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Kind Hearts and Martinets #2
Irony In The Soul: Nobody Listens Like The Dying
Recuperating from his past mission, disturbed but driven D.I. Jack Austin returns to work amid a personality clash with a retired colonel - who happens to be his new Chief Constable.
When the Constable is kidnapped – and returned in pieces – DI Austin’s hapless hunt for the culprit begins. He investigates a string of cryptic murders including a beheaded minister, a drowned woman in a Hijab, and a band of terrorists with explosives.
Meanwhile, Austin battles a grievous inner conflict. Will he thwart the perpetrator, or become a conspirator himself?
540 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2013
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 11, 2020
Irony in the Soul: Nobody Listens Like The Dying is the second book in the Kind Hearts and Martinets series written by Pete Adams. I read the first book in this five-part series last month, and today I bring you a review of the next one. I was curious how the police crew would do on their next big adventure, but I also wanted to see if the style or tone of the books changed at all. Overall, they are quite similar, but as a reader, I've adjusted to it much more. I might not be British, but I'm beginning to understand some of the expressions and points of view. Must mean the author is doing a bunch of things right!
Similar to the last book, Jack lives and breathes by his injuries and his nicknames. Don't even try to keep track, you'll either be laughing too much or getting temporarily lost. Unfortunately, this time he is injured a bit long-term and has developed a slight speech/memory/connection issue from his previous take-down. Sometimes he says the wrong words, and as readers, it makes for a good moment of levity and "oh no he didn't moments." The jokes are strong, but again, a high percentage went over my head... I'm learning! I still wonder: how can American and British slang be so different?!?!
In this suspenseful mystery, religious murders take center stage. Jack receives random messages from the likely killer of a few religious leaders in the area. This type of interlude makes the book feel more like a thriller because we know there will be a huge explosive scene at some point. There MUST be a leak on the police force, but who? Then... the leak was supposedly found; I'm too suspicious of a reader, so I didn't believe what I was reading... good thing I held my ground. Lots to come from that, but it's not fully solved. We need to head into book three with a few open questions, right?
One thing's for sure... Adams has amped up the amount of times Jack's rear end is touched or tapped. I have to wonder, is this another British thing I need to learn more about? Or just a quirky characteristic of those around this particular intriguing DCI? Ultimately, to Jack, everything is a game; that's just his personality. He’s kinda lost his mind, which both drives me batty and entertains me as a reader. Some day, I will figure him out.
Any author that includes multiple references to Wallace and Gromit gets high praise from me. Love those two! Just when I was beginning to make a few guesses, Adams goes and swaps character focus for a bit while Amanda and Jack visit family and friends. Everyone needs a break, and it's time to meet each other's families if they're going to be serious. At one point, I feared they might break up too. During their trip, we get to watch or listen in on what other detectives learn about the religious leader killer... and the bodies keep piling up.
The murder plot thickens when our hero an heroine meet a father and son duo who have a connection to the possible killer, based on the notes Jack's been getting. If you like crazy near-death scenes, Jack's trip to the hospital is gonna be a good one for you this time. By then, he's solved the case, only... it's not over at the end of this book. Some pieces of the puzzle are discovered, others will continue in book 3... which I'll get to in the next month. Thanks for another terrific episode in the lives of this over-the-top DCI and colleagues. Lots to love and rant about, but that's what authors are supposed to do to us, right?
Similar to the last book, Jack lives and breathes by his injuries and his nicknames. Don't even try to keep track, you'll either be laughing too much or getting temporarily lost. Unfortunately, this time he is injured a bit long-term and has developed a slight speech/memory/connection issue from his previous take-down. Sometimes he says the wrong words, and as readers, it makes for a good moment of levity and "oh no he didn't moments." The jokes are strong, but again, a high percentage went over my head... I'm learning! I still wonder: how can American and British slang be so different?!?!
In this suspenseful mystery, religious murders take center stage. Jack receives random messages from the likely killer of a few religious leaders in the area. This type of interlude makes the book feel more like a thriller because we know there will be a huge explosive scene at some point. There MUST be a leak on the police force, but who? Then... the leak was supposedly found; I'm too suspicious of a reader, so I didn't believe what I was reading... good thing I held my ground. Lots to come from that, but it's not fully solved. We need to head into book three with a few open questions, right?
