Ah, the first Sherlock novel. The one that introduced us to the world's greatest detective. The one he seemingly hands over to another narrator for a Ah, the first Sherlock novel. The one that introduced us to the world's greatest detective. The one he seemingly hands over to another narrator for a third of the book…
Do you want to hear Doyle rant about Mormons for a good third of the book? If that is the case, you my dear friend are in luck! For everyone else, the mystery of this book is fairly interesting, but the long section where we break away from our leads is more of a sad story with more than a touch of the author standing up and ranting.
The most entertaining aspect about the novel for me was, as someone who has read many of the stories prior to the novel, is how the characters changed after the initial book. I always think of Watson as something of the man of action, and here he talks about being lazy and being in such poor health that he feels it unlikely that he will fully recover. Seems quite a different Watson from the one most people I think generally know.
Overall I found the book entertaining, but I think Doyle greatly improved as he went on. Particularly in terms of his short stories plotting. 3/5 stars...more
While not the most talked about author, Pascal Garnier has a wonderful reputation amongst noir fans for writing short, fast paced and rather comedic wWhile not the most talked about author, Pascal Garnier has a wonderful reputation amongst noir fans for writing short, fast paced and rather comedic works. I've been meaning to try him for some time now and happened upon this one.
Plot description from the publisher: "Writer Jeff Colombier is not accustomed to success. Twice divorced with a grown-up son he barely sees, he drinks too much and his books don’t sell.
Then he wins a big literary prize and his life changes for ever. Overwhelmed by his newfound wealth and happiness, he feels the need to escape and recapture his lost youth, taking his son, Damien, with him. And if strange encounters lead them down dangerous paths … well, c’est la vie."
I put the full description there because I want to stress this: if you though you were going to get into some dark noir roadtrip, you're looking for the wrong book. In fact, the plot description is both highly accurate and misleading all at once. Those aspects all happen, but most of them are very minor in terms of page count… and this is already a short book at 115 pages.
The first 2/3 of the book one may feel confused if they bought the wrong book. After all, it's said to be a noir! What we instead get is something of a philosophical comedy of errors in which an author finally makes it big (winning a prize for his writing), gets married and promptly goes through a midlife crisis because of his newfound success.
It's done in a very silly way at times and isn't bad, but far from a noir.
Then the last third of the book downs a whisky, watches a David Lynch marathon and decides to go all out on you.
Maybe this is just a me problem, but the genre shift feels too abrupt and too tonally different. Yes, things are introduced early on which become important later, so it was obviously thought out before hand, but the jarring nature of the change just feels awkward to me. Neither portion is bad, but I feel had it been done in a more tonally consistent way it would have made for a much better book. As things stand I'm going with a 3/5 stars. Not bad, but I don't quite get the praise. That said, I'll likely give the author another shot....more
I don't know what you think this book is about going into it, but you are most likely wrong. I know I was. What is it about? Honestly, the les[image]
I don't know what you think this book is about going into it, but you are most likely wrong. I know I was. What is it about? Honestly, the less you know the better. This is a book you should walk into blind and experience for yourself. Instead of a plot description, let me give you a warning instead.
Nakamura has written several extremely dark novels. I'm on record as saying I love all of his books that I've read with only one exception (and I've read all that have been translated into English except for Cult X and The Kingdom which I will eventually get around to). The Boy in the Earth was not a terrible work. Far from it. In fact the reason I do not like that book is because it was so well written that it made me feel borderline sick while reading it. I had to finish it in one sitting because I knew if I put it down I would not be picking it back up.
This book was not as hard hitting for me as The Boy in the Earth, but I highly suspect it will be for many readers. In fact, I highly suspect it will be worse for quite a few. This is a dark novel. It goes many uncomfortable places. Things happen in here that I assure you will bother most readers to an extent once they figure out exactly what is going on. While all of Nakamura's books fit into a noir category, I would say this one is one of the darkest and that is saying something. It is also the closest to a genuine mystery of the books that I have read. The mystery is not so much a "who done it" as it is figuring out what exactly is going on. What does the narrator know… and who exactly is even narrating?
Dear readers, this is, in my humble opinion a masterpiece. It is dark and as uncomfortable as a book can get. Do not come here looking to feel hopeful. I think it easily sits beside Last Winter We Parted as my favorite of Nakamura's books (it also feels closer to it from a structural standpoint than any of his other books, to the extent that it's almost a companion novel). Which one is my favorite of the two? Right now it's too close to call. The book receives a perfect 5/5 stars but with a warning to all readers… please don't read it if you're feeling depressed. This one will not help at all.
"Turn this page, and you may forfeit your entire life."...more
A comedic historical supernatural mystery manga... well, that is certainly a genre that I've never seen before. The plot follows two detectives (one aA comedic historical supernatural mystery manga... well, that is certainly a genre that I've never seen before. The plot follows two detectives (one apparently a human and the other a served head in a birdcage) as they solve crimes featuring monsters. In this volume, a vampire hires them to investigate the murder of his wife.
As is the case with many mystery manga I've seen, there's a LOT of info dumping as fast as possible, and then silly shenanigans as they investigate. The characters are not fully fleshed out (but this is volume one to be fair, and many manga take their time in such matters). Some of the jokes are extremely hit or miss (and some of the ones involving Japanese puns may be less appreciated by the readers... though I confess one of them was in my opinion the funniest joke in the book). The volume is also short. VERY short. Much shorter than I expected as the chapters were fairly long.
