Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.

Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.


Lovely light fare, 10 Jan 2006
The first of Poirot's cases, and though not as detailed and textured as later ones, these stories are hugely enjoyable, with that light touch, sharp intelligence and touches of deft humour that are charateristic of Christie, plus settings of wonderfully fruity extravagance. Lots of fun!

Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.


Lovely light fare, 10 Jan 2006
The first of Poirot's cases, and though not as detailed and textured as later ones, these stories are hugely enjoyable, with that light touch, sharp intelligence and touches of deft humour that are charateristic of Christie, plus settings of wonderfully fruity extravagance. Lots of fun!

A new recording..., 29 Aug 2008
Whilst Peter Cooke and Marjorie Westbury will always be the perfect Paul and Steve Temple, this new recording is actually VERY good! I quickly forgot that it was a modern recording - the voices / accents were excellent and the use of the old-fashioned sound effects made me feel I was listening to the original broadcast. Highly recommended for all Paul Temple fans :-)

Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.


Lovely light fare, 10 Jan 2006
The first of Poirot's cases, and though not as detailed and textured as later ones, these stories are hugely enjoyable, with that light touch, sharp intelligence and touches of deft humour that are charateristic of Christie, plus settings of wonderfully fruity extravagance. Lots of fun!

A new recording..., 29 Aug 2008
Whilst Peter Cooke and Marjorie Westbury will always be the perfect Paul and Steve Temple, this new recording is actually VERY good! I quickly forgot that it was a modern recording - the voices / accents were excellent and the use of the old-fashioned sound effects made me feel I was listening to the original broadcast. Highly recommended for all Paul Temple fans :-)

Bleak and beautiful, 22 Jan 2008
Agatha Christie is an English prodigy. She is able to transform some banal and particularly obnoxious situation into some kind of normal banality. And Miss Marple is the old spinster she uses most of the time to do this. Urban bleakness will go to Hercule Poirot, the continental and Belgian private eye, the very challenger of Sherlock Holmes. The bleakness of a village where everyone is locked up in set roles they have to play day after day and forever. Let some new character appear and everything is prone to tilt over without even showing what is really happening. Since one cannot get out of his or her role, he or she is going to correct the problem to his or her advantage and without anyone knowing about it. So let's have a smoke screen to cover up in advance what is really happening. Then let's do some surgical operation to get rid of what has to be gotten rid of. And then let's do it and pray for salvation (not to be found out for the criminal, and for that criminal to be sent to the gallows for the reader). Of course Agatha Christie shows how the truth can only be discovered by someone from outside because anyone from inside, including the police, will be blind to small details and will be trapped into blindness by the smoke screen. But the truth can only come from someone who knows exactly what it is to live in a small village. The two people from London cannot discover the truth though they are the only ones to see the real facts. It takes Miss Marple to put the real facts in perspective and then to do the slightly illegal act that will get the wolf out of the wood, using an innocent girl as bait. Miss Marple has a sorry side to her personality: and she is not even sorry about it: "we are not put into this world, Mr Burton, to avoid danger when an innocent fellow-creature's life is at stake". And she forgets that the bait is put in danger by her because the double murderer is quite satisfied by now even if a third person could be sent to the gallows for his crime. And strangely enough she forgets the two young sons of the murderer in the final settlement of the novel. And Agatha Christie adds one charming touch on top of that: she manages to get two marriages arranged in that small village, probably to make us forget that two people were killed there too. And that's the discreet charm of Agatha Christie that is inimitable and will remain so forever I guess.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines


This is a great book, 13 Oct 2007
I really enjoyed this novel, it was a great read. I was certain I had figured out who the murderer was and I hoped I had gotten it wrong because quite often I am able to guess the murderer in Agatha Christie's books, but however this time I was wrong and the true identity was a nice surprise.

Jerry and his sister Joanna move to the countryside for Jerry's health after a serious injury he received during the war. However it seems that this was the wrong place to move to to get a bit of relaxation because when they arrive they discover that a lot of people have been receiving anonymous letters. Soon Mrs Symmington receives an anonymous letter and apparently kills herself as a result. Soon a proper murder occurs and the police find themself in a complicated murder inquiry. It seems the right idea for one of the villagers to call in some help, and Ms Marple comes along. One problem with this book was that Ms Marple only came in in the last few chapters and she is hardly in the chapters that she is in, excluding the chapter where she cleverly reveals all.

This is a highly enjoyable on and I highly reccomend it. One other thing that I might add is that if you like a bit of romance in her books ( agatha christie doesn't usually bother with this in her books ) this book has got some.

Bullseye!, 07 Feb 2006
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple has been tremendously well served by Joan Hickson, first on television and now on CD. This unabridged version of my favourite Marple is excellent; JH makes the most of the various characters and the nuances of the plot. Although 'The Moving Finger', like 'Murder at the Vicarage', has a first person narrator (here the injured pilot Jerry), JH takes this in her stride and really conjures up the atmosphere of the village in the grip of the deadly poison pen. Can Miss Marple intervene to prevent more deaths? Is the Pope a Catholic?

The Moving Finger, 29 Jan 2006
“The Moving Finger” is one of my favourite Agatha Christie books because not only is it a classic whodunit of classic Christie proportions but it’s also an extremely sweet love story with some brilliant characters.

Poor Jerry Burton is a Royal Air Force pilot who has been shot down in action in the Second World War. Ordered to convalesce by his doctor in a quiet countryside backwater he and his sister, Joanna, decide to rent a small cottage in the rural tranquillity of the small village of Lymstock. They soon settle down to the gentle ways of the small village and get to know the local characters; prim and proper Miss Emily Barton (from whom they have rented the cottage) Dr Griffith, shy and devoted to his patients and who seems to have taken a shine to Joanna. Then there’s Dr Griffith’s sister the redoubtable Aimee, hale and hearty and forever trying to organise everyone else. Finally there’s the Symmington family consisting of Richard Symmington the local solicitor, his wife their two sons and their very attractive and young governess Elsie Holland. Mrs Symmington also has a daughter from her first marriage the awkward but somehow charming Megan

All seems to be going well until the Burtons receive a poisonous letter and it would seem that several other of the villagers have also received one or more of these malicious letters. Unfortunately one is sent to Mrs Symmington and it would seem that the contents disturb her so much that shortly after receiving the letter she takes her own life. When shortly after this tragic event the Symmington’s maid is murdered the police are called in and they begin work to find out who is behind the letters.