One thing's for sure... Adams has amped up the amount of times Jack's rear end is touched or tapped. I have to wonder, is this another British thing I need to learn more about? Or just a quirky characteristic of those around this particular intriguing DCI? Ultimately, to Jack, everything is a game; that's just his personality. He’s kinda lost his mind, which both drives me batty and entertains me as a reader. Some day, I will figure him out.
Any author that includes multiple references to Wallace and Gromit gets high praise from me. Love those two! Just when I was beginning to make a few guesses, Adams goes and swaps character focus for a bit while Amanda and Jack visit family and friends. Everyone needs a break, and it's time to meet each other's families if they're going to be serious. At one point, I feared they might break up too. During their trip, we get to watch or listen in on what other detectives learn about the religious leader killer... and the bodies keep piling up.
The murder plot thickens when our hero an heroine meet a father and son duo who have a connection to the possible killer, based on the notes Jack's been getting. If you like crazy near-death scenes, Jack's trip to the hospital is gonna be a good one for you this time. By then, he's solved the case, only... it's not over at the end of this book. Some pieces of the puzzle are discovered, others will continue in book 3... which I'll get to in the next month. Thanks for another terrific episode in the lives of this over-the-top DCI and colleagues. Lots to love and rant about, but that's what authors are supposed to do to us, right?
September 15, 2019
This is Book 2 in the Kind Hearts and Martinets series featuring DCI Jack Austin.
The story revolves around a domestic terrorist plot to cause civil unrest and political upheaval…..and some rather gruesome murders.
So Jack ( Mr Malacopperism himself) and his team investigate in their unique style. Jack is just recovering after being shot while solving a previous case, and recently back at work. He is such a character, slowly coming to terms with the death of his wife 3 years ago, PTSD and a new romance with Mandy. He really is a crisis magnet!
This is a serious thriller, but full of humour and tomfoolery from Jack, his nicknames for everyone are non stop and he tends to vocalise his thoughts which gets him into awkward moments. A fun thriller with a dark edge. Can’t wait for the next in the series.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
The story revolves around a domestic terrorist plot to cause civil unrest and political upheaval…..and some rather gruesome murders.
So Jack ( Mr Malacopperism himself) and his team investigate in their unique style. Jack is just recovering after being shot while solving a previous case, and recently back at work. He is such a character, slowly coming to terms with the death of his wife 3 years ago, PTSD and a new romance with Mandy. He really is a crisis magnet!
This is a serious thriller, but full of humour and tomfoolery from Jack, his nicknames for everyone are non stop and he tends to vocalise his thoughts which gets him into awkward moments. A fun thriller with a dark edge. Can’t wait for the next in the series.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
December 5, 2021
Inspector Austin is back and as always, he’s wrestling his demons add to that an injury that has changed him somewhat, yet he manages to keep the reader entertained and engaged.
When a colleague turns up literally in pieces, the DCI and his team are on the case. Austin soon discovers he shares some unnerving similarities with the culprit. This is a fascinating and witty story made even more vibrant by the lead character and his quicksilver mind. Adams understands the intricacies of a top notch, British police procedural and uses his knowledge in the perfect measure. A fantastic second instalment!
When a colleague turns up literally in pieces, the DCI and his team are on the case. Austin soon discovers he shares some unnerving similarities with the culprit. This is a fascinating and witty story made even more vibrant by the lead character and his quicksilver mind. Adams understands the intricacies of a top notch, British police procedural and uses his knowledge in the perfect measure. A fantastic second instalment!
October 5, 2019
DCI Jack Austin Solving Another Brutal Crime
Irony in the Soul is the second story in the Kind Hearts and Martinets series by Pete Adams. Detective Chief Inspector, Jack Austin, has just been released from the hospital. Not one to stay down long, he’s back on the job, foregoing the prescribed period of convalescence. In the previous story, he led the rescue of captive children in a pedophile ring, but was also gravely wounded. DCI Jack Austin is a man not to be kept down. He has a great crime solving crew at his disposal and who love him, mostly. But it is Jack, whose nimble mind puts the details of a crime into perspective.
Jack is taunted by mysterious messages and comes to know who the person is who causes much of the on-going crime spree. Surprisingly, that person and DCI Austin share many of the same beliefs about life and how it should be lived and regulated. DCI is as close to convincing this arch enemy to correct his wrong doing... or will Jack Austin join him instead?
