more personal storyline (are they actually linked somehow?), which is quite interesting and I like.
Really charging through it but coming close to the last of the books available, sadly...

This limped to a conclusion, one that seemed rather protracted as it had pretty much been solved by this stage - not helped by the curious decision of the publisher (?) to tack on a 'bonus' final chapter, ie. just expanded, no alternative ending. The point being..?
Anyway, I'm glad I gave this author/series a go - the 'different' main detective was interesting to a point but not enough to read any further I'm afraid.

These books are becoming increasingly elaborate in their setups - over halfway through and I'm really not sure where it's all going, even if I try to point it in the same direction as previous in the series.
There seems to be more 'real life' snapshots in this, eg. instant messaging, reading through police reports, etc. I'm no great fan of this and I think the author does better writing in the 'traditional' style.

I picked up this to read as I recently read this author's previous work, which featured (not coincidentally) very similar themes.
While I would say it was overall fairly good, on this occasion I felt that the author has 'over-egged the pudding'. There were a lot of interesting historically based themes taken up but it all made for a little too much when crammed together in to 1 book - even with 3 storylines.