Kindle British Mystery Book Club discussion
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March 2019 Value Read - The Dark Winter, by David Mark
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Beth
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Mar 01, 2019 06:23AM
I picked up my copy from the library — put a hold on it before it was chosen, as the overview appealed to me!
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I should have bought it when it was suggested - it's no longer a value read in the US. (I'm fine with that - I would have wanted to read it whether it was our main or value selection.)
I really like this series and have read the first two in it. So I will be reading Sorrow Bound Sorrow Bound the third in the series, while you all read the first one. :)
Erunyauve wrote: "I should have bought it when it was suggested - it's no longer a value read in the US. (I'm fine with that - I would have wanted to read it whether it was our main or value selection.)"It is pretty popular your library might have it, if you want to check.
Already purchased it. I'm alternating it with my book club's selection (Siddhartha), which I'm enjoying but finding a bit too obscure for my lunch hour.I'm impressed with some of the writing already - Fred's memories of the wreck of his ship are quite intense.
Read this one years ago, unfortunately it just wasn’t a series that captivated so I never read any of the subsequent books.
I finished this yesterday and it is also a 4-star read for me. I have already requested the next in the series from my library. David Mark has a great way with words and paints pictures of people and places so well. Aector is a sympathetic character and his responses and reactions felt authentic to me. I liked having a main character who isn't self-destructive or unreliable. And the various pieces of the story that seem to have not too much in common with each other are successfully connected in a satisfying conclusion. A couple of decades before this story takes place, I had connections to Hull and environs, including Kirk Ella. At the time, Hull was a moderately successful port (much had been driven away by labor disputes) and Grimsby was still synonymous with fishing. How changed they are in this book, but it was nice to be reminded of places that aren't on everyone's radar. Like the author, I am surprised that Hull is a successful backdrop for a story line that apparently has succeeded in the US (my local library is not known for carrying full sets of books and has 8 of this series).
I am a third of the way through and finding it difficult to stay focused on the booksSo far it hasn’t caught my attention and I find Aector a bit wishy-washy
Mary wrote: "I finished this yesterday and it is also a 4-star read for me. I have already requested the next in the series from my library. David Mark has a great way with words and paints pictures of people a..."I'm enjoying the writing, as well. Hopefully, I should finish in a couple of days, now that I've finished my book club selection.
I hate to admit but I don't recall what the boss says to him about being "wishy washy" that seems to have struck a chord so could someone enlighten me?
It was she followed him when he interviewed Daphne's teacher Ina a pub. Chapter 8
Thank you, Beth. I do remember the conversation now that I went back and re-read it. It would have bugged the heck out of me not to know. I can now return the book to the library so someone else can enjoy it!
I still have my copy out from library. Am half way through. Am not sure why I am having troubles sticking to this one! Even when I sit and read I find myself skimming. I think I remembered the discussion with Pharoah because I agreed with her description of “eager to please puppy”
I will be the lone group member who didn't like this book. I suffered through because it was the group read, but had it just been one I picked up, I would have abandoned it.I didn't like MacAvoy, or rather, he just didn't leave an impression. None of the characters were memorable and although the story had merit, I didn't like the author's style of writing.
I always find it interesting how different readers receive any given book. And with this one, I am in a small minority, as it has good reviews by most contributors on both goodreads and Amazon. But if we didn't have s variety of tastes in books or art or anything, life would be pretty boring
I do agree there was potential for Pharaoh, but again, FOR ME, the author failed to round out her character. And for me, the gentle giant thing came across as just a wimp who was better left on the desk as the office manager Even the wife, who drank and smoked during pregnancy was unappealing to me.
And (since I am on a roll, now) I didn't like the writing style with paragraphs of incomplete sentences. And the ending .......the author ran out of paper so had to end the story?
David wrote: "How are others that are reading Dark Winter or have read it for that matter, finding Aector as a detective?Is he ok and you like him or is he coming across a bit too much of a wimp at times?"
I liked McAvoy but see where others might think he lives in his head too much. He does show he's capable of quick action in the beginning, to the point of abandoning his young son (which almost put me off continuing). I think of him as a nerd rather than a wimp, though.
