I once read a book backwards. It was a very boring book - the class reader for me as a 12 year old at grammar school - and I thought reading it from last chapter through to first would make it more interesting. It didn't.
I haven't tried the trick since but Jeffery Deaver is one of my top three mystery/crime/thriller writers and I couldn't wait to try his new book, The October List. So, starting at the beginning (page 5, start of chapter 36) I immersed myself in the strange tale of Gabriela, who is caught up in a mystery financial crime and whose daughter has been kidnapped to encourage her co-operation.
There are no spoilers here so I'm not going into great depth in describing the plot but I did wonder how Deaver, famed for his plot twists and his rollercoaster cliffhangers could achieve his usual effects when the whole plot was out there from the start (or should I say end?). I shouldn't have doubted his skills as a master storyteller and soon I was immersed and kept reading for several hours, devouring the whole story at a sitting. It's an amazing achievement to be able to keep up the tension in this way given the strangeness of starting at the denouement but this author can build tension, even backwards!
It's a great read, with all the twists and turns I had hoped for, and reminded me of first viewing The Sixth Sense at a preview screening many years ago. When I had taken in the tricks onscreen (again, no spoilers in case there is anyone out there who hasn't seen this film) I couldn't wait to checkout the DVD and find out whether the script really worked, with no errors which should have made me guess the ending. There were none, and there aren't any in The October List either. The plot works perfectly, but you will be re-reading at the end to check out all the clever twists! Just one further comment: you need to buy this book in hardback. Checking back and forward through the text is a pain if you read it on a kindle as I did, and you certainly won't want to wait until the paperback is published, probably late next year. So, with Christmas coming, treat yourself or a friend and enjoy another masterpiece of suspense from the pen (keyboard?) of Mr Deaver.
By the way, if you haven't yet discovered Jeffery Deaver, try out some of his other titles too. As well as stand-alones such as The October List he currently writes two series of thrillers, one featuring Lincoln Rhyme and the other, Kathryn Dance, which interlock as characters from one series drift in and out of the other according to the needs of the plot. They are always intriguing and I await my annual Deaver fix with delight.
Thursday 24 October 2013
Sunday 6 October 2013
White House history
Having passions both for photography and for the history of the USA, I thought I'd blog today about two recent reads which link these themes. The first is Presidential Picture Stories: behind the cameras at the White House by Dennis Brack and the second is The Hidden White House: Harry Truman and the reconstruction of America's most famous residence by Robert Klara.
Both of these tell fascinating stories. The first is about the long history of the relationship between the media and the power of the presidency, from the earliest days of the published images of Lincoln to the present day. There are facts and anecdotes about many of the most important moments of American history: during two world wars, plus Korea and Vietnam, the assassination of JFK and the quick wits of the stills photographer who asked a policeman where the speeding motorcade was taking the mortally wounded President and was able to reach Parkland Hospital, the way in which the press respected FDR's wish not to be depicted as vulnerable as a result of his polio. There were also occasional sneaky tricks and practical jokes such as the photographer who developed two rolls of precious images and had the shock of finding the film blank - because colleagues had replaced his exposed film rolls with unexposed ones - and the canny photographer who bided his time in photocalls until all the others had used their allocation of film and time before calling out a question or two and snapping the candid shots that others missed.
Truman had a good relationship with the media and Jim Atherton, a United Press photographer, is quoted in the first book as saying "Covering Truman was like covering your best friend's father". The second of these books tells the story of how the crumbling fabric of the White House was saved from disaster by the Truman administration. In 1948 Harry Truman, while taking a bath on the White House’s second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. Nobody was aware of how badly the building had deteriorated in the 150 years since its construction and Congress seriously considered recommending its demolition. Instead, as Klara explains, the interior was gutted and structurally supported with a steel skeleton while excavations below ground level produced a nuclear shelter at the time of the cold war.
A few years ago I was lucky enough to spend a week in Washington and did the unashamedly touristy things - visiting the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Library of Congress, the Capitol, the Mall and the Smithsonian, but one of the images I treasure in my memory is that of the White House amid cherry blossom. Do visit Washington if you can but until you do, I recommend these books as a taster and fitting introductions to the history of a fascinating city.
Both of these tell fascinating stories. The first is about the long history of the relationship between the media and the power of the presidency, from the earliest days of the published images of Lincoln to the present day. There are facts and anecdotes about many of the most important moments of American history: during two world wars, plus Korea and Vietnam, the assassination of JFK and the quick wits of the stills photographer who asked a policeman where the speeding motorcade was taking the mortally wounded President and was able to reach Parkland Hospital, the way in which the press respected FDR's wish not to be depicted as vulnerable as a result of his polio. There were also occasional sneaky tricks and practical jokes such as the photographer who developed two rolls of precious images and had the shock of finding the film blank - because colleagues had replaced his exposed film rolls with unexposed ones - and the canny photographer who bided his time in photocalls until all the others had used their allocation of film and time before calling out a question or two and snapping the candid shots that others missed.
