Tag: Fiction

The Calling of the Grave by Simon Beckett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the fourth in a series by Simon Beckett featuring a central character called David Hunter. He is a forensic anthropologist and a GP. The case concerns a series of murders that are all attributed to one man who has been jailed. The story spans several years and David Hunter has endured personal tragedy along the way.
The story isn’t a police procedural as such but does sit close to a police investigation with what seems number of recurring characters. I haven’t read the previous novels in the series but I don’t think that this is necessary to enjoy the book. I did enjoy the read as there are some nice diversions in the plot line.

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Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The sixth Dexter novel Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, has the same central character as the TV series Dexter. I have written about the increasing divergence of the novels and the TV show. I enjoy both and try not to compare too much. I therefore avoid overt comparison as some characters have different trajectories and lifespans.
This tale has our hero Dexter being pursued by an ardent admirer whose ultimate aim is to kill him. Dexter is under scrutiny at work and there are enough red herrings and subplots to keep everybody happy. Dexter’s inner voice, his dark passenger, is at his witty best. I like the struggle between Dexter the family man and Dexter the vigilante serial killer. However author Jeff Lindsay warns that we should not be charmed by his creation as he is not really a very nice person.
I don’t think that this is the best in the series but I still found it a good read. The end came too quickly but our hero still has dignity intact. This isn’t giving anything away as the next instalment Dexter’s Debut is on the horizon.

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Cell 8 by Anders Roslund

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cell 8 is the third Roslund and Hellström novel that I have read. I continue to enjoy the series and its main detective Ewert Grens. The previous volumes in the series “Three Seconds” and “Box 21” just as just as inventive as this.
The story is no secret a man who died in a US prison on death row turns up in Sweden on assault charges. The story weaves retribution around an anti-capital punishment stand. Continue reading “Cell 8 (Grens & Sundkvist #3) by Anders Roslund, Börge Hellström”

The Killing Hands by P.D. Martin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is the 4th novel in the Sophie Anderson series by Australian author PD Martin. The central character is an Australian working as an FBI profiler. The story moves along well and seems to give an insight in to the law enforcement and gang culture of LA. Being the fourth in the series there is previous history which dealt with well enough without re telling the previous books. However I did find the style hard going. There was in my opinion too much description which was superfluous. Detail of desk and the cut of clothes and so on, perhaps I me getting old and grumpy.
The central character has visions that relate to the people involved in the case. It’s a bit like digital rewind that is always incomplete and not really helpful.

However I picked the up book cheap and it made sense in the end. Not sure if will hunt down the rest I haven’t had a vision about that yet.

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The Black Path by Åsa Larsson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this in June 2010 and is part of my transfer of reading from the Now Reading plugin to Goodreads

This is the most recent of the Rebecka Martinsson by Åsa Larsson number 3. The heroine is troubled by her recent past and has almost drifted from being a corporate lawyer to working for the government prosecution service. This puts her closer to the action in this novel.
The suspense and atmosphere of these books is great, it’s all about the characters and their relationships. Not to mention a clever story line.
Another excellent instalment and makes me want to read the next one, if indeed it is translated into English.

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The Blood Spilt by Åsa Larsson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this in April 2010 and is part of my transfer of reading from the Now Reading plugin to Goodreads

The Blood Spilt is the second in the Rebeka Martinson series by Asa Larsson. Like the first novel the story revolves around a church congregation, in small rural setting. Like the first novel it features the same detectives who investigate the crime. This leaves the central character a little outside the main action but continually drawn in to the story. Continue reading “The Blood Spilt (Rebecka Martinsson, #2) by Åsa Larsson”

Nemesis by Jo Nesbø

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I originally read this in April 2010 and is part of my transfer of reading from the Now Reading plugin to Goodreads.

Another Exciting instalment in the Harry Hole saga. This is the fourth in the series which unfortunately was the first that I read. I read the previous book after this one.
Harry Hole is a cop who is flawed but with a certain sense of justice and a strong moral compass. He reminds me of Ian Rankin’s Rebus who is also a constant thorn in the side of his superiors.
Great Scandinavian crime fiction what else is there to say!

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The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I originally read this in June 2010 and is part of my transfer of reading from the Now Reading plugin to Goodreads.

This is the second Joe Nesbø novel that I have read. The third in the series written by Jo Nesbø a Norwegian author. Unfortunately for me this book precedes the first on that read. This meant that some of the subplots were heading in directions that I had prior knowledge. I have seen other reviews that.have noted the out of sequence translations into English. Continue reading “The Redbreast (Harry Hole #3) by Jo Nesbø”