This story is much more convoluted than the first story in the series. While each story may be stand alone, and this one easy to jump into and follow, I encourage readers to check out the series from the beginning. This sets up the reader to understanding the nicknames and peculiarities of each of the many characters. These are hilarious story people, thanks to author Pete Adams. His own sense of humor easily translates into his writing. Something else that distinctly shows through the writing is Author Pete Adams thorough knowledge of police procedures in the UK, where these stories are set. If I had not read that the author is or was a real estate developer, I would assume he was a former, even active police officer. But he is not. He’s simply a man with an incredible talent for building a great story.
These stories are about solving horrendous crimes. When you have a good grasp of the characters and how this unique police unit functions, you’ll also realize you’ve had many a laugh along the way. Adams further develops characters personalities as he moves them in their privates lives through the plot. I am definitely reading through this series.
Irony in the Soul is the second story in the Kind Hearts and Martinets series by Pete Adams. Detective Chief Inspector, Jack Austin, has just been released from the hospital. Not one to stay down long, he’s back on the job, foregoing the prescribed period of convalescence. In the previous story, he led the rescue of captive children in a pedophile ring, but was also gravely wounded. DCI Jack Austin is a man not to be kept down. He has a great crime solving crew at his disposal and who love him, mostly. But it is Jack, whose nimble mind puts the details of a crime into perspective.
Jack is taunted by mysterious messages and comes to know who the person is who causes much of the on-going crime spree. Surprisingly, that person and DCI Austin share many of the same beliefs about life and how it should be lived and regulated. DCI is as close to convincing this arch enemy to correct his wrong doing... or will Jack Austin join him instead?
This story is much more convoluted than the first story in the series. While each story may be stand alone, and this one easy to jump into and follow, I encourage readers to check out the series from the beginning. This sets up the reader to understanding the nicknames and peculiarities of each of the many characters. These are hilarious story people, thanks to author Pete Adams. His own sense of humor easily translates into his writing. Something else that distinctly shows through the writing is Author Pete Adams thorough knowledge of police procedures in the UK, where these stories are set. If I had not read that the author is or was a real estate developer, I would assume he was a former, even active police officer. But he is not. He’s simply a man with an incredible talent for building a great story.
These stories are about solving horrendous crimes. When you have a good grasp of the characters and how this unique police unit functions, you’ll also realize you’ve had many a laugh along the way. Adams further develops characters personalities as he moves them in their privates lives through the plot. I am definitely reading through this series.
August 27, 2019
Excellent thriller with a touch of humour, a real page turner.
Having read the first book in the series, I was keen to see how the characters developed as book two progressed. By the time I was halfway through this follow up I felt like I was in the company of old friends. Pete Adams has a wicked sense of humour which he injects into his characters, bringing them to life in a way that makes them 'feel' totally realistic. DCI Jack Austin is once again in the thick of the action, as a sinister group of potential domestic terrorists set out to foment unrest and political upheaval. Together with his team of detectives, (and with help from his old pals in the Secret Intelligence Service), he sets out, in his unique fashion, to bring them down and restore peace in the community.
There's a series of very brutal murders to solve and some tragedy along the way. When a mole is suspected within his own team, Jack's skills are tested to the limit.
I don't like to give too much of the plot away, but I will say that I loved the humour that goes along with the descriptions of his love life and there are some great instances of 'visual' humour that had me literally laughing out loud.
This is a real page turner and I am hoping Mr. Adams will be bringing us more of Jack Austin in the future.
Having read the first book in the series, I was keen to see how the characters developed as book two progressed. By the time I was halfway through this follow up I felt like I was in the company of old friends. Pete Adams has a wicked sense of humour which he injects into his characters, bringing them to life in a way that makes them 'feel' totally realistic. DCI Jack Austin is once again in the thick of the action, as a sinister group of potential domestic terrorists set out to foment unrest and political upheaval. Together with his team of detectives, (and with help from his old pals in the Secret Intelligence Service), he sets out, in his unique fashion, to bring them down and restore peace in the community.
There's a series of very brutal murders to solve and some tragedy along the way. When a mole is suspected within his own team, Jack's skills are tested to the limit.
