[books 2011] some detective fiction

[inulro]

26. Death Message by Mark Billingham

Some time ago I read the first Tom Thorne novel and thought it was kind of average but couldn't put my finger on why - it's well written and had a great concept, but something about it just didn't appeal to me. I wasn’t in any hurry to read this one, which I had also been given as a gift.

Death Message is much better – I ripped through the first third and the last third. It did drag a bit in the middle, but still held my interest.

I wasn’t 100% convinced by the twist at the end.

There’s a lot of other things I need to read first, but I’m more interested in reading the rest of the series now.

27. The Necropolis Railway by Andrew Martin

A mystery based around Brookwood Cemetery and the Necropolis Railway – how could I say no? Especially not as I bought it from the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery’s fundraiser.

Too much railway. Not enough necropolis. Annoying narrator. Deeply disappointing. For fans of steam railways only, I think.

Comments

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on The Necropolis Railway. Not only was the narrator annoying, there was insufficient explanation of terminology and it just wasn't very well-written. I did finish it, but I'm not interested in reading anything else by the same author.

[quercus.livejournal.com]

I liked the Necropolis Railway, but then I'm a trainspotter. 8-)

It's a bit better than his later ones with the same character. It's incomparably better than some similar thing about the same time, set on the London Underground.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

I gave up on the Necropolis Railway after about 4 chapters for all the reasons given here.

[girfan.livejournal.com]

You are welcome to borrow my Mark Billingham books if you want to read them. Let me know.