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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
2.0
Hmmm, no.... I'm looking for a new British crime author to read, and tried this author. I won't be going back.
This book reminded me a fair bit of the Inspector Linley mysteries, in as much as there's one person who you wouldn't expect to be there (in this case a Brummie in the countryside), someone with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, a guy who knows has specialist knowledge of things a downtrodden city type wouldn't get (in this case he isn't rich, but is better suited it seems to country policing), and someone with a complete inferiority complex.
The book itself sees Cooper and Fry investigate the death of a "wide-boy" horse dealer in the middle of a field, while a hunt (and various saboteurs) do what they do nearby. Did the hunt have anything to do with it? Were the saboteurs involved? Was it someone else completely? Someone related to his "wide-boy" ways? Well the book helps us find out.
The problem I had with this book is that I liked neither of the two main investigators. Fry is the sergeant. She good at interviews, and seems to run a decent enough investigation, but has few social skills, is convinced, it seems, that people are out to do her down (which is phenomenally big headed), and seems incapable of adjusting to country policing. More worryingly, she seems incapable of working out how to manage the adjustment.
Cooper, in comparison, seems incapable of managing his sergeant. He gets the locals better, but can't seem to help himself, when it comes passing on this local colour (he seems particularly good at putting his foot in his mouth when communicating with his line manager).
I wouldn't mind this, if this was the first book in the series, but this is the nineth book, and I would have hoped/expected that Fry and Cooper would have managed to work together effectively by now.
This book reminded me a fair bit of the Inspector Linley mysteries, in as much as there's one person who you wouldn't expect to be there (in this case a Brummie in the countryside), someone with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, a guy who knows has specialist knowledge of things a downtrodden city type wouldn't get (in this case he isn't rich, but is better suited it seems to country policing), and someone with a complete inferiority complex.
The book itself sees Cooper and Fry investigate the death of a "wide-boy" horse dealer in the middle of a field, while a hunt (and various saboteurs) do what they do nearby. Did the hunt have anything to do with it? Were the saboteurs involved? Was it someone else completely? Someone related to his "wide-boy" ways? Well the book helps us find out.
The problem I had with this book is that I liked neither of the two main investigators. Fry is the sergeant. She good at interviews, and seems to run a decent enough investigation, but has few social skills, is convinced, it seems, that people are out to do her down (which is phenomenally big headed), and seems incapable of adjusting to country policing. More worryingly, she seems incapable of working out how to manage the adjustment.
Cooper, in comparison, seems incapable of managing his sergeant. He gets the locals better, but can't seem to help himself, when it comes passing on this local colour (he seems particularly good at putting his foot in his mouth when communicating with his line manager).
I wouldn't mind this, if this was the first book in the series, but this is the nineth book, and I would have hoped/expected that Fry and Cooper would have managed to work together effectively by now.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Venturing into Dick Francis' territory, this mystery (about hunting, horse meat and the Royal Observer Corps) is almost incidental to the interpersonal relationships. Unlike most "partner" mysteries, Diane Fry and Ben Cooper do not really function as a unit. They work together, but they don't get along and they only seem to interact when absolutely necessary or when Cooper inserts himself into Fry's cases. It's not a sexual tension, it's just plain tension.
I like the characters, all flawed humans with sometimes good intentions, and the mystery is a good excuse to eavesdrop on their lives.
I like the characters, all flawed humans with sometimes good intentions, and the mystery is a good excuse to eavesdrop on their lives.
asteroidbuckle's review against another edition
3.0
Diane Fry has had a rough life and has suffered a major trauma, and these factors should make me feel a bit of empathy for her. But they just don't. She was more insufferable than usual in this book and her general contempt for her colleagues, victims, and witnesses alike makes her utterly unlikeable.
majkia's review against another edition
5.0
This series is deeply focused on the area (the Peak district), its history, its geography, its people. The mysteries are well thought out, and effective at keeping you guessing. And such interesting characters.
jonathanrobert's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bucherca49's review against another edition
3.0
Booth has several different themes or plot lines running simultaneously. Probably most interesting to me was the history of Eyam, the "Plague Village," which instituted measures to slow the plague after it had been brought to the village from London in a bundle of wool that was infested with fleas. They quarantined the entire village for over a year (I think). Another plot line has to do with the illegal sale of horses to be slaughtered and sold for meat. The title "kill call" comes from fox hunting and the notes blown on the horn to call the hounds to kill the fox. The third plot line has to do with the ROC, the Royal Observer Corps, which in the 1960s was involved in preparedness for a nuclear war. At the end, all three come together somehow. The relationship between Cooper and Fry moves along a few notches. It's not clear where it's headed, but Cooper's love interest drops out of view after she encourages Cooper to talk to Fry, who needs a friend. Oh, and Randy dies and Cooper brings home a new kitten.
tabularasablog's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book at a totally leisurely pace and enjoyed every bit of it. The topics, though a little morbid-ish (horse-meat?), were intriguing; I found myself completely engrossed (like always) especially by Cooper's part of the investigation: the Cold War, the Black Plague, that overwhelming presence of history and folklore.
I don't think I've been involved in a series quite as deeply in a long, long time. I just can't get enough of these books!
I don't think I've been involved in a series quite as deeply in a long, long time. I just can't get enough of these books!
yowlyy's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent mystery, and not a page of boredom in sight. DS Fry keeps on annoying me, but sometimes she turns into a human being and then I like her again.
DC Cooper is my favourite, how couldn't it be?
DC Cooper is my favourite, how couldn't it be?
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