Dr. Elizabeth Clarke has an unexpected visitor call upon her at her home in Edinburgh. the
following morning she is found dead in her house with her throat slit. A
piece of paper with the word 'unreliable' written on it was found near
the body. DS Alice Rice and DS Alastair Watt are assigned to investigate.
The
next evening, Sammy McBryde is found dead in similar circumstances,
with the word 'worthless' written on a piece of paper near the body.
Coincidence? Not too likely. What are the links to the two cases?
The
next victim, David Pearson, QC is found in a park in the pouring rain.
The note in his pocket states 'misleading'. During their investigation
of Pearson's murder Rice and Watt find out that he had once had an
affair with Dr. Clarke. It isn't long after that, that Pearson's
current lover is murdered. Again a piece of paper is found alongside
the victim, this time with 'untrustworthy' written on it.
Rice
has a friend who is an advocate. He finds a case which ties all of the
victims together. A new, solid suspect is now in the picture. It is
just a matter of finding him now.
A good first murder mystery by author Gillian Galbraith.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Insurrection
It is 1286; King Alexander of Scotland has just died falling from his
horse. He has no issue to follow in his footsteps. The nobility must
prevent civil war and decide on a new king or queen. They want to
support Alexander's chosen, seven year old Margaret, the Maid of
Norway. However, others want John Balliol. The nobility may look to
support from King Edward of England.
Young Robert Bruce is aware of the negotiations with England to have Margaret marry six year old Prince Edward of England. What he is unaware of is Comyn's and Balliol's plans to prevent that from occurring. When Margaret dies on her way to Scotland, Balliol declares himself king. Bruce's grandfather declares against this action
King Edward's wife Eleanor dies days after Margaret, but this doesn't stop him from planning to take care of Scotland. He would settle who would be king of the Scots, while proving that he was overlord of them. The Bruces were not impressed when Balliol was chosen to be king. Robert's grandfather resigns his hereditary title to his son, who in turns resigns them to Robert. The purpose is to strengthen the claim on the throne.
King Edward gathers his forces to fight King Phillipe of France, however before he can move his forces to France, the Welsh rise up in rebellion. Robert and other Scottish lords join him. Edward's victory is swift because of an error on the part of the Scottish army. To complete his victory, Edward takes the Stone of Scone to London.
Edward's taxation of the Scottish people devastates them. An uprising occurs under the leadership of William Wallace. Robert Bruce decides that enough is enough. He decides not to join Wallace in the insurrection, but rather to fight to become King of Scotland in his own right. Yet, there are many things in the way. Wallace has had great success, and king Edward prepares to invade Scotland.
Insurrection is well written, author Robyn Young has researched the topic well and created an entertaining and thrilling story about The Bruce for fans of historical novels. It is a book that is hard to put down. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment in this trilogy.
Young Robert Bruce is aware of the negotiations with England to have Margaret marry six year old Prince Edward of England. What he is unaware of is Comyn's and Balliol's plans to prevent that from occurring. When Margaret dies on her way to Scotland, Balliol declares himself king. Bruce's grandfather declares against this action
King Edward's wife Eleanor dies days after Margaret, but this doesn't stop him from planning to take care of Scotland. He would settle who would be king of the Scots, while proving that he was overlord of them. The Bruces were not impressed when Balliol was chosen to be king. Robert's grandfather resigns his hereditary title to his son, who in turns resigns them to Robert. The purpose is to strengthen the claim on the throne.
King Edward gathers his forces to fight King Phillipe of France, however before he can move his forces to France, the Welsh rise up in rebellion. Robert and other Scottish lords join him. Edward's victory is swift because of an error on the part of the Scottish army. To complete his victory, Edward takes the Stone of Scone to London.
Edward's taxation of the Scottish people devastates them. An uprising occurs under the leadership of William Wallace. Robert Bruce decides that enough is enough. He decides not to join Wallace in the insurrection, but rather to fight to become King of Scotland in his own right. Yet, there are many things in the way. Wallace has had great success, and king Edward prepares to invade Scotland.
Insurrection is well written, author Robyn Young has researched the topic well and created an entertaining and thrilling story about The Bruce for fans of historical novels. It is a book that is hard to put down. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment in this trilogy.