The art is a both very detailed at times, but also manages to look more sketched out. Sometimes it works well and others I found it a bit off. I'm not an artist and I can't really explain the art style very well, but at times I found it a bit off putting as it personally looks unfinished to me. That admittedly is a personal opinion of the art, I'm sure many others will find it an attractive style.
Overall it's an interesting start to a series. It's one that could grow into something really special... or it could fizzle out. Only future volumes will tell. 3/5 stars.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review....more
I've enjoyed reading Stephen King’s books since I was a teenager. Hell, his books are part of the reason I became a life long reader. That's not to saI've enjoyed reading Stephen King’s books since I was a teenager. Hell, his books are part of the reason I became a life long reader. That's not to say I love all of his books, he's certainly had his misses (Oh Tommyknockers, I'm not sure if I'll ever finish you, but I'll always leave to marked where I left off just in case). I honestly wasn't that interested in this one. I picked it up entirely because I have this compulsion that I buy all of King's new books even if it's just to save them for later. I only started because it was shockingly short (There is also a saga where I had a big misprint in my copy and had to get a different one but that's a story for another time). I have no issues with King wanting to branch out into other genres, but I just haven't been that big of a fan at his attempts at crime (except for Joyland). Well, this one has ghosts according to the plot-line, so I'd give it a shot.
I'm so glad I did. This one shouldn't have been on the Hardcase Crime line. There is crime in it, but our narrator tells us repeatedly, this is a HORROR story. He is not lying. The plot takes place mostly in the 2010s, but it feels like classic King. It could be one of his missing books from the 80s (back when he still knew how to write books under one million pages).
The book is honestly King at his best. He's writing about the life of one character, he follows him for several years and gives you a chance to see him grow and see his family life around him. Sure it's another kid with a supernatural power story... please show me an author who does such stories better than King. I would love to read them.
And fans of King who love his connections to other books, you'll get a kick out of this one. One reference actually had me put the book down, trying to recall if he'd ever referenced it in any of his other books. It's a great one.
I debated on the rating for this. On one hand I feel like there are some flaws. I try to keep my reviews fair and point them out... On the other hand, here, I really don't care. In terms of sheer enjoyment this is already one of my favorite reads of the year. It may be one of his shortest, but I don't think King has written anything as good as this in quite some time. To hell with it, for sheer delight I give it 5/5 stars....more
"How do you know the moment when you cease to be human? (view spoiler)[Is it the moment when you decide to carry a head before you by its hair, extend"How do you know the moment when you cease to be human? (view spoiler)[Is it the moment when you decide to carry a head before you by its hair, extended before you like a lantern, as if you are Diogenes in search of just one man?" (hide spoiler)]
Oh boy... where do I begin with this one? Last Days is a horror noir, and a very peculiar one. The plot follows a man named Kline, a detective who had his hand severed by someone we only see refered to as "the gentleman with the cleaver". He receives a call and becomes rather forced into an investigation inside a cult... a mutilation cult, that believes knowledge and enlightenment comes with the more parts one severs from their body.
Again, this one is a interesting little book.
Apparently it was initially published as a novella titled "The Brotherhood of Mutilation" and expended in the form a of a sequel novella taking place almost immediately after the first, Evenson put them together to form one novel. Now that may sound jarring but they flow together so seamlessly that had I not known this before, I would likely not have noticed.
That said, it's interesting to compare the two in a non-spoiler way. Both blend horror and noir perfectly. They are filled with short sentence and quick dialogue that wouldn't feel out of place in a James Ellroy novel (the longer, more detailed descriptions are used sparingly and only for horrific effect). While horror and noir are both treated with the same level of respect and importance, I find it interesting how the author blended the two. The first part honestly feel more like a horror novel and the second part feels more noir (particularly of the Mickey Spillane violent variety). Does that mean the horror goes away in the second act? Oh, no, of course not. (view spoiler)[That is when we lose our humanity and to continue the quote posted above "Or is it the moment you begin opening doors, showing each man behind each door the head of his spiritual leader before killing him with a cleaver tucked into your belt? Or is it the moment when all these dead begin to talk to you in a dull, rumbling murmur? Or is it the moment when voices suddenly fade away and stop talking altogether, leaving you utterly alone?" (hide spoiler)]
Our lead in this book is of the classic noir variety. He's quick-witted, sarcastic, but seems to figure things out less from intelligence and more from forcing the answers out. He reminds me a lot of Hammett's Continental Op, who is less of a person and more of an entity forcing his way through a solution until an answer is given to him. Sometimes I would complain about this sort of thing. As the story progressed I found it quite fitting.
Well, did I like the book? Oh yes. I've never read Evenson before despite hearing a great deal of love from him in horror circles. After this I feel like I need to read more (Seriously, why have I not read him? I really need to check out a lot more). This is a dark and bleak book, filled with pain and horror on every page. It's not a horror novel in the traditional sense (you'll find no ghost, vampires, zombies or werewolves here) but it is filled with monsters and terrifying ones at that. 4/5 stars....more
"Alright," I think as I start this book on Sunday night at around 8PM. "I have the week off, I'll have plenty of time to focus on this book and take c"Alright," I think as I start this book on Sunday night at around 8PM. "I have the week off, I'll have plenty of time to focus on this book and take care of other things. I'll take it slow."