Truman had a good relationship with the media and Jim Atherton, a United Press photographer, is quoted in the first book as saying "Covering Truman was like covering your best friend's father". The second of these books tells the story of how the crumbling fabric of the White House was saved from disaster by the Truman administration. In 1948 Harry Truman, while taking a bath on the White House’s second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. Nobody was aware of how badly the building had deteriorated in the 150 years since its construction and Congress seriously considered recommending its demolition. Instead, as Klara explains, the interior was gutted and structurally supported with a steel skeleton while excavations below ground level produced a nuclear shelter at the time of the cold war.
A few years ago I was lucky enough to spend a week in Washington and did the unashamedly touristy things - visiting the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Library of Congress, the Capitol, the Mall and the Smithsonian, but one of the images I treasure in my memory is that of the White House amid cherry blossom. Do visit Washington if you can but until you do, I recommend these books as a taster and fitting introductions to the history of a fascinating city.
Saturday 28 September 2013
A welcome return for Wexford
No Man's Nightingale, the new title from Ruth Rendell, is another chance to meet old favourite Reg Wexford. Now retired and plain Mr Wexford, he is - like John Rebus - unable to step away into an armchair retirement. Instead he finds himself travelling between Suffolk and London as he is drawn into a murder investigation.
Sara Hussain, an ordained single mother, is found murdered in the vicarage but there all clichés end. Instead we are led into a convoluted investigation. Sara has left behind an orphaned daughter and a mysterious past. Several people know about her history but the accounts conflict. Wexford finds his interest growing as he hears from several people, including his wife, Dora, who is a member of Sara's congregation, about the affect Sara has had on the community and Mike Burden, once Wexford's bagman but now heading the murder investigation, is glad to co-opt his old boss and use his experience and knowledge of the community to good effect.
There are many twists to the plot and a little conflict between Wexford and Burden but their combined wisdom opens up some interesting social issues before the mysteries in the book are resolved.
The Wexford series is a long one now but each title adds pleasingly to our knowledge of these characters who are like old friends to their regular readers. The author knows their foibles so well and is such a good psychologist that her characters always have a satisfying realism and truth about them. Long may Reg Wexford continue to dabble in crime and to irritate Mike Burden to such good effect!
Saturday 21 September 2013
A book of two halves
Cry of the Children is the latest novel in the police procedural Lambert & Hook series by J.M. Gregson and is the first of this long series which I have read. Gregson is an author new to me and as a lover of UK procedurals I was pleased to be given the opportunity to read and review. However I have to admit that it didn't please me as much as I had hoped.
I'll try to avoid spoilers but it starts with a classic scenario: every parent's nightmare, a missing child. That is well described and like any parent whose child has disappeared from sight, however briefly, I could identify with the heart-jolting nightmare. The set up was therefore a good one and well written with a building of tension and interesting protagonists, both victims and police personnel.
The difficulties for me in suspending disbelief came for me as the situation developed. The police identified five possible suspects: none had plausible alibis, all seemed to have personality flaws and something to hide from the investigating officers and lots of red herrings were flung and though the crime was solved (and another criminal was apprehended in the course of the action) I felt that the set-up of these suspects was clumsily and implausibly handled.
I'll try to avoid spoilers but it starts with a classic scenario: every parent's nightmare, a missing child. That is well described and like any parent whose child has disappeared from sight, however briefly, I could identify with the heart-jolting nightmare. The set up was therefore a good one and well written with a building of tension and interesting protagonists, both victims and police personnel.
The difficulties for me in suspending disbelief came for me as the situation developed. The police identified five possible suspects: none had plausible alibis, all seemed to have personality flaws and something to hide from the investigating officers and lots of red herrings were flung and though the crime was solved (and another criminal was apprehended in the course of the action) I felt that the set-up of these suspects was clumsily and implausibly handled.
Friday 6 September 2013
Contrasting crimes
With some spare time this week, I've read a couple of crime novels in very different styles and moods so this is by way of being one of those "compare and contrast..." exam questions in a way, though to me it's a reflection of the fact that even within a genre I enjoy different types of books according to the atmosphere in which I'm reading.
The first book is Noose by Bill James. I took this one on holiday on my kindle, which was a mistake in a way because the book is quite a complex one and (sorry, Amazon) it's very difficult to follow a plot which moves backwards and forwards in time if one can't flip back the pages to ascertain exactly what is happening to characters. Without giving away any of the plot to those who haven't read this title yet, it is very different from other books I have read by this author, having political themes and linking events from the childhood of the main character, a journalist named Ian Charteris, with issues of national security. The counterpoint of past and present was, in places, quite clunky in using period details such as "Think of this new play by John Osborne, Look Back in Anger" while I'm not sure how many modern readers are going to be familiar with the reputations of the real people who inhabit the story, such as Tom Driberg and Anthony Eden. So if you are interested, try this title but don't assume that it's a typical Bill James story and do read it in hard print!