Friday, May 24, 2013
The Ghosts of Belfast
Gerry Fegan has ghosts visiting him. They number twelve, some are
soldiers or police, but there are four civilians in the ghostly group
that are with him. All people he was involved in killing during The
Troubles. They torment his waking hours. One of the ghosts, a young
boy, indicates to Fegan that he should kill Michael McKenna, the man who
had beaten him before Fegan did the final kill shot. Fegan wonders if
the boy will leave him alone if he does the deed? The ghost nods.
The death of McKenna could potentially destabilise the peace in Northern Ireland. South of the border, there are some that are very happy with the death of McKenna.
However, the ghosts of Belfast are not done with Fegan. Two UDR men want him to kill a mobster named Caffola. Using the background of a riot a day prior to the funeral of McKenna, Fegan does the deed. Now only nine ghosts remain.
Dave Campbell is working under cover in the south, but he knows the trouble makers in the north. As a result if Caffola's death, his handlers want him back in the north. He returns and is tasked with getting rid of Fegan. It doesn't take long for him to realise the state of Fegan's mind.
Another death and only six ghosts live in Fegan's mind. A man he thought he could trust betrayed him, and it cost the man his life. Next it is a cop who provided the revolutionaries with another cop's name for execution. Only five ghosts remain now. But Campbell has Fegan's girlfriend and her daughter.
How will Fegan save the two and can he get rid of his remaining ghosts? Stuart Neville has written an excellent, fast paced thriller. I found that I could not put the book down. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of book.
The death of McKenna could potentially destabilise the peace in Northern Ireland. South of the border, there are some that are very happy with the death of McKenna.
However, the ghosts of Belfast are not done with Fegan. Two UDR men want him to kill a mobster named Caffola. Using the background of a riot a day prior to the funeral of McKenna, Fegan does the deed. Now only nine ghosts remain.
Dave Campbell is working under cover in the south, but he knows the trouble makers in the north. As a result if Caffola's death, his handlers want him back in the north. He returns and is tasked with getting rid of Fegan. It doesn't take long for him to realise the state of Fegan's mind.
Another death and only six ghosts live in Fegan's mind. A man he thought he could trust betrayed him, and it cost the man his life. Next it is a cop who provided the revolutionaries with another cop's name for execution. Only five ghosts remain now. But Campbell has Fegan's girlfriend and her daughter.
How will Fegan save the two and can he get rid of his remaining ghosts? Stuart Neville has written an excellent, fast paced thriller. I found that I could not put the book down. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of book.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Absolution
In 1984 PC Alan McAlpine has been given the task of sitting near the
hospital bed of a young woman who has had acid splashed in her face.
She is in a coma, and Alan's DCI Graham wants him to be near when she
regains consciousness.
McAlpine searches the woman's bedsit and possessions to try to find something out about her, but there is nothing. As he waits by her side he tries to get to know her, which is against police procedure. He is pulled from the case by Graham. Later Interpol identifies her, and provides the fact that she was involved in a diamond heist. The question is, where are the missing diamonds?
By 2006 McAlpine has reached the rank of DCI. The body of a woman has been found in a crucifix form, and eviscerated. This is the second such murder in a very short time. Now he finds himself back in the old station where he had been involved in the original inquiry. Memories flood back.
DI Colin Anderson, DS Winifred Costello and DC Vik Mulholland have been assigned to McAlpine's team. Anderson and Costello have worked with McAlpine in the past, however Mulholland isn't impressed. His wealthy background gives him arrogance.
During McAlpine's investigation he comes across a minister who knew the victim of the 1984 acid attack. It brings memories and demons tumbling back.
It is a dark and stormy night when the third body is found. McAlpine gives Costello quiet orders to investigate a prime suspect. He wants the others on the team focussing on other matters for the time being. An attempt is made on McAlpine's wife, fortunately she survives the attack. From that point on, author Caro Ramsay speeds up the action taking the reader to the ultimate and surprising conclusion. An excellent read, hard to put down.
McAlpine searches the woman's bedsit and possessions to try to find something out about her, but there is nothing. As he waits by her side he tries to get to know her, which is against police procedure. He is pulled from the case by Graham. Later Interpol identifies her, and provides the fact that she was involved in a diamond heist. The question is, where are the missing diamonds?
