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balthazarlawson's reviews
1162 reviews
Murder at the Manse by Andrea Frazer
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
An old country house is renovated and turned into a hotel that hosts murder mystery weekends and it's the opening weekend. Naturally, there is a real murder, in fact three. Harry Falconer, and his side kick Davy Carmichael, enter the picture to solve the case.
A nice cosy country murder.
However, this is so poorly executed. The main characters are caricatures and so bad at their job as police that it's a wonder they solve anything. Just when I think the writing in this series seems to have improved it stumbles and gets convoluted. Why use one word when a whole paragraph will do. There just doesn't seem to be any consistency to characters and just when you think you are getting a clear picture of Harry Falconer the character takes a sharp turn to the left and jump to the right, three steps backwards and falls over. It just gets so confusing.
I don't know if I will complete this series, but I have them on the shelf.
A nice cosy country murder.
However, this is so poorly executed. The main characters are caricatures and so bad at their job as police that it's a wonder they solve anything. Just when I think the writing in this series seems to have improved it stumbles and gets convoluted. Why use one word when a whole paragraph will do. There just doesn't seem to be any consistency to characters and just when you think you are getting a clear picture of Harry Falconer the character takes a sharp turn to the left and jump to the right, three steps backwards and falls over. It just gets so confusing.
I don't know if I will complete this series, but I have them on the shelf.
Past Lying by Val McDermid
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This started out slow. Nothing worse than reading a book in a book in a book. It got confusing and frustrating especially as it seemed that the written words they were reading was taken so seriously without knowing how the story turned out.
Plus there were completely unnecessary story lines in this that could have been left out as I don't feel they added anything. It seemed this was more about life in COVID lockdown than a cold case crime story. It was more like a social commentary about all the social issue of life in Edinburgh.
I like a good crime story and if you take out all the excess this wasn't too bad a crime story in the end. Just bloated.
Plus there were completely unnecessary story lines in this that could have been left out as I don't feel they added anything. It seemed this was more about life in COVID lockdown than a cold case crime story. It was more like a social commentary about all the social issue of life in Edinburgh.
I like a good crime story and if you take out all the excess this wasn't too bad a crime story in the end. Just bloated.
New Glory by Peter Menadue
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book carries on from where Lost Glory ended, with Glen Tucker, homicide detective, now tasked with finding who is responsible for the death of his partner, and the detective who had previously been looking into the matter, now also dead.
This is set in the future where the American president has been in power for 32 years, there is a war with Canada and memories are public property. The truth about Tucker is about to be exposed and it puts in place a plan that will change everything.
Not as tight as the first book but also enjoyable and both books could really be joined into one. Although this is the second book in the series reading the first book will make things so much clearer to the reader, but, this could be read on it's own.
This is set in the future where the American president has been in power for 32 years, there is a war with Canada and memories are public property. The truth about Tucker is about to be exposed and it puts in place a plan that will change everything.
Not as tight as the first book but also enjoyable and both books could really be joined into one. Although this is the second book in the series reading the first book will make things so much clearer to the reader, but, this could be read on it's own.
Innocent Blood by Graham Masterton
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Frank Bell's world is turned upside down when his eight year old son is killed in a terrorist bombing of the private school he attends. Frank was there when the bomb went off and immediately after the explosion he encountered a young woman and they form a bond. During the investigation he meets a psychic engaged by the police and they also form a bond. These two people change Frank's life.
But things are not what they seem as the terrorists begin a campaign against the entertainment industry and Frank is targeted. He also encounters a visitation from his dead son, Danny, but that is not what it seems either. Nothing is what is seems until the truth is exposed at the end.
I enjoyed this though I could tell that Frank was been led around by the sex on offer and the hurt and pain he was experiencing. There are seances, marriage break-ups, fear, sleeplessness and strange disappearances. Over all this there is a spookiness, but one expects this from the author.
But things are not what they seem as the terrorists begin a campaign against the entertainment industry and Frank is targeted. He also encounters a visitation from his dead son, Danny, but that is not what it seems either. Nothing is what is seems until the truth is exposed at the end.
I enjoyed this though I could tell that Frank was been led around by the sex on offer and the hurt and pain he was experiencing. There are seances, marriage break-ups, fear, sleeplessness and strange disappearances. Over all this there is a spookiness, but one expects this from the author.
Rabbit Hole by Mark Billingham
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I didn't like this. I'm not saying it's a badly written book, I'm just saying I didn't enjoy this at all. I disliked the characters, the setting and the constant knowing that everything I'm reading is not necessarily reality for the characters. That's life in a mental health unit where this all takes place. Told in the first person by Alice, who was section following a bad case of PTSD.
But, then, you just can't believe anything you read.
But, then, you just can't believe anything you read.
The Hunter by Tony Park
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's hard to place Tony Park books into series as they have many interconnecting characters. This book features Hudson Brand, safari guide and private investigator. He is suspended from his guiding duties due to an incident with poachers in South Africa, so takes on an insurance fraud case in Zimbabwe. In the background is South African detective, Sannie van Rensburg, who is obsesses with an old murder case and her prime suspect is Hudson Brand, but doesn't have enough evidence.
Both of these characters have appeared in other Tony Park books.
So we have two story lines that interconnect.
Together, we have an interesting and adventurous read that travels through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Kenya with Hudson seeking the truth about girl who died in a car accident to give relieve to her sister and avoiding being arrested for something he didn't do.
I enjoyed this though just when you think it's all sorted, there's another twist and there are a lot of them.
Both of these characters have appeared in other Tony Park books.
So we have two story lines that interconnect.
Together, we have an interesting and adventurous read that travels through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Kenya with Hudson seeking the truth about girl who died in a car accident to give relieve to her sister and avoiding being arrested for something he didn't do.
I enjoyed this though just when you think it's all sorted, there's another twist and there are a lot of them.
The White Knight by Scott Mariani
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Ben Hope is always willing to help those in trouble. Being offered a billion euros to do a job is not why he does it. He does it out of loyalty and friendship. When an old client, turned friend, is attacked in his home and almost killed, Ben quickly steps up to help find the perpetrators. This sends him up against the most fearsome and skilled killers he has yet encountered and knows he unable to do it all on his own. Normally he doesn't accept the offers of help from his friends, but this time he his unable to reject the help they offer.
This is another excellent read and shows Ben Hope's true character. It's action from the beginning to end as Ben, and his friends, do battle with a shadowy group of billionaires who have their own ideas about how the world should be run and operated. They are not going to get their way if Ben has any say in the matter.
Although there are some farfetched logical steps in this, I still found it very enjoyable and easy to read.
This is another excellent read and shows Ben Hope's true character. It's action from the beginning to end as Ben, and his friends, do battle with a shadowy group of billionaires who have their own ideas about how the world should be run and operated. They are not going to get their way if Ben has any say in the matter.
Although there are some farfetched logical steps in this, I still found it very enjoyable and easy to read.
Pascal Passion by Andrea Frazer
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
So reminiscent of the previous books in the series. There is a formula to these books and it makes for rather a repetitive read. You meet the gossiping locals, the police talk to the gossiping locals, so you hear it all again. Then the police discuss what he gossiping locals had to say so get the same story for the third time.
All the time you are wondering about the main character but you just don't get to know a huge amount about them as if it is a state secret. The structure of these books is one of the problems with them. You need to get to know more about the main characters.
I still have another ten books to read of this series.
All the time you are wondering about the main character but you just don't get to know a huge amount about them as if it is a state secret. The structure of these books is one of the problems with them. You need to get to know more about the main characters.
I still have another ten books to read of this series.
The One from the Other by Philip Kerr
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Bernie Gunther is now living in Dachau, outside Munich, running his father-in-law's, now deceased, hotel. But business is very slow to non-existent. His wife is in a hospital following a nervous breakdown after her father's death. So, he decides to go back to what he knows best, being a private detective and sets up an office in central Munich.
Being 1949 there are a lot of missing people in occupied Germany and this is why his first clients hire him. Trying to find the missing is not easy, especially when they don't want to be found, like former SS officers who have avoided being captured by the victors. And then sometimes, you ask the wrong person the wrong question.
An enjoyable and informative read about live at the time of the forming the German Federal Republic, West Germany, and the hardships faced by the defeated. It doesn't avoid covering the horrors of war and death of millions, but these are facts of history.
The ending is a set up for the next book in the series and I look forward to reading.
Being 1949 there are a lot of missing people in occupied Germany and this is why his first clients hire him. Trying to find the missing is not easy, especially when they don't want to be found, like former SS officers who have avoided being captured by the victors. And then sometimes, you ask the wrong person the wrong question.
An enjoyable and informative read about live at the time of the forming the German Federal Republic, West Germany, and the hardships faced by the defeated. It doesn't avoid covering the horrors of war and death of millions, but these are facts of history.
The ending is a set up for the next book in the series and I look forward to reading.
Inkier than the Sword by Andrea Frazer
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This is the third book in the series and the main characters, Falconer and Carmichael, are still a strange and odd pair. But not in a good and interesting way. Their characters are not consistent, especially Falconer, and they are still bad police detectives. If not for someone else writing the book I don't they would ever solve a murder.
Could be much better but it's just a very lighthearted murder mystery, with a bit of poison pen letter thrown in.
Could be much better but it's just a very lighthearted murder mystery, with a bit of poison pen letter thrown in.