The local vicar’s wife, Mrs Dane Calthrop also decides to take action and call in an old friend of hers, a petite and frail looking little old lady call Miss Jane Marple.

As I say, not only is the book a classic Christie murder mystery will all the usual ingredients of jealous loves, legacies and social classes but it also has a double love story concerning both Jerry and Joanna Burton. Although the love story seems unlikely and old fashioned when reading it today it still comes over as extremely charming.

Although Miss Marple does appear in the book, she doesn’t pop up until the last couple of chapters so any big fans of hers might be slightly disappointed, but considering the rest of excellent value of the book they have no reason to be so.

Moving Finger, 26 Jul 2005
This book is a departure from her usual in that its not Miss Marple who features as the main lead, but Jerry as main figure is likeable as is his sister with the dual love interests keeping your attention as well as the "crime" a definate step up from the tommy and tuppence paring which in my opinon lacked theses charaters warmth and interest.

On the outs with their superiors, Detective Inspector Banks and Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot are lumbered with a case that is supposed to frustrate and annoy them--and find the challenge fascinating. When a reservoir dries out, a flooded village emerges and a boy finds a skeleton buried in an outhouse--by solid police work, and the use of experts, Banks and Cabbot find out who she was and when she died, and then have to find out why. The reader knows more than they do of course--elderly crime writer Vivien has written her own account of what happened during World War Two when she was an intense unhappy teenager, and this is presented in alternate chapters--but there are surprises still in store... An intense sense of period and a celebration of the virtues of solid investigation, this admirable combination of the police procedural and the psychological period thriller was nominated for the Edgar, the US crime writers' best of the year award. Peter Robinson's acute portrayal of his flawed, humane detectives and the charismatic doomed victim the truth of whose death they are trying to uncover has a desperate sadness which comes together in a climax of unexpected power. --Roz KaveneyOn the outs with their superiors, Detective Inspector Banks and Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot are lumbered with a case that is supposed to frustrate and annoy them--and find the challenge fascinating. When a reservoir dries out, a flooded village emerges and a boy finds a skeleton buried in an outhouse By solid police work, and the use of experts, Banks and Cabbot find out who she was and when she died, and then have to find out why. The reader knows more than they do of course--elderly crime writer Vivien has written her own account of what happened during World War II when she was an intense unhappy teenager, which we get in alternate chapters--but there are surprises still in store... An intense sense of period and a celebration of the virtues of solid investigation, this admirable combination of the police procedural and the psychological period thriller has been nominated for the Edgar, the US crime writers' best-of-the-year award. Peter Robinson's acute portrayal of his flawed, humane detectives and the charismatic doomed victim the truth of whose death they are trying to uncover has a desperate sadness which comes together in a climax of unexpected power. --Roz Kaveney

Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.


Lovely light fare, 10 Jan 2006
The first of Poirot's cases, and though not as detailed and textured as later ones, these stories are hugely enjoyable, with that light touch, sharp intelligence and touches of deft humour that are charateristic of Christie, plus settings of wonderfully fruity extravagance. Lots of fun!

A new recording..., 29 Aug 2008
Whilst Peter Cooke and Marjorie Westbury will always be the perfect Paul and Steve Temple, this new recording is actually VERY good! I quickly forgot that it was a modern recording - the voices / accents were excellent and the use of the old-fashioned sound effects made me feel I was listening to the original broadcast. Highly recommended for all Paul Temple fans :-)

Bleak and beautiful, 22 Jan 2008
Agatha Christie is an English prodigy. She is able to transform some banal and particularly obnoxious situation into some kind of normal banality. And Miss Marple is the old spinster she uses most of the time to do this. Urban bleakness will go to Hercule Poirot, the continental and Belgian private eye, the very challenger of Sherlock Holmes. The bleakness of a village where everyone is locked up in set roles they have to play day after day and forever. Let some new character appear and everything is prone to tilt over without even showing what is really happening. Since one cannot get out of his or her role, he or she is going to correct the problem to his or her advantage and without anyone knowing about it. So let's have a smoke screen to cover up in advance what is really happening. Then let's do some surgical operation to get rid of what has to be gotten rid of. And then let's do it and pray for salvation (not to be found out for the criminal, and for that criminal to be sent to the gallows for the reader). Of course Agatha Christie shows how the truth can only be discovered by someone from outside because anyone from inside, including the police, will be blind to small details and will be trapped into blindness by the smoke screen. But the truth can only come from someone who knows exactly what it is to live in a small village. The two people from London cannot discover the truth though they are the only ones to see the real facts. It takes Miss Marple to put the real facts in perspective and then to do the slightly illegal act that will get the wolf out of the wood, using an innocent girl as bait. Miss Marple has a sorry side to her personality: and she is not even sorry about it: "we are not put into this world, Mr Burton, to avoid danger when an innocent fellow-creature's life is at stake". And she forgets that the bait is put in danger by her because the double murderer is quite satisfied by now even if a third person could be sent to the gallows for his crime. And strangely enough she forgets the two young sons of the murderer in the final settlement of the novel. And Agatha Christie adds one charming touch on top of that: she manages to get two marriages arranged in that small village, probably to make us forget that two people were killed there too. And that's the discreet charm of Agatha Christie that is inimitable and will remain so forever I guess.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines


This is a great book, 13 Oct 2007
I really enjoyed this novel, it was a great read. I was certain I had figured out who the murderer was and I hoped I had gotten it wrong because quite often I am able to guess the murderer in Agatha Christie's books, but however this time I was wrong and the true identity was a nice surprise.

