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defarge66's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
xdroot's review
3.0
A decent procedural with a hint of supernatural elements and an ending that sets up the rest of the trilogy.
calexio's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
novelbloglover's review
3.0
Book reviewblood
Title: A matter of blood
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Genre: thriller/paranormal/crime
Rating: ***
Review: Not very long ago, Sarah Pinborough was featured in SFX, and I promised myself I’d read some of her books. I decided to go back and have a look at her trilogy, The God-Faced Dogs, which starts with this one.
At first, I had this down as Blade Runner meets Seven, future-noir (I’m making up genres here, I think). Grizzled police detective in a near-future London, post-economic crash, in a society dominated by a single company, in this case The Bank. A series of murders with some very creepy features.
That’s pretty much how the story unfolds for the first half. Pinborough’s writing in this book feels like a much better writer playing at being mid-list crime noir. It’s great, but there are moments that just don’t work. One of those is that the Bank has been set up by two recognisable figures (Bill Gates and Richard Branson), and there’s something about that which just doesn’t work for me. I’ve always found anonymous consortia of multi-billionaires scarier than nerdkings and guys who appear in their own ads in an affable relationship with Olympic gold medal winners.
There are a few of these moments, times when it feels like things get too close to our reality and the suspended disbelief gets a little shaky, or when mention of companies gets the wrong reaction. Carphone Orange Warehouse is too painfully like Grey Enterprises Holdings Ltd Plc from 50 Shades of Grey, I’m afraid. These are minor things, though, and they just make you gag a little when you read them, rather than spoil the rest of the book.
Anyway, until about halfway through, Blade Runner and Seven sprung instantly to mind, and perhaps the BBC series Messiah from the 90s that I bet you don’t remember. The central protagonist is DI Cass Jones, a grizzled detective with the usual failed sex life (he’s managed to get married at least, although that’s on its last legs), and dodgy way of working. The serial killer leaves his bodies with perfectly placed flies eggs in the eyes, along with the statement in blood ‘Nothing is Sacred’.
It’s gripping stuff. It gets even more compelling when Cass’s brother’s family is killed in what looks like a murder-suicide. Cass begins to see visions of his brother, which are so well described that the book wanders into the territory of early 90s James Herbert or very early Stephen King. Chilling to the degree that you might not want to read the book late at night on your own.
From here, Pinborough adds more elements of horror and the supernatural. The book remains a study in London noir, but the complexity of the plot expands almost exponentially, and by the end leaves plenty of room for the second two books of the trilogy to play with the world she has created.
It’s the kind of book you want to read in one sitting. By the end, you can addExorcist stylings, and that most replicated of the horror genre, traditional Catholic mythology. I’m very curious to see what she does with the next two books.
Title: A matter of blood
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Genre: thriller/paranormal/crime
Rating: ***
Review: Not very long ago, Sarah Pinborough was featured in SFX, and I promised myself I’d read some of her books. I decided to go back and have a look at her trilogy, The God-Faced Dogs, which starts with this one.
At first, I had this down as Blade Runner meets Seven, future-noir (I’m making up genres here, I think). Grizzled police detective in a near-future London, post-economic crash, in a society dominated by a single company, in this case The Bank. A series of murders with some very creepy features.
That’s pretty much how the story unfolds for the first half. Pinborough’s writing in this book feels like a much better writer playing at being mid-list crime noir. It’s great, but there are moments that just don’t work. One of those is that the Bank has been set up by two recognisable figures (Bill Gates and Richard Branson), and there’s something about that which just doesn’t work for me. I’ve always found anonymous consortia of multi-billionaires scarier than nerdkings and guys who appear in their own ads in an affable relationship with Olympic gold medal winners.
There are a few of these moments, times when it feels like things get too close to our reality and the suspended disbelief gets a little shaky, or when mention of companies gets the wrong reaction. Carphone Orange Warehouse is too painfully like Grey Enterprises Holdings Ltd Plc from 50 Shades of Grey, I’m afraid. These are minor things, though, and they just make you gag a little when you read them, rather than spoil the rest of the book.
