Commander Joe Sandilands has been sent to India to talk to the police there. He hates the heat and is hoping to get back to England as soon as possible. Unfortunately his trip home is delayed when the governor of Bengal province asks for his assistance. The governor's niece is the one who has specially requested his help. Her friend has been found brutally murdered in her bath, but it has been made to look like a suicide; her wrists have been slashed.
When Sandilands gets to Panikhat he discovers that four other women have died in suspicious circumstances. Each of their deaths occurred in March. As Sandilands investigates further he is able to piece together evidence that points to the possibility that each of their deaths is not an accident. Could they possibly be tied together?
Author Barbara Cleverly manages to keep the reader quite involved throughout this thriller.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Singhing Detective
Jaswinder Singh had grown up in a Sikh family on the east side of London. His family had been welcomed into the area, and his parents were great friends with a woman across the street. Although his mother and the other lady had difficulties understanding each other due to their particular accents, they got on well. Jazz was always welcome in the lady's home as a lad. He became a Detective Sergeant with The Met.
Unfortunately an incident early on in his career led to a breakdown. Once he was recovered he spent five years in Manchester. Now he has been requested back in the Met; back to Ilford Police Station where he had operated out of before. Unfortunately for Jazz, memories amongst some of his former colleagues were not good ones, so he was assigned his own team; a team of two rookies.
A few days after his return his mother's friend is found dead in her home. When Jazz goes to investigate he discovers that her death is not due to old age, but is in fact a murder and that the murder occurred not in her own home, but next door, which turns out was a cannabis factory. For Jazz, the investigation is personal now. Jazz and his two rookie Detective Constables set in motion a gang war without realising it. It will have more ramifications than Jazz could ever expect.
Author M. C. Dutton has done an excellent job in keeping the reader guessing right up to the last pages of the book. An excellent read.
Unfortunately an incident early on in his career led to a breakdown. Once he was recovered he spent five years in Manchester. Now he has been requested back in the Met; back to Ilford Police Station where he had operated out of before. Unfortunately for Jazz, memories amongst some of his former colleagues were not good ones, so he was assigned his own team; a team of two rookies.
A few days after his return his mother's friend is found dead in her home. When Jazz goes to investigate he discovers that her death is not due to old age, but is in fact a murder and that the murder occurred not in her own home, but next door, which turns out was a cannabis factory. For Jazz, the investigation is personal now. Jazz and his two rookie Detective Constables set in motion a gang war without realising it. It will have more ramifications than Jazz could ever expect.
Author M. C. Dutton has done an excellent job in keeping the reader guessing right up to the last pages of the book. An excellent read.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
The Stolen Voice
Gil Cunningham has been called away from Glasgow to investigate cases of young men who have gone missing. The young men are choristers, singers whose voices are greatly valued. In addition to that, a priest has gone missing. Naturally, Gil has brought along his young wife, Alys. Her quick mind helps him decipher some of the clues whenever they are presented to him.
At this time a young man mysteriously returns to a family after being away for 30 years. The Drummond family head welcomes back young Davie, but everyone else wonders why he has only aged a few years while he was away. Davie had also been a chorister when he disappeared. The only answer seems to be that the Devil himself could have taken Davie and returned him. For a small imp-like character with wings has been seen in the area. Because Gil is busy investigating the disappearance of the priest, Alys is left to figure out this mystery.
It isn't long after Gil begins his investigation that a body is found in a pit used for tanning hides. It is the body of the priest and an arrow is found lodged in the priest's neck. Now he has a murder on his hands; it isn't a case of the Devil taking the priest.
Author Pat McIntosh is very good at leaving the reader to wonder how Gil and Alys will solve these mysteries, right up to the last pages. A good read.
At this time a young man mysteriously returns to a family after being away for 30 years. The Drummond family head welcomes back young Davie, but everyone else wonders why he has only aged a few years while he was away. Davie had also been a chorister when he disappeared. The only answer seems to be that the Devil himself could have taken Davie and returned him. For a small imp-like character with wings has been seen in the area. Because Gil is busy investigating the disappearance of the priest, Alys is left to figure out this mystery.
It isn't long after Gil begins his investigation that a body is found in a pit used for tanning hides. It is the body of the priest and an arrow is found lodged in the priest's neck. Now he has a murder on his hands; it isn't a case of the Devil taking the priest.
Author Pat McIntosh is very good at leaving the reader to wonder how Gil and Alys will solve these mysteries, right up to the last pages. A good read.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
An Impartial Witness
Bess Crawford is now nursing on the Western Front and is bringing soldiers home to England for convalescence. One is an airman who was badly burned in a crash. He is looking forward to seeing his wife, and has held onto a photo of her.
When Bess arrives in London she sees a young woman in tears talking to an officer. The officer walks coldly away from her. Bess realises that the young woman is the wife of the airman. She wonders why she would be in tears knowing that her husband was coming home.
It is only later back in France, that Bess finds out that the woman has been murdered and Scotland Yard is asking for information which might shed some light on her death. She writes to Scotland Yard with her information and soon finds herself dragged into a murder mystery; one that includes a sister that hated the dead woman. The dead woman was about three months pregnant, the child couldn't have been her husband's. When the husband was told about this by his sister, he committed suicide. Later another officer is murdered and an attempt is made on the lives of two friends of the murdered woman.
Author Charles Todd points the reader in the direction of three possible culprits, but it is only at the end of the book that we discover who the true murderer is. A good quick read.
