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ClareR (6144 KP) rated The Lock Up in Books

May 15, 2023  
The Lock Up
The Lock Up
John Banville | 2023 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The fact that I haven’t read the previous three books in this series didn’t mean that I enjoyed it any less. It’s a character driven murder mystery, with lots of background of the pathologist, Quirke. His wife died in the last book, and whilst it’s unclear whether this is a thing with him in other books, he’s most certainly an alcoholic in THIS book. He’s deeply unhappy.

The mystery however, centres around the death of a young Jewish woman, found in her car in a lock up. DI Strafford is called in to solve the case, which becomes more complicated ass the story goes on. The beginning of the book is about a young man travelling into the mountains in Germany to escape the allies. This seems unconnected to begin with,but of course it isn’t!

The Church very much makes it’s presence felt, and there are obstacles put in the way of Strafford and Quirke solving this case.

I really liked this, and very much appreciated the descriptions of Strafford, Quirke and the other characters too. It added to the sense of time and place.

Yet another book that I’m very glad that I picked up on The Pigeonhole!
  
TV
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
177 of 235
Kindle
The Valkyries Calling (Half-blood Rising 2)
By Lucy Roy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The conquest of Lindoroth seems all-but settled. The monarchs have fled the capital, the usurpers have taken over the thrones, and two foreign armies have descended on the five realms. Lindoroth's fate has fallen at the feet of a king and queen in exile and a spy for the Lindorothian crown.

While Freya and Aerelius hunt for allies in places they least expect to find them, Lea Calliwell takes matters into her own hands by infiltrating the lives of the people who murdered her family and stole her kingdom. Thrust into peril at opposite ends of the world, Freya and Lea must do whatever it takes to save their people, even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.

This world and its story are so intense. The characters are all worth investing in. This is part 2 and after escaping with their lives just about the new King and Queen have to find a way to win the war. It’s really really good!
  
Chasing Darkness
Chasing Darkness
Robert Crais | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cole’s Latest Client – His Reputation
When the body of Lionel Byrd is found in his rental house, the police also find a photo album with pictures of murder victims. One of those victims was someone that Lionel had been arrested for killing three years ago, and Elvis Cole was hired by his defense attorney to help get him off. Elvis did thanks to an ironclad alibi. Was Elvis wrong then? Or is something else going on now?

This is a compelling case that moves quickly from one plot point to another. I followed Elvis down a couple of blind allies and wrong turns before he figured things out. While we don’t get all the answers we might like, the book isn’t set up to give them to us. However, the conclusion is still satisfying. The characters we meet here are strong. This is really Elvis’ story, so we don’t see too much of his partner Joe Pike. Another couple of regulars appear here, and they are definitely the best versions of themselves. Do take the title of the book seriously; some of what we learn along the way is more graphic than I felt it needed to be, and we don’t get as much of Elvis’ trademark wit here. Still, this was a book well worth reading.