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Chelsea Mansions: A Brock and Kolla Mystery (Brock And Kolla #11)
"Brock and Kolla's meticulous, psychologically astute sleuthing fascinates." --Entertainment Weekly on No Trace
The annual Chelsea Flower Show is one of the tourist highlights of London. But this year, the event is taintedby the murder of anAmerican tourist ina random act of violence.ButwhenDCI David Brock's Serious Crime division of Scotland Yardinvestigates, they quickly...more
The annual Chelsea Flower Show is one of the tourist highlights of London. But this year, the event is taintedby the murder of anAmerican tourist ina random act of violence.ButwhenDCI David Brock's Serious Crime division of Scotland Yardinvestigates, they quickly...more
ebook, 336 pages
Published
October 25th 2011
by Minotaur Books
(first published August 2011)
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I enjoyed this book in the Brock/Kolla police procedural series, but it's definitely not the best of the bunch. Two major issues that interfered with my enjoyment of the book: (1) Brock is absent from a good portion of the book due to a health problem (I won't say more in order to avoid spoilers). That means that Kolla spearheads the investigation, but without more of Brock's presence, and the interaction between the two, the book suffers. (2) There are just too many characters and too many back...more
Nov 01, 2011
Monica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-and-or-evil,
british
Brock and Kolla are characters whose development over the series has been a pleasure to follow. In this, the ninth book, they are investigating the murder of an elderly American tourist, killed as she leaves the Chelsea Flower Show. Then a few days later, a wealthy Russian living in a house on the quiet street where the American was staying is murdered in a private park. It is not clear whether the two crimes are connected, though the geographic coincidence is suggestive.
As always, the book has...more
As always, the book has...more
This is a new series to me whose main characters are the DCI (Brock) and DI (Kolla) of the Serious Crimes Unit of Scotland Yard. In this book, an elderly American tourist is killed by being thrown under a bus and there is no apparent reason for this murder. And then a Russian ex-pat millionaire who lives next door to the hotel in which the tourist was staying, is also killed. Is there a connection between the two slayings? Brock and Kolla along with their team and a visiting Canadian professor w...more
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With any long term series, it's not surprising to see an author rejigging the relationships just a little, bringing in new perspectives or adjusting the expectations. CHELSEA MANSIONS is the ninth Brock and Kolla book from Barry Maitland, and in the last book there were hints that there is a little viewpoint modification going on. It's always particularly interesting to watch how various authors move their long-term characters in and out of the limelight, particularly when you have an inherent s...more
When a harmless American tourist is brutally murdered leaving the Chelsea Flower Show, it seems like a random crime. But David Brock and his squad see the signs of planning in the killer's escape. Then a second murder takes place right next to the hotel where the first victim was staying. There must be some connection between the crimes, but with Brock in a coma in the hospital, and most of the team quarantined, it's up to his Detective Inspector Kathy Kolla to take over the case. There's also a...more
Nov 23, 2011
Janet
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011,
mystery-thriller
I struggled to rate this book, but finally gave it three stars. Let me say up front, I LOVE THIS SERIES. It's one of my favorites and I think Maitland is one of the most underrated mystery authors writing today.
I'm judging this book against the other Brock and Kollas, which means it's going up against some of the best mystery novels I've read in the last 5 years. Within that select company this book gets three stars.
My quibble? The plot struck me as a little all over the place---too many things...more
I'm judging this book against the other Brock and Kollas, which means it's going up against some of the best mystery novels I've read in the last 5 years. Within that select company this book gets three stars.
My quibble? The plot struck me as a little all over the place---too many things...more
This is a solid (though slightly too historically complicated) installment in the Brock and Kolla saga. I always love these characters and the mysteries they're investigating, and this book--quick and full of intrigue, Russians, not one, but two murders, and another potential boyfriend for Kathy--didn't disappoint.
I wish there'd been more of Pip, the young female officer Maitland introduced in Dark Mirror. She got the smallest of small roles and because I'd liked her in the previous story, I wa...more
I wish there'd been more of Pip, the young female officer Maitland introduced in Dark Mirror. She got the smallest of small roles and because I'd liked her in the previous story, I wa...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I think this is the first of this series I have read. Maitland has devised a very complex plot, each element of which is quite believable, but which taken in total seem extraordinarily unlikely. Having said that, the writing is of such quality that one doesn't mind while in the midst of the story. I liked to central characters, who had to do a difficult job under adverse circumstances.
