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Found 19 results

  1. I read this book a few months back and I absolutely loved it! Brilliant storytelling. A simple story, combined with strong narrative. The lead character, Cormoran is so unique. Galbraith managed to portray some unforgettable characters in this book.
  2. I'm not sure if this should go here or in crime, but they were written long enough ago and have an iconic enough standing that I'm going to chance it and put them here. Feel free to move me if I am in the wrong! I started reading the first Tom Ripley novel the other day and due to various commitments am only half-way through, but I am enjoying it much more than I expected. Despite, or perhaps because of, the remote tone of the novel, which offers only a very thin internal narrative from the main character, I find it very engaging, a unique and unexpected portrait of a sociopath. Ripley is far from the confident con-man I was expecting from what I knew of the story, but is instead a refreshing mixture of a man both daring and riddled with self-doubt. The books were written long enough ago that the style is no longer in line with those common to modern crime or thriller novels, but the enigmatic psychological portrait is definitely keeping me engaged despite any stylistic reservations I have! Has anyone else read the books? What do you think in general of Highsmith's writing, or her main character?
  3. Good morning. This is the very first book-related forum I have registered on, and until this morning I wasn't aware they existed. Looking forward to engaging with like-minded people and hearing recommendations. I'm a recently published author, having stepped into this world quite accidentally after writing my first book as part of my therapy for PTSD. Being an ex-soldier and cop, not too surprisingly I went against the advice of many of our best authors and decided to write about what I know. Books - I've just started reading 'THE SLAP' and I'm working on my third, due to be published Spring 2018. Best regards, Matt.
  4. Hi! I am looking for a crime or thriller or mistery books like The Secret History of Twin Peaks with photos, fake documents etc... Does anyone have suggestions? I red the S. by Doug Dorst and conceived by J.J. Abrams and I liked a lot. Thansk to everyone for helping
  5. Hi there, I'm trying to remember/ find an American crime novel I read in the late 90s. Maybe even around the year 2000. Story was: a cop with a disabled ex wife is working on a case. He has a vendetta against a man he knows is guilty of another crime, so gives this name to a black gang who are looking for a culprit for a murder in their circles... I remember the book being called simply 'Murder Book', based on the idea that all murders were written in a big book or something. The cover was plain black - very simple and striking. Ring any bells? Maybe I'm wrong and it's called something slightly different. Annoyingly James Patterson has used that title recently, which makes googling the title hopeless. I remember buying the book because of the strong title, but you don't want it to be so vague no one can do a search for it. Lesson to aspiring crime writers! Cheers Jasoni
  6. Hello I read that book in the 80's, and i've been looking for it for quite some time now, without success. Maybe I could get help in this forum? It's most probably from an english writer... It's the story of a middle age woman specialised in folklore studies, who comes to a small english town preparing a ancient yearly festival, featuring various acts including wearing armors and riding hobby horses. When she's mingling with the people in that town, a crime is committed, and one decisive step of the police investigation later on happens when they find out that it was her who was riding that hobby horse during the festival, wearing that armor, instead of the man who was supposed to do it, giving him a precious alibi... Does that ring any bell? Thank you for your help
  7. Hello! I'm looking for some great 'puzzle mysteries': that is, detective novels where the primary focus is on the whodunnit aspect, as opposed to a broader plot, deep characterization, etc. I like putting the book down periodically to work out my own theories (ex: suppose the killer were Mr. Smith...and he slipped out of the party an hour before he claimed he did, and then...but wait...that would mean...of course! etc.) The Mysterious Affair at Styles (Agatha Christie) was just about right (the specific layout of the house, the manageable list of suspects). The Nine Tailors (Dorothy Sayers) was excellent, and featured some puzzle-like aspects, but had decidedly larger themes and longer digressions. Then there was The Big Sleep (Raymond Chandler). Again, I enjoyed the novel, but there was hardly any puzzle at all. To me, it was more like an action film than a detective story, with constant activity but very little in the way of logic to work out. What would you recommend? I've heard The Five Red Herrings (Sayers) fits the bill. What else?