When Bess arrives in London she sees a young woman in tears talking to an officer. The officer walks coldly away from her. Bess realises that the young woman is the wife of the airman. She wonders why she would be in tears knowing that her husband was coming home.
It is only later back in France, that Bess finds out that the woman has been murdered and Scotland Yard is asking for information which might shed some light on her death. She writes to Scotland Yard with her information and soon finds herself dragged into a murder mystery; one that includes a sister that hated the dead woman. The dead woman was about three months pregnant, the child couldn't have been her husband's. When the husband was told about this by his sister, he committed suicide. Later another officer is murdered and an attempt is made on the lives of two friends of the murdered woman.
Author Charles Todd points the reader in the direction of three possible culprits, but it is only at the end of the book that we discover who the true murderer is. A good quick read.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Land of Painted Caves
In "Land of Painted Caves", author Jean Auel has taken Ayla, Jondalar, Jonayla and their three horses and Wolf to what is modern day France. This story is the sixth in the series that started with "The Clan of the Cave Bear". The last ice age still grips the earth in its cold embrace, but there are warm places; places rich with plants and animals. Enough to feed the growing population of new humans.
Ayla seems destined to become a leader of the people. One who retains and passes on knowledge. With that in mind she is taken by another leader on a tour of the caves in the area. She is shown the paintings and carvings within that by this time have already been in place for time immemorial. It is all part of her training.
Throughout the story Auel tells what life would have been like back then, of the gatherings the people would have had during the summer times. And, although Auel tells a fine story I do find her to be very wordy. This is something I have found about her writing ever since her first novel, "The Clan of the Cave Bear" was published. For those who enjoy a good historical novel, each of the series is well worth reading as long as you don't mind getting bogged down in the wordiness.
Ayla seems destined to become a leader of the people. One who retains and passes on knowledge. With that in mind she is taken by another leader on a tour of the caves in the area. She is shown the paintings and carvings within that by this time have already been in place for time immemorial. It is all part of her training.
Throughout the story Auel tells what life would have been like back then, of the gatherings the people would have had during the summer times. And, although Auel tells a fine story I do find her to be very wordy. This is something I have found about her writing ever since her first novel, "The Clan of the Cave Bear" was published. For those who enjoy a good historical novel, each of the series is well worth reading as long as you don't mind getting bogged down in the wordiness.
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Duty to the Dead
It is 1916 and Nurse Bess Crawford is on an hospital ship in the Mediterranean when an explosion tosses her from her deck chair and breaks her arm. She is fortunate to survive the sinking of the ship, and returns to England where she must see to the last wishes of a dying soldier she had cared for. She must pass on an enigmatic message to the brother of the soldier.
Little does she know that this message will lead to a quest to discover a murderer and to release a man falsely accused of murder who is a prisoner in an asylum. While delivering her message to the family, she discovers that things just aren't as they seem with the family. The prisoner (who is a half brother of the dead soldier) is brought home because he is thought to be dying of pneumonia. She nurses him back to health and in doing so learns a bit about him.
Shortly after returning to London she discovers the prisoner in her flat. He persuades her that he may not be mad, so Bess sets out to discover the truth. Their search will lead both of them into danger before the truth is ultimately found.
A great thriller by author Charles Todd.
Little does she know that this message will lead to a quest to discover a murderer and to release a man falsely accused of murder who is a prisoner in an asylum. While delivering her message to the family, she discovers that things just aren't as they seem with the family. The prisoner (who is a half brother of the dead soldier) is brought home because he is thought to be dying of pneumonia. She nurses him back to health and in doing so learns a bit about him.
Shortly after returning to London she discovers the prisoner in her flat. He persuades her that he may not be mad, so Bess sets out to discover the truth. Their search will lead both of them into danger before the truth is ultimately found.
A great thriller by author Charles Todd.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Twelve Drummers Drumming
It is a lovely day in the English village of Thornford. Newly appointed vicar Tom Christmas and his young daughter are enjoying the May Fayre. Father Christmas, as he is affectionately known, came to this small village because the former vicar has disappeared. Part of the entertainment for the May Fayre are to be a set of 12 Japanese drums, one of which is quite huge. While Miranda is showing her father the artistic, photographic styled quilts on display, an argument ensues amongst some of the drummers about the drums. One is discovered to have been slashed. Stuffed inside it is discovered the body of a young woman.
From there, the mystery becomes more entangled. When a grave is opened for the young woman's interment a body is discovered and it turns out to be the body of the missing vicar! This sleepy little English village isn't so sleepy as once supposed. Due to the police being busy with the investigation of the murder the theft of a computer and camera are set aside for the time being. However, Tom thinks that the computer and camera could hold key clues as to whom the murderer is; especially when it is realised that the photographer and the murdered young woman look the same from behind!
This is the first novel of author C. C. Benison I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am going to look for other works of his.
From there, the mystery becomes more entangled. When a grave is opened for the young woman's interment a body is discovered and it turns out to be the body of the missing vicar! This sleepy little English village isn't so sleepy as once supposed. Due to the police being busy with the investigation of the murder the theft of a computer and camera are set aside for the time being. However, Tom thinks that the computer and camera could hold key clues as to whom the murderer is; especially when it is realised that the photographer and the murdered young woman look the same from behind!
This is the first novel of author C. C. Benison I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am going to look for other works of his.
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