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Title: A Killing Kindness

Author: Reginald Hill

Narrator: Colin Buchanan

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-11

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Hill is on top form in this sixth story in the Dalziel and Pascoe series. When Mary Dinwoodie is found choked in a ditch following a night out with her boyfriend, a mysterious caller phones the local paper with a quotation from Hamlet. The career of the Yorkshire Choker is underway.If Superintendent Dalziel is unimpressed by the literary phone calls, he is downright angry when Sergeant Wield calls in a clairvoyant. Linguists, psychiatrists, mediums its all a load of nonsense as far as he is concerned, designed to make a fool of him. And meanwhile the Choker strikes again and again.

Critic Reviews:

Few writers in the genre today have Hills gifts: formidable intelligence, quick humour, compassion and a prose style that blends elegance and grace" (Donna Leon, Sunday Times)

The finest male English contemporary crime writer" (Val McDermid)

"Reginald Hills novels are really dances to the music of time, his heroes and villains interconnecting, their stories intertwining." (Ian Rankin)

Members Reviews:

Well-Told Story

Hmm . . . The entry in Goodreads says that this is Dalziel & Pascoe #6, but the cover of the book says that it is #5. The story is intriguing and well-told. The author is a skilled writer, and this book did not disappoint. The ending was a surprise, even though the murderer was not (to me, anyway). The story seems to be focused more on Pascoe than on Dalziel, and additional development is completed on Sgt. Wield's character, which added to the quality of the story. This is an easy read, and even though it was written in 1980, the only parts of it that showed its age were the references to disco.

Vintage Dalziel and Pascoe

The thing with Reginald Hill is that almost all of his books are intelligent, engaging and full of well-developed characters. So the spectrum of writing is good to incredibly good. This early D&G entry, "A Killing Kindness" is closer to the good end than to the great. Author Hill puts a heavy focus on the procedural side of detective work as the dynamic duo plus the estimable Sergeant Wield track a serial killer with a penchant for explaining himself/herself with quotes from Shakespeare. Additional color is added with a look at English gypsies who inhabit the story start to finish.

For regular fans of Dalziel and Pascoe, who haven't gotten to this novel yet, this is number five in the series, chronicling a well-developed relationship between the two cops and including a pregnant Ellie Pascoe and a still-in-the-closet and lovelorn Sergeant Wield. It's a good read with plenty of indications of the great things that are to follow in this series.

Probably one of the few authors I will re-read like Doyle.

Hill never disappoints! I am not reading, but rather "savoring" each page. I am a huge fan of British mystery and comedy so I am biased.. it takes a whole book to catch onto the diallic, such as" by the road" instead of "by the way ". The ending always come together without any out of the blue revelations. Probably one of the few authors I will re-read like Doyle.

Hill gets rolling in this the 4th of his Dalziel ...

Hill gets rolling in this the 4th of his Dalziel and Pascoe mysteries. The introduction of Sgt Wield fully into the plot and the use of Ellie as a foil to Daziel and Pascoe comes to the fore.

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Title: A Clubbable Woman

Author: Reginald Hill

Narrator: Warren Clarke

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-11

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Reginald Hills first Dalziel and Pascoe novel. When Connon got back from the Rugby Club, his wife was even more uncommunicative than usual. Five hours later, when she still hadnt moved, Connon noticed that the front of her head had been caved in. Superintendent Dalziel knew exactly what went on down at the clubhouse, but Sergeant Pascoe had a few ideas of his own

Members Reviews:

A Great Beginning

Rereading this first entry into the Dalziel & Pascoe series was so much fun. For years, I'd thought that the very early entries were somehow lesser lights, lacking the wit and character insights that later books were filled with. Not so.

This edition includes an opening word from Hill about his early plans for his writing career and his relationship to these characters.

A highly recommended work and a highly recommended format by the publishers.

The very first in the Dalziel/ Pascoe series of excellent police procedurals.

The very first Dalziel/ Pascoe book in the series.....not as good as later ones, as the characters are not yet well established, but nevertheless better than most of the **** out there!!! Do please read them in order! And WHY are most of them NOT on Kindle???

Five Stars

Most enjoyable book. Found another crime partnership to follow

Catching up with Reginald Hill

It was good to make a start on the first book in the series at last. Having read some of the later books in the series it didn't dissapoint me at all. Looking forward to the second book now

Great British Detective Novel

This novel is one of the best detective stories I have ever read. The author displays great skills as a writer. I enjoyed this book.

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Title: The Book of Secrets

Author: Tom Harper

Narrator: Francis Greenslade

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-11

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

In a snowbound village in the German mountains, a young woman discovers an extraordinary secret. Before she can reveal it, she disappears. All that survives is a picture of a mysterious medieval playing card that has perplexed scholars for centuries.