  8. Hey guys, I became interested in the idea of a female 'recreational' killer (not killing for revenge or killing specific individuals) when I saw a book like this adverstied as a poster in bookshops/supermarkets in London about 3 years ago. I forgot the name of the book and havent been able to find it since. There are a fair few crime books where the serial killer is a man who kills for no other reason than the enjoyment of killing, but I have not come across a book where the killer is female. Any ideas/ suggestions?
  9. I found this book in Spain which I was so interested in, but unfortunately I forgot it on the plane home. My problem is I don't remember the author besides it's a woman, and the book cover. I need your help, I attached a book cover that is almost the same as the book I bought. A black and white picture of a dark house in white sand or dried out field, with blood stains on cover. I hope you'll help me thank you
  10. I found this guy's thrillers in eBook format on Amazon, and I just finished his latest "Another Grassy Knoll". This one is a shorter than the others, but I think it's a great read - basically a conspiracy theory plot based on the crash of the Hindenburg zeppelin. I got it free as a promo earlier this week and finished it in two days - perfect for a long flight. I guess the price will go up though. Also loved his earlier one "Stockholm Sin" which had the same investigator. Anyone else try him? I'm buying "Cortona Crime" tonight.
  11. Set in the fictitious English village of Chillingley, this is a gripping and entertaining read. The plot revolves around the framing of one of the villagers for murder and the rallying of some of the others to try to solve the mystery and find the real culprit. Lydia, a one time actress from America, has been the recipient of malicious notes for some time before the peace of the village is disturbed by the discovery of two bodies at the gatehouse of Horsfield Lodge.A further note lures her to the scene of the crime, where she is found by the police. Muriel, a friend of Lydia's, helped by some other villagers, comes to her rescue as she determines to get to the bottom of the mystery and find the real culprit. At first it doesn't seem possible that Lydia has an enemy in the village, although there is reason to suspect one of them. Muriel thinks it more likely the enemy is from Lydia's acting days in America, but she keeps an open mind and pursues both lines of enquiry. The mystery deepens when more bodies appear on separate occasions. The only clue lies in the handwriting on the notes. Tom, a handwriting analysis expert, outlines some of the characteristics of the writer, but at this stage they don't seem to be of much use, There is lots of action and many twists before the final solution. The author captures the atmosphere of the village and draws us in to the lives of the characters, which makes it a fascinating read. The narrative is fast moving and the author's witty way with words a pleasure. I particularly enjoyed the pertinent remarks on the British way of life. I think this will appeal if you enjoy a good mystery with a great cast of characters.
  12. When Woolwich suspect Michael Adebowale was seen on video saying: “We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" I have to confess my first thought was 'Why is a Muslim quoting the Bible'. He wasn't of course. The Bible says the exact opposite. Matthew 5:38-39 says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." The idea of an 'eye for an eye' can be traced back nearly 2,000 years before Christ to Code of Hammurabi. Hammurabi was a Babylonian King. By chance I had recently downloaded Resist Not Evil published by Clarence Darrow in 1902. The American lawyer achieved fame (or infamy) for defending John T Scopes in the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, and the teenage killers-f0r-fun, Leopold and Loeb (the inspiration for Rope by Patrick Hamilton). He claims in the preface that he wished to "state the reasons which appeal to me in support of the doctrine of non-resistance" but he's perhaps foiled by living in a pre-internet age. He confesses a search of libraries and bookstores revealed next to nothing on the subject. Perhaps for this reason, this reads like an unfinished book. He demolishes the current systems of justice and the punishment of criminals but fails to make any convincing argument that non-resistance to evil would be a viable alternative. But it's a damn good read all the same. What comes across is his sharp mind which would successfully be used to write a summing-up speech which would spare Leopold and Loeb's execution in 1924. His arguments are well made, they are succinct and in a crystal-clear English no doubt designed to sway a jury (or reader). How much they would stand up to more sustained criticism I'm not sure. Take for example his view on guns - a topical theme in America now and always. The gun lobby continually