Jerry and his sister Joanna move to the countryside for Jerry's health after a serious injury he received during the war. However it seems that this was the wrong place to move to to get a bit of relaxation because when they arrive they discover that a lot of people have been receiving anonymous letters. Soon Mrs Symmington receives an anonymous letter and apparently kills herself as a result. Soon a proper murder occurs and the police find themself in a complicated murder inquiry. It seems the right idea for one of the villagers to call in some help, and Ms Marple comes along. One problem with this book was that Ms Marple only came in in the last few chapters and she is hardly in the chapters that she is in, excluding the chapter where she cleverly reveals all.

This is a highly enjoyable on and I highly reccomend it. One other thing that I might add is that if you like a bit of romance in her books ( agatha christie doesn't usually bother with this in her books ) this book has got some.

Bullseye!, 07 Feb 2006
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple has been tremendously well served by Joan Hickson, first on television and now on CD. This unabridged version of my favourite Marple is excellent; JH makes the most of the various characters and the nuances of the plot. Although 'The Moving Finger', like 'Murder at the Vicarage', has a first person narrator (here the injured pilot Jerry), JH takes this in her stride and really conjures up the atmosphere of the village in the grip of the deadly poison pen. Can Miss Marple intervene to prevent more deaths? Is the Pope a Catholic?

The Moving Finger, 29 Jan 2006
“The Moving Finger” is one of my favourite Agatha Christie books because not only is it a classic whodunit of classic Christie proportions but it’s also an extremely sweet love story with some brilliant characters.

Poor Jerry Burton is a Royal Air Force pilot who has been shot down in action in the Second World War. Ordered to convalesce by his doctor in a quiet countryside backwater he and his sister, Joanna, decide to rent a small cottage in the rural tranquillity of the small village of Lymstock. They soon settle down to the gentle ways of the small village and get to know the local characters; prim and proper Miss Emily Barton (from whom they have rented the cottage) Dr Griffith, shy and devoted to his patients and who seems to have taken a shine to Joanna. Then there’s Dr Griffith’s sister the redoubtable Aimee, hale and hearty and forever trying to organise everyone else. Finally there’s the Symmington family consisting of Richard Symmington the local solicitor, his wife their two sons and their very attractive and young governess Elsie Holland. Mrs Symmington also has a daughter from her first marriage the awkward but somehow charming Megan

All seems to be going well until the Burtons receive a poisonous letter and it would seem that several other of the villagers have also received one or more of these malicious letters. Unfortunately one is sent to Mrs Symmington and it would seem that the contents disturb her so much that shortly after receiving the letter she takes her own life. When shortly after this tragic event the Symmington’s maid is murdered the police are called in and they begin work to find out who is behind the letters.

The local vicar’s wife, Mrs Dane Calthrop also decides to take action and call in an old friend of hers, a petite and frail looking little old lady call Miss Jane Marple.

As I say, not only is the book a classic Christie murder mystery will all the usual ingredients of jealous loves, legacies and social classes but it also has a double love story concerning both Jerry and Joanna Burton. Although the love story seems unlikely and old fashioned when reading it today it still comes over as extremely charming.

Although Miss Marple does appear in the book, she doesn’t pop up until the last couple of chapters so any big fans of hers might be slightly disappointed, but considering the rest of excellent value of the book they have no reason to be so.

Moving Finger, 26 Jul 2005
This book is a departure from her usual in that its not Miss Marple who features as the main lead, but Jerry as main figure is likeable as is his sister with the dual love interests keeping your attention as well as the "crime" a definate step up from the tommy and tuppence paring which in my opinon lacked theses charaters warmth and interest.

Unusual and interesting, 28 Aug 2008
I like the crime genre anyway but had never read anything by Peter Robinson - it was on someone's list with other books I've enjoyed.

The main angle which attracted me was the flooded village as I grew up knowing about the Lady Bower Reservoir near Sheffield which was the same. However, within 3 pages - I was hooked! The dual timeline is so lovely to read as you really come to love the characters. The war aspect was interesting and I enjoyed the setting as I love that area of Yorkshire. It's very well written and I've now bought loads of his books.

My only extremely tiny gripe is the music. Sorry Peter, but I have to agree with other reviewers, I could do without the constant references to music, especially as it's not to everyone's taste anyway - certainly not mine! It's not too bad in this book and easily skipped over, but I can see it could become a bit wearing the more books you read. However, don't let this small thing put you off as it's an excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definately highly recommended.

50 Year Old Murder Mystery, 22 Jun 2008
This is my first Robinson mystery, and I really enjoyed it. Being an American, I was interested in all the details about the Dales and WWII in Britain. The mystery part of the story really held my interest, but Det. Banks's problems with his wife and son and his CD collection did not. But it is easy enough to skip over those parts. I'd certainly read another of his mysteries.

Excellent read, 27 Aug 2007
This book is one of the best Bank's books so far. The story is very good and like the balance between the past and present.It also gives a great insight into Bank's mind about his life and where he stands.

Excellent Crime Fiction, 03 Jun 2007

Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based.

Many of the reservoirs dotted around Yorkshire and other parts of the country have strange things lurking beneath their surfaces. Woodland, old farm buildings and in the case of Thornfield reservoir a whole village was sacrificed in the name of progress and the populations `thirst' for water.

When a blistering summer causes a draught that sees the small village of Hobb's End resurface after more than forty years underwater, it becomes a magical place for one curious young boy, that is until he finds more than he bargained for, a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Banks is given the difficult if not impossible task of identifying the victim . . .

Excellent Crime Fiction, 03 Jun 2007

Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based.

Many of the reservoirs dotted around Yorkshire and other parts of the country have strange things lurking beneath their surfaces. Woodland, old farm buildings and in the case of Thornfield reservoir a whole village was sacrificed in the name of progress and the populations `thirst' for water.

When a blistering summer causes a draught that sees the small village of Hobb's End resurface after more than forty years underwater, it becomes a magical place for one curious young boy, that is until he finds more than he bargained for, a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Banks is given the difficult if not impossible task of identifying the victim . . .

Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.