I don't like to give too much of the plot away, but I will say that I loved the humour that goes along with the descriptions of his love life and there are some great instances of 'visual' humour that had me literally laughing out loud.
This is a real page turner and I am hoping Mr. Adams will be bringing us more of Jack Austin in the future.
February 2, 2020
I can imagine no better cast of players for this brilliant read. Having romped through book one with a veritable mixture of surprise and giggles, I was eagerly looking forward to the second in the series & boy did it deliver. Battling his own inner demons, Jack Austin leads his crime squad in the investigation of several murders, all seemingly with a religious connection. There are plenty of ups and downs & a noteworthy amount of time with Jack in nothing more than his underpants, but it all adds to the camaraderie of this fabulous police spoof. Adams’ writing is superb, with just the right amount of comedy & jest. I’m looking forward to catching up with this motley crew in book three, and hope that by then Jack has learned to close the bathroom door!
March 30, 2020
This is a fantastically, entertaining, gripping novel. The characters are brilliantly constructed and believable. The plot has marvelous twists and draws the reader in and holds them there until the end. A fantastic crime book which is part of an excellent series. A must for all bookshelves.
September 14, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and to Emma Welton of damppebbles blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Buckle up buttercups and Bennets, because DI Jack “Jane” “Bat-Bat” Austin and his merry band of un-PC PCs are back and they are taking no prisoners. No, wait, did I say that out loud? They are definitely planning to take prisoners… they’ve just got to find out whodunnit and whydunnit first.
If you haven’t read Book 1 of this series, Cause and Effect, then I suggest you pop off and read that one first, spit spot, otherwise you may find yourself baffled by the various idiosyncrasies and quirks that drive Jane’s dialogue and inner (or not) monologues and can cause a false impression of errors in the text. Rest assured, the ‘errors’ are in fact all the character’s own! And surprisingly, it is part of what makes him ridiculously endearing, with the emphasis on the ridiculous.
In terms of plot, this book is even more chaotic than the first (yes, it turns out that is possible). The stakes are up and we are no longer chasing down drug busts and paedophile rings; this is a criminal mastermind caper and disturbingly, but also intriguingly, they seem to share Jack’s own strong political beliefs. Can your whole heart be in a takedown if you agree with their motives, even if not their methods?
Luckily Jack’s whole heart is nowhere near the case, as he spends a good chunk of the story enjoying his newfound romance: in the bath, on holiday, on the office desk. It’s refreshing to see a couple who are not in the first flush of youth – or of societally-standard beauty – having a full, busy and extremely enthusiastic sex life. The honeymoon shenanigans also help to leaven the tone, as Jack struggles continually with PTSD and pending burnout symptoms. How much of this is exaggerated/feigned for sympathy and/or sneakiness and how much is the real deal I will leave to you to determine, but part of this character’s ‘realness’ is his genuine depth of emotional response to events.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, the whole team are here – Jo-Jums, Nobby, Alice, Pumps/Dobbin, KFC, Hissing Sid, Manners, Paolo, Father Mike, Del-Boy and Uncle Tom Cobley and all – but there is a vole in the station somewhere and it could be anyone. Also Pugwash is back to stir up some spite, and there���s a new Chief to be broken in to Jane’s way of working. All at the usual breakneck pace, with the reader not in on many of the jokes or insights until we’re already halfway down the road with them… It makes for an exhausting and exhilarating read!
Personally I am really enjoying Pete Adams’ fresh take on the old police procedural genre and am thoroughly looking forward to the next one. I should leave you with a warning though: Jane’s mannerisms are infectious, as Mandy is discovering, to both her detritus and entrancement. Reader, beware…! 😉
‘Comin’ up, babes,’ Jack replied, getting busy. They sat at the table while Jack waited for the kettle to boil and the mocha pot to mocha, Jack holding the gaze of Mandy through puffs of steam; on the station in Close Encounter, he thought.
‘God, have you two not got over the mooning stage,’ Jo remarked, ‘and it’s Brief Encounter.’ Jo was accustomed to Mr Malacopperism speaking his thoughts.
– Pete Adams, Irony in the Soul
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Buckle up buttercups and Bennets, because DI Jack “Jane” “Bat-Bat” Austin and his merry band of un-PC PCs are back and they are taking no prisoners. No, wait, did I say that out loud? They are definitely planning to take prisoners… they’ve just got to find out whodunnit and whydunnit first.