Nick Ash does research for the FBI in New York. Six months ago his girlfriend Gillian walked out and broke his heart. Now hes the only person who can save her - if its not too late. Within hours of getting her message, Nick finds himself on the run, delving deep into the past before it catches up with him.

Hunted across Europe, Nick follows Gillians trail into the heart of a five-hundred-year-old mystery. But across the centuries, powerful forces are closing around him. There are men who have devoted their lives to keeping the secret, and they will stop at nothing to protect it.

Critic Reviews:

"Be warned, you could become so hooked by this big adventurous thriller that the tide will be lapping round your deckchair before you notice." (Peterborough Evening Telegraph)

Members Reviews:

I usually enjoy all of Tom Harper's novels

I usually enjoy all of Tom Harper's novels, and this was still a great book, but it bounces back to the 1400's too often. It's so slow in giving us information that it really bogs the novel down a bit. I bought the book because Tom Harper wrote it, and I do enjoy his books, but if I'd seen the book without the benefit of knowing who the author is, I probably would not have bought it.

One theme at a time is good

I lost interest after wading through most of this book when the author introduced yet another side theme. At least the copy of _War and Peace_ that I read as a teenager came complete with a bookmark detailing characters and themes -- a portable guide. Here it was just one too many. I love to get involved in a book, with the trials and tribulations of the main protagonists, but couldn't decide who stood out for my attention. I still haven't finished it, and doubt whether I will be able to pick it up and simply read on.

well done

Book consists of two nicely woven stories. First is situated to the medieval (15th century mostly Rhine region) and the second to the present time. The relation between both stories is not just books but also storing and reproducing of information in given age. I have liked the medieval story more. Especially for nicely curved characters, vividly described venues, and the dominant theme itself: activities related to invention of printing. The present story is bit time compressed and over combined. The narrative forms of both stories are very captivating.

It did meet my expectations up to a point. ...

It did meet my expectations up to a point. I just found the end a bit too predictable. But all in all it got me engaged for almost all the story.

Started off well

This story was great to start with but I lost interest before I finished it - in fact I still haven't finished reading this book. It was very clever to combine the ancient story with the game but I'm afraid too much time spent in the game later in the book lost me and I found myself skipping parts.

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Title: The Guilty Plea

Author: Robert Rotenberg

Narrator: Paul Hecht

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-11

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

On the morning of his divorce trial, multi-millionaire Quentin Wyler is found dead on his kitchen floor. Detective Ari Greene arrives minutes before the press, who are obsessed by Wyler's affair with a Hollywood starlet. Hours after the funeral, Wyler's ex-wife is charged with murder. But what should be a straightforward guilty plea turns into a complex murder trial, and leaves a trail of unanswered questions in its aftermath.

Members Reviews:

Great authenticity, weak plot

I recently finished both The Guilty Plea, and its predecessor Old City Hall. I consider this a review of both books.

3 stars is a relatively low rating, although I want to be clear that I enjoyed reading this book. It has a lot of positives. First and foremost, this book is authentic. I currently study Canadian law, and have spent a lot of time in the Toronto area. This book is a very authentic reflection of both. It is refreshing to read a legal thriller with an authentic Canadian edge. I also think that Rotenberg does a great job developing some of the main characters, Detective Greene and his father in particular.

Now for the "buts". Even though the plot is reasonably exciting (I was eager to see what happened next), I found it to be simplistic. It had the depth of an episode of CSI. It reminded me a bit of the Hardy Boy books I read as a kid. There are a couple twists, some subtle hints along the way, and a climax "ah hah" moment at the end. More experienced thriller writers generally put together a much more complex, multi-layered story, with different story arcs, overlapping in interesting ways. Both of Rotenberg's books focus on a single narrative: a single murder, with an obvious suspect who everyone thinks committed the crime (but did they really?!). We see the case from different perspectives, but Rotenberg doesn't really use that device to create suspense. There is a side plot in both books regarding the death of Officer Kennicot's brother, but neither book pushes the story line forward, even a little bit. That annoyed me.