Me at 5AM: "Okay, this may not last long."
So, here I am on Monday having finished the book and let me say... wow. That was a pretty intense ride. It has a slow start (I started it middle of last week and decided I needed to hold off until the weekend so I could focus on it more) but once it kicks in, the book goes fast. Chapters are short enough to give you that "just one more before bed" feeling on for you to realize that you've read a decent portion of the book.
I want to stress this. I would have finished this book in one night if I wasn't so tired. I am not the fastest reader. I finish so many books more out of a love of reading, stubborn determination and because I often pick shorter novels (I rarely pick 500+ pagers unless its something I know I'm going to be strongly invested in). Again, I stress, I almost finished it in a night. I could practically close the review with that.
This is a book I would love to talk about. I'd love to discuss it more, but it's really one of those books that I think the less you know going in the better. If I would give a little piece of advice first, brush up on you fairy tales. Both the standard versions of them and the early origins... it might give you a different feel for the book.
This is a dark read. The sort that while it may appeal to mystery fans, I'd advise it possibly more for horror fans. It's a great ride... just be prepared. 4/5 stars
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an amazing physical ARC. This did not effect my opinion of the book itself, but I greatly appreciate it....more
Years ago I read a little book called Pulp by Charles Bukowski in which he tried to write an absurdist comedic noir. There were aspects of it that I rYears ago I read a little book called Pulp by Charles Bukowski in which he tried to write an absurdist comedic noir. There were aspects of it that I really enjoyed, but a lot that I felt was flawed. Now it's Mishima's turn to do the exact same thing.
The plot: Hanio Yamada wants to die. After a botched suicide attempt, he comes up with a new idea. He will put an ad out in the newspaper, putting his life for sale. Someone will pay and have him die in a way that will at least aid someone else. What follows is a series of misadventures in which each time he somehow manages to survive his client's seemingly deadly task.
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Well... this is as absurd as noir gets. I can not stress this enough: this is one of the most bizarre books I have ever read. Tell me, what other book can you find botched suicide attempts, gangsters, conspiracies, a dinner conversation with a plush mouse, a vampire and carrots used in an espionage scheme? Oh, and I'm not even covering half of the batshit insane things in this novel... Each client's task becomes increasingly absurd, to such and extent that one can't help laugh.
Written at the same time as his most literary ambitious project, his Sea of Fertility series, and serialized in the magazine Weekly Playboy... this was obviously a commercial project written for the money. Yet, especially when one considers the depth of his other project at the time, it also seems like he wrote it for a break. This book is ridiculous. This is Mishima, well, having fun. It's silly, intentionally so (CARROTS), and I imagine after a while he had to be sitting there shaking his head in amazement that they were paying him to write this.
Is it a good book? Not really. It's an extremely fun send up of pulp noir but it's extremely flawed. A few plot lines are left dangling (one actually frustrating as it seemed to be something set up for later and disregarded). I honestly would say that many fans of Mishima will be incredibly disappointed reading it as he very clearly is not aiming at making a grand statement about the world (and when he does insert what could be a grand statement it comes off comedic as it's hard to take anything seriously here). I can't really recommend the book for everyone, but...
...
To hell with it, 4/5 stars, because honestly it's that damn fun....more
"Lie there, lie there, little Henry Lee 'Til the flesh drops from your bones For the girl you have in that merry green land Can wait forever for you to c"Lie there, lie there, little Henry Lee 'Til the flesh drops from your bones For the girl you have in that merry green land Can wait forever for you to come home And the wind did howl, and the wind did moan La la la la la La la la la lee A little bird lit down on Henry Lee" - "Henry Lee" Nick Cave
Black Mountain is the second of Laird Barron's Isaiah Coleridge series. Now set up with a (mostly) legal P.I. business, Coleridge seems to be going legit. He hasn't killed anybody for a bit, his relationship with his girlfriend is going well and all around things are starting to look up... until Curtis contacts him and informs him that the mob would once again like to use his services. Not for a hit this time (though, they certainly wouldn't complain if it ended in one) but for his investigative talents. An old friend of Curtis' and a regular employee of his, one Harold Lee has been found murdered and mutilated. Thus begins an investigation that will turn up a lot of bad blood and some shed as well.
I read the first book in the series last week and decided I needed to immediately pick up this one. The first book was an enjoyable ride, but as I pointed out, surprisingly not very horrific at all for a book by someone with Barron's reputation.
This one is a lot more of what I expected from the first. This may still be a noir, but we're a lot closer to a horror noir hybrid here. There's less violence in this one, but what it does contain is more disturbing and our villain is... frankly downright scary. Fans of both genres will see a lot to love here, but those who enjoyed how the first was a straight up noir may not like some of the directions this one goes.
This one is a more poetic novel. Dreams are a recurring theme and we get a lot of symbolism (which is a recurring theme from the first book, in that Coleridge finds that the best way to solve a mystery is to get as much data as he can and hope his sub-conscious pieces it together). While this was in the first book some, there is a lot more of it here. Some of the sequences are clever and add a lot, some of them drag down the pacing a bit.