The second title is a new M.C. Beaton title from the Agatha Raisin series and this one is titled Something Borrowed, Someone Dead. M.C. Beaton is a very interesting lady and an amazingly prolific writer of historical, crime and romantic fiction as well as having been a major figure on Fleet Street. Having been resident in the USA for a large part of her life it has been good to welcome her back to the British crime writing festivals circuit where she is always an excellent panel member. I really enjoy the light style she uses for the quirky Agatha Raisin, a bizarre lady of a certain age who gets involved in the most unlikely adventures set in idyllic Cotswold locations. Don't be fooled by the cozy locations though - Agatha can find herself in the midst of serious gore! If you haven't tried this series, you could start with any title and you will soon familiarise yourself with the cast of recurring characters - perfect for a read-in-a-sitting evening by yourself!
The first book is Noose by Bill James. I took this one on holiday on my kindle, which was a mistake in a way because the book is quite a complex one and (sorry, Amazon) it's very difficult to follow a plot which moves backwards and forwards in time if one can't flip back the pages to ascertain exactly what is happening to characters. Without giving away any of the plot to those who haven't read this title yet, it is very different from other books I have read by this author, having political themes and linking events from the childhood of the main character, a journalist named Ian Charteris, with issues of national security. The counterpoint of past and present was, in places, quite clunky in using period details such as "Think of this new play by John Osborne, Look Back in Anger" while I'm not sure how many modern readers are going to be familiar with the reputations of the real people who inhabit the story, such as Tom Driberg and Anthony Eden. So if you are interested, try this title but don't assume that it's a typical Bill James story and do read it in hard print!
The second title is a new M.C. Beaton title from the Agatha Raisin series and this one is titled Something Borrowed, Someone Dead. M.C. Beaton is a very interesting lady and an amazingly prolific writer of historical, crime and romantic fiction as well as having been a major figure on Fleet Street. Having been resident in the USA for a large part of her life it has been good to welcome her back to the British crime writing festivals circuit where she is always an excellent panel member. I really enjoy the light style she uses for the quirky Agatha Raisin, a bizarre lady of a certain age who gets involved in the most unlikely adventures set in idyllic Cotswold locations. Don't be fooled by the cozy locations though - Agatha can find herself in the midst of serious gore! If you haven't tried this series, you could start with any title and you will soon familiarise yourself with the cast of recurring characters - perfect for a read-in-a-sitting evening by yourself!
Saturday 31 August 2013
Crimson Rose
I've just finished reviewing the latest novel in the Kit Marlowe series by M.J. Trow - no spoilers, I promise but I wanted to share my enthusiasm for this and other books in the series. They are set at the time when dark events were happening in Tudor England and this one begins with a sudden death at the premiere of Marlowe's Tamburlaine. Crime was rife and life was cheap (sorry about the clichés) during this period and events become more sinister still when Walsingham, Elizabeth's spymaster, takes an interest. Those who know a little about the short but remarkable life of Christopher Marlowe will find this a fascinating read. Do try it, and others in the series if you haven't yet done so.
Mei Trow's writing covers a huge range from historical & recent true crime, historical biography, and other historical crime fiction (have you discovered Inspector Lestrade of Victorian Scotland Yard yet?) to my own personal favourites, the series of crime novels featuring the wonderful Peter Maxwell, head of history and accidental detector into local crimes. I've worked in various secondary schools over the last 25 years and, believe me, every staff room has its own Mr Maxwell, saviour of disenfranchised children, supporter of unhappy staff, supporter of justice and protector of the vulnerable. I have a feeling that Peter Maxwell may have a touch of the autobiographical about him...
Mei Trow's writing covers a huge range from historical & recent true crime, historical biography, and other historical crime fiction (have you discovered Inspector Lestrade of Victorian Scotland Yard yet?) to my own personal favourites, the series of crime novels featuring the wonderful Peter Maxwell, head of history and accidental detector into local crimes. I've worked in various secondary schools over the last 25 years and, believe me, every staff room has its own Mr Maxwell, saviour of disenfranchised children, supporter of unhappy staff, supporter of justice and protector of the vulnerable. I have a feeling that Peter Maxwell may have a touch of the autobiographical about him...
Tuesday 27 August 2013
I've been choosing and reviewing books for libraries for a number of years and now that I'm freelancing and doing some proof-reading, etc., I thought people might be interested in some of the new and forthcoming titles I've been reading and reviewing so from now on, you will find my thoughts here as I read my way through the cream of the new season's titles.
My favourite leisure reading is crime fiction and I've enjoyed crime fiction conventions across the UK so one thread of these blogs will be recommending the best new crime fiction from the UK, the USA and Europe, including some of the brilliant new crime fiction from Italy as well as the Scandinavian writers who produce "Nordic noir". I certainly won't be forgetting Tartan noir either, as Scotland currently have some of the greatest crime fiction in the world, from the genius of Rankin & McDermid to the bizarre and brilliant humour of Christopher Brookmyre and the warped and disturbing work of the fantastic Stuart MacBride (I first encountered him in a coffee queue at a talk at the Harrogate Festival when he came up to me and asked, without introduction, how I would dispose of a corpse...don't ask).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)