This is one of the best books in the police procedural genre that I've read in the last year. The development of the plot is wonderfully reminiscent of the best of Anthony Price and the ending is nicely judged. It's a joy for anyone who enjoys a mystery that depends on history for its solution.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...
I really liked this story, not only because I was in London for the first time this past June and the book was set in the same part of town (Knightsbridge, Kensington) in which I spent most of my time, but because it was suspenseful and intelligent. It contained characters one could really care about. I definitely will read more by this author.
This is the latest in another favorite series of mine. Maitland was an architect before becoming a mystery writer and in all of his novels the location is as much a character as the people. This one was very good in that it contained a surprise for Inspector Brock, and DS Kolla had to come to Boston to do some research!
I wish you could do half stars.
This was okay. The story's a little convoluted but that's fine. I'm new to Brock and Whosiewhatsis, the detectives, and I didn't find either one enormously interesting. Writing is competent. Interesting enough to finish it, but in a week I won't remember anything about it.
This was okay. The story's a little convoluted but that's fine. I'm new to Brock and Whosiewhatsis, the detectives, and I didn't find either one enormously interesting. Writing is competent. Interesting enough to finish it, but in a week I won't remember anything about it.
while not historical fiction, this mystery was flavored with so much of the past (WWII). Love Maitland mysteries and strangely this was the first where I struggled with motives, subplots and particularly the historic foundations. Still a good book, but not even close to his best.
A wonderfully written mystery. The characters were engaging, the plot very interesting without getting absurd. I also appreciated the clean, direct style. Although the partners are a man and a woman, the author didn't feel the need to introduce any romantic misunderstandings between them...just the facts,mam.
This would have been better if I had previously read The Spider Trap. It's a good, fast read and I enjoyed it immensely over my reunion weekend but once I started Spider Trap I realized how much more I would have enjoyed it if only read in the proper sequence.
Maitland plays fair with his readers giving you enough clues to solve the mystery before the detective announces the solution without hitting you over the head with obvious clues and he demostrates it in this offering.
It was okay but too many elements and subplots kept being added until the whole thing felt like some kind of mashup. I like police procedurals but I'm not fond of spy stuff so quite a lot of this plot was boring to me.
This is a 3.5-star book. The mystery is interesting and compelling. The resolution, however, is a bit too convoluted and complicated, as if the author overthought the solution. Otherwise, a good weekend read.
British mystery series. American tourist attending Chelsea flower show gets killed; then a Russian man gets stabbed; there is a connection between the two murders. Quite clever in meshing the two together.
Another solid effort from Barry Maitland, with good characters and an interesting storyline. I don't know why he isn't more popular, his police procedurals are consistently good.
Am reading the hardcover version from our local library. Its the first book of mine by Maitland. Finished 2 chapters. So far so good.. More later.
There are Maitlands that I've liked much better, though this one is nothing to sniff at. It's good to see Kathy get to lead the show, though some of the plot elements Maitland designed to get Brock out of the way for awhile seem a bit sensational and extreme. Still, the plot line related to Brock's past promises some interesting progress and character development in books to come.
Always a treat to visit Brock and Kolla. Such a great and suspenseful story.
first time reading this author. Couldn't put it down!
Nov 09, 2011
MaryAnn
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-suspense,
british-fiction
Another thriller in this Brock and Kolla series.
new series for me. Interesting puzzle with lots of twists. Now, back to the beginning...
I enjoyed this contemporary British mystery.
interesting plot with twists and turns
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Barry Maitland is the author of the acclaimed Brock and Kolla series of crime mystery novels, which are set in London, where Barry grew up after his family moved there.
His books have been described as whydunits as much as whodunits, concerned with the devious histories and motivations of their characters. Barry's background in architecture drew him to the structured character of the mystery novel,...more
More about Barry Maitland...
His books have been described as whydunits as much as whodunits, concerned with the devious histories and motivations of their characters. Barry's background in architecture drew him to the structured character of the mystery novel,...more
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