Buddy read an Inspector Morse?

[Bionic Jean]

I've now finished The Jewel That Was Ours. I found it a bit dull at first, although it did improve.
Here's a link to my review.

Not one of his best in my view, but not a bad read, to say it was a created novel.

[Penny]

Finished a few days back. Great review Jean - you are really queen of the Morse reviews!!!
I too preferred the one before this - I read this one deliberately looking at the characters and taking note of side comments - the car crash of Kemp I clocked early on as a possible component for the murder. I was also on the look out for double identities and people not being who they first appear - so the final explanation wasnt a total surprise - just the actual details of how it all unfolded and came together was revealed.
Morse seems more kindly disposed to Lewis in this one, he receives more respect from him. Dexter seems to be making Morse progressively more pedantic with his grammar and spelling!
What's the general concensus? Anyone got a favourite yet?

[Bionic Jean]

LOL Penny, and thank ye kindly :D

What a good idea - favourites! I think my vote would be equally split between Service of All the Dead and The Wench Is Dead. I know lots of people didn't enjoy "Service of all the Dead", but I found it delightfully devious, and really enjoyed the fact that the structure of the novel was written as a kind of religious ceremony, to mirror the church setting.

The "Wench is Dead" also had a novelty aspect, investigating a cold case. I think that might just nudge into first place actually. But who knows, by the end of the series? LOL

I too suspected that the car crash would come back into the picture somehow, but I always forget Dexter's penchant for double identities until afterwards! So well done Penny! :)

[Penny]

Jean wrote: "LOL Penny, and thank ye kindly :D

What a good idea - favourites! I think my vote would be equally split between Service of All the Dead and The Wench Is Dead. I know l..."

yes for me it is The Wench is Dead - at least so far!

[Susan]

So I'm finally reading this month's Morse book. I have a question. They were talking about King Alfred and said the only thing they knew about him was the burning of the cakes. The only thing I know about King Alfred is from Bernard Cornwell's excellent series on Uhtred. Does anyone know what they're talking about with the burning of the cakes?

[Bionic Jean]

It's a sort of fable about Alfred the Great. The story goes that during the Anglo-Saxon resistance to the Danes, Alfred was so poor that he was forced to travel anonymously and seek lodging in a peasant woman's hut. Told to look after the griddle cakes cooking on the fire, Alfred let his thoughts wander. The cakes burned, and the peasant woman gave her king a good scolding for his carelessness. It's said that the story is supposed to illustrate the low point in Alfred's battle with the Danish invaders. Most English people just know of "Alfred and the burnt cakes"!

[Leslie]

I liked A Wench is Dead too, but I also liked Last Seen Wearing which I thought was quite clever (even if Morse did keep going off on tangents!). Morse's character was not as likable in those early ones but I did think the plot of that one was very original & fun.

[Susan]

Thank you, Jean. In the Bernard Cornwell series, Alfred is pushed back to a swamp and is fighting from there. At the time, England is only English in that swamp. I don't know if it's true or not but it was great read.

[Bionic Jean]

Sounds an exciting read, Susan :) I quite enjoyed Gallows Thief by him.

[Susan]

I finally finished this book and actually enjoyed it. It seemed to have more of a plot to it and less mistaken identities. I think Morse only slept with one woman so that was kind of a record. I do love how off target Morse gets at times.
What is our book for next month?

[Leslie]

Susan wrote: "I finally finished this book and actually enjoyed it. It seemed to have more of a plot to it and less mistaken identities. I think Morse only slept with one woman so that was kind of a record. I do..."

I liked it also. I think the next book is The Way Through The Woods. We are getting close to the end of the series - only 4 more to go!

[Penny]

Yes The Way Through The Woods looks slightly bigger too - might keep us guessing a bit longer or give Morse more chance to find a woman!!

[Bionic Jean]

Would you believe I started this about a year ago, thinking it was the first one! I was surprised how well Morse and Lewis knew each other, but had got several chapters in before I thought to check! DUH!

Probably best if I start it again, I think. A lot seems to have happened in those first few novels we read!! I'll maybe read it mid-April :)

[Susan]

There's really no point to starting before mid-April. We can't discuss it until then and when I finish a book is when I talk about it.

BTW, I am highly recommending A Circle Of Wives for an entertaining read. I really enjoyed it and read it in two days. It's not a cozy English mystery as it's set in Palo Alto, CA. but I had a lot of fun reading it.

[Penny]

OK I'm done - anyone else finished yet?

I enjoyed this one, much better than a couple of the middle ones. Not sure I quite get as usual what Morse was getting at (view spoiler)[ why did he keep writing to the newspaper and then make up the poem? how did he get the clues if he'd made up the lines? did I miss something there? (hide spoiler)]
rather liked Dr Hobson - but what on earth is she doing falling for Morse when she is 25 years younger? Is this Dexter's personal fantasy that a young woman is always going to fall for Morse?!!!