I debated on what to rate this one. On one hand I found it extremely enjoyable and I like a lot of the things it added, though some of them felt like an experiment that didn't exactly work. The first book was probably a more enjoyable read in my opinion, but not enough that I would lower the score. Another 4/5 stars....more
I picked this book up because I've been meaning to try out Laird Barron. I've heard he was an excellent horror author and I found a used hardcover cheI picked this book up because I've been meaning to try out Laird Barron. I've heard he was an excellent horror author and I found a used hardcover cheap. Excellent! I'll give him a try.
I realized very quickly that I was not in fact reading a horror novel. This was a noir, a dark and gritty one, but very much in the realm of probability (with obviously exaggerations for fiction's sake). Even still I could see a horror influence from the author. He's known for cosmic horror, which if there is a more nihilistic sub-genre of horror, I don't know it. Noir too tends to be cynical to say the least.
Honestly, when you think about it, mixing the two would work well.
As said (this volume at least) is not a horror story. There are unpleasant things that happen, but nothing too unexpected from a noir. In all honesty, it's my guess that Barron was hoping this series would break him into the mainstream.
I hope it works.
This was a fun ride. Our lead Isaiah Coleridge is not your usual gumshoe or former alcoholic cop. He drinks a bit too much, but never enough to let it cloud his senses and he sure wasn't a cop... in fact he was quite the opposite. He's a former mafia hitman, specifically the guy they would send after other mobsters if they stepped on the wrong toes. Coleridge though is sent into exile after he himself steps on one pair of toes (more specifically, chops someone in the neck). He's sent to a horse farm in rural New York to lay low and perhaps start anew. While there he finds himself involved in a the case of a missing teenager. Is this a chance at redemption? Or is it just an excuse to go back to his violent ways, but be deemed the hero?
I enjoyed this one all around. The characters are all solid, the case goes interesting places, the moral shades of gray are at times jarring (but in an entertaining way) and there's enough left open for the series to continue, but not where you sit there feeling like you missed part of the story due to lack of reveals. An excellent start to what could be a great series, and I will definitely check out the second. Recommended to all who enjoy a bit of Noir. 4/5 stars...more
Here's a moral dilemma for you. Five police officers are supposed to escort a confessed killer to a trial. According to the law in Japan, he should reHere's a moral dilemma for you. Five police officers are supposed to escort a confessed killer to a trial. According to the law in Japan, he should receive jail time but not execution. The crime in question, raping and murdering a seven year old girl. Why are five officers escorting him? Because the girl's grandfather is a very rich man and has put a one billion yen bounty on his head.
Is the grandfather right?
Are the police protecting him right?
Is it worth any of these five police officers dying for the man?
Is it worth injuring or killing anyone who comes after the man for the bounty?
Honestly, this is a rather brilliant set up and the wonderful moral dilemma at the heart of the heart of the novel. Author Kazuhiro Kiuchi takes a concept and runs with it, making his protagonists question it in most of their dialogue. Honestly, had the book focused on this, I probably would have given it a full five stars.
Now, Kiuchi is a manga author, and this is one of his attempts at a novel. The prose is quick, the characterization other than doubt is not highly developed and the pace is breakneck. This is an action movie in novel format and it never slows down. Sadly, while it makes it entertaining, these aspects of doubt rather seem like lines the characters are quickly delivering before jumping into the next action sequence. Are there tense moments? Absolutely. It's exciting and an enjoyable read... but it's a book that I really was hoping would have a bit more depth with a set up like that. The elements are played with, the concept is brilliant, but I can't help but wish a more experienced author who focused on prose would have taken it.
In the end this is an entertaining novel. Worth your time if you want to read the literary equivalent of an action movie (apparently the filmmaker Takashi Miike in fact turned it into one, but as of right now I do not believe it has a release Stateside at least). 3/5 stars. ...more
So, I finished this one and I've come to a conclusion... I'm not a Miss Marple fan. Yes, yes, I know, I'm one of those basic Christie fans that she coSo, I finished this one and I've come to a conclusion... I'm not a Miss Marple fan. Yes, yes, I know, I'm one of those basic Christie fans that she couldn't stand that delights every time Poirot says something witty/arrogant, and looks at all her other characters with a "that's very nice... could you write more Poirot now?" stance. Sure, I would have been polite enough not to say that... but the thought would have occurred (that said my favorite Christie novel is Crooked House which does not feature any of her recurring characters).
No, let me get this out of the way, the book wasn't bad. It was entertaining enough and while I was pretty sure I knew who did it (I was right), I couldn't figure out how it was done. (view spoiler)[While we're on this topic, the clues were there, it felt like I must have missed a vital one somewhere because I sat there feeling like it wasn't exactly a "fair play" mystery upon the reveal. (hide spoiler)] That said, I just couldn't really get into it. It took me over a week to read (and Christie's books usually take me about two to three days) and the only character aspect I really enjoyed was the vicar and his wife's interactions.
This was just one of those books that I finished because I kind of felt like I had to and in the end it wasn't a bad read, it's not really one I can endorse... which is a bit sad. It's also the same way about A Murder Is Announced (the only other Marple book I've read, though I did not review it).
There was one really good thing about this book though. It may have had the absolute best quote I've read in one of Christie's novels. While I like her as an author, I don't particularly find her quotable, but this is certainly an exception:
“I was thinking,” I said, “that when my time comes, I should be sorry if the only plea I had to offer was that of justice. Because it might mean that only justice would be meted out to me...”
