Modernist Women Writers and Spirituality: A Piercing Darkness: 2016
Andrew Radford and Heather Walton
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Concentrating on female modernists specifically, this volume examines spiritual issues and their...
The Border Trilogy: Picador Classic
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With an introduction by Rachael Kushner. In the vanishing world of the Old West, two cowboys begin...
The Collapsing Empire
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Does the biggest threat lie within? In the far future, humanity has left Earth to create a glorious...
Mr Fox
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'Oyeyemi reveals a twinkling sense of humour ...A delight' Independent It's a bright afternoon in...
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated I Know You Know in Books
Mar 12, 2019
I still remember the moment I discovered Gilly Macmillan, and her books are such a treat. This one was no exception. This is a stand-alone novel, or at least not one of her Jim Clemo novels, and I found it to be a highly enjoyable and compelling mystery. When I first realized that part of the book was being told via the podcast format, I felt a bit of deja-vu, as I had just recently finished another book in that structure (Sadie), but have no fear: the organization of this one is fresh and flawless.
The book is told via the podcast; Jessica's point of view; and Fletcher's perspective--both now and back then, when he was a rookie cop, investigating the boys' death. You have to get used to the book swinging back and forth in time with Fletcher, but it doesn't take much, and it's worth it, because Macmillan parallels things so well in time. The juxtaposition of the past and present with the two cases (current body, the boys' case - plus Cody's podcast) is really brilliant. Plus, we get to see the trajectory of Fletcher's life and the many decisions that have led him to where he his today. His character, for me, was fascinating and one of the best surprises of the book.
One of my favorite aspects of any Macmillan novel is her characters. They are always so detailed and fully fleshed out. That is the case here: you will find yourself transported back to the estate twenty years ago, with Charlie, Scott, and Cody running around, and then to the present, with Cody and his podcast, Jessica struggling to keep her new life afloat, and Fletcher, unraveling the details on a new--potentially related--case.
There are multiple mystery threads to keep any detective fan happy: what happened to Charlie and Scott all those years ago? Was it really Sidney Noyce? How about the body Fletcher just discovered nearby? Just a coincidence? I loved the way Macmillan weaved the pieces of all these stories together. There are some wonderful and unexpected turns here. I adore a book that surprises me, and it was great to have some twists and turns that shocked me.
Overall, this is a fascinating and compelling mystery that expertly weaves together the thread of two cases separated by twenty years. The characters are well-detailed and the book is beautifully plotted. It's hard to go wrong with a Macmillan mystery, and this one is no exception.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Effective Motivation
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People are the most important asset in any business today. It is through great people that great...
Following the Levellers: Political and Religious Radicals in England from the Civil War to the Glorious Revolution, 1645-88: 2016
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This book reinterprets the Leveller authorships of John Lilburne, Richard Overton, and William...
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Two men - a killer awaiting trial, and a troubled young deputy - sit across from each other in the...
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No Cunning Plan
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Sir Tony Robinson is a much-loved actor, presenter and author with a stellar career lasting over...