All the Reviews

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage, M.C. Beaton

I'm dangerously close to od'ing on these as I'm starting to feel like I could quote the upcoming lines before they are uttered. Still these sorts of books are the ones I turn to when I'm doing something else that really requires concentration. They are more than a bit silly, weirdly obsessed with the way that people look, and very samey after a while. Perhaps don't binge listen like I've been doing as the repetitiveness really stands out, but on the whole, really good for people looking for something less confrontational that many crime fiction listens. (And don't expect these to ... Read Review

The Family Next Door, Sally Hepworth

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR reinforces the notion that despite being constantly surrounded by people, you can often feel alone.  Deep suburbia provides such a huge source of material and is finally in drama fiction being recognized for that richness.  There is a lot going on in this book, and it’s a little heartbreaking when you realize that the male characters are largely oblivious to the density in what is going in the lives of their spouses.  Husbands and wives are almost living two different paths, one with the thought burden, and one living largely without it.

The mystery ... Read Review

A Nest of Vipers, Andrea Camilleri

I turn to these books partly for the plot, but mostly for the unapologetically grumpy Montalbano, the food porn, the supporting characters and the locations.

In terms of plot, A NEST OF VIPERS undoubtedly isn't the strongest Montalbano book in the series. There was nothing particularly mysterious about the identity of the murderer, the reason for the murder and really, sometimes a victim is almost too deserving for there to be much in the way of interest in the investigation. There is, fortunately in this series, always much to distract the reader. Whether it's the food, ... Read Review

Bring Me Back, B.A. Paris

As we’ve discovered with the two previous monster hits from this author (BEHIND CLOSED DOORS and THE BREAKDOWN ), Paris knows how to keep us in the seat and our eyes glued to the page.  BRING ME BACK sets its own pace of creeping suspicion, denial, a good re-think, then circling back to rampant suspicion.  Having a less than snowy white protagonist is all to the good and it works here that Finn is more everyday narky than a noble wounded survivor of tragedy.  There’s more invested  in BRING ME BACK than just the possibility of happy ever after for Finn.  He has to work to get to that ... Read Review

Code of Silence, Colin Dillon & Tom Gilling

Shortlisted for the 2017 Ned Kelly Awards, this is the story of a very impressive man. Read this and you won't help but be reminded of the line 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing'.

Col Dillon is one of the good men. You have to agree with the blurb: he's an extraordinary man. The first Indigenous policeman in Australia, he was also the first serving police officer to voluntarily appear before the Fitzgerald Commission of Inquiry to give first-hand evidence of police corruption. He did that despite knowing full well the fallout ... Read Review

The Accident, S.D. Monaghan

What is lacking in the reading of this book is the wish to barrack the characters on and see them through. The two leads in THE ACCIDENT have very little chemistry, which makes the lengths they are prepared to go to in order to coverup a death largely self serving – this couple were not a likeable pair to begin with.  It is refreshing however to read a domestic thriller from the point of view of the husband (too), with the catalyst for drama stemming from his choices, and not by those of his wife.

THE ACCIDENT, as a relationship tale of choice and consequence, had a fair ... Read Review

Dead Lemons, Finn Bell

Finn Bell presents as a surprisingly pragmatic creature for all the challenges he is required to face in his every day existence.   Laconically hilarious plus unnervingly calm in a tight spot, is our Finn.  This is the strength of DEAD LEMONS, as the humour is presented shockingly side by side with all the heartbreaking details of the town’s murders.  The dark is balanced with the redemptive light that emanates from Finn finding his way back to what it is that makes the world turn – the complexities of human relationships.

DEAD LEMONS is an absorbing and disturbing window ... Read Review

Big Red Rock, David Owen

A new Pufferfish novel will always be a thing of joy - whiteboard lists or no whiteboard lists and BIG RED ROCK fits the bill perfectly. Of course you will need to have a love of self-deprecating wit that's so dry you'd swear it originated in Uluru rather than Hobart. You will need to like the bear-prodding style of investigation, that's actually covering up an acute ability to observe, retain and analyse the smallest drips of information. And in this outing, be prepared for some personal revelations - in that dry, understated, not bothered sort of style that Pufferfish is the ... Read Review

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet, M.C. Beaton

Perhaps don't do what I'm doing and binge listen to these.

As much as I prefer something light, not necessarily requiring steely attention to catch the various nuances when I'm driving, I will admit there have been points where if I hear something about Agatha's middle age, bear-like eyes and good legs again I'll probably cause a major traffic incident. Having said that I don't mind these audio books as a companion for the constant kilometres or in the sewing room when I'm trying to fathom what goes where and how the hell are you supposed to achieve that! 

... Read Review