I, um... so, you see... um... what the hell did I just read?
So, imagine combining this:
[image]
With this:
[image]
Sherlock Holmes meets Hellraiser.
ThiI, um... so, you see... um... what the hell did I just read?
So, imagine combining this:
[image]
With this:
[image]
Sherlock Holmes meets Hellraiser.
This. Should. Not. Exist.
If I made a list of the most unlikely literary crossovers... you know what, this wouldn't have made it. Why? Because I never would have thought of combining the two. It wouldn't have just seemed unlikely, it would have been closer to damn near impossible.
Yet here we are.
Plot: Moriarty is dead. Holmes has made his return from Reichenbach Falls, yet something seems off about the great detective. Ever since the death of his nemesis, something has been missing from his life. Watson begins to notice that Holmes' drug habit is increasing. He finds scars that seem self-inflected, as if Holmes is stretching his own endurance. Watson hopes a new case will prevent these new and alarming habits, but instead they will spiral as they start the investigation of one Frank Cotton who disappeared in a locked room after solving a certain puzzle box.
So, kudos to the author. I genuinely found starting the plot of the initial Hellbound Heart/Hellraiser as a case presented to Holmes to be a clever idea. Credit where credit is due, the first half of the book feels like a genuine Holmes story, with all the classic logic leaps and insignificant details providing Holmes with all the clues.
The second half also feels like a genuine Barker horror story. So, points there as well.
Now you might be thinking, don't these two styles clash? Well yes, yes they most certainly do, and that is why I really do need to praise Kane as he did an excellent job finding the right balance between these two styles and make a cohesive plot out of it. Personally I enjoyed his Holmes take better than the later Barker style better, as I found it to capture the feel splendidly while still adding a horror element to the affair. Some of the later section came off as a tad... cliche seems the wrong word, but let's just say more Hellraiser 3 and on rather than the first two films.
I found myself repeatedly asking, who was this written for? There's a barrage of Holmes references to past cases, and so many winks and nods to Hellraiser that even being well versed in both series, I knew I was missing references. Who did the author have in mind for this?
Then I realized that while I may be missing references, I was catching most of them. Who did the author have in mind?
Me.
He had in mind the niche audience that are fans of both series. Yeah, that may be narrowing down both fanbases a bit, but for those of us who do exist, this is an oddity unlike any other.
In closing: do I suggest this book? I don't honestly know. As I said before, unless you are fairly well versed in both series, I feel Kane is going to leave you behind and shaking your head. If you are a Holmes purist, you may be annoyed at the decidedly supernatural that comes to play here. If you only love Hellraiser, you may be annoyed at how long it takes for the puzzle box to actually come into play.
For those who do like both, and who are willing to take the supernatural and slow pace in stride, it's certainly a fun ride. I can't say it is a great book, but certainly an entertaining one. 3/5 stars.
(And in regards to the GIF, no matter how many actors play him, Jeremy Brett will always be my favorite Holmes)...more
“Least likely person! It seems to work out in real life just the same as in books. . .” - Mrs. Oliver Cards on the Table
The fact that this is a quote “Least likely person! It seems to work out in real life just the same as in books. . .” - Mrs. Oliver Cards on the Table
The fact that this is a quote in the book absolutely delights me. That it’s played with multiple times after the quote makes it even better.
Mr. Shaitana is throwing a party. There will be drinks, bridge and a bit of murder. You see, Shaitana is a collector and one of things he’s collected is murderers. Not just any murderers, but the ones who have gotten away with it; the ones you can’t quite prove are murderers. Upon a chance meeting with Hercule Poirot, he comes with a funny (to him at least) idea. He will invite some guests over, eight people in total and four of them murders. The other four? Hercule Poirot of course, Superintendent Battle if Scotland Yard, Colonel Race of the Secret Service and Mrs. Oliver a writer of mystery novels. Four murderers and four sleuths. It’s a great little joke on his part, until one of them realizes this little game and murders him. With little in terms of clues, the only way to solve this crime, is to solve the crimes of the past and find out which, if any of the guests, really did commit them.
This is honestly one of Christie’s cleverer Poirot novels in my opinion. It’s a little slower moving then some of them, with much of the book being built up piece by piece (much like a house of cards), as we slowly piece together the past in order to understand the present. In her (very tongue in cheek) forward to the book, Christie says that this is one of Poirot’s favorite of his own cases, but that his friend Captain Hastings found it a rather dull affair. With this little joke, she actually sets the tone quite well. This is a quiet murder mystery with very little flash about it, but a great deal of analyzing the psychology of our potential murderers.
There’s also a good deal of humor in this one, much of it supplied by Mrs. Oliver. This is her first appearance in the series, and it will not be her last. She is a frequently returning character to the Poirot novels (and at least one book outside of the series) and in a rather interesting development, I actually liked her in this one. Mrs. Oliver is the anti-Captain Hastings, in that Hastings was extremely annoying in his first couple of books, but as Christie evolved as a writer, he got more tolerable. In this case Mrs. Oliver started off a rather amusing foil to Poirot, but later would become such an annoyance that I frequently hoped the cases would involve solving her murder.
