Gregory

This great series deserves better

Revisado: 01-24-25

I looked forward to this latest, and I understand, final instalment to this wonderful series. After the previous book, the fantastic "Showstopper", I was full of hope for this one but I felt the author just ran out of steam or lost interest with this one.
In my humble opinion, Diamond's attempts to act like a PI without letting on to anyone were ridiculous and unrealistic. At times it seemed that someone else was writing it.
Another reviewer somewhere said that the story meandered, and I have to agree with that.
However, I rate the Peter Diamond series as one of the finest in the detective genre that I have listened to or read.
This book was a disappointment, although still better than the awful "Diamond and the Eye" but overall 20 winners out of the 22 novels is pretty good.
I will miss this series.

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We need more books like these

Revisado: 05-26-24

I criticized the previous book in the series, which happened to be the first one I had not enjoyed, so it's only fair that I praise this one.
I am glad to see the author is back to her, in my humble opinion, very best. Well-paced, enjoyable, well-written with the usual superb narration. Looking forward to the next novel more than ever.

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Another Disappointment

Revisado: 10-14-23

I said after the previous book that I would not be in a hurry for the next one, but with lots of spare credits and a lack of books by my favorite authors, decided to give this one a go.
The plot itself was pretty good, but the constant preaching of how most men are chauvinistic, weak-kneed wimps, while telling us how inspiring and tough the women are, became very tiresome. I thought it was bad in the previous book, but by halfway through, I started fast-forwarding.
Again, just my opinion. I buy mysteries to get lost in a good story and to see if I can figure out "who dun it", not to be lectured.
I also thought the narrator to be below his usual standards, with too many characters sounding as if they are in a very frail condition or being held at knifepoint.
I will not bother with the next book in this series

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Not the usual high standard

Revisado: 08-04-23

I love this series and look forward to the next book, however, as one or two others mentioned, I was disappointed and baffled with how it ended.
There was no real explanation about who the characters were at the end, or neat summing up.
It was as though the author got fed up with the story, so he decided to bring it to a swift conclusion by leaving out a couple of chapters.
I’m sure the author will be back to his very best next book. I’ll forgive him this one.

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Enjoyable but not quite as good as the others

Revisado: 06-12-23

I really enjoy this series, and the narration is a perfect fit. For this book, it seems to me that the storyline in this case is very contrived, as though the author got lost somewhere along the way. The relationship between Scotland Yard and our sleuths, which should obviously always be difficult, seemed laughable and totally unbeliebvable.
Towards the end, I even incresed the playback speed to get it over with.
I will still look forward to the next release though.

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Weakest of the series

Revisado: 11-26-22

I have generally enjoyed this series but I found this one a struggle to get through. The plot to me seems to be a real stretch, especially with how our renowned DCI Oldroyd finally discovers the motive behind the crimes. The narration also was weak, especially with the female characters.
The other problem with this story for me, is the almost overwhelming amount of political correctness that seems to be increasing with each book in the series. It's reached the point of irritating, especially over the last two or three books, but that is merely my opinion. I used to look forward to the latest release by this author but I am in no hurry for the next one.

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An uncomfortable subject from a great author

Revisado: 04-24-22

I have read or listened to all of the Lynley/Havers series and was delighted when the author returned to her very best in, "The punishment she deserves". For me though, this is the worst of her novels.
This book tackles a very disturbing subject, FGM, that quite rightly needs more attention but not for me in a book I purchased to help escape to the world of detective fiction.
I should have read the description/reviews first, so that's my problem.
At times it felt as though I was being preached to on the subject and I found it to be too long as I wanted to concentrate more on the crime solving. Yes, the subject is serious but to be honest, it started to bore me long before the end. The main characters of this series are relegated to extras in this book. I was quite happy to finish it and can't imagine wanting to read or listen to it again.

Ms George is a wonderful writer and I look forward to her next book, after I read the description first of course.

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Very erratic series

Revisado: 01-08-21

The three books for the price of one is just about right in this instance.
Book one - was OK, to get to know the characters and it had its moments with a decent plot that perhaps went further than it needed to. I started to look forward to the ending.

Book two was an absolute mess, to be honest.
The plot became more contrived as time went on. It also lost any concept of being realistic once the author starts bringing in international crime syndicates, combined with secret government agencies, all working with or against a York DI. The number of times a humble British detective is facing death defies belief.
I put the recording on a higher speed to finish because there was no indication where book 2 ended and 3 began.
Book three was pretty good and gave the author some redemption but again, the number of times the central figure gets beaten up or is at the point of death in this series resembles that old 70s American detective show, “The Rockford Files”, as opposed to a credible British story.
Seems to be written for a 90 minute TV series than a good read/listen.

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I tried to like it but gave up 5 hours in.

Revisado: 05-15-17

Would you try another book from Deborah Crombie and/or Jenny Sterlin?

Yes, I am listening to the series in order and have greatly enjoyed them all - until this one. This seems to be "out of step" with the others.Very disappointed.I will still move on to her next book though.

Has A Finer End turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, but the author is trying to merge the British Detective genre with the Mystical/Supernatural genre. Stick to the British Detective genre please - that is just my opinion.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jenny Sterlin?

Generally Jenny Sterlin is fine but I suspect even she must have been feeling the strain with this one. Penelope Dellaporta would be another fine choice. If I had to select a male narrator, then Simon Prebble, Steven Crossley or Michael Deehy.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Finer End?

Probably most of the first five hours. They could be condensed into about 60 - 90 minutes.

Any additional comments?

Maybe someday I'll try and pick up where I left off because all I really would need to do is get a refresher on the cast of characters - the details of the plot up to the point I gave up don't appear to mount to very much.Please take this as a somewhat incomplete review as I didn't make it through to the end, but that should tell you what I thought of it.

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Excellent story but the narration poor.

Revisado: 09-06-15

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes.You feel every emotion that Rebus goes through and Rankin, as ever, brings the listener right into his world which, for me, creates a wonderful escape.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, the flow of the story was perfect with a few themes throughout that you could feel were being put together. I was dying to hear if he would be able to pull it off which, of course, he did.

What didn’t you like about Michael Page’s performance?

Much of the time I had no idea which character was talking, especially when Rebus was talking to "Jack". Rebus had 2 or 3 different accents and the character Lumsden, who said he was from Gillingham (south coast of England), had an accent that was at times either Yorkshire (north of England) or Scottish.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

A wonderful story, perhaps James McPherson can be asked to re-record it.

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