skip to main |
skip to sidebar
In contrast with my review below this book drew me into it's pages from the first. It's an amazing novel for a first author. Derek Nikitas has written 'Pyres' like an extremely seasoned writer.
Pyres is extremely multi dimensional. All the main characters are female. Nikitas does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting them, and integrating them into the story. The writing is very sharp and clear, and bleak at times, but that does not detract from the overall story. It is as much a thriller as a coming-of-age novel.
A very good book that I will recommend for teens and older. Not a book to be savored with tea. It would go well with a sharp citrus drink.
I wonder why all my favorite murder mystery authors are female...and British. Maybe it started at a young age with Agatha Christie. When there is a new murder mystery out by a female British author I snatch it up like a rabid dog and start reading.
Denise Mina is British - and female. I've read all of her books to date and always pick up the next book because I keep hoping. For me, Mina's books have the requisite "atmosphere" but there is always something lacking. I always, always fail to get drawn in and I put her books down saying miserably "Maybe next time..." and wait for the next book
It happened again with her newest book. It looked good, the inside front cover made me eager to go home and make out with my book. I failed to be drawn in again and finished the book with the feeling that something was missing. Maybe it's just me.
This is actually the eighth book in the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall-Smith. The series started with the book by the same name, and none of the books in the series disappoint.
The overview on www.bn.com says: In the life of Mma Ramotswe – a woman duly proud of her fine traditional build – there is rarely a dull moment, and in her newest round of adventures, challenges and intrigues, the same certainly holds true. But one thing above all else is keeping her occupied – her estimable husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. He has been hinting for some time now that he intends to do something special for their adopted daughter, Motholeli, and it seems that the time for this good deed has come. Of course, good deed or not, his plan is bound to hit some snags. And that’s when he will undoubtedly consider himself doubly – perhaps even triply – lucky to be married to the ever-resourceful, ever-understanding Precious Ramotswe.
This detective series does not deal with spies, murder, serial killers or mayhem. In fact most of the detection in the whole series is about matters such as who picked the fruit off a client's tree, or why the mechanic of Mr Matekoni's garage is not working to his full potential (he never does).
If ever there was a book to be slowly savored, it it this one or any other books of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series. A beautifully simple series of books.
Ruth Rendell (and her other alias Barbara Vine) has long been a favorite author of mine. She usually writes mystery stories under the name Ruth Rendell, and other novels as Barbara Vine. The one thing common to all her books is that they have a disturbing undertone - at the beginning one is not sure who the characters are or what they will turn out to be.
Joyce Carol Oates has the greatest talent for creating the disturbed, strong and violent man. Ruth Rendell is the mistress of creating the weak villain. Her villains always end up committing crimes by accident or unintentionally, and show other aspects of their characters when trying to cover up those crimes.
This book is about a murderer stalking a London neighborhood. He takes trinkets from his victims which mysteriously turn up in a local antique shop. The odd characters who work in the antique shop and who pass through come under scrutiny, and it is there that Ruth Rendell shows her true skills as an author.
I find Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford series slightly less entertaining than her stand-alone mysteries, but all her books are good reads nonetheless.
In contrast with my review below this book drew me into it's pages from the first. It's an amazing novel for a first author. Derek Nikitas has written 'Pyres' like an extremely seasoned writer.