[Karen]

possibly, Penny :) But who knows. I think there are definitely women out there that are attracted to older men. I also recall that Morse certainly had an eye for the younger ladies in the TV adapation...

[Susan]

I'm reading it now and DVRed the TV episode to watch after I finish the book.

[Susan]

This was my personal favorite Morse book. He was fumbling around as much. I really liked him being on vacation and enjoying himself. Of course, he found a woman the first night out!
I watched the episode based on the book today to see how different it was. It was completely different with people dying at different times and the ending was not the same. I found I actually liked the TV show better. John Thaw is just so good. The story actually made more sense.

Still knowing that Dr. Hobson ends up with Lewis in the TV series makes the flirtation between her and Morse kind of creepy.

[Bionic Jean]

I don't remember that, Susan! Time to rewatch then? (After a reread of course!)

Not quite sure when I'll get round to this one. Probably at the very tail end of the month.

[Leslie]

So I am finally starting this - sorry to be so late!

[Susan]

That's all right, Leslie. You sound like you have a lot on your plate.

[Penny]

hello everyone
In the space between Morse books I have been thinking ahead to a future series read. Jean-Luke is happy for us to put up a poll to vote on what we would like to read but we need to come up with a short list first.
I think it will be a little tricky to find something as we have all read so many series and authors,so I have started a list to kick us off. My thoughts are that I would read up to 12 books from a series (I'm not sure I could manage all 20 or so of some series) but that doesnt exclude longer series we would just go for the first 12. Also I would hope to stick to the idea of an 'English' type mystery - not nececssarily in England but that type of style.
Then I thought I dont mind reading one or two books I have already read but dont want to do a series I've read all of or most of.
So, (deep breath!!) I have got a list started and want you guys to add any series you would like to read.
Also could you post up those series you DO NOT want - so for me the following are out as I have read them : Gamache, Dalgliesh, Wexford, Serrailler.
This will be a little time consuming so thats why I have posted this up to start the ball rolling long before we finish Morse. Also I have put the number of books in the series beside it.

My possible series are:
The Lake District Mysteries by Martin Edwards 6
Dalziel and Pascoe by Reginald Hill 23
Inspector Devlin by Brian McGilloway 5
Peter Diamond Series by Peter Lovesey 8
Gary Goodhew by Alison Bruce 5
Anna Travis by Lynda LaPlante 9
Sebastian St Cyr by C S Harris 10
Rev. Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne by Julia Spencer-Fleming 8
Hill/Jordan series by Val McDermid 8
Richard Jury by Martha Grimes 23
Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters 18
Inspector Rutledge by Charles Todd 16


These are just ideas - I have not read them so cant vouch for the quality. Please feel free to add others or delete as you wish.

[Bionic Jean]

Good idea! Since Morse is the only series I've read in order (except Serrailler) I have no negative votes. And I wouldn't mind reading any books I've already read again :) I also like your criteria.

I'd like to add:

Charles Paris series (19, but a big break before he last 2!) by Simon Brett

Do you have any idea how many of us will be doing this, Penny? I don't know if Jean-Luke has said, but Susan (comment 328) is no longer in the group so she wont be able to join in (or to say that she can't.)

[Leslie]

I liked The Way Through The Woods although it had some fairly striking similarities to Last Seen Wearing. I agree with Penny that it seemed a bit odd (unbelievable really) that Laura Hobson would be attracted to Morse but perhaps she has a thing for older men as early in the book she has an erotic dream about Max!

As for what series to do next, I am not committing to doing another (although several of those you listed look good!). I am not interested in reading/rereading the Martha Grimes books but Reginald Hill, Peter Lovesey, and Julia Spencer-Fleming are all authors on my "to read sometime" list...

[Bionic Jean]

I too was a bit dubious about Laura Hobson being attracted to Max. I can't help feeling that yet again there's a bit of wish-fulfillment on the part of the author there! (I haven't finished it yet though.)

Another addition to the list:

Inspector Jack Frost series by R. D. Wingfield (6)

[Kay]

I love the Wingfield books but my library doesn't have any. The only way I could find them is by ordering paperbacks.

[Bionic Jean]

That's a shame - mine seems to have them all, but of course you have to reserve them to be sure to get them in the right order.

I wasn't particularly recommending the Wingfields though. Just aiming for "completion" of Penny's fairly comprehensive list :)

With the Morses, although I had some old copies, I got rid of them and got them on Kindle as and when.

Leslie - I had read half this book last year, mistaking it for the first! I had been puzzled by this mistake, as the titles aren't similar, but now you've pointed out that the book themselves are!

