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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
''The Last Detective' is the first in a series. It was published in 1991, and it features the 41-year-old English Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond. He is overweight, hates computers and scientific methods, and he wears a brown trilby over a bald head with a silver fringe. He strikes many of his colleagues as overbearing and opinionated, but he is is without question a good detective with the proof of many solved murders. He thinks the old methods are best: knocking on doors and interviews. However, he reluctantly, when the occasion requires it, admits to relying on forensic evidence, but he resists any use of computers, leaving that to his younger staff, such as his new assistant, John Wigfull, who has been recently transferred from the Home Office to work with Diamond.
Diamond is suspicious of Wigfull. He is certain Wigfull has been placed as his assistant in preparation to replace Diamond should the outcome of a police investigation into a previous case go against Diamond. Diamond has been accused of excessive force in an interrogation of an ultimately convicted suspect, who unfortunately gave a false confession to a crime he did not do. Diamond has a forceful personality, but he did not lay a finger on the suspect. Nonetheless, Diamond now has a cloud over his head.
A body is recovered from a lake. It is a beautiful redhead who resembles a popular actress in a soap opera, although she was fired from the show two years ago. Originally hired as an ingenue of 19, she is now 32 and the producers wanted another young girl to play the part. But there has been no missing person report filed on the actress by her husband, so Diamond is certain the dead woman cannot be her. He sets his staff in motion to discover the body's identity and waits for the pathologist's report. The pathologist, Jack Merlin, soon returns with a report that he cannot tell with any certainty how she died, since the body has none of the classic drowning clues.
Frustration mounting, Diamond knows a lot of eyes are on him from the Home Office. He has to solve this case.
The Last Detective' is very entertaining. I feel Peter Lovesey, the author, has his tongue firmly in his cheek, and he is knowingly looking back to the Agatha Christie classics of the 1940's. There is a gentle humor permeating this medium-violent cozy, with a lot of satisfying twists and turns. Some squeamish people of sensitive natures may find some scenes a bit tough, although I did not think it very graphic. However, gentle reader, it IS a book about murder and guilty characters who are hiding crimes peripheral to the main death, as well as having been written for an audience with a bit more exposure to modern television. There are also multiple points of view.
The ending was an interesting twist, but I thought it was very odd. I did not see it coming, but I was very puzzled by Diamond's innocent, misguided response.
I can see how earlier in the plot Diamond might view Matthew as a fatherless but likable hellion, since he feels Matthew is a bit like Diamond was at his age. But I cannot agree with the author or Diamond, by the time it is revealed Matthew is the killer, that he is a victim of teenage confusion! He did not 'accidentally' kill! Smothering Geraldine Jackman involved holding her down while she kicked and struggled for many minutes! Even in 1991 people knew a teenage killer is bad news and certain to kill a lot more if given the chance. Instead, Diamond wants to let Matthew go off to America without telling anyone he found out Matthew was the murderer, although he hopes Matthew will confess and do 'the right thing'. This ending was just spectacularly weird and wrong!
However, even though I thought the ending WAY peculiar and off, not simply offbeat, I give this four stars.
Diamond is suspicious of Wigfull. He is certain Wigfull has been placed as his assistant in preparation to replace Diamond should the outcome of a police investigation into a previous case go against Diamond. Diamond has been accused of excessive force in an interrogation of an ultimately convicted suspect, who unfortunately gave a false confession to a crime he did not do. Diamond has a forceful personality, but he did not lay a finger on the suspect. Nonetheless, Diamond now has a cloud over his head.
A body is recovered from a lake. It is a beautiful redhead who resembles a popular actress in a soap opera, although she was fired from the show two years ago. Originally hired as an ingenue of 19, she is now 32 and the producers wanted another young girl to play the part. But there has been no missing person report filed on the actress by her husband, so Diamond is certain the dead woman cannot be her. He sets his staff in motion to discover the body's identity and waits for the pathologist's report. The pathologist, Jack Merlin, soon returns with a report that he cannot tell with any certainty how she died, since the body has none of the classic drowning clues.
