I did not like it. By this time you expect certain things from a Garrett book, and here we do not get it. No real mystery, just repetitive events. No I did not like it. By this time you expect certain things from a Garrett book, and here we do not get it. No real mystery, just repetitive events. No sympathetic characters, specially no great villain, and most recurring characters were absent or almost unrecognizable. Even the potential love interests were underwhelming.
It seemed just Tales of the Dead man, rather than Garrett P. I. ...more
After the excellent Old tin sorrows, 4th in the series, I may have been unfair to this book, as it is a quite typical Garrett book, with a bit more ofAfter the excellent Old tin sorrows, 4th in the series, I may have been unfair to this book, as it is a quite typical Garrett book, with a bit more of an overarching story and less attention to the case, but nevertheless with the great instant characterization and easy violence with a touch of the supernatural that characterizes the series. There may be some shake ups among the recurring characters. ...more
I had to reread the previous three Garrett books, as I had forgotten the plots and even some recurring characters. But I remembered well the noir settI had to reread the previous three Garrett books, as I had forgotten the plots and even some recurring characters. But I remembered well the noir setting, how well it fits with Cook’s curt and precise characterization, and using the tropes of fantasy to subvert the expectations of the typical P. I. stories.
This is for me one of the best, with Garrett mostly working with his powerful friends and contacts, and showing true feeling. I realized in this one that the main character is also evolving, and that he is becoming more complex.
If you have reached this point in the Rivers of London series, you know you will read this no matter what I say and what score I give it.
The main eveIf you have reached this point in the Rivers of London series, you know you will read this no matter what I say and what score I give it.
The main event is Beverly and Peter children. The mystery is not really, and it is a bit Pythonesque. The main characters are not in top form, while some auxiliary characters get more air time. Some pending arcs are cleaned, some background is shared, some ideas of where this may go in terms of magical policing are pushed forward.
Normally it should have one star less, but the author still writes wonderfully, and he avoids the cliffhanger, so I feel generous. ...more
This is a combined Angel and Sherlock Holmes fan fiction. The author is a great writer, so she manages to mostly pull it through, though at times she This is a combined Angel and Sherlock Holmes fan fiction. The author is a great writer, so she manages to mostly pull it through, though at times she puts the plots, the stories and the characters through a terrible grinder to make it work.
Holmes purists will probably laugh or cry. I am not one, and I was ambivalent, as some stories worked, and some did not. I found what she did with Mary Morstan quite tasteless, though fitting in her own alternate universe. ...more
This series is very popular in Spain. The first book was well written, but this one seems rushed, with minimum character development and a setting amoThis series is very popular in Spain. The first book was well written, but this one seems rushed, with minimum character development and a setting among organized crime that seems out of a Guy Ritchie pastiche. The main character starts to resemble a superheroine while her handler/assistant/protector (Watson analogue) does not work at any of those jobs. It ends in a shameless cliffhanger.
A waste of time. You add the last pages at the end of the first book and it would have worked, and you would have saved three hours. ...more
This is the right way to be introduced to DCI Morse and DS Lewis, in the first book. I already knew him from both TV series and indeed this book inspiThis is the right way to be introduced to DCI Morse and DS Lewis, in the first book. I already knew him from both TV series and indeed this book inspired an episode of Endeavour, but the book is his own beast, and quite different from the series.
Morse is a different kind of detective. Smart but fallible, easily distracted and stubborn. Lewis acts as a reality check, though he is too often ignored. Their interaction feels fully real, and that makes the story work.
It is clearly a book from the 70s, politically incorrect and quite open sexually. Probably people who did not leave though them will miss a few references, but the story itself is solid and timeless.
An excellent debut for inspector Morse and Colin Dexter. ...more
This book was a big best seller in Spain. And honestly I can see why, as the mix of famous names and current news with a relatively fresh take on SherThis book was a big best seller in Spain. And honestly I can see why, as the mix of famous names and current news with a relatively fresh take on Sherlock Holmes and sidekick is attractive. The mix of great power and secrecy presents a Diogenes club against Moriarty feel. The book is self contained, but clearly is intended as part of a series.
Summer read. As I was lent all of them I read them all, but I would not have bought them myself....more
Like many others, I suppose, I came to the book from the movie, and it is a different beast.
Some common points, but only the train itself is the same.Like many others, I suppose, I came to the book from the movie, and it is a different beast.
Some common points, but only the train itself is the same. The cast goes from a view of the Japanese underworld to a complex international cast, with many deliberate plans when it was mostly by accident in the novel. It is quite realist when the movie clearly went over the top.