[Kathleen]

Penny, what a good list. I've read most of the authors, some all of the series and you make great choices. I'm going to request from the library some of the ones I haven't read. Thanks. My current favorite author is Louise Penny, I love Gamache.

[Bionic Jean]

Finished The Way Through The Woods now and posted my review of it yesterday. Sorry for the delay!

I can see why it won the Gold Dagger award; his writing's improved a lot from the start of the series, hasn't it?

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

I will have to add to my list of books to read!

[Penny]

Jean - superb review - how long do these things take you?!!!
I thought this one was a cut above some of the others - the mystery itself was better constructed although as you say the subject matter is rather sordid. I really wish Dexter had started to deepen the relationship side of things though as that is quite repetitive and could be a useful side-plot. I think Susan Hill's Serrailler novels do that quite well - her detective is complex but does try to have meaningful relationships!

[Bionic Jean]

Penny - thanks for the compliment :) Short answer - a long time!

I agree with your comments. I think the Serrailler books are my favourite detective series, as Susan Hill is such a skilled author on many levels.

[Penny]

Our May Morse book will be - number 11 I believe!

[Kay]

Is that the Daughters of Cain?

[Penny]

Kay wrote: "Is that the Daughters of Cain?"

yes thats right

[Leslie]

My parents happen to own this one (The Daughters of Cain), so I finished early this month. I will wait until the 15th to discuss...

I can't believe that it is almost a year since we started on this voyage! I just wanted to thank Penny for coming up with this idea :)

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

My local ibrary doesn't have The Daughters of Cain! :(

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Jean wrote: "Penny - thanks for the compliment :) Short answer - a long time!

I agree with your comments. I think the Serrailler books are my favourite detective series, as Susan Hill is such a ..."

I have just discovered the Serrailler series. Great reading!

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Susan wrote: "That's all right, Leslie. You sound like you have a lot on your plate."

Susan wrote: "That's all right, Leslie. You sound like you have a lot on your plate."

The Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson?

[Penny]

Sandra wrote: "My local ibrary doesn't have The Daughters of Cain! :("

It 's 1p on Amazon.co.uk and 1 cent on Amazon.com - hope that helps!

[Penny]

Sandra wrote: "My local ibrary doesn't have The Daughters of Cain! :("

It 's 1p on Amazon.co.uk and 1 cent on Amazon.com - hope that helps! I see you are in New Zealand so I dont know if there is a cheaper market for you elsewhere!

[Penny]

am a bit behind on this one - will probably be a few more days yet .

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Penny wrote: "Sandra wrote: "My local ibrary doesn't have The Daughters of Cain! :("

It 's 1p on Amazon.co.uk and 1 cent on Amazon.com - hope that helps! I see you are in New Zealand so I dont know if there is ..."

I trawled all the second hand book shops today and couldn't find one Colin Dexter amongst the hundreds of books....never mind The Daughters of Cain. Will try Amazon. Thank you :o)

[Bionic Jean]

They're all on Kindle if you have one, Sandra. I've got as far as downloading my copy! LOL

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Jean wrote: "They're all on Kindle if you have one, Sandra. I've got as far as downloading my copy! LOL"

Never thought of that.....bought one for my husband. perhaps i can borrow it! Thanks Jean.

[Bionic Jean]

You're very welcome! :)

[Penny]

I am done!! This one is good - but we have plenty of premonitions of what's to come. Morse is sick and keeps getting worse - Lewis knows it too! We even get the quote about 'the remorseful day' which is Dexter having a play around with Shakespeare and words as usual! It was again a little smutty in places - did you all get the anagram? Morse is still deluded about his attractiveness to women!
I found this one slightly different as I knew who 'did' it early on (view spoiler)[ and I think that was almost deliberate as it was fairly obvious who had committed the crime and there is no big surprise (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]. (hide spoiler)]

[Leslie]

Penny wrote: "I am done!! This one is good - but we have plenty of premonitions of what's to come. Morse is sick and keeps getting worse - Lewis knows it too! We even get the quote about 'the remorseful day' w..."

I found all those premonitions made me sad... I think that this is the third time Morse was hospitalized :(

I agree that this one doesn't have the "big reveal" but instead it was more an issue of evidence. I must have missed the anagram though - I don't remember it in any case.

[Bionic Jean]

I hadn't realised that Colin Dexter had decided quite so early and telegraphed Morse's demise when there were still 2 (?) more to go! Hope to read this next week :)

[Bionic Jean]

Nearly finished. I must say I'm finding it all rather gloomy, and Morse's health seems to cast a shadow over everything, to the extent of distracting me from the main story. Did others find this? It's almost as if Dexter wanted to make very sure that nobody came back and said they wanted more Morse novels. And it makes me wonder what the final two will be like.