Murder in Paradise

An Inspector Faro Mystery

By: Alanna Knight

Narrated by: Robbie MacNab

It's 1860, and Inspector Faro has been transported back to one of the darkest moment of his career - the chase of notorious Macheath from Scotland to the Kent countryside. A chance encounter with an old friend leads to Faro's sojourn in William Morris's Red House while he continues his search.

The tranquillity is disrupted by a burglary at a nearby mansion; the young maid who discovered the break-in has disappeared. Faro has only one suspect, but he must struggle against the indifference of the police, and the secrets of the obstructive locals, to find both Macheath and his potential victim before it is too late. With Faro himself a marked man, the truth is much closer than anyone could have imagined.

©2008 Alanna Knight (P)2009 Soundings

Boring and Tedious

What disappointed you about Murder in Paradise?

I found it hard to believe this was a mystery. The mystery part is minor and the story seemd more about the life of the pre-Raphaelite artists in the Red House. What little plot there was moved at a snail's pace and was more concerned with the life of the painting fraterning in the Red House than the mystery.

Has Murder in Paradise turned you off from other books in this genre?

I certinainly will never read another Alanna Knight book again - she is off my list of mystery writers to read.

Would you be willing to try another one of Robbie MacNab???s performances?

I had listened to his performances reading the Kate Sedley mysteries and thought he was excellent. In this book he was truly terrible and made a boring book even more so.

What character would you cut from Murder in Paradise?

I would cut them all out - even the detective - they were just all so awful, boring and uninteresting. This was a book that never should have been published. The detective, Detective. Faro, spent more of his time dithering and wasting time instead of activing decisively. He was a weak, inspid character -- hard to see how he got a job on the police force. It was maddening to watch him ignore obvious clues and go off on tangents.

Any additional comments?

It is hard to view this as a mystery - since the mystery is such a minor part ot the plot. If you want a mystery story DO NOT get this book.

A nice comfortable read

What did you like best about Murder in Paradise? What did you like least?

I liked best the character of Inspector Faro. He is a good old fashion plodding detective, without any of the modern detective idiosyncrasies, such as alcoholism, depression, etc...
I liked least that the story dragged on at times.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect was the real life murder mystery it discussed in the body of the story. The least interesting was the background of the real life painters who were characters in the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

The very end when the solution of the mystery is revealed.

Do you think Murder in Paradise needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, it is definitely a stand alone. Again, the story was too long, so you get to the point that you want it to end. I couldn't think of reading a continuation of this story.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy this series just as I enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the morning. Inspector Faro, the Victorian setting, a more polite time, all add to the reading pleasure of this series. The mysteries are good, not great, not seat of your pants, but good. The only true negative is they are too long. If the author would just trime about 25% off the length of the stories, it wold move from a three star to a four star.

Robbie MacNab may have saved this one.

What did you like best about Murder in Paradise? What did you like least?

The plot is slow moving, but so is rural British life in the mid-19th Century. However even at that, the young Inspector Faro is a pretty dull and unimaginative hero. There are a couple of interesting little plot twists, but overall the book is a snoozer.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The hero certainly in no Sherlock Holmes, and he has to be bailed out.

What does Robbie MacNab bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Now this is clearly the book's strength. I have listened with pleasure to Robbie MacNab interpret everything from medieval village life to contemporary murder mysteries. He is by far the most gifted narrator that I have come across in years of enjoying audio books.

Was Murder in Paradise worth the listening time?

Yes, for the pleasure of listening to Robbie MacNab.

Any additional comments?

I understand why so few of the books in this author's series have been recorded.