I finished another book this weekend. I'm down to 3 books left for December so I might try a couple more. But I'll wait until I finish The Passage as it's a long book. I dropped some books off at my used book store and also at a couple of the other Little Free Libraries in the area. I did buy one book also.
I'll update both books and also continue with my look at the Mystery Genre - American Cops.
Just Finished
"Gently By the Shore is the 2nd book in the Chief Inspector George Gently mystery series by Alan Hunter. It's the 3rd book I've read. And like the others, this was an excellent mystery.
I find myself comparing the books to the TV series which is unfair. The TV series is set much later in Gently's career (at least I assume it is, as in the TV series, you find Gently working out of Newcastle, instead of as a Scotland Yard inspector). But having said that, it's neither here nor there as both are excellent.
In Gently by the Shore, we find Inspector Gently on vacation near Norfolk. A murder takes place at a lumberyard and Gently hears about and offers his assistance to the local constabulary. His presence is resented by the local inspector, Hansom. The owner of the local lumberyard, a Dutchman, Peter Huysmann, is murdered in his office (stabbed in the back) and his safe emptied. Suspects are his estranged son (now working in a travelling fair as a motorcycle rider in the Wall of Death), his daughter, the manager of the lumber yard and the chauffeur.
As Alan Hunter says in his preamble, the story isn't so much a 'whodunit' as a police investigation. Gently comes with no preconceived notions, except his feeling that the son is not the killer, but instead, investigates and gathers clues. to find out who the suspect actually is. The locals have their sights set on the son, who has disappeared, but Gently is very sure he isn't the one.
There is an excellent cast of characters, even down to the little boy who Gently meets in the ruins. Those are lovely scenes. Gently is a wonderful character, older, smart, intuitive and I need to get me some peppermint creams. He's methodical with his investigation and is able to dig out clues that the other cops don't even think about. Excellent story and series so far. (4.5 stars)"
New Books
It always happens. I order a book because I haven't seen a certain book in the store. When I get it, the very next day it and any other books from the same author all show up in the store.
"The Gingerbreadman - psychopath, genius, convicted murderer and biscuit - is loose on the streets of Reading.
But it isn't Jack Spratt's case. Enforced non-involvement looks to be frustrating, until a chance encounter at the oddly familiar Deja Vu Club leads them into the hunt for missing journalist Henriette 'Goldy' Hatchett, star reporter for The Daily Toad.
The last witnesses to see her alive were the Three Bears, comfortably living a life of rural solitude in Andersen's wood. But all is not what it seems. Are the unexplained explosions around the world related to a missing nuclear scientist? How dangerous can cucumber-growing be?
And most important of all: how could the bears' porridge be at such disparate temperatures when they were poured at the same time?"
My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American Cops
In my last entry I looked at Kathy Reichs's Temperance Brennan forensic mystery series.
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| John Sandford |
John Roswell Camp (AKA John Sandford) was born in Cedar Rapids Iowa in 1944. He is a New York Times best selling author and also has received a Pulitzer Prize. He has written a number of series but I've been focused on his Prey series, featuring
"This is my first experience with John Sandford's Prey series. I quite enjoyed it. It's an easy read and Lucas Davenport is an interesting character. He isn't a super-human like many thriller protagonists. He definitely has many strengths, his love of firearms, his way with women, his game playing skills, but at the same time he has many doubts and flaws that make him a more rounded character. This first story was an excellent introduction to the series; the 'villain', a serial killer dubbed maddog, was unique as well, not perfect but scary. The story moved along quite nicely and I liked the process of the investigation itself. Overall, it was a tense, well-crafted thriller/ mystery and definitely makes you want to continue with the series to see how much Davenport's character and those of his acquaintances are further developed. (4 stars)"
"Shadow Prey is the 2nd book in the Prey (Lucas Davenport) mystery / cop series by John Sandford. Davenport is a cop in Minneapolis; he's a computer game creator, a hard-nosed cop and a bit of a lady's man. In this story, a group of native Americans begin a guerrilla war against various powerful people, aiming for a certain man who has harmed them in the past.
The murders take place across America and bring a female NY police officer to Minneapolis as part of the investigation. Davenport finds her very attractive and there is an ongoing story of their budding relationship as they also investigate the murders and try to find out who is the perp.
The story has lots of action but regularly veers off on a tangent to explore the relationship between Davenport and Lily. I liked the investigation even though there were a couple of what I perceived clues that were missed that I thought were kind of obvious. It's an easy, fast-paced read and an entertaining story. I will continue reading the series. It's one of those series that you can enjoy when you want a break from heavier reading. (3 stars)"
"Lieutenant Davenport's sanity was nearly shattered by two murder investigations. Now he faces something worse...two killers. One hideously scarred. The other strikingly handsome, a master manipulator fascinated with all aspects of death. The dark mirror of Davenport's soul...This is the case that will bring Davenport back to life. Or push him over the edge."
"He was right. His guards slain, the brilliant, insane pathologist of Eyes of Prey flees to New York, there to continue his research into aspects of death. Carefully, he conducts his experiments, searching the eyes of his dying victims for what they can reveal, the mounting body count causing an uproar in the city.
In desperation, the police reach out for the man who knew Bekker best, but when Lucas arrives, he finds unexpected danger as well. For Lily Rothenburg, the policewoman whose intense affair with Lucas has never completely faded, is there too. Now, consumed with her own investigation of a group of rogue killers within the police department, she draws Lucas into her orbit again, until their hunts merge, their twin obsessions driving them ever closer to the edge . . . and then over."
"The Iceman is Lucas Davenport's most determined foe - a serial killer driven to cover his brutal tracks with blood. Sandford again creates almost unbearable suspense as we wait for the Ice Man's razor-sharp corn knife to strike.
Winter Prey unfolds in the cold and driving snow of the north country, the perfect setting for the chilling terror caused by the Ice Man, a killer who knows Lucas' every move - a coldly brilliant madman who can't be stopped. Turn up the heat and listen as Lucas Davenport faces his most dangerous challenge."
Enough to tease you? The complete list of Prey books can be found at this link.
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