Here though she plays an almost meta character, with whom Christie voices her own frustrations with writing mysteries. She claims not to care about the “facts” involving real investigations, but gets caught up in the details so much that she writes herself into corners and then has to do research to found out which type of beans would be in season so as not to be inconsistent with her books. She has gained popularity writing a foreign detective (who is Finnish rather than Christie’s Belgian sleuth) and she can’t stand him but continues writing his books because he’s popular. Given Christie’s well-known dislike of Poirot this comes off as absolutely hilarious.
All around, this one just works for me. The case is clever, the characters are entertaining, and this time around the side bits of comedy actually come off as humorous rather than groan worthy. While it doesn’t stand as one of the greatest of Christie’s books, it is certainly right below them and well worth a read to any mystery fan. A solid 4/5 stars. ...more
I’ve never seen “The Killing” tv show which this author is most well known for. I honestly bought it because Barnes and Noble has the hardcover 50% ofI’ve never seen “The Killing” tv show which this author is most well known for. I honestly bought it because Barnes and Noble has the hardcover 50% off and it sounded interesting. This was a very good choice on my part and one that may lead me to watching his show as well.
The Chestnut Man is your classic Nordic Noir, leaning on the police procedural side of the spectrum. It follows a case involving a serial killer who preys specifically on mothers and leaves a handmade chestnut man figure by each victim. The good news is there are even fingerprints on them! The problem is they belong to a girl who was kidnapped and apparently murdered one year prior. The body though, was of course never found.
Let’s get this out of the way; our lead detectives are not that memorable. I don’t know if this is planned as a series or a standalone, but if it is a series, I hope there’s major character developments or a rotating cast, because as things stand, they are not strong enough to hold a series.
Where our leads fail in terms of being interesting though, the plot well makes up for it. The case is fascinating and the constant side plot (whether the missing girl is still alive) is riveting. I would sit down and read on much lunch break only to get so involved that I’d realize I had to be back to work in less that 5 minutes.
The writing alternates between workman like descriptions in terms of some actions, but long detailed passages in others. I wish this had been a little more consistent, but it isn’t bad enough to cause a star change.
The chapters are short. Typically within 2-8 pages (130 chapters in 516 pages), which makes for a fast paced read. The authors history with television is also very apparent, as chapters often feel like scenes which we then cut away from in classic tv fashion.
Is the book worth a read? Absolutely. Any fan of Nordic noir or police procedural novels will no doubt enjoy this very dark read. A solid 4/5 stars...more
This is a bizarre little book. I honestly don't fully know what to make of it. It's... odd. It starts out a comedic police procedural and ends with soThis is a bizarre little book. I honestly don't fully know what to make of it. It's... odd. It starts out a comedic police procedural and ends with something bordering a cosmic horror story. It's actually rather funny early on, with several eccentric characters and some comedic takes on the upper class. Then we get a series of very sexual murders (some details are rather shocking given the time of publication), which comes off a bit conflicting given the light hearted tone... (view spoiler)[ then the comedy fades in the last couple of pages as we deal with a seemingly eternal being who can't be stopped, only delayed, and the act of delaying it drives our hero crazy... ending with a final paragraph in which he shoots himself in the head. (hide spoiler)] Yeah... like I said, it's a bit odd.
The book is kind of all over the place, wanting to be a comedic take social status, a detective story and... whatever the hell it ends on. The book is quite short (only 98 pages in my edition, not counting the introduction) and these tonal jumps feel even more jarring as they happen so fast.
I truly don't know what else to say about this one. Is it worth a read? Absolutely! The oddness works in its favor, because even if it is baffling, it is certainly memorable. The prose is also very well done and had several witty lines that got a chuckle from me. It certainly is a unique read, and while not entirely successful, is still an entertaining endeavor. 3/5 stars. ...more
Hercule Poirot does not like to admit that he has any faults, but even he must concede that he does have a slight fear of the dentist. Even with his fHercule Poirot does not like to admit that he has any faults, but even he must concede that he does have a slight fear of the dentist. Even with his fear, he finds Dr. Morley a capable man and will stick with him… that is until Morley apparently commits suicide shortly after his appointment with Poirot. It makes no sense though as Morely would have had to do this between patients, and showed no signs of any problems that would cause him to take such actions. No, everything about the man’s psychology says he would not do this, and thus Poirot finds himself with another case (and most annoyingly, without a client paying him).
This is the 23rd Poirot book and the first one Christie published in the 40s. Again, I can’t help but chuckle whenever it is noted that Poirot is getting to0 old, given that Christie kept writing the character until her death (the last book was published in 1975). The 40s stand, in my opinion, as the really underrated decade for Poirot with some of the better cases upcoming (Evil Under the Sun and Five Little Pigs), but this is not one of them. Honestly, this one is a bit of an oddity. It was clear that Christie wanted to mix things up a bit, and there’s elements of a spy novel and political intrigue added to it . There’s also some very funny (in my opinion at least) discussions on whether or not there exists super criminal masterminds, which having read The Big Four, makes me think Christie is trying to find a way to both allow that novel into Poirot’s world and ignore it.
The case is rather disappointing. I solved most of the big aspects fairly early into it, and rather than feeling clever, I kept feeling like I’ve seen it done before (though for the life of me, I can’t remember where). I also was not a fan of the motive… but the book does regain a star due to the conversation Poirot has with the murderer in which they discuss the motive. Poirot is truly given one of his finest moments of dialogue here, in which he explains his own issues with the case.
