Kindle British Mystery Book Club discussion
This topic is about
The Pick, The Spade and The Crow
Book Club Monthly Read
>
July 2018 Value Book Read - The Pick, The Spade and The Crow by Bill Rogers
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Beth
(new)
-
added it
Jul 01, 2018 03:26PM
Who is the discussion leader. Am panicking in case it's me.... I haven't even ordered the book!
reply
|
flag
I think it's me? I picked up this one for free I think on kindleI don't know if it still is
I will post some discussion questions later
Oh thank heavens! angryGreyCat!!!!!Was worried!
Questions to consider:This is mystery read with a special Behavior Science Unit investigation like the US TV show Criminal Minds, which was based around the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. How does this differ from a regular police procedural? Do you like this as opposed to the "local" police type mysteries?
Were there red herrings or clues you noticed that helped you piece the story together? Did you figure out the resolution ahead of time?
How did the characters seem to you? Likeable, relatable, fully fleshed out, flat one-dimensional?
How immersive was the writing - was the sense of place well developed - did it pull you into the story?
OK AngryGreyCat... first I need toOrder the book. Am not sure why I haven't done that??? Am obviously letting the group down.
Beth wrote: "OK AngryGreyCat... first I need toOrder the book. Am not sure why I haven't done that??? Am obviously letting the group down."
If you have prime it still appears to be free :)
The book description didn't really give a clue as to the special remit of this unit, but I usually like that type of mystery. (I've never seen 'Criminal Minds' - I don't watch television, except for 'Sherlock' - but I did read a book based on the show and wished there were more.) In any case, I'll be keeping the questions above in mind.
Am reading now. This "unit" doesn't seem to work much like a team so that makes it very different from "Criminal Minds". And I don't see much psychology involved. But am enjoying the read! Maybe because I am not into American TV shows. LOL!
I am 58% through and find the story line is dragging along. I agree that it isn't a tale of the "team"; it's about one officer who doesn't even know what to call herself. And I haven't figured out what the other people in the unit do
David wrote: "Well I'm a third in and have to say it isn't my cup of tea so far.It maybe that I have watched Criminal Minds and after about six seasons if not before found it too much the same thing all the ti..."
I am with you for the first third, way too much build up of the station and the introductions. It was very heavy handed...this is so and so and here's his story... It actually made me put it down and read something else for a while.
I am now passed the point of the big adultery reveal and it seems to be picking up some steam.
I see some similarities to Criminal Minds, but I will admit I didn't regularly watch the show. But it seems like that they are basically office people and Jo is out doing all the investigating and having to make nice with the other forces whose "turf" she is working in. There doesn't seem to be any team meeting type element like in other crime teams - Even if you watch a show like Vera, she gets her whole team in a room and they throw ideas and things they've researched around.
Beth wrote: "I am 58% through and find the story line is dragging along. I agree that it isn't a tale of the "team"; it's about one officer who doesn't even know what to call herself. And I haven't figured out ..."Yes it is very vague about the functions of the rest of the team. It seems that Jo is out there on her own and just created this, what sounds like a google doc, to share info as she investigates?
Yes, she puts her documentation on a shared drive .... Pretty standard practice for a team activity but this idea came as a recommendation by her girlfriend nurse! The whole unit set up just seems to be unrealistic. And she never seems to read anything presented by other members (or did I miss that?).
I have finished the book because I skimmed over the last 10%. I am feeling kind so I will give it two stars but really, it wouldn't be a book I would recommend
It's moving slowly, and I agree that the introduction of the team is rather heavy-handed. I think the author realised that the characters needed to be distinguished in order for readers to remember them, but I don't think the introduction did much to distinguish them, and as noted, we hardly see them.I'm about 40% along, and at present, the DI doesn't have much to work up a profile on the murderer. Nonetheless, I'm liking her enough that I do find the book interesting, or at least, it was more attractive on my lunch break than going back to comparing lists of insured vehicles.
LOL! Pretty well any book is better than reading for work!!
Where was the "crow"???? Was it a symbol that I missed? Maybe in the last quarter than I skimmed through??
Things got a bit convoluted at the end, and I agree that there wasn't nearly enough of the NCA in the book. Although they did some profiling, it didn't really apply in this case.That said, I liked Jo Stuart enough that I will probably read another book in the series.
Oh yes, David! I remember the line. Thanks!!!!