There were a few other things that annoyed me as well. Right off the bat, I found it agitating to see the same device used to kick off the plot in Guilty Plea as we saw in Old City Hall. In both books, an immigrant worker goes through a routine, comments to themselves how silly North Americans do things, and then discovers the body and calls the police. As I started reading the book, part of me wondered if I could have saved my money and just read Old City Hall again. But my money spent, I read on. The main story wasn't so forumalic, but I ran into a bigger problem: it didn't always make a lot of sense. For instance, there is one scene in which Detective Greene and his father mourn the death of the detective's late mother. The chapter concludes with Greene emotionally "letting go". Here's the problem: Greene's mother has almost never been mentioned in either of the two books, and this whole things comes totally out of nowhere. At least the distraction is momentary; the romantic relationships of our main two characters (Greene and Kennicot) are a constant annoyance. The relationships don't progress in a believable way, they have no value to the plot, they don't reveal anything about the main characters, and by the end of the book they are of no significance at all.

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Title: Simisola

Author: Ruth Rendell

Narrator: George Baker

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-11

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Another Wexford mystery read by George Baker.

"We're all racist in this country" said Wexford. "Without exception. People over 40 are the worst and that's about all you can say." But until he became involved with the Akandes, whose daughter had gone missing, Wexford hadn't applied that reality to himself. Melanie Akande was black, one of only eighteen black people living in Kingsmarkham, and her father Raymond was Wexford's doctor. So he had a personal interest in the case.Melanie was also unemployed,like Wexford's son-in-law Neil. A point in common. But as the case developed, Wexford discovered things hidden inside himself that he didn't like, found his own, unthinking attitudes prejudicing the case.

Members Reviews:

Not her best

Although I've only read half a dozen of Rendell's books, I'm a fan. Her stories are well-plotted, with engaging characters and compelling mysteries. Best of all, she can be spooky, just on the edge of the grid. This was the first of her Wexford books that left me underwhelmed. It seemed to be driven by a rather predictable investigation of attitudes about race (and, to some extent, gender), and the dated politics of the book (in which characters have to come to terms with their own racism, buried as it sometimes is) felt message-driven rather than situation or character driven. Certainly a solid mystery, but rather obvious in its cultural inquiries and, frankly, surprisingly uninteresting in the disappearance and subsequent murder(s).

Still love Inspector Wexford!

As is usual with Rendell, there is more to the book than simply the lead story. In "Simisola", we learn a great deal about present-day England, with the stresses brought about by hard economic times complicated by the presence of immigrants who strain the systems and tax the self-image of the English. Inspector Wexford is presented with a series of complex human situations involving not only the absence of jobs but the presence of racial and social prejudices by which ever-thoughtful Wexford is driven to uncomfortable introspection. Since I am old and from a Southern family, I am familiar with some of the dilemmas faced by the English. One tantalizing detail: Simisola is a mysterious title that the reader does not understand until the very end of the complex novel.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005U3Z6JC/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

Rendell writes amazing stories

I could not put the book down. Rendell develops such wonderful characters to interact with Detectives Wexford and Burden. These stories show the darkest sides of mankind and the most moral ones. You don't feel preached to, though. You are just glad there are those who do the right thing and right the wrongs.

One of the best of the Wexford books!

In the mid 1990's, Inspector Wexford finds himself immersed in a case that starts out innocently enough as a missing person's case. His doctor's daughter is missing. Then, a social worker's body is found. Are the two connected? Is the missing girl still alive and, if she is (or isn't), where is she? Another body is found. Are the three cases connected? How? Why?

What a wonderful who-done-it! This tale, filled with mystery and intrigue, twists and turns and then twists again. You figure it out and then refigure it out ...but, no, that's not the answer either.

Ms. Rendell has written an extremely good mystery.

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Title: Put on by Cunning

Author: Ruth Rendell

Narrator: George Baker

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-11

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

The great flautists death seemed to Chief Inspector Wexford an open-and-shut case of misadventure, but with the return of his daughter after an absence of 19 years come a couple of niggling doubts Read by ITVs Inspector Wexford, George Baker.

Sir Manuel Camargue, one of the greatest flautists of his time, was dead.Misadventure. An old man, ankle-deep in snow, he lost his foothold in the dark, slipping into water to be trapped under a lid of ice. Only a glove remained to point to where he lay, one of its fingers rising up out of the drifts.

Theres nothing Chief Inspector Wexford likes better than an open-and-shut case. Theyre so restful. And yet there are one or two niggling doubts and the disturbing return of Camargues daughter, now a considerable heiress, after an absence of nineteen years.

Is Wexford going to listen to that naggin inner voice of his? and if he does, what exactly does he plan to do?

Members Reviews:

A Classic Wexford Novel

Wexford gets in the the grip of one of his obsessions when he suspects a crime has been committed and the death of an older musician of international fame might not have been accidental. Nobody believes Wexford (except his trusted partner Burden, of course.) Wexford's superiors are unwilling to allow him to entertain what they believe are baseless suspicions.Wexford, however, is convinced that there is something wrong about Natalie, the late flutist's daughter, who came back unexpectedly into her father's life after almost two decades of absence. Is Natalie who she says she is? Why is she behaving so suspiciously?