Lovely light fare, 10 Jan 2006
The first of Poirot's cases, and though not as detailed and textured as later ones, these stories are hugely enjoyable, with that light touch, sharp intelligence and touches of deft humour that are charateristic of Christie, plus settings of wonderfully fruity extravagance. Lots of fun!

A new recording..., 29 Aug 2008
Whilst Peter Cooke and Marjorie Westbury will always be the perfect Paul and Steve Temple, this new recording is actually VERY good! I quickly forgot that it was a modern recording - the voices / accents were excellent and the use of the old-fashioned sound effects made me feel I was listening to the original broadcast. Highly recommended for all Paul Temple fans :-)

Bleak and beautiful, 22 Jan 2008
Agatha Christie is an English prodigy. She is able to transform some banal and particularly obnoxious situation into some kind of normal banality. And Miss Marple is the old spinster she uses most of the time to do this. Urban bleakness will go to Hercule Poirot, the continental and Belgian private eye, the very challenger of Sherlock Holmes. The bleakness of a village where everyone is locked up in set roles they have to play day after day and forever. Let some new character appear and everything is prone to tilt over without even showing what is really happening. Since one cannot get out of his or her role, he or she is going to correct the problem to his or her advantage and without anyone knowing about it. So let's have a smoke screen to cover up in advance what is really happening. Then let's do some surgical operation to get rid of what has to be gotten rid of. And then let's do it and pray for salvation (not to be found out for the criminal, and for that criminal to be sent to the gallows for the reader). Of course Agatha Christie shows how the truth can only be discovered by someone from outside because anyone from inside, including the police, will be blind to small details and will be trapped into blindness by the smoke screen. But the truth can only come from someone who knows exactly what it is to live in a small village. The two people from London cannot discover the truth though they are the only ones to see the real facts. It takes Miss Marple to put the real facts in perspective and then to do the slightly illegal act that will get the wolf out of the wood, using an innocent girl as bait. Miss Marple has a sorry side to her personality: and she is not even sorry about it: "we are not put into this world, Mr Burton, to avoid danger when an innocent fellow-creature's life is at stake". And she forgets that the bait is put in danger by her because the double murderer is quite satisfied by now even if a third person could be sent to the gallows for his crime. And strangely enough she forgets the two young sons of the murderer in the final settlement of the novel. And Agatha Christie adds one charming touch on top of that: she manages to get two marriages arranged in that small village, probably to make us forget that two people were killed there too. And that's the discreet charm of Agatha Christie that is inimitable and will remain so forever I guess.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines


This is a great book, 13 Oct 2007
I really enjoyed this novel, it was a great read. I was certain I had figured out who the murderer was and I hoped I had gotten it wrong because quite often I am able to guess the murderer in Agatha Christie's books, but however this time I was wrong and the true identity was a nice surprise.

Jerry and his sister Joanna move to the countryside for Jerry's health after a serious injury he received during the war. However it seems that this was the wrong place to move to to get a bit of relaxation because when they arrive they discover that a lot of people have been receiving anonymous letters. Soon Mrs Symmington receives an anonymous letter and apparently kills herself as a result. Soon a proper murder occurs and the police find themself in a complicated murder inquiry. It seems the right idea for one of the villagers to call in some help, and Ms Marple comes along. One problem with this book was that Ms Marple only came in in the last few chapters and she is hardly in the chapters that she is in, excluding the chapter where she cleverly reveals all.

This is a highly enjoyable on and I highly reccomend it. One other thing that I might add is that if you like a bit of romance in her books ( agatha christie doesn't usually bother with this in her books ) this book has got some.

Bullseye!, 07 Feb 2006
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple has been tremendously well served by Joan Hickson, first on television and now on CD. This unabridged version of my favourite Marple is excellent; JH makes the most of the various characters and the nuances of the plot. Although 'The Moving Finger', like 'Murder at the Vicarage', has a first person narrator (here the injured pilot Jerry), JH takes this in her stride and really conjures up the atmosphere of the village in the grip of the deadly poison pen. Can Miss Marple intervene to prevent more deaths? Is the Pope a Catholic?

The Moving Finger, 29 Jan 2006
“The Moving Finger” is one of my favourite Agatha Christie books because not only is it a classic whodunit of classic Christie proportions but it’s also an extremely sweet love story with some brilliant characters.

Poor Jerry Burton is a Royal Air Force pilot who has been shot down in action in the Second World War. Ordered to convalesce by his doctor in a quiet countryside backwater he and his sister, Joanna, decide to rent a small cottage in the rural tranquillity of the small village of Lymstock. They soon settle down to the gentle ways of the small village and get to know the local characters; prim and proper Miss Emily Barton (from whom they have rented the cottage) Dr Griffith, shy and devoted to his patients and who seems to have taken a shine to Joanna. Then there’s Dr Griffith’s sister the redoubtable Aimee, hale and hearty and forever trying to organise everyone else. Finally there’s the Symmington family consisting of Richard Symmington the local solicitor, his wife their two sons and their very attractive and young governess Elsie Holland. Mrs Symmington also has a daughter from her first marriage the awkward but somehow charming Megan

All seems to be going well until the Burtons receive a poisonous letter and it would seem that several other of the villagers have also received one or more of these malicious letters. Unfortunately one is sent to Mrs Symmington and it would seem that the contents disturb her so much that shortly after receiving the letter she takes her own life. When shortly after this tragic event the Symmington’s maid is murdered the police are called in and they begin work to find out who is behind the letters.

The local vicar’s wife, Mrs Dane Calthrop also decides to take action and call in an old friend of hers, a petite and frail looking little old lady call Miss Jane Marple.

As I say, not only is the book a classic Christie murder mystery will all the usual ingredients of jealous loves, legacies and social classes but it also has a double love story concerning both Jerry and Joanna Burton. Although the love story seems unlikely and old fashioned when reading it today it still comes over as extremely charming.

Although Miss Marple does appear in the book, she doesn’t pop up until the last couple of chapters so any big fans of hers might be slightly disappointed, but considering the rest of excellent value of the book they have no reason to be so.