trots out "It is not guns that kill people, it is people" but he turns this on his head: "It is the bayonet that is evil and all of its fruits are bad" and argues that a bayonet in the hand of one man is no better than in the hand of another. Darrow points out that all forms of 'punishment' (prisons, execution, fining etc) are merely revenge by another name since they have never been shown - he says - to reduce crime. "There is but one cure for malice and that is malice" he writes. He points out the impossibility of judging someone for one act without balancing it against the many good acts they have done - or will do in the future ("No life is wholly good, and no life is wholly bad"). Nor does he have any faith in the infallibility of the men chosen to judge others. But while he's good at pointing out what's wrong with society and its treatment of criminals, he's far too light on any answers. We can certainly all agree that the money spent currently on prisons could be better spent on prevention but is he really suggesting we ignore crime and criminals on every occasion? Crime and punishment is always a timely debate and one that impinges on all our lives. I'll conclude with just one example which illustrates its rich complexity. I volunteer at my local arts centre and have spent many hours cleaning, painting and generally tidying up the building and its surroundings. Working alongside me have been a "community payback" team - men and women ordered to spend their weekends cleaning and painting the arts centre as punishment for some misdemeanour. It's baffled them that I choose to be there voluntarily!
  13. Has anyone on here read this book? My understanding is that it is no longer in print due to some of its content. There are some disturbing parts in the story, but I've read other books which were equally as disturbing, if not more disturbing. It strikes me as odd that this particular one would be targeted. I was just wondering if someone might have some thoughts as to what specifically about the book's content made the publishers decide to stop printing it.
  14. The term ‘blew me away’ is perhaps used far too often when it comes to book reviews, but I can safely say that this is one book that left me truly astonished and open-mouthed with every page turn. Special FBI Agent Jospeh. D Pistone spent five years working undercover as a mafia associate in the Bonnano New York crime family. A film was made in 1997 based on his life starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino, but like most films based on books, you only get half the story on the big screen. Pistone’s memoirs delve deep into the background of his story of how a 3-month undercover operation going after a truck hijacking ring turns into a him living, breathing, sleeping, and eating his way through the Mafioso lifestyle. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, the US government waged a war against the powerful crime families running New York, but unlike today’s sophisticated techniques of undercover operations, Pistone was almost left to make up the rules as he went along. He encounters some very dangerous people along the way, including an incident when he is led down into a basement and told that unless his story and background checks out, he faces a bullet in the head. Not your every day boardroom situation! But this isn’t just a book about the violence and cold stark reality of mobsters who once ran the American underworld. Pistone tells of the impact this ‘lifestyle’ had on his family. And at times you can’t help but laugh at some of the situations and stories Pistone relays, especially those that involve Lefty Ruggiero; the gangster ‘Donnie Brasco’ becomes closest to. Pistone’s story is one of true courage. His testimony eventually led to hundreds of arrests and played a major role in the foundations of the American Mafia crumbling to its knees. This is a truly enjoyable thrill-ride of a read, and one which you need to keep reminding yourself is true! If you only ever read one gangster book (after The Godfather of course), then make it this one! 5/5 stars
  15. Hello. I have just finished the above book. Really enjoyed it. Its an author I have never heard of before. I really enjoy this fresh take on crime thrillers. If you like such series as Tess Gerritsen's then you will enjoy this book. It is rich in visual stimulation and gore. Yet still contains a good plot and twist. I would recommend this to a person who is new to the genre. Lou x
  16. Hi There I read a review a few weeks ago about a new murder mystery novel based on a cruise ship and I cannot seem to find it anywhere and I don't have the magazine where I read the review. I think the review was in The Shortlist magazine and cannot remember the author or the title and have been searching amazon new releases and still no joy. I like going on cruises and love murder crime novels and thought this would be the perfect book to read. I need help, if anyone knows the author or the title could you please let me know. Thanks for your help. Cheers Steve
