Search
Search results
Jonathan Kellerman recommended Potboiler in Books (curated)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Martyr in Books
Feb 27, 2022
37 of 230
Book
Martyr ( John Shakespeare book 1)
By Rory Clements
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This ingenious debut introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England's most remarkable investigator, in a tale of conspiracy and murder that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and crime thriller.
This is one of my favourite eras to read! I really enjoyed this book it was full of murder and intrigue in a very dark time especially if you were religious and on the wrong side. It’s definitely a book I recommend if you like historical fiction. It has some very interesting characters along the way.
Book
Martyr ( John Shakespeare book 1)
By Rory Clements
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This ingenious debut introduces John Shakespeare, Elizabethan England's most remarkable investigator, in a tale of conspiracy and murder that succeeds brilliantly as both historical fiction and crime thriller.
This is one of my favourite eras to read! I really enjoyed this book it was full of murder and intrigue in a very dark time especially if you were religious and on the wrong side. It’s definitely a book I recommend if you like historical fiction. It has some very interesting characters along the way.
Courtney (149 KP) rated Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime in Books
Nov 28, 2018
Brilliant for forensic lovers
First I should say, I’ve never been a fan of non-fiction. It’s for this reason that this book has been sat on my shelf for around a year just waiting to be read. I finally got around to reading it and I have to say, this really dug into the depths of my interest in crime and the forensic aspect of this.
I loved how this book was set out, going through in the order in which events take place when a real life crime is committed and dedicating a chapter to each stage, providing real life examples along the way which really keeps you engrossed.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who is in the slightest interested in crime in general or just specific aspects such as fire scenes, toxicology and pathology.
I loved how this book was set out, going through in the order in which events take place when a real life crime is committed and dedicating a chapter to each stage, providing real life examples along the way which really keeps you engrossed.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who is in the slightest interested in crime in general or just specific aspects such as fire scenes, toxicology and pathology.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Die Last in Books
Nov 19, 2017
Tony Parsons deals with another tough topic
This is wonderful story telling. London, its smells, noises and people emerge, gloriously, from the page.
The story itself surrounds the murky, brutal world of human trafficking, an enterprise that is ever expanding. Parsons humanises the victims, ranging from trafficked sex slaves to servitude.
They are a bit far fetched however - as is all crime fiction, nevertheless, I've enjoyed all of these as they race along and keep you engaged.
The story itself surrounds the murky, brutal world of human trafficking, an enterprise that is ever expanding. Parsons humanises the victims, ranging from trafficked sex slaves to servitude.
They are a bit far fetched however - as is all crime fiction, nevertheless, I've enjoyed all of these as they race along and keep you engaged.
Tigs85 (21 KP) rated The Girl on the Train in Books
Jun 5, 2017
Took me out of my comfort zone
As an ardent crime-fiction reader, I was surprised how much I loved this psychological thriller. I read it with a friend and we were gripped with the characters. Although it was a bit confusing at the start, after a few chapters it became a plausible read. Definitely took me away from my reading-comfort-zone. I even enjoyed the film....though that should definitely be viewed after reading the book.
Ross (3282 KP) rated The Paris Mysteries in Books
Dec 27, 2019
Crime fiction stripped bare - all tell
"Show, don't tell" is the mantra of many authors. It means give the reader the information so they can decipher the plot at their own pace, with various tidbits of information scattered throughout a book. It doesn't mean long rambling sections of exposition.
This phrase was clearly coined after Poe's demise, as he doesn't seem to have ever heard it.
Yes, he is undoubtedly the first and most important writer of detective/crime fiction. This by no means suggests it is any good.
The three stories are really just a setting out of a mysterious crime with some facts/suspicions, with a lengthy monologue where C August Dupin solves the mystery. That's it. No suspense. No character development. No real scene setting. Just a slightly puzzling crime followed by a smartarse giving the solution.
The main thing to take away from these three Poe stories is that the police and detectives used to be rubbish and looked for the wrong evidence, or were sidetracked by what they wanted to see. There are many crimes and stories with apparently impossible solutions which can't seem to be unravelled. This idea absolutely was the genesis of the rich and varied crime genre we have today. The idea that a strange set of circumstances can arise where an apparently normal crime can be committed but with the evidence so obscure and tangled that unravelling it would take a genius.
Sadly, Poe didn't put the story around the bare bones of these crimes. So all we have is three exam questions with a know-it-all giving the answer, with no charm, no suspense, no thrilling conclusion. One of them barely even concludes the murderer, just spends an age picking holes in the logic applied by various newspapers in trying to document the crime.
I might be interested in reading a retelling of these stories (except the one where a letter has simply gone missing and is found my looking somewhere obvious), where someone actually weaves a narrative around the bare bones.
I appreciate Poe's efforts because of what followed, but not for what they themselves are.
This phrase was clearly coined after Poe's demise, as he doesn't seem to have ever heard it.
Yes, he is undoubtedly the first and most important writer of detective/crime fiction. This by no means suggests it is any good.
The three stories are really just a setting out of a mysterious crime with some facts/suspicions, with a lengthy monologue where C August Dupin solves the mystery. That's it. No suspense. No character development. No real scene setting. Just a slightly puzzling crime followed by a smartarse giving the solution.
The main thing to take away from these three Poe stories is that the police and detectives used to be rubbish and looked for the wrong evidence, or were sidetracked by what they wanted to see. There are many crimes and stories with apparently impossible solutions which can't seem to be unravelled. This idea absolutely was the genesis of the rich and varied crime genre we have today. The idea that a strange set of circumstances can arise where an apparently normal crime can be committed but with the evidence so obscure and tangled that unravelling it would take a genius.