If you haven’t read Book 1 of this series, Cause and Effect, then I suggest you pop off and read that one first, spit spot, otherwise you may find yourself baffled by the various idiosyncrasies and quirks that drive Jane’s dialogue and inner (or not) monologues and can cause a false impression of errors in the text. Rest assured, the ‘errors’ are in fact all the character’s own! And surprisingly, it is part of what makes him ridiculously endearing, with the emphasis on the ridiculous.
In terms of plot, this book is even more chaotic than the first (yes, it turns out that is possible). The stakes are up and we are no longer chasing down drug busts and paedophile rings; this is a criminal mastermind caper and disturbingly, but also intriguingly, they seem to share Jack’s own strong political beliefs. Can your whole heart be in a takedown if you agree with their motives, even if not their methods?
Luckily Jack’s whole heart is nowhere near the case, as he spends a good chunk of the story enjoying his newfound romance: in the bath, on holiday, on the office desk. It’s refreshing to see a couple who are not in the first flush of youth – or of societally-standard beauty – having a full, busy and extremely enthusiastic sex life. The honeymoon shenanigans also help to leaven the tone, as Jack struggles continually with PTSD and pending burnout symptoms. How much of this is exaggerated/feigned for sympathy and/or sneakiness and how much is the real deal I will leave to you to determine, but part of this character’s ‘realness’ is his genuine depth of emotional response to events.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, the whole team are here – Jo-Jums, Nobby, Alice, Pumps/Dobbin, KFC, Hissing Sid, Manners, Paolo, Father Mike, Del-Boy and Uncle Tom Cobley and all – but there is a vole in the station somewhere and it could be anyone. Also Pugwash is back to stir up some spite, and there���s a new Chief to be broken in to Jane’s way of working. All at the usual breakneck pace, with the reader not in on many of the jokes or insights until we’re already halfway down the road with them… It makes for an exhausting and exhilarating read!
Personally I am really enjoying Pete Adams’ fresh take on the old police procedural genre and am thoroughly looking forward to the next one. I should leave you with a warning though: Jane’s mannerisms are infectious, as Mandy is discovering, to both her detritus and entrancement. Reader, beware…! 😉
‘Comin’ up, babes,’ Jack replied, getting busy. They sat at the table while Jack waited for the kettle to boil and the mocha pot to mocha, Jack holding the gaze of Mandy through puffs of steam; on the station in Close Encounter, he thought.
‘God, have you two not got over the mooning stage,’ Jo remarked, ‘and it’s Brief Encounter.’ Jo was accustomed to Mr Malacopperism speaking his thoughts.
– Pete Adams, Irony in the Soul
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
December 12, 2019
The second story in Pete Adam’s Kind Hearts and Martinets series, Irony in the Soul is a quirky police procedural set in Portsmouth, UK.
Detective Chief Inspector Jack Austin, newly released from hospital after a serious wound, jumps on the case of a series of horrific crimes that are motivated by religion. The them of white extremist hate crimes targeting Christian and Muslim communities – with a stoned minister and a crucified imam – is handled carefully and with considerable insight into the attitudes and prejudices of ordinary folk.
Told with Adam’s rollicking wit, at times saucy and brimming with jocular camaraderie – all banter, quips and jibes from a cast of very engaging characters and their funny nicknames – that renders this an ‘in your face’ read, as if the narrator was right there chatting with you over a beer in the local pub, yet Irony in the Soul carries a serious and heavy undertow, as I am coming to expect from this author. I enjoyed the complexity, the twists and turns, the uncertainty over Jack Austin’s integrity, even his sanity. Overall, a gripping and thoroughly entertaining read.
Detective Chief Inspector Jack Austin, newly released from hospital after a serious wound, jumps on the case of a series of horrific crimes that are motivated by religion. The them of white extremist hate crimes targeting Christian and Muslim communities – with a stoned minister and a crucified imam – is handled carefully and with considerable insight into the attitudes and prejudices of ordinary folk.
