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143rd out of 250 books
—
35 voters
The Last Detective (Peter Diamond #1)
A nude female corpse has been found floating in a large reservoir just south of Bristol. In order to solve the mystery of the "Lady in the Lake," Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond must locate two missing letters attributed to Jane Austen and defy his superiors on the force to save a woman unjustly accused of murder. This is the first of the Peter Diamond series; it wo...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
July 1st 2003
by Soho Crime
(first published 1991)
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Just started this one. So far, so good.
Finished it -- pretty good. There's a whole series with this detective, and I'm thinking they'll be good as novels to take on trips.
Finished it -- pretty good. There's a whole series with this detective, and I'm thinking they'll be good as novels to take on trips.
Dec 07, 2010
Kirsty Darbyshire
added it
[I read this for a mailing list discussion so comments may be out of context and will probably contain spoilers]
[on diamond, cliches]
I surprised myself by liking Diamond. At first I thought I wasn't going to hit it off with him and his anti-technology stance was going to bug the hell out of me. After a while though I felt that he wasn't totally against new ways of doing policework just sceptical of the way some of his co-workers thought of them as a *replacement* for old-fashioned policework ra
...more
I must have read this before, as it was on my 'read' shelves, rather than in the always overflowing 'to read' box, but I couldn't remember it at all, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Diamond, the 'last detective' is a grumpy eccentric in the Morse / Rebus mould, and the Bath setting was vividly drawn. The puzzle was good, with neat twists, and the in-fighting at the police station an enjoyable part of the plot.
I went on to re-read two others, one lively one about a crime-book-club, 'The Bloodh...more
I went on to re-read two others, one lively one about a crime-book-club, 'The Bloodh...more
He could have had it all
There is a lot to like about this book. For me, the litmus test for a good or excellent crime/mystery book consists of: does it have characters you are care about, a good sense of time and place, a story that is both interesting and creates a sense of tension or suspense and a plausible finish.
Now the requirement for a plausible ending can be stretched according to the genre or sub-genre, noir, hard boiled, police procedural, these I have to believe in; big puzzle, locked...more
There is a lot to like about this book. For me, the litmus test for a good or excellent crime/mystery book consists of: does it have characters you are care about, a good sense of time and place, a story that is both interesting and creates a sense of tension or suspense and a plausible finish.
Now the requirement for a plausible ending can be stretched according to the genre or sub-genre, noir, hard boiled, police procedural, these I have to believe in; big puzzle, locked...more
The Last Detective is a police procedural in the traditional, British form - think Colin Dexter, John Harvey or Ian Rankin. Lovesey tries to break the form up by varying the point of view, the book divided into parts, with each told from the perspective of a different character. It’s a useful device to add some depth to what is a fairly mundane story. The characterisation is good, although it’s difficult to warm to Diamond until near the end of the book and at that point his personality seems to...more
This was my first foray into Lovesey’s writing. The reviews for Lovesey are mixed, but I enjoyed The Last Detective, which is the first in his Peter Diamond series. (Aside: isn’t it odd to name a character the same name as yourself? I think so.) Diamond wasn’t exactly likeable. He was mostly tolerable and sometimes I thought he was a big jerk. But I think that partially Lovesey’s intent — Diamond is an old, irascible detective, who is sort of being left in the dust in the wave of technology and...more
First Sentence: A man stood thigh-deep in water, motionless, absorbed, unaware of what was drifting towards him.
A naked woman is found dead. The first challenging is determining her cause of death; the second is finding out who she is. Eventually the identity is known and an obvious suspect presents itself. Or does it?
While the justice system is determined to convict their suspect, Diamond is so certain they are wrong, he makes an important personal decision that alters his life but not his det...more
A naked woman is found dead. The first challenging is determining her cause of death; the second is finding out who she is. Eventually the identity is known and an obvious suspect presents itself. Or does it?
While the justice system is determined to convict their suspect, Diamond is so certain they are wrong, he makes an important personal decision that alters his life but not his det...more
A good book. Peter Diamond is an old-style detective. He believes in understanding why a person committed a crime and getting to the truth. He dislikes the emphasis on computers and dna-testing, etc. These things might provide hard backup evidence, but they don't give the motive. Diamond is also under enquiry for supposedly intimidating a man into confessing a crime he didn't commit.
Professor Greg Jackman's wife, Geraldine, is found dead in a lake. She is unidentified. Finally, after a couple of...more
Professor Greg Jackman's wife, Geraldine, is found dead in a lake. She is unidentified. Finally, after a couple of...more
(This is based on the audio version)
Let's count the cliches, shall we?
Peter Diamond, the detective and main character
1. Is old
2. Is grumpy--not in a cute curmudgeon sort of way but more in a punch-you-in-the-face sort of way
3. Doesn't like new-fangled technology like computers and microwave ovens (who didn't know how to work a microwave in 1991?)
4. Thinks his boss is an idiot
5. Thinks his co-workers are idiots
6. Has a past history of violence toward suspects and those he considers idiots
7. Has b...more
Let's count the cliches, shall we?
