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balthazarlawson's reviews
1162 reviews
You Can't See Me by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
It didn't take long for this book turned into a soppy, overly dramatic episode of Days of our Lives. I didn't like it. We all knew that someone had been killed, but it wasn't until 90% of the way into the book before the person was identified.
Everything happens at a family reunion at a luxury hotel in the west of Iceland and thus there is a lot of reminiscing going on. An awful lot of reminiscing! We learn about the main players and all their faults. Everyone seems to have some huge secret they are trying to hide, but at the same time agonizing over weather or not they should reveal their secret. It just dragged for me and then in the end the guilty got away.
This book is set before the first book in the Forbidden Iceland series and Detective Elma is only mentions at the end as being a replacement detective joining the team.
Everything happens at a family reunion at a luxury hotel in the west of Iceland and thus there is a lot of reminiscing going on. An awful lot of reminiscing! We learn about the main players and all their faults. Everyone seems to have some huge secret they are trying to hide, but at the same time agonizing over weather or not they should reveal their secret. It just dragged for me and then in the end the guilty got away.
This book is set before the first book in the Forbidden Iceland series and Detective Elma is only mentions at the end as being a replacement detective joining the team.
The Clerkenwell Affair by Susanna Gregory
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The is the 14th book in the Thomas Chaloner series and the first I've read. So it's always interesting to find out if one needs to have read any previous books in the series. The answer is no as I felt no need to have known anything that happened in any previous book. However, I will go back to read more in the series as I enjoyed this.
At it's heart this is a murder mystery set in 1666 London, before the Great Fire of London, which happens later in the year. The previous year the city had been ravaged by plague. Easter is approaching and as Good Friday is on Friday the 13th, and there is a '666' in the year, people are fearful of impending doom, predicted by a soothsayer from Clerkenwell.
Thomas Chaloner is a Gentleman Usher for the Earl of Clarendon and is tasked to find out who is responsible for the murder of Thomas Chiffinch, a courtier and King's Favourite. Many suspect that the earl may have had a hand in the death and it is up to Chaloner to prove otherwise.
An interesting setting, though a bit slow in places, but worth reading.
At it's heart this is a murder mystery set in 1666 London, before the Great Fire of London, which happens later in the year. The previous year the city had been ravaged by plague. Easter is approaching and as Good Friday is on Friday the 13th, and there is a '666' in the year, people are fearful of impending doom, predicted by a soothsayer from Clerkenwell.
Thomas Chaloner is a Gentleman Usher for the Earl of Clarendon and is tasked to find out who is responsible for the murder of Thomas Chiffinch, a courtier and King's Favourite. Many suspect that the earl may have had a hand in the death and it is up to Chaloner to prove otherwise.
An interesting setting, though a bit slow in places, but worth reading.
The Lost Relic by Scott Mariani
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Ben Hope is contemplating his future and travel to Italy to contact an old friend to discuss his situation. While there he avoids an accident which ultimately turns events around, putting him on the run from the police and agents from Britain.
There is lots of action in this book and Ben's good intentions only get him into trouble as he tries to avoid it. It's a fast pace book with fast pace action all leading to face down with the ultimate enemy. I enjoyed this for most of the book, but towards the end it felt as if it was drifting a bit from the original path. The ending was a bit anti climatic with a cliche "return from the dead event", which should not have happened. Overall it was enjoyable, if you don't mind death and destruction.
There is lots of action in this book and Ben's good intentions only get him into trouble as he tries to avoid it. It's a fast pace book with fast pace action all leading to face down with the ultimate enemy. I enjoyed this for most of the book, but towards the end it felt as if it was drifting a bit from the original path. The ending was a bit anti climatic with a cliche "return from the dead event", which should not have happened. Overall it was enjoyable, if you don't mind death and destruction.
Headcase by Jack Heath
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is the fourth book in the series and I feel that to fully understand things you need to have read the previous books of the series. Timothy Blake is an unusual character, certainly damaged, but highly intelligent, in the Sherlock Holmes way. He is also a cannibal and has taken bodies as payment for his deductive talents.
He is now working with a CIA agent on a highly illegal case as it's within the USA and they are not suppose to work their, that's the job of the FBI. However, they are looking into the discovery of a body at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston and nothing makes much sense for them.
And it doesn't make much sense for the reader at times. The main story line is confusing and convoluted with lots of false leads, made more confusing by all the other story lines in the book.
It all works out in the end and you even get a hint of the next book in the series, if there is one.
Could have had a tighter and more focused story line to make it better.
He is now working with a CIA agent on a highly illegal case as it's within the USA and they are not suppose to work their, that's the job of the FBI. However, they are looking into the discovery of a body at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston and nothing makes much sense for them.
And it doesn't make much sense for the reader at times. The main story line is confusing and convoluted with lots of false leads, made more confusing by all the other story lines in the book.
It all works out in the end and you even get a hint of the next book in the series, if there is one.
Could have had a tighter and more focused story line to make it better.