The dedicated detective is so committed to finding the truth that he travels to California on his own dime to find out the truth about his case. As readers, we get the added bonus of seeing Wexford and his wife Dora travel in the US and their reactions to this country.

Wexford's search for the truth does not end in the US, though. We will also see him travel to France in his attempt to crack this difficult case. In the end, however, the readers will still be surprised by the tangled web of complexities and coincidences in one of Wexford's most challenging cases.

I believe this is one of the best novels in the Wexford/Burden series. In my opinion, though, Wexford novels are less engaging than Rendell's stand-alone mysteries. For this reason, I give the book four stars.

Put on by cunning

I really liked this book the twist and turns kept you guessing right up to the end .He did slot of traveling and the descriptions were so very good you almost felt like you were with him.looking forward to the next book as always

A Well Written Read

Ruth Rendell, is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books but am enjoying re-reading some of her earlier works. Her plots are so intricate and she began in the 50's so I can read them again.. My kindle enables me to pick up these reissued copies at bargain rates. I am enjoying seeing how her style evolved and as I grew up in England I can relate to the scenes and the mores of that decade. For me it evokes nostalgia,but any anglophile will find it facinating.

Competent and smoothly rendered. A good read

Rendell only gets better. Her characters are finely drawn and behave in believable ways, always a satisfactory element in a novel. The plot has sufficient previews that are subtle enough not to allow accurate prediction of the ending, but they are there.

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Title: A Guilty Thing Surprised

Author: Ruth Rendell

Narrator: George Baker

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-11

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

By the writer of the Wexford novels and read by George Baker.

Someone must have had good reason to murder Mrs Elizabeth Nightingale on a dark September night. And as Detective Chief Inspector Wexford investigates, he discovers sinister undercurrents and dramatic secrets beneath the placid surface of the Nightingales' lives.

Members Reviews:

Long Read

Well written but way to long. I found myself feeling like a kid who has to finish the book for homework a d really you just want to go out to play

Kudos Inspector Wexler

A clever, enjoyable mystery, as is usual for Ms Rendell.

Another compelling mystery

I've always enjoyed Ruth Rendell's novels. She has a vivid imagination and intrigue with a high intelligence for the reader.

Very very good.

Ruth Rendell is one of the best ever. I love her.

Good, well written but felt a bit ârushedâ at ...

Good, well written but felt a bit ârushedâ at the end. As if the book was due and she had to hurry to finish. Big buildup with a somewhat disappointing end.

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Title: Dead Centre

Author: Andy McNab

Narrator: Rupert Degas

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-15-11

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

Indonesia, January 2005. Nick Stone is working undercover, to retrieve incriminating material from amongst the tsunami-ravaged chaos of a devastated landscape. His team is attacked and a man dies -- but not before he makes an agonising promise that will return one day to haunt him...

Moscow, March 2011. Semi-retired but restless, Stone finds himself at the centre of an extraordinary encounter which turns his world upside down. An oligarch's young son and heir has been snatched -- with his mother -- from aboard a luxury yacht in the Seychelles, and only one man has what it takes to track them down and bring them home.

The fuse is lit, and Stone is hurtled into his most complex and compelling mission yet -- a mission that leads him from the Alpine enclaves of the super-rich to the savage underbelly of war-torn Somalia. And in a world where piracy, extortion and betrayal lurk in the twisted wreckage of imperial ambition, Stone's principal objective turns remorselessly from liberation to revenge...

Members Reviews:

Detailed

Once again Mcnab has written weapons novel or story which ever you wish to call it, which is full of so much detail and description both weapon technical detail and a true insight into the relevance and thinking of terrorist organisation and groups in this case mostly but not limited to Somali pirates. From thee beach side hovels of Somalia where you get an insight to the lifestyle of the various interwoven terrorist groups and the extreme poverty and life they live and have adapted to. One has to wonder if all of the observations are personal. From this to the high end manipulators living the life of luxury in Russia and elsewhere.

Although I have noted it before in several novels the method of money transfer between remote groups or individuals outwith of normal banking system in this novel it is well explained. It also explains the intricasies of money transfer both within the money transfer situation but more so in the actual hostage handover situation. In this novel there is a real comedy at the end of the handover situation.

What I like about this novel is the detail in almost every aspect of the story it really adds to the enjoyment and also knowledge.

In addition to my overall enjoyment of the story I have to say although the story was complete in every aspect some authors would have made three books from this one story.