Anyway, until about halfway through, Blade Runner and Seven sprung instantly to mind, and perhaps the BBC series Messiah from the 90s that I bet you don’t remember. The central protagonist is DI Cass Jones, a grizzled detective with the usual failed sex life (he’s managed to get married at least, although that’s on its last legs), and dodgy way of working. The serial killer leaves his bodies with perfectly placed flies eggs in the eyes, along with the statement in blood ‘Nothing is Sacred’.
It’s gripping stuff. It gets even more compelling when Cass’s brother’s family is killed in what looks like a murder-suicide. Cass begins to see visions of his brother, which are so well described that the book wanders into the territory of early 90s James Herbert or very early Stephen King. Chilling to the degree that you might not want to read the book late at night on your own.
From here, Pinborough adds more elements of horror and the supernatural. The book remains a study in London noir, but the complexity of the plot expands almost exponentially, and by the end leaves plenty of room for the second two books of the trilogy to play with the world she has created.
It’s the kind of book you want to read in one sitting. By the end, you can addExorcist stylings, and that most replicated of the horror genre, traditional Catholic mythology. I’m very curious to see what she does with the next two books.
margo666's review
4.0
I really liked this book though I have to admit it was not expertly written. 3.5 stars The plot was wonderfully complicated! Full of twists and turns but the reveals could have better executed.
The main character is a police man but this is by no means a police procedural story. It is not quite urban fantasy either but it has that same gritty feel to it. It is along similar vein to Life on Mars, but not good.
I will be continuing the series as the audio is available in my library - not sure I'd buy it though.
The main character is a police man but this is by no means a police procedural story. It is not quite urban fantasy either but it has that same gritty feel to it. It is along similar vein to Life on Mars, but not good.
I will be continuing the series as the audio is available in my library - not sure I'd buy it though.
ianjsimpson's review
4.0
http://theforgottengeek.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/a-matter-of-blood-by-sarah-pinborough/
blackheath's review
1.0
Cynical, world-weary homicide detective + author determined to make cynical, world-weary profound statements about life that read like something out of the diary of a teenager hoping to come across as cynical and world-weary = complete boredom by page 28. Done.
davidallkins's review
In the near future, a company created by a cabal of the rich, called simply The Bank is the owner of nearly everything. In London, Detective Inspector Cass Jones is investigating two cases. The murder of two boys caught in a gangland shooting and a serial murderer. The latter’s modus operandi is to leave fly eggs in the eyes of the corpses, resulting in his being known as 'the Man of Flies'.
Cass’ brother Christian, who works at The Bank’s London branch, is found dead, having apparently shot himself, his wife and son. Then Cass’ fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. While Cass tries to find out who has framed him, he starts to trace his family history uncovering links to The Bank and the killer. Also he starts to see visions of his late brother, just watching him as he investigates.
This is a serial killer/crime story that moves into supernatural and conspiracy areas. It is a credit to Pinborough that this narrative holds together. The reason I say this is because the crime and investigation scenes are so strong. The lead character Cass Jones is interesting, having a moral tone of shades of grey, in a decaying marriage and being haunted by events in his past. The supporting cast is also very well-drawn, with several of them having their own secrets coming to light.
The conspiracy and supernatural elements are not overdone, being comparatively small scale. It is as if the story starts off as a conventional crime novel to ease new readers into these fantastical elements. The most recent comparator reference that I can think of is the BBC television series Edge of Darkness, with its police investigation uncovering darker secrets.
Another strength of Pinborough's writing is the sense of a world suffering from the effects of financial insanity. Admittedly, this may not be hard to do these days. However, Pinborough still manages to convey this through the accumulation of: details, job insecurity, widespread corruption, terrorism and pet abandonment. This also ties into the themes of decay throughout the novel.