What Hides in the Cellar by Graham Masterton
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another book in the Patel and Pardoe series, two London detectives that are given the more unusual cases that crop up to solve. When there are a series of violent crimes one thing links them. Witnesses say that the perpetrators were not all there, as in their head was missing, or their feet, or they were only half a person; the right half. It's not any easy case to get into as all the forensic evidence is old, as in the weapon is 80 years old and cigarette butts haven't been made since World War 2.
But slowly they work their way into the case and realise they have to become just as violent as the perpetrators they are chasing to be able to solve the case.
There is a lot of horror and bodies in this book but it's an enjoyable read and what one would expect from the author.
But slowly they work their way into the case and realise they have to become just as violent as the perpetrators they are chasing to be able to solve the case.
There is a lot of horror and bodies in this book but it's an enjoyable read and what one would expect from the author.
Choked Off by Andrea Frazer
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
0.5
I didn't like this. It was stupid, especially the ending. The structure of this book is almost identical to the previous book in the series and is very repetitive in nature. The police in this are hopeless bumbling idiots who do surprisingly stupid things and behave in a highly inappropriate manner. The book is all over the place and doesn't follow any logical progression when investigating a crime. This might be okay if the main character was quirky and eccentric, but this is not the case. The surprising thing about this is that the main character in the book, Harry Falconer, doesn't appear until half way through. I can only hope that things improve with this series.
Unfortunately, I have another 12 books in this series to read as they are sitting on my shelf ready to go. I don't think I will rush into them.
Unfortunately, I have another 12 books in this series to read as they are sitting on my shelf ready to go. I don't think I will rush into them.
Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Life in the quite village of St Denis is disturbed when a case of arson brings attention from far and near. The mayor puts pressure on the village chief of police, Bruno, to ensure the case is solved quickly, even though he is not heading up the investigation, as an investment opportunity is at risk. But life goes on and grapes are picked and crushed. When there is an unexpected death of two locals, a young man and an old man, even more attention is paid on the village. Bruno must tread the middle ground of protecting the village and finding those who are responsible.
This feels like an idealised French village country life. It's informative but one has to wonder how real this cosy setting is. As a novel it's entertaining and the main character, Bruno, is likeable, with his cooking, steady approach, evenness and attempts at a love life.
This feels like an idealised French village country life. It's informative but one has to wonder how real this cosy setting is. As a novel it's entertaining and the main character, Bruno, is likeable, with his cooking, steady approach, evenness and attempts at a love life.
Death of an Old Git by Andrea Frazer
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This is a cosy murder mystery set in a small village where everyone seemed to have a reason to do away with the victim, the hated man of the village. Trying to keep track of who's who in the village is a problem and so many are related to each other.
DI Harry Falconer and acting DS Davey Carmichael investigate the death, spending a lot of time going around the village talking to the residents. The problem is, you don't get to know much about these two characters in this book, there is no real character development. As these are the main characters in this series you would expect to learn something about what makes them tick, their quirks and where they come from.
There is no real depth to this book and is full of cliches that I've seen so often in this sort of simply murder mystery. I even picked the killer.
DI Harry Falconer and acting DS Davey Carmichael investigate the death, spending a lot of time going around the village talking to the residents. The problem is, you don't get to know much about these two characters in this book, there is no real character development. As these are the main characters in this series you would expect to learn something about what makes them tick, their quirks and where they come from.
There is no real depth to this book and is full of cliches that I've seen so often in this sort of simply murder mystery. I even picked the killer.
London by Frank Tayell
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
This book is the diary of a man surviving in London while Zombies spread across the world, including London. There is only one character in this book, Bill Wright, a political staffer who is recovering at home following an accident in which he broke his leg. As he sits there in his attic flat zombies spread out from New York and take over the world. We don't know what is really happening in the world as Bill doesn't know and we only see things from his limited point of view. It's slow and nothing much happens as he sit and watches the world go by worrying about food and water.
Things pick up a bit after he is forced to leave his flat but it's still just him and the zombies. There are 21 books in this series and I'm very much in two minds about reading anymore.
Things pick up a bit after he is forced to leave his flat but it's still just him and the zombies. There are 21 books in this series and I'm very much in two minds about reading anymore.
The Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Talk about confusion. Everyone seems to be connected to everyone and if there is a connection then they must be a victim, suspect or depressed. Working out how people are connected is a problem.
It all starts with the murder of a man after a party and ends with the discovery that the death of a teen was not what it seemed. In between there is a long slow police procedural story that didn't really grab me. It wasn't exciting, surprising or revealing. It was just another case that could have just as easy been solved by Vera or had occurred on the Shetlands. Nothing really mad this hugely unique.
It all starts with the murder of a man after a party and ends with the discovery that the death of a teen was not what it seemed. In between there is a long slow police procedural story that didn't really grab me. It wasn't exciting, surprising or revealing. It was just another case that could have just as easy been solved by Vera or had occurred on the Shetlands. Nothing really mad this hugely unique.