All in all, this is a pretty standard Christie novel, but one with an excellent ending… not in terms of the case itself, but in how Poirot deals with it. This is an oddity, because as much as I love Christie, her characters often come off as wooden. Here I felt that there was a moral dilemma, and it was better handled than in any of her past books. Perhaps if this would have been one of my early Poirot novels, I would have liked it more.
3/5 stars and a recommendation to fans and perhaps newcomers as well. ...more
A while ago, when I reviewed The Decagon House Murders, I found the most interesting aspect of the book not to be the story itself, but the introductiA while ago, when I reviewed The Decagon House Murders, I found the most interesting aspect of the book not to be the story itself, but the introduction by Soji Shimada in which he details the history and rules for a “Honkaku” mystery. This subgenre is what typically would be referred to in English speaking countries as a “locked room” or “fair play” mysteries; meaning all clues are given, so despite the improbability of the crime, you, the reader, could in theory solve it as well. I particularly liked the bit of info where he discussed that it’s looked less as a literary genre and more like a game between author and reader.
Keeping Shimada’s intro to the other book in mind, I went into this one expecting less of a story and more of a duel of wits between myself and the author. As such, I found myself having a lot of fun with this read. I like that he included diagrams, and layouts for the crime scenes. I liked that there was a logical reason behind many of the seemingly random bits in the crime, and as I also went in expecting less from the literary standpoint, I was pleasantly surprised by the gothic atmosphere he built up and the personality of the detective Kiyoshi Mitarai, who like many classic golden age detectives, is quite eccentric with his personality quirks, but quick witted and doesn’t miss a thing.
So, did Shimada play by his own rules as presented for Decagon’s intro? Yes and no. (view spoiler)[The clues are indeed all there, and I completely called who the killer was. That said, I solved it using a different thought process than he did (I figured it out based on the knowledge required of the Golem doll and going off the fact that the only person who could understand the house’s tricks would be the person who designed it, and thus the owner HAD to be the killer). From an English reading point of view, one clue involving a semaphore went completely over my head until explained. Some of the random clues that didn’t make sense to me didn’t make sense because they WERE random, with the killer doing them seemingly in a daze. Also, the icicle bit? Pure bullshit. Even perfectly planned, I feel there is too much room for error. It’s such a logic leap, that I feel more clues were needed to convince me that it was even POSSIBLE let alone the correct solution. I confess, I do love the interjection “On this point , the author feels he may have been unfair to the reader. However, he believes that it will not cause any lasting damage to those with a vivid imagination.” It genuinely made me laugh, both at the snark of the note itself and that he felt it needed to be included because of the lack of clues in regards to the method. (hide spoiler)]
From a stylistic point of view, I found many of the characters to be two-dimensional and cliché (which didn’t bother me too much, because again, I viewed this is less as a classic novel and more as a game based on the rules set prior) and was disappointed that the most interesting doesn’t show up until close to the end. I also had issue with the main police detectives and how they kept everyone under house arrest for the entire investigation. Maybe I just don’t understand how Japanese investigations work (though, I must say that I’ve read quite a few Japanese mysteries and have never encountered this before), but it seemed like a lazy way of keeping it a “closed circle” investigation. Usually in such cases, it requires a blizzard, or that the murder took place on an island or some such thing, but here the police close the circle, allowing for multiple murders simply by saying, “Alright, no one’s allowed to leave until the investigations over.” This seems shockingly forced.
Overall, I enjoyed myself with this one. The explanation was clever (though I feel the logic leaps needed to get all the clues to be just on the border of fair play, I concede he does at least give them to you), but the motive could have been worked upon (that one IS impossible to solve until it is given to you). 3/5 stars....more
Lieutenant Dave Klein is not a nice man. In fact, he’s as crooked a cop as one is likely to find. He's a slumlord, a bagman, an occasional hitman and Lieutenant Dave Klein is not a nice man. In fact, he’s as crooked a cop as one is likely to find. He's a slumlord, a bagman, an occasional hitman and a clever schemer. His newest case is an investigation involving the breaking and entering of drug kingpin’s home. His investigation will lead him to be officially on everyone’s list, as his past is catching up to him, and for every friend he’s made through his actions, he’s made a ton more enemies.
I think it is safe to say that as a whole, Ellroy’s LA Quartet is one of the best series I’ve ever read. It is an excellent set of detective stories, and a wonderful tale of corruption. While each book is a stand-alone story, they all build upon each other, with little details mentioned in one book and coming back in another. Characters come and go, and we see LA change from the early 40s and into the 50s. The series is a masterpiece, and White Jazz brings it, I’m pleased to say, to a satisfying close.
I just wish I liked the damn book more, because it irritated the hell out of me. Don’t get me wrong, the story is pretty great. As with all of Ellroy’s novels, be prepared to make notes if you want to catch everything that happens, as people come and go for 200+ pages without a mention and then pop up and you’re supposed to remember them, despite only appearing on one or two pages. That’s not the problem (at least not for me), no the problem is the stylistic choice Ellroy chose for this one.
When I made my first update for the book, it went like this:
“Okay Ellroy, I know I said that The Big Nowhere was overwritten. I’m sorry. I won’t say it again. Now could you please, PLEASE use complete sentences again? I would really appreciate it.
