"Reginald Hill almost at his best"
I have enjoyed Reginald Hill mysteries for many years - some are better than others. The very last ending (he puts the ending in two steps) was just downright annoying, which is the only reason this book doesn't have 5 stars. The reader is excellent and very listenable - not trying out for an academy award, just presenting a good book well. Would that others would follow his lead. I like the main characters and like very much that they are consistent and act the way you would expect them to act. That may sound picky, but series characters become people you feel you know after years of following them, and I don't like it when authors fiddle around with the characters in order to further a plot device. Overall, I say if you like British mysteries, you'll thoroughly enjoy this one.
"Rankin's back on his game - and it's winner"
The first book after Rankin ditched Rebus was simply terrible. Then came "The Complaints" first book in this series. It was good - but not up to the Rebus books. This one is terrific - the man is back and swinging and I'm very pleased. Few mystery writers are as good as Rankin when he's on the top of his form and I was afraid we'd lost him. Happy to say, I'm back enjoying every word. Hooray for mystery readers everywhere!
"Not Rebus, but better than the last book"
I can't imagine why Ian Rankin stopped writing about Rebus, his long running series character, as it was as though he had found his voice - so why toss it away? The first non-Rebus book was simply dreadful. But The Complaints is heading in the right direction. Not surprisingly, the main character has some Rebus-like characteristics, and perhaps that's what makes it a decent book. Good mystery, the reader is on target, and it had some characters I could see developing into people I would want to follow in future books. He (Rankin) will hopefully get his feet under him again, and we will have more years of Rankin audio books to enjoy. I have every one of the books available in audio, and find them fun to return to when I know I want a book I can rely on.
"One of the best of the British mystery writers"
I've been reading Michael Pearce's Mamur Zapt books for years and have rarely been let down. They are always eagerly anticipated, and this one is right up there with his best. I have not liked Pearce's other series, but the Mamur Zapt is just plain beguiling. The atmosphere of Egypt at the beginning of the 20th century is portrayed beautifully. I wish I could have been there and seen it - Pearce clearly loves the place and the period and so will you. Oh, and good characters and a well thought out mystery - what's not to like?
"Good Mystery"
I have some reservations about this book, but overall I would recommend it. I've read literally thousands of mysteries, and I'm darned hard to please, so a 4 star from me means something! On the other hand, the reader is not very good. He is boring, which is bad enough, but also does those phony baloney voices.
"Recommended for mystery lovers who like humor"
I have some reservations about this book, but overall I would recommend it. I've read literally thousands of mysteries, and I'm darned hard to please, so a 4 star from me means something! On the other hand, the reader is not very good. He is boring, which is bad enough, but also does those phony baloney voices. Puhleese! I like a reader who reads the book, and doesn't try to fiddle around with voices - and pauses where not necessary. After the 10th pause before "I said." or "He said." I was wishing the guy would hand the book over to someone else. That said, the story is good and interesting, the characters are fun for the most part, although the main character jumps to some conclusions that aren't supported by the evidence - that tactic has been used in both of Park's books - which serves, I suppose, to put him in jeopardy and add unneeded "tension." On the other hand, there are a lot of mysteries out there, and few of them are as readable as these, so I say read them and you won't be sorry.
I think that Brad Parks could enter my exclusive group of favorite mystery writers as he hones his skills.
"All Terrific Story, writing, narrator"
I wish all narrators could do what Grover Gardner does - he reads the book. He doesn't indulge in idiotic accents or voices, he just reads the book - and he does it well. Since David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter novels are just darned good, that's all we need. This is fun, interesting, and well plotted. Even my non-mystery lover husband listens to Rosenfelt's books and thoroughly enjoys them. I want all of them on on Audible, and unabridged. I will listen and listen again and again - at some point it's a pleasure to listen to a good story with a good reader and "who done it" just plain doesn't matter.
"Another terrific book in the Andy Carpenter series"
This has become one of my all time favorite mystery series. And I am very picky - very. Good mysteries are hard to come by - and a writer who can add in humor and interesting characters has got me in his fan club - David Rosenfelt is as good as anyone out there and I can't wait until another book in this series comes out. Rosenfelt has discovered what so many topnotch mystery writers know - a good mystery works better with an "ensemble cast" rather than just one all knowing - or all muscle! - detective with a cohort. Alas, the one non-series book Rosenfelt came out with was really terrible - so I hope he stays where his voice is: with Andy Carpenter in New Jersey with his dog and his friends. Incidentally, totally by coincidence, we adopted a 2 year old golden retriever mix last year - although I have a hunch that Carpenter's love of goldens was in my mind, unbeknownst to me. If so, I owe him a lot of thanks for opening my eyes to my beloved Cooper. And thanks for many hours of happy reading and listening to audio books by Rosenfelt. Although, it is painful to know that some of his books are only available in abridged versions - and that is a travesty committed on any book. No more abridged Rosenfelt, I beseech you. And no more non-series books either.