Breadcrumbs and Blindsides

Rebus returns as the ailing ex-CID officer, this time to investigate a missing (presumed dead) person at the behest of Big Ger Cafferty.  As so often happens, Rebus' investigation intersects with other murders, leading to multiple reveals.  The whodunnits are as always impeccably set out and the eventual climax is bittersweet.  4/5

The first book in the Ray Carney series of Whitehead's historical crime fictions set in Harlem circa late fifties and early sixties. The novel introduces us to Carney, a furniture salesman, who supplements his business by selling the odd "slightly used" item. The novel is broken into timepieces, as always beautifully written in true Whitehead style. This "Harlem crime noir" offers everything from heists to robberies from the most infamous Manhattan family centered around Carney, who edges a future for his family against the risk of dealing with "dangerous men" . One would be forgiven for assuming Whitehead grew up in Harlem in the time period. The descriptive writing is effortless, personal and rings true in every regard. A crime novel in the Southern noir style but also a deep reflection on everyday life in Harlem during the mentioned era. 4/5.

In the latest novel in the Thursday Murder Club series,  the gang investigates the murder of one of Stephen's friends against the backstory of Stephen's unfortunate increasing dementia.  As always we learn more about each character and the new characters from the previous novels get more meat around the bones.  The whodunnits are all well-conceived and properly developed, but in this novel it is the emotion around Stephen, which is at the heart of the novel.  It is beautifully written and one cannot help but share in that emotion and maybe shed a tear. 4.5/5

Yet another very enjoyable read in the Thursday Murder Club murder noir series.  The whodunnit is again very decent, with a good amount of breadcrumbs.  The ancillary story regarding the KGB agent and crypto money launderer is a bit cringe worthy, but it kinda works in the context. The pace is a bit off but not enough to detract from the enjoyment of the novel. 3.5/5 

The full ensemble from the previous novel makes a return to investigate more crimes and even to retaliate against a crime against one of their own.  The whodunnits are just as engaging as in the previous novel, but there is even more incisive wit and banter, making this novel superior in some regards to the previous one.  One of the most enjoyable English language books I've read in a very long time. 5/5

Number three in the Holly private detective series, sees our protagonist dealing with Covid, the death of her mother and, her investigating the disappearance of a student. Holly quickly learns that there were previous similar disappearances and it might be that a couple in their late 80s with some peculiar tastes (literally) might be involved. A cracking gumshoe novel (albeit not a whodunnit), with a highly unique storyline which will leave the squeamish green. As always the King delivers. 4/5

This is an extremely ambitious stand-alone crime thriller by Slaughter.  There is definitely a lot to like here, such as mysterious events and even more mysterious characters.  The problem with the novel is that all that mystery could have unfolded in a rather complex and satisfying manner.  This despite, the mystery is explained in minute detail from around the halfway mark of the novel and the novel just keeps losing pace, and frankly my interest.  The final reveal is also a bit of an afterthought.  Not bad but not great. 3/5

The 11th novel in the Will Trent series picks up shortly after the point where the Grant County series ended.  Sara has a new love interest, i.e., Will, and is now working with the GBI.  A rape and murder points not only back to her past but also to many of those who worked with her in that era. There are plenty of twists and macabre turns.  Not for everyone but a compelling dark whodunnit. 4/5

The fourth novel in the Grant County Southern Crime series starts off with a number of murders and a hostage situation in the local police station.  This story quickly gets interwoven with a backstory where the murder of a high school girl and contemporary of one of the main characters is discovered a few years earlier.  The stories mash well and the whodunnits are well developed, both culminating in decent conclusions.  The character development is yet again a bit painful but the whodunnits are powerful enough to survive the character development. 4/5

The third novel in the Grant County series of Southern Crime Thrillers. Like the previous two novels, this one starts with a murder early on during the novel.   The murders all occur in and around a university campus and appear to have been committed by one of the principal characters.  There is also strong development in the characters and backstories of the main characters and a number of additional murders (as with the previous novels).  The breadcrumbs are also very similar to the previous novels and so are the reveals.  In other words, it is a bit of a recipe novel and the characters are slowly starting to become annoying and stereotyped (but for Lina).  Still a cracking whodunnit, but the characters have served their purpose and further character development is close to impossible.  3/5

The second novel in the Grant County series opens with a bang (literally) and with that we are thrown into mystery with more twists and turns than a Georgia election.  Over and above the gripping and fast-paced whodunnit, we also get more insight into the characters of the main proponents in the series; something which Slaughter does without character development hampering the pace of the storyline.  There are (as always) more than one reveal, but the breadcrumbs are well-placed and the Red Hearings decently develop.  Slaughter is quickly becoming one of my favourite crime fiction authors.   4/5