By 2006 McAlpine has reached the rank of DCI. The body of a woman has been found in a crucifix form, and eviscerated. This is the second such murder in a very short time. Now he finds himself back in the old station where he had been involved in the original inquiry. Memories flood back.
DI Colin Anderson, DS Winifred Costello and DC Vik Mulholland have been assigned to McAlpine's team. Anderson and Costello have worked with McAlpine in the past, however Mulholland isn't impressed. His wealthy background gives him arrogance.
During McAlpine's investigation he comes across a minister who knew the victim of the 1984 acid attack. It brings memories and demons tumbling back.
It is a dark and stormy night when the third body is found. McAlpine gives Costello quiet orders to investigate a prime suspect. He wants the others on the team focussing on other matters for the time being. An attempt is made on McAlpine's wife, fortunately she survives the attack. From that point on, author Caro Ramsay speeds up the action taking the reader to the ultimate and surprising conclusion. An excellent read, hard to put down.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Come the Fear
It is 1733 in Leeds, so a bucket brigade is needed when a fire breaks
out in anold house. Fortunately the family that had lived there had
moved out sometime earlier. However, when Richard Nottingham, Constable
of Leeds, investigates the fire the next day he discovers a body of a
woman, with a foetus torn out of her body.
Hezekiah Walton, a thief taker, arrives at Nottingham's office the following morning. He tells Richard that he is looking for a family called the Coopers. Nottingham feels that his story doesn't ring true.
John Sedgwick, Nottingham's deputy, and Rob Lister find during their investigation that there was a man outside the burned building in the wee hours just before the fire. Later in the day, a woman awaits Nottingham at the jail. She says that her 16 year old daughter is missing. She had worked as a servant, and been dismissed. When Nottingham questions the employer, he finds out that the girl was pregnant when she was dismissed. Now they have a name for the victim.
Crime doesn't stop for the murder of a young lass, so the Constable and his men had other things to contend with besides. House break ins seemed to be on the rise. A young boy is snatched, but found unharmed. However, there is a threatening letter found in his pocket. It isn't long after that, that Sedgwick's own son, James disappears.
The team of investigators work hard to find James, the murderer and the child snatcher. Author Chris Nickson brings the story to an exciting and shocking conclusion. It has made me want to immediately read the next book in the series.
Hezekiah Walton, a thief taker, arrives at Nottingham's office the following morning. He tells Richard that he is looking for a family called the Coopers. Nottingham feels that his story doesn't ring true.
John Sedgwick, Nottingham's deputy, and Rob Lister find during their investigation that there was a man outside the burned building in the wee hours just before the fire. Later in the day, a woman awaits Nottingham at the jail. She says that her 16 year old daughter is missing. She had worked as a servant, and been dismissed. When Nottingham questions the employer, he finds out that the girl was pregnant when she was dismissed. Now they have a name for the victim.
Crime doesn't stop for the murder of a young lass, so the Constable and his men had other things to contend with besides. House break ins seemed to be on the rise. A young boy is snatched, but found unharmed. However, there is a threatening letter found in his pocket. It isn't long after that, that Sedgwick's own son, James disappears.
The team of investigators work hard to find James, the murderer and the child snatcher. Author Chris Nickson brings the story to an exciting and shocking conclusion. It has made me want to immediately read the next book in the series.
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Excursion Train
Inspector Robert Colbeck of Scotland Yard, and Sergeant Victor Leeming
have been assigned to investigate a murder on an excursion train by
Superintendent Tallis. Those on the train had gone outside London to
take in a bare knuckle fight. One man was garrotted. Colbeck finds out
that a woman may have been involved. He also discovers that the.
Victim was a hangman.
Colbeck turns to his girlfriend Madeleine Andrews for help. He is able, with Madeleine's help, to get into the hangman's private sanctum. There he discovers a note threatening the hangman's life. The note points Colbeck and Leeming in a possible direction.
Colbeck's investigation takes him to the prison at Maidstone where ge looks into the hanging of Nathan Hawkshaw. There he discovers why Hawkshaw was hung and the circumstances surrounding it. Colbeck wondered about the guilt or innocence of Hawkshaw.
