P.D.R. Lindsay's Blog, page 14

Book review: 'Ghastly Business'

Ghastly Business by Louise Levene




Ah me! I did try to finish this novel. It's not that it's a bad book. The author has a dry sense of humour, a neat way with words and contrives a deceptive plot. What simply put me off was Dr Alfred Kemble and his conversation.

The plot revolves round Dr Kemble and his Pathology Department. This is 1929 and Dora has found herself a job as near to medicine as she is ever likely to get without being allowed to study to be a doctor. Kemble tries to do postmortems...

Book review

Ghastly Business by Louise Levene




Ah me! I did try to finish this novel. It's not that it's a bad book. The author has a dry sense of humour, a neat way with words and contrives a deceptive plot. What simply put me off was Dr Alfred Kemble and his conversation.

The plot revolves round Dr Kemble and his Pathology Department. This is 1929 and Dora has found herself a job as near to medicine as she is ever likely to get without being allowed to study to be a doctor. Kemble tries to do postmortems...

Review: The Black Book by Ian Rankin

The Black Book by Ian Rankin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was delighted to find this copy as I haven't read all the early Rebus novels yet. I do enjoy Ian Rankin's writing and his way with words. This is early Rankin and of course he is writing his way into his own voice and style. Rebus isn't quite the developed character he is in later novels but he's a complex 3D character and the plot is tortuous and twisty in design. It's a satisfying read.

I always enjoy the Scottishness, the odd Gaelic or S...

Book Review: Missing Link by Joyce Holms

Missing Link by Joyce Holms




An Original twist on crime solving, set in Scotland, and written with a light hand and a dry humour. Pleasant read and entertaining.

An amusing whodunit with an advocate and a solicitor working as a bickering team to solve a crime. A dear little old lady claims to have committed a murder and wants to confess as an innocent man has been convicted. Seems a simple task to prove that she is slightly gaga, alas things soon become highly complicated. All the action gives F...

Book Review: The Long Dead by John Dean.

The Long Dead by John Dean




John Dean writes a good tight British police procedural of the old school. No gritty city setting or foul mouthing officers. This is a rural setting and an unusual story.

D.C.I. John Blizzard and his sidekick D.S. David Colley are called out to sign off on a war grave. It's a documented grave for victims of a 'flu epidemic. The victims were German prisoners of war and the grave is now in a farmer's field. Everyone called in is happy to sign off the skeletons except B...

book Review: The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have enjoyed Susan Hill's other books so was pleased to find the first in the series. She writes about an English small town, a rural community, and her characters are not just the police but the families. It is a gentle, comfortable read despite the topic, and her characters are 3D and intelligent.

Chief Inspector, Simon Serrailler, is a policeman despite his father who lives in the same community. His sister Cat and her husband...

The London Book Fair.

I hate computers, but have to admit that when it comes to skype type things they are useful. Seems to me I should get into this skype business more often when it can be so helpful.

This weekend, courtesy my computer, I attended the IA Indie Fringe of the London Book Festival and was blown away by the valuable information  broadcast by best selling Indie authors, and 'experts' from sites like Bublish and Ingramspark. I was able to replay the talks I really wanted to learn from and spent a...

Review: Losing Ground by Catherine Aird

Losing Ground by Catherine Aird




I do wish quotes on the front of a book were more accurate. As this one was a TLS (Times Literary Supplement) quote I was incensed that the reviewer could make such a daft statement about the writer. 'As clever a detective writer as Margery Allingham'. Well, that sets up high expectations in the reader, this reader particularly. I am an Allingham fan, loved her skill with words, her clever intelligent style and oh, those plots!

This novel is a pleasant read, mil...

Review: The Purple Swamp Hen Penelope Lively

The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories by Penelope Lively

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I forget how old Penelope Lively is but her writing doesn't show it.
This is a collection of quirky stories from an excellent writer who knows human foibles and weaknesses and has a taste for the spooky.

A delightful read.



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Never Again!

  Seems to me we do awfully silly things to ourselves as people. Fortunately I have never seen the point in burning money as cigarettes, blowing my mind with drugs or making myself sick and sad with alcohol. No, I go parachuting and bang my spine, or slide down mountains or chase big waves! Still I will rank having two rotten hip joints sawn out and replaced with working metal and plastic ones as something not to do unless you cannot walk and the pain of bone grinding on bone and all tho...