Around the World in 80 Books discussion
This topic is about
Smaller and Smaller Circles
Group Reads Discussions
>
Discussion for Smaller and Smaller Circles
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Diane , Armchair Tour Guide
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Dec 19, 2020 09:20AM
Start discussion here for Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan.
reply
|
flag
I started reading this today and so far it is holding my interest.
This is such a good book. I wish the author had written more books.
I really liked this mystery and like Anastasia, I wish this was not the author's only novel. The two Jesuit priests are interesting and unique characters who I would like to see in more books. They assist the police but they are not in law enforcement so they have limited authority in their investigations. The murders were gory but not overdone which is a turn off for me. I expect violence in mysteries but I don't want excessive blood and gore graphically described over and over, and this had the right amount of description. I recommend this mystery to those who are looking for smart characters with a well crafted story. It is not for cozy mystery lovers however.
This was a great mystery/thriller from the Philippines! I think F.H. Batacan really enjoyed developing the characters of Father Saenz and Father Lucero, priests on loan for consult to the reforming National Bureau of Investigations. Both priests had unique personalities, and a great camaraderie, even if I couldn't quite tell whether musical tastes were not quite distinct enough (or possibly miswritten) between the two of them during the book. The slight inconsistencies with music taste, as well as with technology (are cell phones or pay phones really the primary form of communication in the Philippines in the early 2010s?) may have been a result of the author rewriting a 1990's draft of the book almost twenty years later in 2013.The mystery was very sad, and one not uncommon to thrillers. I'm glad there was resolution to the mystery at the end, and I would love to see a second book by Batacan with these two priests. Still, I can understand her reluctance to write a second novel, since it appears the author may have given indiciations about what potentially would be the plot of a second book, and it may ruffle feathers to delve into indiscretions by the Catholic church in the Philippines. I would certainly enjoy a follow-up book focused on the investigations of these priests, though.