It is while the two detectives are in Ashford, that the chaplain from the Maidstone prison is murdered in the same manner as the original victim. He is the second person directly connected to the Hawkshaw case. Could the prosecutor be next?
As the investigation progresses further, the information that Colbeck and Leeming put together point to the true culprit and his accomplice. A thoroughly enjoyable, quick read by author Edward Marston.
Colbeck turns to his girlfriend Madeleine Andrews for help. He is able, with Madeleine's help, to get into the hangman's private sanctum. There he discovers a note threatening the hangman's life. The note points Colbeck and Leeming in a possible direction.
Colbeck's investigation takes him to the prison at Maidstone where ge looks into the hanging of Nathan Hawkshaw. There he discovers why Hawkshaw was hung and the circumstances surrounding it. Colbeck wondered about the guilt or innocence of Hawkshaw.
It is while the two detectives are in Ashford, that the chaplain from the Maidstone prison is murdered in the same manner as the original victim. He is the second person directly connected to the Hawkshaw case. Could the prosecutor be next?
As the investigation progresses further, the information that Colbeck and Leeming put together point to the true culprit and his accomplice. A thoroughly enjoyable, quick read by author Edward Marston.
1356
Fra Ferdinand has recovered La Malice, a magnificent sword. However, he
is not the only one who wants it. A priest, Father Marchant, searches for it, hoping to acquire it so its power can be used for the Church.
Brother Michael has been sent from Carlisle to Avignon with a message for Le Batard. He finds the man embroiled in a battle for a castle. Le Batard leads a group of mercenaries known as the Hellequin, or the devil's beloved. The Earl of Northampton wants Le Batard aka Thomas Hookton, to find La Malice and bring it to him.
The Lord of Douglas has come from Scotland to help the French fight the English. He is frustrated by the lack of initiative shown by King Jean. He is also frustrated by his nephew Robbie's refusal to fight the English.
Cardinal Bessieres creates The Order of the Fisherman to acquire the sword. He gets Robbie to be the first knight of the order by showing him that his oath to Thomas is invalid. Father Marchant is to be the guiding light of the order.
Hookton goes south to Montpellier in search of information. There his wife, Genevieve and son, Hugh, are taken captive by Roland de Verrec, a knight who believes in chivalry. Hookton must find a way to get them back. Later, Hookton and his entourage fall into a trap while looking for La Malice. Fortunately, before anything can happen, Hookton and his entourage are saved. He and his archers join the Black Prince's forces.
Edward, Prince of Wales, the Black Prince, is cornered by France's King Jean at Poitiers. Negotiations lead to Edward being offered the chance to be taken hostage and ransomed. However, the French decide to attack instead. They vastly outnumber the English. All of author Bernard Cornwell's characters take part in this major battle. It provides an exciting conclusion to this historical novel. I was unable to put it down because it was so gripping.
Brother Michael has been sent from Carlisle to Avignon with a message for Le Batard. He finds the man embroiled in a battle for a castle. Le Batard leads a group of mercenaries known as the Hellequin, or the devil's beloved. The Earl of Northampton wants Le Batard aka Thomas Hookton, to find La Malice and bring it to him.
The Lord of Douglas has come from Scotland to help the French fight the English. He is frustrated by the lack of initiative shown by King Jean. He is also frustrated by his nephew Robbie's refusal to fight the English.
Cardinal Bessieres creates The Order of the Fisherman to acquire the sword. He gets Robbie to be the first knight of the order by showing him that his oath to Thomas is invalid. Father Marchant is to be the guiding light of the order.
Hookton goes south to Montpellier in search of information. There his wife, Genevieve and son, Hugh, are taken captive by Roland de Verrec, a knight who believes in chivalry. Hookton must find a way to get them back. Later, Hookton and his entourage fall into a trap while looking for La Malice. Fortunately, before anything can happen, Hookton and his entourage are saved. He and his archers join the Black Prince's forces.
Edward, Prince of Wales, the Black Prince, is cornered by France's King Jean at Poitiers. Negotiations lead to Edward being offered the chance to be taken hostage and ransomed. However, the French decide to attack instead. They vastly outnumber the English. All of author Bernard Cornwell's characters take part in this major battle. It provides an exciting conclusion to this historical novel. I was unable to put it down because it was so gripping.
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