The good thing is the novel is interesting in itself and you can still be surprised by what happens....more
Although I like the author’s style and creativity, I do not think it suits the short story format. Many are just a scene, held together but what you kAlthough I like the author’s style and creativity, I do not think it suits the short story format. Many are just a scene, held together but what you know, as a loyal reader, about the repeating characters. Most lack either a clear start or an ending.
It is still enjoyable if you are a fan of the series and want an extra dose of your favorite characters, but do not start here or you will be lost. ...more
A sweet and not too short addition to the Rivers of London series, it focuses on the German version of Peter Grant. It helps that I am familiar with tA sweet and not too short addition to the Rivers of London series, it focuses on the German version of Peter Grant. It helps that I am familiar with the the German region described, including Trier, though less than London.
The Novella format actually works very well with the author style, giving us a short and sweet story, without padding nor extra fat, but lean and means with the wry humor characteristic of the series. I sincerely hope we will see more of KK Winters. ...more
If you like the series you will love the next installment in Peter Grant’s life. No overarching story arc, except the coming fatherhood. An interestinIf you like the series you will love the next installment in Peter Grant’s life. No overarching story arc, except the coming fatherhood. An interesting mystery, short cameos from other characters that do not dominate the story, and an interesting twist on the tech-billionaire trope.
If you like the series, there is no question, you need this. ...more
It was worth to read the whole Rivers of London series to enjoy this small book. It is positive, funny and smart, with a great heroine and an amusing It was worth to read the whole Rivers of London series to enjoy this small book. It is positive, funny and smart, with a great heroine and an amusing cast of characters. Its only defect is that to enjoy it fully you need to read the whole series.
It is more wholesome than the typical Peter Grant story, but that is a plus in this case. That strengthens the idea of magic.
This is not the end of Peter Grant and the rivers, but it marks a change in the series, which I feel should have come in the previous book, to completThis is not the end of Peter Grant and the rivers, but it marks a change in the series, which I feel should have come in the previous book, to complete the story after Foxglove Summer.
The author has tried to fit too many things, and many details or characters from previous books, with the end result that there are many loose ends and they are dealt with in short time and with little flair. Less characters and more screen time for them would have made a more satisfactory story.
The impression is that this stage had to be closed, and that meant other things had to be rushed, including the ending, which I found unsatisfactory.
But I am so happy to close this that I hope we return to single arc novels. ...more
This far in the Rivers of London series reviews do not matter as much.
It is witty, well written and easy to read. The reason why it only gets three sThis far in the Rivers of London series reviews do not matter as much.
It is witty, well written and easy to read. The reason why it only gets three stars is because it gives us hope that some of the big story arcs will move forward, and at the end they move, but not so much. ...more
Una novela policíaca de Javier Cercas, que cogí por la buena impresión de Soldados de Salamina. Dedica mucho más tiempo al personaje principal que al Una novela policíaca de Javier Cercas, que cogí por la buena impresión de Soldados de Salamina. Dedica mucho más tiempo al personaje principal que al misterio en sí, que no tiene mucho de misterio y se resuelve de manera a la vez previsible y forzada. Buenos personajes y una vista a la zona de la Tierra Alta salvan la novela. ...more
"Foxglove Summer" is the fifth novel in the "Rivers of London" series, and I liked it a lot. It requires probably to have read all the previous books "Foxglove Summer" is the fifth novel in the "Rivers of London" series, and I liked it a lot. It requires probably to have read all the previous books to enjoy it.
It felt good to get out of London for a while, and the level of violence and anguish is much lower than usual. But maybe it is that some expected personal developments finally go right for Peter, and if you are this far in the series, you have to be rooting for him.
The magical landscape is increasing, but this time in a reasonable way. ...more
Although the rating is average, this book restores my faith in the author, as the mystery is all right and it advances both the faceless man story arcAlthough the rating is average, this book restores my faith in the author, as the mystery is all right and it advances both the faceless man story arch and concludes in a satisfactory way the murders.
It is still a bit upsetting how magic multiplied from extremely rare to almost common as the series progresses. But that not impedes it being a fast moving engrossing tale. ...more
Normally I enjoy a different perspective in mystery books, and different nationalities really help to see the peculiarities of the different cultures.Normally I enjoy a different perspective in mystery books, and different nationalities really help to see the peculiarities of the different cultures. But despite the interesting initial setting and some great secondary characters, like Ekaterina Petrova, the main characters were so flat and unappealing that you do not really care when they make mistakes or risk their lives.
It may be an artifact of the translation, or catching the third book of a series without reading the first two, so I am missing most of the character development, but it was quite frustrating....more
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