March 2018 Group Read: The Crow Trap, by Ann Cleeves

[Suzy]

I finally finished this and really liked it - haven't reviewed it yet, but I will give it 4 stars. I was impatient with how much time was spent in the first part of the book on the three characters doing the environmental survey, but in the end that made the book more interesting to me. Cleeves gets us invested in the characters in order to keep us hanging in once Vera and her team get involved. I do feel this didn't need to be over 500pp! I think that I chose to listen vs read in print also encouraged me to hang in for the long haul. The narrator was excellent.

I will definitely read more in this series - I really like the way Cleeves develops characters, focuses on relationships and creates a tangible sense of place in addition to the crime/murder that needs to be solved. I'm happy to see that the next few books are in the 350ish page count range!

I watched the Vera tv episode titled The Crow Trap last night, which only had shades of the novel. A handful of the characters, the quarry, the environmental survey were the only things represented from the book. So much was changed! At one point Vera tells her crew "we need to simplify" - exactly what the tv show writers did!

[Paul]

Who is planning to continue with the series?


( A thought for the mods; how about polls following on from the group read. They could be general - "how much did you enjoy the book?", on a five point scale or just liked/indifferent/disliked - and, if it part of a series, "do you intend to continue with the series?" - yes, no, maybe, already have. The poll could be linked from the discussion, and might even encourage participation. )

[Arlene]

Good Morning everyone, I am totally planning on reading the other books in this series. I really enjoyed the first book.

[Linda]

I also plan on continuing with the series.

[Suzy]

I plan to read more too, although not sure when. I've got waaaaay too many mystery series going! I'm eagerly awaiting the next in Cleeves' Shetland mysteries,

[NancyJ]

Suzy wrote: "I finally finished this and really liked it - haven't reviewed it yet, but I will give it 4 stars. I was impatient with how much time was spent in the first part of the book on the three characters..."

I agree - about the characters, length, etc. I have to remind myself not to assume that the plots will be the same when a book is made into a show/movie, I haven't seen the Vera shows. Did they change the ending too? Sometimes TV shows help me enjoy the books more by fleshing out the character's personalities a little more.

I really want to read Case histories by Kate Atkinson, I saw the tv series and I feel like I missed some important information about Brodie.

[Paul]

NancyJ wrote: "I really want to read Case histories by Kate Atkinson, I saw the tv series and I feel like I missed some important information about Brodie. .."


The Jackson Brodie books are excellent. I was really disappointed when the TV show was canned.

[NancyJ]

Paul wrote: "Who is planning to continue with the series?


I don't think I'll continue with this one, but I might try her other series. There are so many other authors I want to try, and I'm still working on some book series that I love.

[Suzy]

NancyJ wrote: "Suzy wrote: "I finally finished this and really liked it - haven't reviewed it yet, but I will give it 4 stars. I was impatient with how much time was spent in the first part of the book on the thr..."

I have Jackson Brodie on my tbr too, but not sure I'll ever get to it!

[Icewineanne]

Jackie wrote: "51% in and I am loving this book. It is not at all what I was expecting and really like the fact that Vera doesn’t appear until 40% in. It’s a refreshing change for the other characters to have pri..."
That’s what i loved about this book also Jackie. This was a nice change from the standard police proceedural.
Some have mentioned that the pacing is slow but i prefer a book that delves into the lives & minds of the characters over non-stop action. I’ve read every book in this series & enjoyed them all. Now it’s time to move on to her Shetland series 😉

[Gisela]

Suzy wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Suzy wrote: "I finally finished this and really liked it - haven't reviewed it yet, but I will give it 4 stars. I was impatient with how much time was spent in the first part of the ..."

Bumped them up the list, they are really good.

[Dana]

I enjoyed The Crow Trap and plan to read the next in this series. Being the first book of this series, I expected Vera’s character to be a little more fleshed out. I didn’t know there was a television series about it until after I finished. It made me laugh to see the actress playing Vera, because the Vera in my head while reading was Clarissa Dickson Wright from Two Fat Ladies. Haha! I love that cooking show and I think picturing Clarissa as Vera helped endear her to me. I liked not being able to figure out the ending! It’s always fun to be surprised! Thanks for bring us this book!

[Icewineanne]

Dana wrote: "I enjoyed The Crow Trap and plan to read the next in this series. Being the first book of this series, I expected Vera’s character to be a little more fleshed out. I didn’t know there was a televis..."

You’re spot on Dana!!
Clarissa Dickson Wright would have been the perfect Vera......too bad she passed away in 2014.

[Gisela]

Dana wrote: "I enjoyed The Crow Trap and plan to read the next in this series. Being the first book of this series, I expected Vera’s character to be a little more fleshed out. I didn’t know there was a televis..."
Too true, sensitive ladies with a hard shell.