"Blindsighted" is the first novel in Karen Slaughter's "Grant County", series. This claustrophobic mystery thriller is centered around a serial rapist whose acts of violence increase in severity with each incident and similarly each incident moves closer to the main cast of characters. Slaughter provides just the right amount of breadcrumbs to identify the killer a tad prior to the reveal. Masterfully written. 4/5

"Collecting Cooper" is the fifth novel in Paul Cleave's Christchurch noir series and the second novel to feature Theodore Tait.  As with all the novels in the series, there are a number of interlaced storylines featuring events and characters from other novels in the series.  This quality to the novels creates not only a familiarity but also weaves the series together in a unique manner.  "Collecting Cooper" features (as many of the other novels) a serial killer theme and the storyline is quickly developed into a mystery around whether there are one or two serial killers.  A thoroughly engaging crime thriller with many twists and turns and a decent reveal.  4/5

Buchholz has a unique way of blending the life sharpening events of her protagonist with a whodunit in a melancholic manner. Somehow this always works. The Acapulco follows an investigation into a serial killer whilst the protagonist deals with the suicide of her father. This is done in a balanced and engaging manner. 4/5

One of the more thought-provoking Rebus novels as it deals with a pertinent moral dilemma.  The whodunnit and other mysteries are as always very well constructed.  4/5

Essentially a turf war novel but with loads of mysterious twists and turns, but at a deeper level the novel grapples with war crimes and what to do with the elderly perpetrators who have been in communities for decades. 4.5/5

Rankin's breakthrough novel into the top tier of crime fiction centers around two serial killers in two different eras, the latter essentially being a copycat of the former. As always, a number of other mysteries also come into play, whilst further incidents which influenced Rebus' persona are brought to the forefront. 4.5 /5

"American Tabloid", the first novel in James Elroy's "American Underworld" historic crime trilogy, covering the five years from 1958 to 1963. An era where men like John, Joe and Robert Kennedy, Jack Ruby, J Edgar Hoover, Jimmy Hoffa and Howard Hughes, played pivotal roles. Elroy expertly creates natural personas intertwined with historical events to give the novel an almost true crime feel, an utterly amazing feat. As Vikram Jayanti said, “It’s raw, visceral, brutal, profane, hilarious, and deeply true about the darkness underlying the American Empire: politics as street crime moved up a rung.” 5/5

Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of the series. Added to that the character development and series story development is very decent and on par with what I enjoy. The whodunit is a bit cryptic for my liking and the reveal feels like a bit of an afterthought. Still a decent read. 3/5

"Survivor Song" is a very unique take on the zombie horror genre. Though it follows the general plague premise, the novel is extremely realistic; so much so that it felt like an economic, political and social template for the Covid pandemic. The underlying story is an emotional Rollercoaster of friendship, brutality, hope, loss, philosophy, satire and so much more. A tour de force. 5/5

I'm still pretty awe struck after reading the first book in this historical fiction trilogy, and I must admit that the second novel in each and every regard felt like I was just reading part two of the first novel. In this case, which is high praise indeed. The fictional story line is so well researched and told with a full and engaging command of the era. Though bloody violent, I feel as if I have gone through a roller coaster ride which pummeled every possible emotion. Elroy is just in a class of his own. 5/5

Another cracking whodunit by the phenomenal husband and wife team. 4/5

"Blood's a Rover" is the final novel in the "Underworld USA" historical fiction series. Elroy uses the same staccato writing style as in the two previous novels, coupled with the same "overlords" (e.g., Hoover and Vegas Mob). As in "The Cold Six Thousand," the novel picks up directly where the previous novel left off and flies directly into new conspiracies painted against historical events. Though not as tightly written as "American Tabloid" and at times rather sentimental and introspective, the novel provides a satisfactory continuation and eventual conclusion, albeit written almost 20 years later. One of the best historical crime fiction series available. 4.5/5

One of the stranger Rebus novels, as the whodunit portion of the novel becomes subservient to the moral dilemma at play. The essentially open-ended ending provides further impetus to this "theme". The novel thus lives true to its byline. Despite the theme, Rankin delivers page turner with a number of storylines intersecting in unexpected ways. 4/5

Like all the Rebus novels, this novel is an important cog in the Rebus personality. It is, however, less tightly written and less though provoking than most and the whodunnit is a bit lackluster. Enjoyable but not on par with most of the other Rebus novels out there. 3/5