Told with Adam’s rollicking wit, at times saucy and brimming with jocular camaraderie – all banter, quips and jibes from a cast of very engaging characters and their funny nicknames – that renders this an ‘in your face’ read, as if the narrator was right there chatting with you over a beer in the local pub, yet Irony in the Soul carries a serious and heavy undertow, as I am coming to expect from this author. I enjoyed the complexity, the twists and turns, the uncertainty over Jack Austin’s integrity, even his sanity. Overall, a gripping and thoroughly entertaining read.
March 20, 2022
After reading the first book in the series, I was prepared for the unique style and constant use of nicknames, so delved into the story without difficulty. With Portsmouth as a backdrop, the book revolves around a group of senior police officers wrestling with terrorism and murder, while the mental stress of the job works on their minds. There is romance, banter and sometimes dark humour, but all the time the author, through the eyes of Jack, the main character, is showing social concern.
The story moves along at a cracking pace, with police drama interspersed with human relationships, and a main character who is torn between his duty as a policeman and his belief in social justice. There is action, particularly in the final section of the book, and a constant examination of character, Pete Adams even finds space to reveal his professional background when he reveals architectural details of some of the buildings.
Adams’ style reminds me a little of Brian Callison, although the message within the story could be Dickensian, a stark warning of what governmental policies could bring to a beleaguered country.
The humour works, but without distracting the reader from the social message the book carries. As a work of fiction, ‘Irony in the Soul’ is worth five stars. As a message of warning, surely more.
The story moves along at a cracking pace, with police drama interspersed with human relationships, and a main character who is torn between his duty as a policeman and his belief in social justice. There is action, particularly in the final section of the book, and a constant examination of character, Pete Adams even finds space to reveal his professional background when he reveals architectural details of some of the buildings.
Adams’ style reminds me a little of Brian Callison, although the message within the story could be Dickensian, a stark warning of what governmental policies could bring to a beleaguered country.
The humour works, but without distracting the reader from the social message the book carries. As a work of fiction, ‘Irony in the Soul’ is worth five stars. As a message of warning, surely more.
November 18, 2020
This is the second book in this series, but I've already bought the next two books as the first was a real page turner. The characters are so compelling that you want to find out what will happen to them next. This is a crime read, but is rammed full of laughter too. Jack Austin gets himself into so many capers that you laugh out loud in places, but the women in the book shine too. They are strong and independent and are a match for Jack and his escapades.
The plots of this series, with awful crimes and potentially frightening consequences, are so well written that they need the lightness and humour of a character like Jack, who manages to solve crimes and still make us laugh along the way. His personality shines from every page, which is a testament to the author's writing skill.
I've already begun reading book three and I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys crime reads that really pack a punch in terms of storyline and characters.
The plots of this series, with awful crimes and potentially frightening consequences, are so well written that they need the lightness and humour of a character like Jack, who manages to solve crimes and still make us laugh along the way. His personality shines from every page, which is a testament to the author's writing skill.
I've already begun reading book three and I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys crime reads that really pack a punch in terms of storyline and characters.
September 13, 2019
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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I'm going to be quick, because it's late and I'm bushed—also, the more I talk about this, the less I seem to like the book. Which isn't fair—I do like it—but I have issues with it, too. You ever see the memes or jokes online about someone saying they have 6-pack abs, but they're just hiding/protecting them under a layer of fat? That's precisely how this book seems to be constructed.
Picking up some weeks after Cause and Effect: Vice Plagues the City , Jack "Jane" Austen is prepared to come back to work, when something happens to compel him to come back. A priest and an imam are violently murdered, with clear indications that the same people behind these attacks were those responsible for the conspiracy uncovered in Cause and Effect, to cause unrest (at least) between the stagnant Christians and the local Muslims, and hopefully spilling over into a large-scale societal unrest.
You'd think this would be enough to bring Jack back early, so he could try to prevent things from getting worse—and he does. He just has to be eccentric for a while in front of his staff, purposely getting himself in trouble and provoking his new Chief. Because that's what the situation calls for, I guess. I'm glad we're told over and over again how brilliant he is, and what a good cop, too—because you might miss it otherwise.
It's a shame we spend so much time with Jack and Mandy off doing all sorts of non-police things (read: sex, talking about sex, and mooning over each other), because the rest of Jack's team are some truly interesting characters, and it'd be great to see them work. We catch little glimpses of them at work (and some brief idea about their off-duty life), and I think this novel told about them instead of Jack and Mandy would be a much more interesting work.
