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Post by Miranda on Aug 27, 2023 11:02:39 GMT
I have now finished it. Can't say I enjoyed it much. Crime is really not his genre, especially not a whodunit. He does have a lovely turn of phrase sometimes and interesting ideas of how the church should work. Daniel is obviously the author reflecting on his experiences now he's no longer a vicar. And in the 'literary' genre this book would do well. But unfortunately that doesn't sell these days so he's added a murder. And the marketing hasn't helped as they made it look like an Osman and it's nothing like that.
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Post by sleepyp on Aug 27, 2023 12:06:31 GMT
I haven’t bothered with it. The first book was a big disappointment and the newspapers absolutely panned this one
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Post by dippergirl on Aug 27, 2023 13:31:09 GMT
I haven’t bothered with it. The first book was a big disappointment and the newspapers absolutely panned this one Ditto, not going to bother either. Started first one, put it down about halfway and left it for a couple of months. Picked it up to see if it got better, but didn’t think it did. Lots more books on my tbr pile, Not including next one! |
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Post by linseed on Aug 27, 2023 18:36:50 GMT
I’ve seen it (Death in the parish) at my local library, so I will get it out. I actually quite enjoyed the first one though it took a bit to get going
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Post by Miranda on Aug 27, 2023 23:01:14 GMT
I enjoyed it by the end. He seemed to find his voice and the murderer made sense in the plot. But this one, not so much. But, that's the fault of the writing. Someone like Ruth Rendell would have made a magnificent job of the psychology of this crime but Richard Cole doesn't get anywhere near it. His focus is more on the MC's feelings and thoughts rather than the victim's life or the motives of the murderer. And the clues are not presented to the reader in any coherent way. As I said before, he's writing in the wrong genre.
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Post by marion on Aug 28, 2023 8:48:38 GMT
I bought this one, reduced, and will give it a go but this is his last chance!
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Post by Miranda on Sept 16, 2023 20:41:38 GMT
How did you get on with it?
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Post by marion on Sept 17, 2023 8:43:23 GMT
It’s nowhere near the top of the pile, sadly! I might just read it out if its proper order, but then I’d prefer to bump the new Richard Osman, 😂. I also bought a new cosy crime book, the “Nosey” Parker books set in Cornwall by Fiona Leitch. This is The Cornish Wedding Murder. There are about six I think. I hope it is good.
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Post by beverley61 on Sept 18, 2023 19:43:18 GMT
I was just at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling which was great fun. It's generally a chat show format based around crime themes e.g. missing persons, espionage, covert ops, historic crime and so on. On average 3 writers are interviewed on stage and then the audience can ask questions. You also get little promos from the publishers where they print the first chapters of new books coming out soon.
Rob Rinder was excellent, he was in the group - courtroom dramas. Val McDermid is always good to hear and then I saw the Undercover group. Tickets were about £7 a go. My son went to the thriller one.
There will be one near you somewhere. I like the format and it's very relaxed. If you think you'd enjoy it check out similar with local library, book shop or arts councils.
It's the second time I've been and both times have been great. Not everything is on an evening. Rinder started at 3pm. Anyone local could have gone along in an afternoon.
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Post by Miranda on Sept 18, 2023 21:53:26 GMT
Sounds good! Rob Rinder's any good?
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Post by marion on Sept 19, 2023 7:58:29 GMT
I had completely forgotten about Rob Rinder’s book. I saw a very short but very favourable review of it somewhere a few weeks ago. I’ll get the half price hardback for the ever going to read pile! It already contains Coles and Osman but also Yellowface which has been in the ST charts for a long time now.
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Post by beverley61 on Sept 19, 2023 20:02:18 GMT
Yes, Rob Rinder was good. So was the other barrister too. He didn't hog the time or the limelight. He was doing book signings but I thought I'd wait until it was cheaper, lol!
I saw him later in the day having a coffee. You can see lots of them wandering about with their friends and family. It's not at all snooty.
I didn't interrupt anyone.
If anyone likes things a bit scary, they do late evenings for those books that go bump in the night.
Some of them are also live online and you can sign up for those if you can't get there
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Post by marion on Dec 18, 2023 12:38:55 GMT
I recently finished the Rob Rinder book and really enjoyed it. His characters were well drawn, the plot was interesting and the book was well written.
I have now started Richard Cole’s Death in the Parish and he is being crossed off the acceptable authors list! I don’t know what it is, but I am finding it quite… well I can’t quite find the adjective. Either precious or pretentious I think. I do think the characters are better written this time but then I haven’t finished it so if a load of villagers pop up he may lapse into the same issue as last time where hardly anyone beyond the key characters is distinguishable. It’s also set in 80s but reads to me like the 50s so I don’t think that sits well either. I usually pass my books to neighbour Amanda who then passes them onto a friend in Poland, but I think this can go straight to the charity shop.
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Post by Miranda on Dec 18, 2023 18:23:30 GMT
I shall look out for Rob Rinder
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Post by linseed on Dec 18, 2023 22:20:57 GMT
I did read A death in the Parish, and I did enjoy some of it, there was a promising storyline with the couple who act as “Carers” for the vulnerable old lady and things from her house go missing as they have with other people this couple have “cared” for, and I thought this was going to be the main plot (you wonder if he’s met such people in real life). But then the murder, which to me made no sense, and had no relation to the rest of the book. The bits he writes about his mother are funny, also the bits about the dogs, then there is a lot about the differing theology in the “high” and “low” branches of the Church of England (you realise which side he’s on), but no, I didn’t believe in the murderer, or his motive, and that spoiled it for me. I would read a third book though. It would be better as “anecdotes of a country vicar” rather than a murder mystery.
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Anymore to come?