Moving Finger, 26 Jul 2005
This book is a departure from her usual in that its not Miss Marple who features as the main lead, but Jerry as main figure is likeable as is his sister with the dual love interests keeping your attention as well as the "crime" a definate step up from the tommy and tuppence paring which in my opinon lacked theses charaters warmth and interest.

Unusual and interesting, 28 Aug 2008
I like the crime genre anyway but had never read anything by Peter Robinson - it was on someone's list with other books I've enjoyed.

The main angle which attracted me was the flooded village as I grew up knowing about the Lady Bower Reservoir near Sheffield which was the same. However, within 3 pages - I was hooked! The dual timeline is so lovely to read as you really come to love the characters. The war aspect was interesting and I enjoyed the setting as I love that area of Yorkshire. It's very well written and I've now bought loads of his books.

My only extremely tiny gripe is the music. Sorry Peter, but I have to agree with other reviewers, I could do without the constant references to music, especially as it's not to everyone's taste anyway - certainly not mine! It's not too bad in this book and easily skipped over, but I can see it could become a bit wearing the more books you read. However, don't let this small thing put you off as it's an excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definately highly recommended.

50 Year Old Murder Mystery, 22 Jun 2008
This is my first Robinson mystery, and I really enjoyed it. Being an American, I was interested in all the details about the Dales and WWII in Britain. The mystery part of the story really held my interest, but Det. Banks's problems with his wife and son and his CD collection did not. But it is easy enough to skip over those parts. I'd certainly read another of his mysteries.

Excellent read, 27 Aug 2007
This book is one of the best Bank's books so far. The story is very good and like the balance between the past and present.It also gives a great insight into Bank's mind about his life and where he stands.

Excellent Crime Fiction, 03 Jun 2007

Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based.

Many of the reservoirs dotted around Yorkshire and other parts of the country have strange things lurking beneath their surfaces. Woodland, old farm buildings and in the case of Thornfield reservoir a whole village was sacrificed in the name of progress and the populations `thirst' for water.

When a blistering summer causes a draught that sees the small village of Hobb's End resurface after more than forty years underwater, it becomes a magical place for one curious young boy, that is until he finds more than he bargained for, a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Banks is given the difficult if not impossible task of identifying the victim . . .

Excellent Crime Fiction, 03 Jun 2007

Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based.

Many of the reservoirs dotted around Yorkshire and other parts of the country have strange things lurking beneath their surfaces. Woodland, old farm buildings and in the case of Thornfield reservoir a whole village was sacrificed in the name of progress and the populations `thirst' for water.

When a blistering summer causes a draught that sees the small village of Hobb's End resurface after more than forty years underwater, it becomes a magical place for one curious young boy, that is until he finds more than he bargained for, a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Banks is given the difficult if not impossible task of identifying the victim . . .

Do not go Gently into that good night..., 10 Mar 2008
I have to admit to being a little disappointed by this long-awaited audio version of Adams' peerless (unless you count the sequel 'The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul') late 80s sci-fi/fantasy/drama/comedy novel. I have to be honest and say that Harry Enfield was miscast in the title role - his smug tones are not at all how I envisaged the underhand but essentially likeable Dirk - I also found the constant contemporary references that the audio version has added to the original novel ('Asbo'), rather annoying - in the same way that the current incarnation of Doctor Who's Timelord insists on littering his talk with references to 'Teletubbies', 'Eastenders' etc.
These grumbles aside I found the rest of the cast to be perfectly...well, cast - Billy Boyd in particular captures hapless computer programmer 'Richard' precisely as he is whirled along by events far beyond his comprehension. I'm not sure why Dirk's receptionist, Janet, needed to have her (extremely minor) role in the novel fleshed out, as she adds little to the story but this is not a major concern as she can be ignored.
Overall, the package is very impressive; I guess it's never going to be how you imagine it, especially after twenty years or so. Hopefully they'll serialise 'Teatime' - with some minor improvements it could be awesome.

Dirk Gently, 29 Jan 2008
A bit like the Hitchikers guide, I sort of missed the post grad humour. Its a bit like Pratchett in that its a bit twee and nice. I was reading Small Mercy by Tom Dawes round about the same time and found that the better book, similar humour but a bit grittier. Hey ho

Loved it, 09 Nov 2007
Like many others I was less than convinced about the casting of Harry Enfield, but with persistence I grew to love him. I liked Dirk Gently as a character because, like Ford Prefect, he had an infuriating habit of appearing to know everything without ever having gone through a learning process - despite knowing that Dirk went to Cambridge too my mind seemed to brush it aside almost as a formality!

Something about the way Harry Enfield delivered complex lines in an almost simplistic way reinforced the idea that, like Ford, he was several steps ahead of everyone, one felt guilty needing to hear them again and it was clear that Dirk Gently had a very sharp mind indeed.

I loved the odd homage to Douglas Adam's magnum opus, for example, the sound of the lift opening in the last episode, which was taken from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I only wish Adams had lived to hear it. He would have adored it. I did.

This was always going to be difficult ..., 09 Nov 2007
While H2G2 III-V had it's key characters and central cast for continuity, Dirk (both of them) had to work from the ground up for this outing. And they do. To be honest, I wouldn't have had Harry Enfield (wonderful though he is) at the top of my list, but as it turns out, he does a rather splendid job. And yes, there are a few touches missing - the odd line I was listening out for - but I'm more than happy to be happy with this, and embrace it as part of Adams' Radio 4 canon. Billy Boyd, Andrew Sachs, Olivia Colman and Felicity Montagu are all superb (do bears...), and play against many of the hugely talented and versatile voice actors from the recent Hitchhikers series. Oh, and Jim Carter is perfect as Gilks. I look forward to the next series.

"Shada" does the better job, 07 Nov 2007
It's fairly common knowledge that some parts of the storyline and some characters were first used by Adams for his Doctor Who script of "Shada", which is available both from the BBC online as a webcast and from BigFinish on CD. Comparing those two productions where possible and taking into account the impact of the humor of certain dialogues I must say, that the BigFinish/Doctor Who incarnation beats Dirk Maggs/Gently by far. Dirk Gently by itself is a wonderful book. There are parts of the radio play that live up to the book. But on the whole it failed to go that last extra mile for me. But I can't wait until my copy arrives to see if there is again some extra material on CD that didn't make it in the broadcast version. For the moment, after the concluding episode on the air tonight, 3 stars.

