Ideas, Opinions, Genealogy, and Book Reviews
Another good mystery by Jodie Lawrance. I had read and reviewed two by her a few years ago (https://www.jackreidy.com/blog/tag/jodie-lawrance/). So I was happy to see this available. I thank both Netgalley (https://www.netgalley.com) and Joffe books (https://joffebooks.com/) for the chance to read this before publication. The book is “The Missing Woman” by Jodie Lawrance.
Continue reading “The Missing Woman by Jodie Lawrance”
I had thought I’d be able to get this review out around the date of publication, but unexpected things came up and I didn’t make my self-imposed plan. As it turned out, reading a book of short stories over a longer time is not a bad thing.
Continue reading “Many Deadly Returns : 21 stories celebrating 21 years of Murder Squad”
I’ve enjoyed the Scotland mysteries I’ve read so I thought I would try a new series and I did like the first one. I just finished The Suspects by Jodie Lawrance. I enjoyed this book and thank Netgalley and Joffe books for the chance to read it before publication.
Detective Sergeant Helen Carter is the central character in this series. Like the earlier books in this series it is set in Edinburgh in the 1970s when it was unusual to see a woman in her role. Work is often difficult for her in this male dominated environment but in this third book in the series she is more accepted on her own merits.
The main story focuses on the return a major criminal and suspected cop-killer to Edinburgh, probably to collect some of the loot from a 1971 robbery. Of course there are a number of other crimes occurring shortly after his return which may or may not be related to his return. Like the other in this series I have read. this is a good detective story that is engaging and well written,
I believe each book can stand on its own but would suggest reading the first in the series before reading this one. It is not at all that following the mysteries in this book is dependent on prior books but reading the first will give you useful background on DS Helen Carter.
I’ve enjoyed the Scotland mysteries I’ve read so I thought I would give this new series a try. The book is THE UNIFORM by Jodie Lawrance. I enjoyed this book and thank Netgalley and Joffe books for the chance to read it before publication.
Detective Sergeant Helen Carter is having a hard time . It is not just that she is working a very difficult case. There is also the difficulty she is having with co-workers, including her boss. This mystery is set back in the day when a female detective is a very unusual addition to the mostly male police force. To make matters worse her father was high-up in the police and some believe she got job because of nepotism. Then there is her fiancé who would like her to quit her job and be the lady of his house.
A very good detective story with a character that is engaging and well written. It is a promising beginning to a new series: I am looking forward to the second.
Before reading “The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett” by Nathan Ward, I knew very little about Dashiell Hammett. I had seen “The Maltese Falcon” and maybe another movie or two based on his books and knew he was an important figure in crime fiction but I did not know much more.
This book briefly describes a childhood in rural southern Maryland, Philadelphia and Baltimore. After leaving school and failing at several jobs, he found his niche with Pinkerton National Detective Agency.
Continue reading “The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett”