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abibliofob's review
4.0
I just can't get enough of these books. How do you keep a selfpropelled canon hidden for fifty years? If you read this you'll find out. Throw in some murder and right wing crazies and a czech police officer on a diet then you have the setting for this wonderful story. I love it.
cj_mo_2222's review
5.0
A grenade from World War II explodes in a field in the Czech Republic and kills four people. Lieutenant Josef Slonský thinks something is suspicious about this does a little digging. It looks like this incident could be just a small part of a bigger plan. Slonský then enlists the help of the officers he is mentoring, Jan Navrátil and Kristýna Peiperová, to investigate this strange case before there are any additional victims.
"Field of Death" is the fourth book in this excellent series. The books have strong procedural elements, but are elevated by the unique Prague setting and wonderful humor from beginning to end. Slonský may sometimes find ways of getting out of doing work, but he is dedicated to his job and loyal to his country. I love his determination to solve cases, which means frequently delegating to officers Navrátil and Peiperová. This case takes some unexpected and dangerous turns, but Slonský and his team are determined to get to the truth. I was worried when Navrátil was given a special assignment that the usual camaraderie wouldn't be there, but this plot element turned out to be very entertaining. The book has a lot of action in the final chapters, some of it pretty intense.
Slonský, Navrátil, and Peiperová have made a great team so far, but changes are coming. Peiperová is preparing for a one-year assignment assisting the Director of Criminal Police and Slonský surprised even himself with his ambition and is about to become the new Captain of their division. I can't wait to see how those developments play out in the next installment. I have read and enjoyed all of the prior books in the series, but the book is also accessible to new readers. Fans of Peter Robinson or Colin Dexter will enjoy this book and the entire series.
I received "Field of Death" through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
"Field of Death" is the fourth book in this excellent series. The books have strong procedural elements, but are elevated by the unique Prague setting and wonderful humor from beginning to end. Slonský may sometimes find ways of getting out of doing work, but he is dedicated to his job and loyal to his country. I love his determination to solve cases, which means frequently delegating to officers Navrátil and Peiperová. This case takes some unexpected and dangerous turns, but Slonský and his team are determined to get to the truth. I was worried when Navrátil was given a special assignment that the usual camaraderie wouldn't be there, but this plot element turned out to be very entertaining. The book has a lot of action in the final chapters, some of it pretty intense.
Slonský, Navrátil, and Peiperová have made a great team so far, but changes are coming. Peiperová is preparing for a one-year assignment assisting the Director of Criminal Police and Slonský surprised even himself with his ambition and is about to become the new Captain of their division. I can't wait to see how those developments play out in the next installment. I have read and enjoyed all of the prior books in the series, but the book is also accessible to new readers. Fans of Peter Robinson or Colin Dexter will enjoy this book and the entire series.
I received "Field of Death" through the courtesy of Sapere Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘It ought not be thought that Slonský was a curmudgeon who disliked human interaction.’
No, Josef Slonský is a man on a mission. He must pass a medical in order to take up his promotion as Captain in the Prague police force, and a strict diet and exercise regime is making him just a little more grumpy than usual. But then an explosion in a field captures his attention.
It’s reported that four men with metal detectors managed to discover and then to detonate a World War II bomb. But Novák the pathologist has some doubts about this explanation, and Slonský starts investigating. Was it an accident, or is it murder?
‘Has either of you heard of the Ghost Battery?’
This is the fourth brilliant entry into the Josef Slonský series, and I think it is the best yet. It has a delightfully eccentric plot (no spoilers here) and includes his two offsiders Jan Navrátil and Kristýna Peiperová. Peiperová is about to undertake a one-year assignment for the Director of Criminal Police, and Slonský is plotting to make sure that she returns to his division afterwards. And Navrátil ends up with his own critical assignment as Slonský works to solve the case. There’s plenty of action towards the end, and more than a few twists.
As I’ve come to expect, Slonský finds some unusual albeit pragmatic solutions to problems and it’s an entertaining read. While this novel could be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the novels in order because the character development (and related backstory) is as important as the case being solved.
And now I will wait patiently for another instalment. Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
No, Josef Slonský is a man on a mission. He must pass a medical in order to take up his promotion as Captain in the Prague police force, and a strict diet and exercise regime is making him just a little more grumpy than usual. But then an explosion in a field captures his attention.
It’s reported that four men with metal detectors managed to discover and then to detonate a World War II bomb. But Novák the pathologist has some doubts about this explanation, and Slonský starts investigating. Was it an accident, or is it murder?
‘Has either of you heard of the Ghost Battery?’
This is the fourth brilliant entry into the Josef Slonský series, and I think it is the best yet. It has a delightfully eccentric plot (no spoilers here) and includes his two offsiders Jan Navrátil and Kristýna Peiperová. Peiperová is about to undertake a one-year assignment for the Director of Criminal Police, and Slonský is plotting to make sure that she returns to his division afterwards. And Navrátil ends up with his own critical assignment as Slonský works to solve the case. There’s plenty of action towards the end, and more than a few twists.
As I’ve come to expect, Slonský finds some unusual albeit pragmatic solutions to problems and it’s an entertaining read. While this novel could be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading the novels in order because the character development (and related backstory) is as important as the case being solved.
And now I will wait patiently for another instalment. Highly recommended.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
vesper1931's review
4.0
In Pardubice, near Holice outside of Prague a bomb has exploded killing four people including a police officer. But evidence from the scene does not agree. Meanwhile Josef Slonský is preparing for his promotion to Captain when he is informed that he must pass a medical, but he decides to investigate.
Another entertaining well-written book in this series with its wonderful characters
Another entertaining well-written book in this series with its wonderful characters
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