Low Rankin, 13 Oct 2008
The best way I can describe reading this book after Rebus is it's like watching Bonekickers after Life on Mars. I know Ian Rankin can write well without Rebus - I first read his watchman stuff - but this has the feel of meeting deadlines and fulfilling contractual obligations. The characters are cardboard, no one to like or care about, the plot is thin. I think this is probably the first time I have needed more than one sitting to read any of his books - I really struggled to finish it and I don't think it was worth it. From anyone else I would have given this two stars - so this may be really unfair - but the disappointment is all the more. Let's hope this is a blip, back to form next time, and that this isn't the start of a series.

Last page first, 13 Oct 2008
This book was a tremendous disappointment and a crashing bore. I managed to read a third way through, then, thoroughly exasperated, I turned to the last chapter and epilogue,and found it turned out exactly as I thought it would. I am a great fan of Ian Rankin and crime novels in general but this simplistic, obvious storyline is just a big yawn.

Mega dissapointment, 12 Oct 2008
I have read all Rankin`s previous works - also the non-Rebus titles but I have never been bored. That is until this one......

In short it took me 2 weeks to accomplish the reading and all the time I felt like putting it away, but hey, one owe Rankin to read it to the end.
And I did.
I`m sure the next one will be better, indeed couldn`t be much worse.

Bit of a strange mixture, 30 Sep 2008
"Bit quiet since you-know-who retired" says one copper half way through, so let's get 'him' out of the way! This book started strangely - by page 50 or so, I was convinced that Rankin, a supremely accomplished writer, was having me on. It's a spoof! Lavender Hill Mob meets Ocean's 11. Surely these guys can't be serious?!! In fact I came close to abandoning it BUT then something happened. Not just one event or a certain page but something a bit more gradual. Rankin was being serious after all. Yes, he's still commenting on social divides in Edinburgh, but on other things as well. His take on the aftermath of greed reminds me of the 'Pardoner's Tale' and his treatment of guilt Poe's story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' which interestingly is mentioned. After half way, I was hooked. Pretty good ending too!!!! I think he'll leave this one as a stand-alone whilst he decides his writing future. I really don't see any character here surviving in any major way into the future as none of them are properly developed. May be wrong!! Good read overall but can't give it 5 stars.

A Break From The Day Job (3.5* Stars), 28 Sep 2008
You're a celebrated crime author and you've just retired your most famous character - DI John Rebus, as if you didn't know - so what do you do next? Answer, you write an old-fashioned heist caper.

You'll have read the plot synopsis so I'll not summarise it again, I'll simply confine myself to making a few general points about the book.

First of all, this originally ran as a serial in the same publication that first printed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch-lite `The Overlook' before it was published as a novel last year. I don't know if Ian has padded out `Doors Open' a bit before publishing it, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't particularly feel as if it's longer than it should be.

I found `Doors Open' to be a satisfying read, even if it doesn't come close to approaching the quality of a large number of the best of the superb Rebus novels. For anyone else it would be good, but Rankin has set his own standards so high, that you're perhaps looking for a bit more. I personally suspect that he wrote this as a bit of light relief after creating the increasingly complex plots of the `you know who' series for the past twenty years. That and the large wad of cash he was apparently offered for writing it.

His policeman here, DI Ransome could not be less like John Rebus if he tried. For a start, he doesn't rush bull-headed into things with no care for insulting his betters - or anyone, else for that matter. Ransome has a facility for diplomacy when among his peers (his counterpart from another station is the one officially investigating the art theft) and has subtle plans for his own advancement. He's no less effective than Rebus, but like I say, his methods are totally different. However, in local Edinburgh gangster Chib Calloway he's created a baddie cut from the same cloth, or perhaps that should be, hewn from the same block of granite, as 'Big Ger' Cafferty from the Rebus novels.

There are a few times in this novel where Rankin has his characters spit things out... as in `Blah, blah, blah', he spat. This despite the fact that the sentences often contain no sibilants. This is a bit lazy, and proves to me that Ian himself regards this as no more than a frippery; a break from the real day job. Having said that, it's still a professional effort and contains a good number of decent twists.

In summary, this is an effective and efficient little thriller, and it's Ian Rankin writing in a much lighter vein, but it's no less enjoyable for that. If I'm going to be picky, there are writers around like Christopher Brookmyre who, frankly, do this kind of thing much better. Still it's a nice enough stab at the sub-genre, and it's never less than entertaining. But it isn't major league Rankin and anyone approaching it with that expectation is going to be disappointed.


Lovely light fare, 10 Jan 2006
The first of Poirot's cases, and though not as detailed and textured as later ones, these stories are hugely enjoyable, with that light touch, sharp intelligence and touches of deft humour that are charateristic of Christie, plus settings of wonderfully fruity extravagance. Lots of fun!

A new recording..., 29 Aug 2008
Whilst Peter Cooke and Marjorie Westbury will always be the perfect Paul and Steve Temple, this new recording is actually VERY good! I quickly forgot that it was a modern recording - the voices / accents were excellent and the use of the old-fashioned sound effects made me feel I was listening to the original broadcast. Highly recommended for all Paul Temple fans :-)