However, there is one aspect I personally felt was a flaw. This novel is the first of a trilogy, and there a couple of scenes that set up future developments, which feel like the characters are basically saying 'I’ll explain later'. However it should be said that the book does have a conclusion to story's immediate events.
I found A Matter of Blood to be an interesting and disturbing novel. It does leave you interested in the fate of the main character and the next book in the series. Even as a solitary volume, it is a satisfying read.
Originally published
at SF2 Concatenation' link. http://www.concatenation.org/frev/pinborough_a_matter_of_blood.html
Cass’ brother Christian, who works at The Bank’s London branch, is found dead, having apparently shot himself, his wife and son. Then Cass’ fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. While Cass tries to find out who has framed him, he starts to trace his family history uncovering links to The Bank and the killer. Also he starts to see visions of his late brother, just watching him as he investigates.
This is a serial killer/crime story that moves into supernatural and conspiracy areas. It is a credit to Pinborough that this narrative holds together. The reason I say this is because the crime and investigation scenes are so strong. The lead character Cass Jones is interesting, having a moral tone of shades of grey, in a decaying marriage and being haunted by events in his past. The supporting cast is also very well-drawn, with several of them having their own secrets coming to light.
The conspiracy and supernatural elements are not overdone, being comparatively small scale. It is as if the story starts off as a conventional crime novel to ease new readers into these fantastical elements. The most recent comparator reference that I can think of is the BBC television series Edge of Darkness, with its police investigation uncovering darker secrets.
Another strength of Pinborough's writing is the sense of a world suffering from the effects of financial insanity. Admittedly, this may not be hard to do these days. However, Pinborough still manages to convey this through the accumulation of: details, job insecurity, widespread corruption, terrorism and pet abandonment. This also ties into the themes of decay throughout the novel.
However, there is one aspect I personally felt was a flaw. This novel is the first of a trilogy, and there a couple of scenes that set up future developments, which feel like the characters are basically saying 'I’ll explain later'. However it should be said that the book does have a conclusion to story's immediate events.
I found A Matter of Blood to be an interesting and disturbing novel. It does leave you interested in the fate of the main character and the next book in the series. Even as a solitary volume, it is a satisfying read.
Originally published
at SF2 Concatenation' link. http://www.concatenation.org/frev/pinborough_a_matter_of_blood.html
wyvernfriend's review
4.0
This year's PCon introduced me to a new person, Sarah, who was funny and witty and is going to be next year's guest of honour. After meeting her and talking to her I had to read something by her, I was glad I did.
Set in a near future England, or possibly an England just a little different from now, the NHS is available to a select few, corruption is rife and Detective Inspector Cass Jones is a man whose life is crumbling around him. He's reliant on cocaine to keep him going and his marriage is a mess. When his brother is killed he's a major suspect. However his brother's death appears to be linked to other mysterious deaths and all paths are leading to The Bank, a shadowy organisation who control most of the world.
Oh man, this is messed up, Cass is a mess, there's all sorts of stuff that's hinted at here but will probably make more sense as the series goes on and I love the Bank as mysterious overlord, how true is that. Sarah extrapolates some of what's going on in the world and plays an interesting what-if game. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Set in a near future England, or possibly an England just a little different from now, the NHS is available to a select few, corruption is rife and Detective Inspector Cass Jones is a man whose life is crumbling around him. He's reliant on cocaine to keep him going and his marriage is a mess. When his brother is killed he's a major suspect. However his brother's death appears to be linked to other mysterious deaths and all paths are leading to The Bank, a shadowy organisation who control most of the world.
Oh man, this is messed up, Cass is a mess, there's all sorts of stuff that's hinted at here but will probably make more sense as the series goes on and I love the Bank as mysterious overlord, how true is that. Sarah extrapolates some of what's going on in the world and plays an interesting what-if game. Looking forward to the next book in the series.