Peter Diamond, the detective and main character
1. Is old
2. Is grumpy--not in a cute curmudgeon sort of way but more in a punch-you-in-the-face sort of way
3. Doesn't like new-fangled technology like computers and microwave ovens (who didn't know how to work a microwave in 1991?)
4. Thinks his boss is an idiot
5. Thinks his co-workers are idiots
6. Has a past history of violence toward suspects and those he considers idiots
7. Has b...more
The Inspector Peter Diamond mystery series by Peter Lovesey has been on my reading list for some time. I am pleased to discover that The Last Detective turns out to be the first in the series. As I read, I was struck with the obvious erudition of the author, the complex and somewhat daring change of voice throughout the narrative, the presentation of fine moral and ethical questions, and the unsettling ambiguity of the ending. The main character, Peter Diamond, is meant to be a "diamond in the r...more
It was all right; nothing out of the ordinary. The plot wasn't bad, wasn't great; ditto the characters. I like Bath as a setting, because it is a handsome city, but I'm not sure that's enough for me to continue the series. I don't especially care what happens next to the main character, which is not a good sign.
Really, the most memorable thing about this book was a jaw-dropping typo. There were some understandable minor ones, (though getting one of the main character's name wrong is bad), but th...more
Really, the most memorable thing about this book was a jaw-dropping typo. There were some understandable minor ones, (though getting one of the main character's name wrong is bad), but th...more
It's just been the last year or so that I discovered Peter Lovesey (where have I been?). THE LAST DETECTIVE is the first in the Peter Diamond series. I liked that it was written in sections showing the different perspectives of the characters. A woman is found floating in a lake. It takes awhile for her to be identified and we find out she is a former soap-opera star married to an English professor. The professor is a hero having saved the life of a young boy. Jane Austin plays a role in the sto...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'd heard about Peter Lovesey from my parents and the recommendation of ex Bath residents and an ex Superintendent in the Avon and Somerset force (Peter Diamond, The Last Detective is a (fictional( Detective Superintendent in the same force) is not to be sniffed at. At this distance from the book's first publication, the novel suffers a little from feeling 'dated' rather than 'period'. I doubt it will be many years before that is no longer an issue.
I'd agree with...more
I'd agree with...more
I first read Diamond Solitaire, which got me hooked on Peter Lovesey and Peter Diamond. I many times start with the second book in a series because I find that the author is more comfortable with the returning characters and their universe, thus the second book is a truer reflection of the series as a whole. I'm glad that I did so with the Peter Diamond series because I couldn't really get into The Last Detective and stopped in the middle. Maybe it was because I knew already that he was out of w...more
This book was actually a pick for my mystery book club and my first chance to read a book by Lovesey. I found that I really enjoyed reading about Lovesey's Diamond and found it to be a really good mystery. I really liked how Lovesey changed points of view throughout the book giving the reader the opportunity to get different points of view of the same event as well as a better development of the characters involved. Gregory and Dana were both developed very well considering that both turned out...more
Mar 24, 2013
Vannessagrace Vannessagrace
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
peter-lovesey
Author Peter Lovesey is one of my favorite WHODUNNIT writers! Lovesey is among the few authors I’ve read who has the ability to make all of the characters he introduces suspects!
Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond is a gumshoe detective who solves crimes wearing out the soles of his shoes. He’ll re-interview suspects, no matter the number of visits, until he is satisfied that he has gotten all he could from them. In the Last Detective, Diamond is searching for the murderer of a once famous so...more
Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond is a gumshoe detective who solves crimes wearing out the soles of his shoes. He’ll re-interview suspects, no matter the number of visits, until he is satisfied that he has gotten all he could from them. In the Last Detective, Diamond is searching for the murderer of a once famous so...more
Peter Lovesey's The Last Detective is the proverbial page-turner murder mystery, written with humor and surprises. Lovesey builds a case to elicit a confession by the first suspect. But he stubbornly will not confess. The next obvious suspect's case takes the rest of the book to build. Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond is pulled off the case and almost murdered before he solves the crime. Personalities of Diamond and his reluctant sidekick, their boss, the suspects, the victim, the solicito...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
When a body in a lake is identified as former soap-opera actress Gerry Snoo, Chief Superintendent Peter Diamond of the Avon and Somerset murder squad focuses first on the victim's husband, English professor Greg Jackman, a local hero for saving young Matt Didrikson from drowning in the weir. However, the investigation soon leads to Matt’s mother, Dana, whom Geraldine had accused of trying to steal her husband.. The setting in Bath offers an opportunity for a number of ties to Jane Austen as well...more
The narrator was fabulous. Very easily drew me in. Almost quirky, not quite old fashioned, but maybe. The narrative was complex but the story line moved right along. I wasn't sure "exactly" how it would play out until the end. Always a good sign in a mystery. A couple of characters were dropped in here and there just for the heck of it and the ultimate ending bordered on pedestrian, but I enjoyed listening to it and on occasion had to stop cleaning to pay closer attention. Recommended for those...more
Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond enjoys the view of elegant streets filled with fine and stately homes as he drives into Bath each morning. But at the same time, the policeman in him cannot forget the dark, dirty backsides to those buildings, symbolic of the inner fears and demons that can drive even the most upright citizen to murder.
This book is a twentieth anniversary edition of the first Peter Diamond novel by Peter Lovesey and is being released concurrently with “Stagestruck,” the lat...more
This book is a twentieth anniversary edition of the first Peter Diamond novel by Peter Lovesey and is being released concurrently with “Stagestruck,” the lat...more
I had heard a lot about this book so I might have been expecting too much; I liked it but it didn't totally live up to the hype for me. I did like the way the way Detective Peter Diamond's sections were told in the 3rd person and the two different suspect's sections were told in the 1st person, and I did end up liking Diamond better than I thought I would at the end. I may read more in this series; I would like to know where Diamond goes from here, having resigned from the police at the end of t...more
My sister suggested that I read a Peter Lovesey mystery after my trip to Bath, England. I started with his first Peter Diamond mystery, "The Last Detective.''
I had so much fun recognizing the places in the story, but you don't have to be familiar with the delights of Bath to enjoy the book. I also appreciated how the author threw in references to Jane Austen, who lived in Bath for several years and made it the setting of two novels.
At first I wasn't sure I cared for the protagonist, Detective...more
I had so much fun recognizing the places in the story, but you don't have to be familiar with the delights of Bath to enjoy the book. I also appreciated how the author threw in references to Jane Austen, who lived in Bath for several years and made it the setting of two novels.
At first I wasn't sure I cared for the protagonist, Detective...more
I adore books read by Simon Prebble, so I'm really happy to have found another British mystery series that features a light, engaging mystery. Although I find the main character to be just a touch too much of a Luddite to be respected, it's really interesting to read a mystery taking place at the on-flux of technology. I also think it's refreshing to have a police officer who's happily married for a change. I get a bit tired of the "broken man committed only to his work" scenario.
Excellent book. Narrated by a British man.
It is astonishing to know that we speak English from our mother land but just in 4 centuries we are really drifting apart in pronunciation of words. So, for those that tell you you are pronouncing a word incorrectly just say you are not
The mystery was good. Not a thriller but I was completely thrown on why till later in the book. I recommend. I surmised in one part of the book who it was but I can t tell you more.
It is astonishing to know that we speak English from our mother land but just in 4 centuries we are really drifting apart in pronunciation of words. So, for those that tell you you are pronouncing a word incorrectly just say you are not
The mystery was good. Not a thriller but I was completely thrown on why till later in the book. I recommend. I surmised in one part of the book who it was but I can t tell you more.
The Last Detective is the first novel in a detective series featuring Peter Diamond. Diamond is a burly "old school" detective connected with the Avon and Somerset CID. He is nicknamed the Last Detective because he shuns new-fangled technology and relies on old-fashioned detecting. He's surly, out of shape, and a thorn in the side of his superiors. When a soap opera star is found dead in lake, Diamond's investigation finds few leads. The writing is witty although the narrative technique seemed a...more
The Last Detective was the first book I read in this wonderful series featuring irascible police detective Peter Diamond. Because of this book, I've rushed on to read several more. Each book provides an intriguing mystery to unravel along with sharply drawn characters that keep you hooked. Most of the action takes place in Bath, England and the author brings the area to life vividly and realistically.
This series is a rare treat for crime fiction fans!
This series is a rare treat for crime fiction fans!
Who killed the redhead who’s found naked and floating in the lake? Leading the investigation is Peter Diamond, a short-tempered ex-rugby player. The setting (Bath) is redolent with references to Jane Austin who apparently didn’t like the place. The piece is told from multiple points of view, including a professor of English literature and a woman who drives a Mercedes limo. Lovesey is, as always, clever and far more articulate than this review.
I was surprised by this one. It took about 25 pages or so to get into it, and there were a lot of early red herrings and meandering passages about the tedious nature of detective work, but once the mystery really started unwrapping, it was good!
I actually liked Peter Diamond, although not so much his name, I admit. We share an apprehension of technology and a deep-rooted need to prove ourselves.
decent mystery and pacing, good characters, fast read
3.5 stars
I actually liked Peter Diamond, although not so much his name, I admit. We share an apprehension of technology and a deep-rooted need to prove ourselves.
decent mystery and pacing, good characters, fast read
3.5 stars
Detective Superintendant Diamond is a crime solver of the old school and he struggles against the invasion of computers into the murder room. Set in the south west of England, he is forced to leave the police and take other work, but his last case haunts him and he believes the wrong person has been charged with murder. Teaming up with the husband of the murder victim, he eventually solves the case. Good description of the archeological remains in Bath.
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Peter (Harmer) Lovesey (born 1936 in Whitton, Middlesex) is a British writer of historical and contemporary crime novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a modern-day police detective in Bath. Lovesey's novels and stories mainly fall into the category of entertaining puzzlers in the "Golden...more
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Mar 21, 2012 01:56pm