Bleak and beautiful, 22 Jan 2008
Agatha Christie is an English prodigy. She is able to transform some banal and particularly obnoxious situation into some kind of normal banality. And Miss Marple is the old spinster she uses most of the time to do this. Urban bleakness will go to Hercule Poirot, the continental and Belgian private eye, the very challenger of Sherlock Holmes. The bleakness of a village where everyone is locked up in set roles they have to play day after day and forever. Let some new character appear and everything is prone to tilt over without even showing what is really happening. Since one cannot get out of his or her role, he or she is going to correct the problem to his or her advantage and without anyone knowing about it. So let's have a smoke screen to cover up in advance what is really happening. Then let's do some surgical operation to get rid of what has to be gotten rid of. And then let's do it and pray for salvation (not to be found out for the criminal, and for that criminal to be sent to the gallows for the reader). Of course Agatha Christie shows how the truth can only be discovered by someone from outside because anyone from inside, including the police, will be blind to small details and will be trapped into blindness by the smoke screen. But the truth can only come from someone who knows exactly what it is to live in a small village. The two people from London cannot discover the truth though they are the only ones to see the real facts. It takes Miss Marple to put the real facts in perspective and then to do the slightly illegal act that will get the wolf out of the wood, using an innocent girl as bait. Miss Marple has a sorry side to her personality: and she is not even sorry about it: "we are not put into this world, Mr Burton, to avoid danger when an innocent fellow-creature's life is at stake". And she forgets that the bait is put in danger by her because the double murderer is quite satisfied by now even if a third person could be sent to the gallows for his crime. And strangely enough she forgets the two young sons of the murderer in the final settlement of the novel. And Agatha Christie adds one charming touch on top of that: she manages to get two marriages arranged in that small village, probably to make us forget that two people were killed there too. And that's the discreet charm of Agatha Christie that is inimitable and will remain so forever I guess.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines


This is a great book, 13 Oct 2007
I really enjoyed this novel, it was a great read. I was certain I had figured out who the murderer was and I hoped I had gotten it wrong because quite often I am able to guess the murderer in Agatha Christie's books, but however this time I was wrong and the true identity was a nice surprise.

Jerry and his sister Joanna move to the countryside for Jerry's health after a serious injury he received during the war. However it seems that this was the wrong place to move to to get a bit of relaxation because when they arrive they discover that a lot of people have been receiving anonymous letters. Soon Mrs Symmington receives an anonymous letter and apparently kills herself as a result. Soon a proper murder occurs and the police find themself in a complicated murder inquiry. It seems the right idea for one of the villagers to call in some help, and Ms Marple comes along. One problem with this book was that Ms Marple only came in in the last few chapters and she is hardly in the chapters that she is in, excluding the chapter where she cleverly reveals all.

This is a highly enjoyable on and I highly reccomend it. One other thing that I might add is that if you like a bit of romance in her books ( agatha christie doesn't usually bother with this in her books ) this book has got some.

Bullseye!, 07 Feb 2006
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple has been tremendously well served by Joan Hickson, first on television and now on CD. This unabridged version of my favourite Marple is excellent; JH makes the most of the various characters and the nuances of the plot. Although 'The Moving Finger', like 'Murder at the Vicarage', has a first person narrator (here the injured pilot Jerry), JH takes this in her stride and really conjures up the atmosphere of the village in the grip of the deadly poison pen. Can Miss Marple intervene to prevent more deaths? Is the Pope a Catholic?

The Moving Finger, 29 Jan 2006
“The Moving Finger” is one of my favourite Agatha Christie books because not only is it a classic whodunit of classic Christie proportions but it’s also an extremely sweet love story with some brilliant characters.

Poor Jerry Burton is a Royal Air Force pilot who has been shot down in action in the Second World War. Ordered to convalesce by his doctor in a quiet countryside backwater he and his sister, Joanna, decide to rent a small cottage in the rural tranquillity of the small village of Lymstock. They soon settle down to the gentle ways of the small village and get to know the local characters; prim and proper Miss Emily Barton (from whom they have rented the cottage) Dr Griffith, shy and devoted to his patients and who seems to have taken a shine to Joanna. Then there’s Dr Griffith’s sister the redoubtable Aimee, hale and hearty and forever trying to organise everyone else. Finally there’s the Symmington family consisting of Richard Symmington the local solicitor, his wife their two sons and their very attractive and young governess Elsie Holland. Mrs Symmington also has a daughter from her first marriage the awkward but somehow charming Megan

All seems to be going well until the Burtons receive a poisonous letter and it would seem that several other of the villagers have also received one or more of these malicious letters. Unfortunately one is sent to Mrs Symmington and it would seem that the contents disturb her so much that shortly after receiving the letter she takes her own life. When shortly after this tragic event the Symmington’s maid is murdered the police are called in and they begin work to find out who is behind the letters.

The local vicar’s wife, Mrs Dane Calthrop also decides to take action and call in an old friend of hers, a petite and frail looking little old lady call Miss Jane Marple.

As I say, not only is the book a classic Christie murder mystery will all the usual ingredients of jealous loves, legacies and social classes but it also has a double love story concerning both Jerry and Joanna Burton. Although the love story seems unlikely and old fashioned when reading it today it still comes over as extremely charming.

Although Miss Marple does appear in the book, she doesn’t pop up until the last couple of chapters so any big fans of hers might be slightly disappointed, but considering the rest of excellent value of the book they have no reason to be so.

Moving Finger, 26 Jul 2005
This book is a departure from her usual in that its not Miss Marple who features as the main lead, but Jerry as main figure is likeable as is his sister with the dual love interests keeping your attention as well as the "crime" a definate step up from the tommy and tuppence paring which in my opinon lacked theses charaters warmth and interest.

Unusual and interesting, 28 Aug 2008
I like the crime genre anyway but had never read anything by Peter Robinson - it was on someone's list with other books I've enjoyed.

The main angle which attracted me was the flooded village as I grew up knowing about the Lady Bower Reservoir near Sheffield which was the same. However, within 3 pages - I was hooked! The dual timeline is so lovely to read as you really come to love the characters. The war aspect was interesting and I enjoyed the setting as I love that area of Yorkshire. It's very well written and I've now bought loads of his books.

My only extremely tiny gripe is the music. Sorry Peter, but I have to agree with other reviewers, I could do without the constant references to music, especially as it's not to everyone's taste anyway - certainly not mine! It's not too bad in this book and easily skipped over, but I can see it could become a bit wearing the more books you read. However, don't let this small thing put you off as it's an excellent read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definately highly recommended.