Frustration mounting, Diamond knows a lot of eyes are on him from the Home Office. He has to solve this case.
The Last Detective' is very entertaining. I feel Peter Lovesey, the author, has his tongue firmly in his cheek, and he is knowingly looking back to the Agatha Christie classics of the 1940's. There is a gentle humor permeating this medium-violent cozy, with a lot of satisfying twists and turns. Some squeamish people of sensitive natures may find some scenes a bit tough, although I did not think it very graphic. However, gentle reader, it IS a book about murder and guilty characters who are hiding crimes peripheral to the main death, as well as having been written for an audience with a bit more exposure to modern television. There are also multiple points of view.
The ending was an interesting twist, but I thought it was very odd. I did not see it coming, but I was very puzzled by Diamond's innocent, misguided response.
Spoiler
Peter Diamond treats the character Matthew as if he were simply a misguided high-spirited boy who has lost his way despite the fact he smothered a young woman. Diamond also feels kindly and sympathetic to Matthew after Matthew kicks him in his genitals. Diamond additionally catches Matthew smoking in his hospital bed where the rule is no smoking. Plus, Matthew lies about being injured by Diamond, which led to Diamond quitting the police force.I can see how earlier in the plot Diamond might view Matthew as a fatherless but likable hellion, since he feels Matthew is a bit like Diamond was at his age. But I cannot agree with the author or Diamond, by the time it is revealed Matthew is the killer, that he is a victim of teenage confusion! He did not 'accidentally' kill! Smothering Geraldine Jackman involved holding her down while she kicked and struggled for many minutes! Even in 1991 people knew a teenage killer is bad news and certain to kill a lot more if given the chance. Instead, Diamond wants to let Matthew go off to America without telling anyone he found out Matthew was the murderer, although he hopes Matthew will confess and do 'the right thing'. This ending was just spectacularly weird and wrong!
However, even though I thought the ending WAY peculiar and off, not simply offbeat, I give this four stars.
Meh. This strikes me as a very male mystery. I did appreciate the fun with Jane Austen titles, however.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Complicated, fulfilling literary mystery centered on Detective Inspector Peter Diamond, the city of Bath, Jane Austen and a modern murder mystery. Great book
adventurous
medium-paced
I really feel like I missed something with this book. As in, what the heck was even happening.... First, and this isn't really the book's fault, but it is incredibly dated. As in, the protagonist and his wife get a brand new microwave and don't know how to use it....and people have never heard of triathlons! It hard to wrap one's mind around. But most damning of all was that the a-ha! moment was not credible. That along with lackluster characters made this a miss for me.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. For me a good mystery is one that I don't figure out until the end and this one had me guessing until the author chose to reveal who dun it.
I also enjoy books where you learn something, and I learned quite a bit about Jane Austen's life in and around Bath.
I would recommend this book.
I also enjoy books where you learn something, and I learned quite a bit about Jane Austen's life in and around Bath.
I would recommend this book.
3.5 stars
It's kind of fun rooting for an anti-hero of sorts. I wasn't exactly sure when this novel takes place, but dna, forensics, and computers in police station are still relatively new. Peter Diamond is a curmudgeon who eschews technology in favor of good, old-fashioned detective work.
The body of a washed up actress is discovered in a lake, and Diamond heads up the investigation into her death. I sort of thought of the actual killer, but dismissed it early on. One of the things that makes it fun is the presence of Jane Austen running through the narrative.
It's kind of fun rooting for an anti-hero of sorts. I wasn't exactly sure when this novel takes place, but dna, forensics, and computers in police station are still relatively new. Peter Diamond is a curmudgeon who eschews technology in favor of good, old-fashioned detective work.
The body of a washed up actress is discovered in a lake, and Diamond heads up the investigation into her death. I sort of thought of the actual killer, but dismissed it early on. One of the things that makes it fun is the presence of Jane Austen running through the narrative.