I will now have to revisit the other MCab novels I have read to see if I have missed any as this was a fast mover and enthralling and with current piracy activity, enlightening.

good stuff

Mcnab and Nick Stone are in fine form. After a few weaker books, Dead Centre (and Zero Hour right before it) are solid episodes in the Nick Stone saga.

Mcnab usually takes us to hot-spots around the world, and this time we spend time in Somalia. He does a great job of capturing the gritty, dusty feel of the place, and tells the story of the people, as usual, through an individual that Stone comes to like and trust.

The first person writing is brisk, there's some good combat, though Stone doesn't get beat up as badly as usual. There's also a twist at the very end. Wait for it!

Highly recommended.

This book was okay

In my opinion, it was an okay storyline. I thought the book dragged on though. Warning: there is an excessive amount of swearing, but that's how real soldiers talk. Just a comment if you are against swearing or find it too be annoying.

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Title: Walk a Crooked Mile

Subtitle: A Freddie O'Neal Mystery, Book 1

Author: Catherine Dain

Narrator: Stephanie Brush

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-07-11

Publisher: Books in Motion

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

She would rather be flying her private plane, be at home with her cats, or playing Keno at her favorite Casino.... Instead Freddie ONeal has been hired by an unusual client: her own mother. Freddie is looking for Danny ONeal, her real father, and tracking him down is her toughest challenge. The trail left by Danny and his biker buddies has grown cold with so many years passing. While Freddie tries to dig up her wayward fathers past, she may also be digging her own grave. She unearths more than shes looking for by finding secrets she never expected, deceit she had not suspected, and a murder previously undetected. The next death could be hers when she gets to close to the truth....

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Title: The Ambiguity of Murder

Author: Roderic Jeffries

Narrator: Gordon Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-22-11

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Modern Detective

Publisher's Summary:

When the body of retired Bolivian diplomat Guido Zavala is found floating in his pool, Inspector Alvarez finds that the evidence might point to foul play.

As he slowly uncovers Zavala's past, he learns there are those who have good cause to have disliked him: Jerome Robertson, whose wife has been having an affair with him; Santiago Pons, whose heavy gambling losses have placed him at the other's mercy; Bailey, who suffered in the past because of him.

During his investigations, Alvarez receives threatening phone calls saying that his life is in danger. Panicking, he appeals to Superior Chief Salas for help, but this is denied. It is left to his irrepressible Cousin Dolores to take matters into her own hands

Members Reviews:

An atmospheric mystery that is a good read

On the Island of Mallorca, though the case is outside his jurisdiction, Inspector Alvarez agrees to investigate when the local law enforcement official dumps the homicide on him. Apparently, the doctor on the scene feels someone killed retired Bolivian diplomat Guido Zavala, leaving the corpse to float inside the man's swimming pool. Inspector Alvarez agrees that murder most likely occurred.

As Alvarez makes inquiries into the former diplomat's background, he finds a person who made many enemies, who would relish dispatching Guido to hell. Not only did many people have motives; most of them also had the opportunity. Alvarez knows he is getting closer to the killer because someone telephonically begins to threaten him. However, when he turn to his superior for help, Salas says no. This leaves the Inspector either turning to his own family, dropping the investigation, or going it alone.

Though not as excellent as last year's brilliant AN ENIGMATIC DISAPPEARANCE, the latest Inspector Alvarez police procedural retains the fun of the previous books. The who-done-it is enjoyable especially as Alvarez investigates in his way. However, this time around the hero seems to need more siesta time than usual. That somewhat slows down a very clever police procedural that still contains much of the Mallorca charm that readers expect from Roderic Jeffries long running series.

Harriet Klausner

Another Inspector Alvarez mystery

The main problem in this novel is determining where and when you are at different points in the story. The author starts with a man being released from prison somewhere, at some point in time, and then skips forward to Majorca at another point in time with different people. The author apparently knows where and when he is - it would be nice if he shared that information with his readers. Other authors put dates and places at the chapter headings.

Inspector Alvarez finds himself involved with another murder. This time it is a former diplomat who is not particularly well liked, and who may have been involved in drug dealing. A number of people had reasons to kill him. As the story winds to a conclusion, it finally draws together the loose ends.

The part of the plot about the auto accident is not entirely original (see Martha Grimes earlier novel, "I am the Only Running Footman"), but a variation has been used. Alvarez is his usual indolent self, drinking too much and looking forward to fine dining. Dolores shows she can use methods of her own when her family is threatened.

A DEAD MANS FLOAT

YES, AS A YOUNG BOY I WAS INVOLVED IN A BIT OF MOCTEROOF, KNOWN AS "TOPPING UP".