50 Year Old Murder Mystery, 22 Jun 2008
This is my first Robinson mystery, and I really enjoyed it. Being an American, I was interested in all the details about the Dales and WWII in Britain. The mystery part of the story really held my interest, but Det. Banks's problems with his wife and son and his CD collection did not. But it is easy enough to skip over those parts. I'd certainly read another of his mysteries.

Excellent read, 27 Aug 2007
This book is one of the best Bank's books so far. The story is very good and like the balance between the past and present.It also gives a great insight into Bank's mind about his life and where he stands.

Excellent Crime Fiction, 03 Jun 2007

Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based.

Many of the reservoirs dotted around Yorkshire and other parts of the country have strange things lurking beneath their surfaces. Woodland, old farm buildings and in the case of Thornfield reservoir a whole village was sacrificed in the name of progress and the populations `thirst' for water.

When a blistering summer causes a draught that sees the small village of Hobb's End resurface after more than forty years underwater, it becomes a magical place for one curious young boy, that is until he finds more than he bargained for, a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Banks is given the difficult if not impossible task of identifying the victim . . .

Excellent Crime Fiction, 03 Jun 2007

Peter Robinson grew up in Yorkshire, and is the author of thirteen previous novels featuring Inspector Banks. He is the winner of numerous awards in the United States, Britain and Canada, and in 2002 he won the CWA Dagger in the Library. As I also come from Leeds the background to his stories is something that I have experienced first hand and because of this I have a special affection for his books. However they would be first class crime fiction wherever they were based.

Many of the reservoirs dotted around Yorkshire and other parts of the country have strange things lurking beneath their surfaces. Woodland, old farm buildings and in the case of Thornfield reservoir a whole village was sacrificed in the name of progress and the populations `thirst' for water.

When a blistering summer causes a draught that sees the small village of Hobb's End resurface after more than forty years underwater, it becomes a magical place for one curious young boy, that is until he finds more than he bargained for, a human skeleton. Detective Chief Inspector Banks is given the difficult if not impossible task of identifying the victim . . .

Do not go Gently into that good night..., 10 Mar 2008
I have to admit to being a little disappointed by this long-awaited audio version of Adams' peerless (unless you count the sequel 'The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul') late 80s sci-fi/fantasy/drama/comedy novel. I have to be honest and say that Harry Enfield was miscast in the title role - his smug tones are not at all how I envisaged the underhand but essentially likeable Dirk - I also found the constant contemporary references that the audio version has added to the original novel ('Asbo'), rather annoying - in the same way that the current incarnation of Doctor Who's Timelord insists on littering his talk with references to 'Teletubbies', 'Eastenders' etc.
These grumbles aside I found the rest of the cast to be perfectly...well, cast - Billy Boyd in particular captures hapless computer programmer 'Richard' precisely as he is whirled along by events far beyond his comprehension. I'm not sure why Dirk's receptionist, Janet, needed to have her (extremely minor) role in the novel fleshed out, as she adds little to the story but this is not a major concern as she can be ignored.
Overall, the package is very impressive; I guess it's never going to be how you imagine it, especially after twenty years or so. Hopefully they'll serialise 'Teatime' - with some minor improvements it could be awesome.

Dirk Gently, 29 Jan 2008
A bit like the Hitchikers guide, I sort of missed the post grad humour. Its a bit like Pratchett in that its a bit twee and nice. I was reading Small Mercy by Tom Dawes round about the same time and found that the better book, similar humour but a bit grittier. Hey ho

Loved it, 09 Nov 2007
Like many others I was less than convinced about the casting of Harry Enfield, but with persistence I grew to love him. I liked Dirk Gently as a character because, like Ford Prefect, he had an infuriating habit of appearing to know everything without ever having gone through a learning process - despite knowing that Dirk went to Cambridge too my mind seemed to brush it aside almost as a formality!

Something about the way Harry Enfield delivered complex lines in an almost simplistic way reinforced the idea that, like Ford, he was several steps ahead of everyone, one felt guilty needing to hear them again and it was clear that Dirk Gently had a very sharp mind indeed.

I loved the odd homage to Douglas Adam's magnum opus, for example, the sound of the lift opening in the last episode, which was taken from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I only wish Adams had lived to hear it. He would have adored it. I did.

This was always going to be difficult ..., 09 Nov 2007
While H2G2 III-V had it's key characters and central cast for continuity, Dirk (both of them) had to work from the ground up for this outing. And they do. To be honest, I wouldn't have had Harry Enfield (wonderful though he is) at the top of my list, but as it turns out, he does a rather splendid job. And yes, there are a few touches missing - the odd line I was listening out for - but I'm more than happy to be happy with this, and embrace it as part of Adams' Radio 4 canon. Billy Boyd, Andrew Sachs, Olivia Colman and Felicity Montagu are all superb (do bears...), and play against many of the hugely talented and versatile voice actors from the recent Hitchhikers series. Oh, and Jim Carter is perfect as Gilks. I look forward to the next series.

"Shada" does the better job, 07 Nov 2007
It's fairly common knowledge that some parts of the storyline and some characters were first used by Adams for his Doctor Who script of "Shada", which is available both from the BBC online as a webcast and from BigFinish on CD. Comparing those two productions where possible and taking into account the impact of the humor of certain dialogues I must say, that the BigFinish/Doctor Who incarnation beats Dirk Maggs/Gently by far. Dirk Gently by itself is a wonderful book. There are parts of the radio play that live up to the book. But on the whole it failed to go that last extra mile for me. But I can't wait until my copy arrives to see if there is again some extra material on CD that didn't make it in the broadcast version. For the moment, after the concluding episode on the air tonight, 3 stars.

A must for Miss Marpleýs fans, 05 Apr 2005
Miss Marple is my favourite of all of the recurrent Agatha Christie's characters and this collection of nine short stories didn't disappoint me in the least. Of the nine, two do not include the famous sleuth but are rather of a supernatural nature (calling them ghost stories would be a bit too much) and one of the Miss Marple's stories is taken from another book. All nine are very good, some of them among Christie's best plots. I lov