  17. This is the latest in a long line of Agatha Raisin mysteries (& to my shame, I've only read the first 4 of the series before this one - I can't seem to find them in the local shops!) & I found this lurking in my local library. As with the previous books, I've developed a strange liking to the heroine - her faults making her all the more likeable & I wasn't disappointed in this latest installment of her life either. I also liked the fact that even though I've missed so many books in between I was able to pick up on existing plotlines within her home village & her relationships with the other regular characters. It seems that the characters are consistent & well-developed, their relationships detailed well rather than being over-emphasised & the insight into Agatha's psyche is just as enlightening, frightening & amusing as ever! The given synopsis is as follows: 'Agatha Raisin's ex-husband James is engaged to be married to a beautiful young woman and Agatha has kindly been invited to the wedding. This is a difficult pill to swallow & to take her mind off it Agatha begins a flirtation with Sylvan, a Frenchman she met at James's engagement party. For further distraction she decides upon a holiday & flies off to Istanbul, where unfortunately she bumps into James & his fiancee, not once but twice - convincing him she is stalking them. So when the bride is murdered on her wedding day, naturally Agatha is Suspect Number One - though the situation is quickly turned on its head when the mother of the bride engages Agatha to take on the case of her murdered daughter! And then, somehow, Agatha's own life seems to be in danger as she sets about trying to solve the mystery of the dead bride, while defending herself (rather half-heartedly) against the advances of a very attractive & determined Frenchman.' As a whole, this book was highly enjoyable, I whizzed through it in a couple of days & was thoroughly immersed in the plotline, I enjoyed the different locations described this time round, finding it interesting in the way that Agatha interacted abroad rather than in her home village. The plot had sufficient twists & revelations to keep me interested, although I was disappointed that I guessed who the murderer was & the main plotline, although it was hinted at heavily throughout the majority of the last half of the book. There were, however, some interesting sidelines introduced - between for example Toni & Agatha - their relationship was looked at in a little more detail rather than just leaving it as employer & employee. All in all, it was an enjoyable book, all the loose ends tied up nicely & the main characters' lives were opened up enough to leave scope for more books to follow. I've started hunting the previous books down on Ebay as I do find these light enough to just grab & read for light entertainment.
  18. Hi, I've been lent The Faithless by Martina Cole & am having huge problems getting into it. My friend says that its best to start with her earlier works as she found them more enjoyable than the latest works. Has anyone else read a cross section of her books & if so could you give me an idea of which ones are better to start with? Thanks
  19. I just completed reading Christie's Partners In Crime - a collection of 14 short-stories with Tommy and Tuppence as the leads. While the stories are not her best ones, it is a light-hearted read, with each short-story mimicking the style of a famous fictional detective of the period - 1920s. I was tempted to read the originals, and picked up the list from this wiki link. This is the list of the 14 authors and their detectives (and in some cases the exact book alluded to): Herbert George Jenkins - detective Malcolm Sage (1921) R. Austin Freeman - Dr Thorndyke Valentine Williams - detective brothers Francis and Desmond Okewood (The Man with the Clubfoot : 1918) Isabel Ostrander - detectives Tommy McCarty and Denis Riordan (The Clue in the Air : 1917) Arthur Conan Doyle's - Sherlock Holmes (The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax : 1911) Clinton H. Stagg - the blind detective Thornley Colton G. K. Chesterton - Father Brown Edgar Wallace Baroness Orczy - Polly Burton and Bill Owen (The Old Man in the Corner : 1909) A. E. W. Mason - French detective Inspector Hanaud Freeman Wills Crofts - detective Inspector Joseph French Anthony Berkeley - detective Roger Sherringham H. C. Bailey - detectives Dr. Reginald Fortune and Superintendent Bell Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot (The Big Four) Most of them seem to be available as free e-books on the internet - which makes it easy. I hope to enjoy this challenge, and re-visit "Partners In Crime", to fully appreciate the parodies. If you could make any sense of this, and it interests you, do join in!
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