Sadly, Poe didn't put the story around the bare bones of these crimes. So all we have is three exam questions with a know-it-all giving the answer, with no charm, no suspense, no thrilling conclusion. One of them barely even concludes the murderer, just spends an age picking holes in the logic applied by various newspapers in trying to document the crime.
I might be interested in reading a retelling of these stories (except the one where a letter has simply gone missing and is found my looking somewhere obvious), where someone actually weaves a narrative around the bare bones.
I appreciate Poe's efforts because of what followed, but not for what they themselves are.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Cold As The Grave in Books
Sep 1, 2019
A treat for crime fiction lovers
This is a treat for crime fiction lovers with a bit of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. Mr Oswald knows how to write a great story and he has done it once again with "Cold as the Grave".
DCI Tony McLean finds himself, quite unexpectedly, in the midst of a strange and disturbing investigation following his discovery of the mummified remains of a young girl. Being a DCI, Tony is not supposed to get into the day to day investigation of crime however, Tony being Tony just can't help himself and he quickly becomes in the thick of it.
This is a dark and sinister case to investigate and includes themes on refugees, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, trafficking, modern slavery, the murder of children and violence towards women as well as introducing a less than "normal" slant on the perpetrator of the crime and the method used for committing murder.
With fantastic characters throughout and written in a sympathetic rather than sensationalist way with the back drop of a winter in Edinburgh, this is a great read.
I admit to not having read all the previous books in this series and although I have probably missed out massively on back story, character development, etc., it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
On to the next .... when it comes out!
My thanks must go to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
DCI Tony McLean finds himself, quite unexpectedly, in the midst of a strange and disturbing investigation following his discovery of the mummified remains of a young girl. Being a DCI, Tony is not supposed to get into the day to day investigation of crime however, Tony being Tony just can't help himself and he quickly becomes in the thick of it.
This is a dark and sinister case to investigate and includes themes on refugees, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, trafficking, modern slavery, the murder of children and violence towards women as well as introducing a less than "normal" slant on the perpetrator of the crime and the method used for committing murder.
With fantastic characters throughout and written in a sympathetic rather than sensationalist way with the back drop of a winter in Edinburgh, this is a great read.
I admit to not having read all the previous books in this series and although I have probably missed out massively on back story, character development, etc., it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
On to the next .... when it comes out!
My thanks must go to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Most Dangerous Animal of All in TV
Mar 14, 2020
Crime documentaries are, by far, my favorite programs to watch. Last week Hulu released FX on Hulu, and this was the first non-fiction show from FX.
It's a nice, tight, four episode series about a guy who tracked down his birth mother, and subsequently his father, who he believes is the Zodiac Killer. It was completely engaging, and the evidence was compelling.
To avoid spoilers, I have to stop there. It's well worth the watch and I highly recommend it.
It's a nice, tight, four episode series about a guy who tracked down his birth mother, and subsequently his father, who he believes is the Zodiac Killer. It was completely engaging, and the evidence was compelling.
To avoid spoilers, I have to stop there. It's well worth the watch and I highly recommend it.
Lindsay (1693 KP) rated The Red Ribbon (True Colors #8) in Books
Oct 3, 2020
If you want to find some crime stories to read. This book can help with the craze. This series also will help with your craze for crime and historical events. This book is called The Red Ribbon. It deals with historical events evolved around clans and the courthouse tragedy in one county.
This story is slow when you begin. Though, it does get better as you read. The plot is more interesting once the action starts. The main characters are a bit interesting. The clans are more telling. Hearing about the story of a father's death and how it connected in the book. It brings out the more about the historical events of the true crimes and what happens at the courthouse that triggers it all.
If you are a historical fiction fan or crime fan this book, is for you. I hope you have the heart to take all the death and crime that takes place. Ava and Jeremiah seem to be pulled into trouble that may have all started with a kiss. But who kiss starts a feud between families and clans? Ava story reporting that starts it when there a rift. What may have brought on a courthouse massacre?
This story is slow when you begin. Though, it does get better as you read. The plot is more interesting once the action starts. The main characters are a bit interesting. The clans are more telling. Hearing about the story of a father's death and how it connected in the book. It brings out the more about the historical events of the true crimes and what happens at the courthouse that triggers it all.
If you are a historical fiction fan or crime fan this book, is for you. I hope you have the heart to take all the death and crime that takes place. Ava and Jeremiah seem to be pulled into trouble that may have all started with a kiss. But who kiss starts a feud between families and clans? Ava story reporting that starts it when there a rift. What may have brought on a courthouse massacre?
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Colours of Death in Books
Jun 20, 2021
This is not your usual crime fiction story but a mix of police procedural and science fiction.
I don't read a lot of supernatural books so this almost passed me by but I'm so glad I took a chance to read something a bit different because it's thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable.
With great characters that you quickly become invested in, well paced, a great setting and an intriguing and unique plot, this is a great book which I found entertaining and gripping.
This is, I believe, the start of a series and I for one am looking forward to seeing where it goes in the future.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for inviting me to read and review The Colours of Death; this is no way affected or influenced my review in anyway.
I don't read a lot of supernatural books so this almost passed me by but I'm so glad I took a chance to read something a bit different because it's thoroughly absorbing and enjoyable.
With great characters that you quickly become invested in, well paced, a great setting and an intriguing and unique plot, this is a great book which I found entertaining and gripping.
This is, I believe, the start of a series and I for one am looking forward to seeing where it goes in the future.
Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for inviting me to read and review The Colours of Death; this is no way affected or influenced my review in anyway.