The word that kept coming to mind (and my notes) as I read this was "self-indulgent." Adams clearly enjoys talking about some things and making the same jokes—he made one 3 times in the first 4% of the book (and countless times in the other 96%). We get pages and pages of Jack and Mandy romancing each other (and at least one of their subordinates makes a pointed remark about their priorities), of Jack going out of his way to be obnoxious, and other assorted things that seem to actually hinder the investigation. Now Adams is far from the first to be this way—Robert Galbraith's latest could use a good trim (of about 150-200 pages), as did many of Robert P. Parker's later works. So the fact that I want to cut about 300 pages from this book puts him in some okay company. In those 300 pages, little happens t advance the plot and we don't deepen our understanding of the characters, because it covers the same ground over and over and over (again, see later Parker).
All that said, the last 25%± of the novel is really good. Almost all of the weaknesses of the book that had been bugging me faded into the background and the crime story came to the forefront (finally). This is the kind of thing I'd been waiting for. If the book was this part, plus another 50 or so pages to set the scene, create a tone, and whatnot—this would be a much more enthusiastic post. As it is, this last chunk of the book redeems the rest and almost makes it worth the effort to get your hands on the book.
Am I still curious about where things are going, and how Adams plans to get there? Absolutely. I will keep reading—and I did enjoy these books, I just wish they'd be put on a diet so I don't have to trudge through all the excess material.
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) they provided.
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I'm going to be quick, because it's late and I'm bushed—also, the more I talk about this, the less I seem to like the book. Which isn't fair—I do like it—but I have issues with it, too. You ever see the memes or jokes online about someone saying they have 6-pack abs, but they're just hiding/protecting them under a layer of fat? That's precisely how this book seems to be constructed.
Picking up some weeks after Cause and Effect: Vice Plagues the City , Jack "Jane" Austen is prepared to come back to work, when something happens to compel him to come back. A priest and an imam are violently murdered, with clear indications that the same people behind these attacks were those responsible for the conspiracy uncovered in Cause and Effect, to cause unrest (at least) between the stagnant Christians and the local Muslims, and hopefully spilling over into a large-scale societal unrest.
You'd think this would be enough to bring Jack back early, so he could try to prevent things from getting worse—and he does. He just has to be eccentric for a while in front of his staff, purposely getting himself in trouble and provoking his new Chief. Because that's what the situation calls for, I guess. I'm glad we're told over and over again how brilliant he is, and what a good cop, too—because you might miss it otherwise.
It's a shame we spend so much time with Jack and Mandy off doing all sorts of non-police things (read: sex, talking about sex, and mooning over each other), because the rest of Jack's team are some truly interesting characters, and it'd be great to see them work. We catch little glimpses of them at work (and some brief idea about their off-duty life), and I think this novel told about them instead of Jack and Mandy would be a much more interesting work.
The word that kept coming to mind (and my notes) as I read this was "self-indulgent." Adams clearly enjoys talking about some things and making the same jokes—he made one 3 times in the first 4% of the book (and countless times in the other 96%). We get pages and pages of Jack and Mandy romancing each other (and at least one of their subordinates makes a pointed remark about their priorities), of Jack going out of his way to be obnoxious, and other assorted things that seem to actually hinder the investigation. Now Adams is far from the first to be this way—Robert Galbraith's latest could use a good trim (of about 150-200 pages), as did many of Robert P. Parker's later works. So the fact that I want to cut about 300 pages from this book puts him in some okay company. In those 300 pages, little happens t advance the plot and we don't deepen our understanding of the characters, because it covers the same ground over and over and over (again, see later Parker).
All that said, the last 25%± of the novel is really good. Almost all of the weaknesses of the book that had been bugging me faded into the background and the crime story came to the forefront (finally). This is the kind of thing I'd been waiting for. If the book was this part, plus another 50 or so pages to set the scene, create a tone, and whatnot—this would be a much more enthusiastic post. As it is, this last chunk of the book redeems the rest and almost makes it worth the effort to get your hands on the book.
Am I still curious about where things are going, and how Adams plans to get there? Absolutely. I will keep reading—and I did enjoy these books, I just wish they'd be put on a diet so I don't have to trudge through all the excess material.
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) they provided.
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