Same paragraph as above, but written in the style of White Jazz:
Sorry Ellroy. Was wrong. Big Nowhere overdone. Won’t repeat. More words? Appreciated.“
In other words: Quick sentences. Cut out words. Needles. Fill in blanks. On own.
I genuinely considered writing my entire review in this style, just to show how frustrating it was, but couldn’t pull it off. So, sure, points to Ellroy; it is artistic in its own way and he managed to write a 354 page novel in this style, and that’s pretty damn impressive. I’m sure some people really found this clever (it does certainly keep the pace quick, and put you into our lead's paranoid and on the run state of mind) and enjoyed it, but I found myself rereading lines just to figure out what the hell was happening.
This is a shame, as plotwise, I found this to be one of the cleverer books in the series. Honestly, I would have given up despite my investment in the series if I hadn’t been so intrigued by where he was taking the story (view spoiler)[and wanting to know what would happen to DUDLEY FUCKING SMITH (hide spoiler)]. I’ve never found the literary equivalent to nails on a chalkboard until this book, but unfortunately, I can say that now I have.
Do I recommend it? If you’ve come along this far, absolutely. It’s a wonderful conclusion from a plot standpoint. If the writing style doesn’t bother you, it may be one of your favorites in the series. For me though, it’s a stunning disappoint coming off LA Confidential, while still being an epic conclusion. 2.5 stars rounding up to 3. ...more
When Fumihiro Kuki is eleven years old, his father revealed a secret to him. He has many hopes for his son, but not in the w"Happiness is a fortress."
When Fumihiro Kuki is eleven years old, his father revealed a secret to him. He has many hopes for his son, but not in the way most fathers do. "I created you to be a cancer on the world," he tells him, and he means it. He wanted a child for the sole purpose of making the world a worse place. He wants to show him hell, and then set him loose upon the world. What follows is a story that alternates between Fumihiro’s childhood and the present, as we find out what he’s been through and how he intends to proceed.
This is a book where the plot cannot be discussed, as almost everything beyond the first couple of pages leads to twists and turns which will undoubtedly be considered a spoiler. All I can say is that whatever you think will come from that plot description above, you’re probably wrong. I know I was.
This is the fourth of Fuminori Nakamura’s novels I’ve read. It is easily his most ambitious, his most polished and the longest of what I’ve read (and judging from my brief research, there’s only one that is longer and that is Cult X). It is shockingly, given the plot description above, the least bleak of all of his novels. I’m not sure if that says more about this one, or more about how absolutely nihilistic his other books were. Nakamura has been called a master of "Zen Noir" and I find this to be a great example of this, as it is both the least noir (stylistically) of his books I've read, and yet it uses the most noir tropes (taking on false identities, private detectives, sinister businessmen, and early on alternating between present and flashbacks). It's a fascinating juggling act, and for the most part, he pulls it off.
The book is enjoyable, and a mostly excellent read. My only real complaint is that I think it ties up a bit too neatly and quickly. It’s a fairly minor one, but despite the longer length in comparison to Nakamura’s other books, it feels like he’s piling on a bit too much.
I debated on the rating between three and four stars, as it is enjoyable, but honestly doesn’t rank up with The Thief or Last Winter We Parted for me, but as I read on, I noticed something that I found fascinating and which does need a spoiler warning.
(view spoiler)[The book is arguably a metaphor for depression from start to finish.I didn't notice it at first, but it clicked with me when our narrator looks a Kaori and wants to tell her who he is, then we get the following quote: “I couldn’t destroy the me that possessed those joyful memories. Even if my consciousness was hard to bear, I never wanted to lose it, because that would mean losing my happy memories as well. No matter how miserable I might be, I wanted to keep those days inside me.” It reads less like someone talking themselves out of a conversation, and more out of suicide. Looking back, all the most depressed people (his father and brother) are the most evil that we see, and while he sets up their death, in both cases they also somewhat kill themselves (his father through poison and his brother through inaction). The mask, as even the cover of my edition implies now that I look at it, is literally putting on a happy face no matter how depressed one is.
This is further reinforced by the terrorist organization JL, who action come off as senseless overly violent pranks. They’re trying to turn the world into a senseless place based on their own depression, and the only thing they can do is laugh at it. In fact with his last meeting with the young man in the group, there's this wonderful piece of dialogue: "If you can change yourself, it's okay do it a little at a time. And if you don't want to change, then you don't have to. It doesn't matter if you're a useful member of society or any of that crap. You don't have to tell everyone what you're thinking, you can just quietly let your acquaintances know, if you like. Or you can just keep your thoughts inside your head. You can think calmly, can't you, without becoming desperate? You can brood about things, can't you? If happiness is a fortress, then it doesn't matter what you do. People who've got happiness to spare can give others a hand"
That quote is practically dealing with depression 101, though phrased a touch harshly. Both telling the person that it's okay to talk about it and also okay to keep it in. Each person deals with it differently.
Also, if this book is to be viewed as the healing process/an epiphany moment, it literally starts when our narrator goes to a doctor looking for help. I found it all very clever, but this may be a case where I'm reading too much? You be the judge. (hide spoiler)]
So yes, all in all it is worth a read. I personally do not find it to be the best Nakamura’s novel, but it is certainly an interesting an ambitious work. A solid 4 stars....more
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