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samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
Reading The Prodigal Son and other books in the historical crime fiction Carmine Delmonico series, you would never guess that they are written by the same author as The Thorn Birds. Colleen McCullough proves once again that she’s a master of fiction with a wide ranging imagination in this book.
Although this is the fourth book in the series starring Carmine Delmonico, detective in Holloman, Connecticut, the books are easily read as stand-alone novels or out of order. (However, I would recommend all four books to you simply because of the chill down the spine McCullough leaves you with on the last line). These books are set in the 1960s, so the policing is done the ‘old-fashioned’ way without internet, mobile phones or DNA evidence. It provides a fascinating setting that relies on closely observed reactions and mannerisms of suspects, lateral thinking and the odd bit of luck.
Strangely enough for a crime fiction novel, Carmine is happily married detective with children. His wife, Desdemona, plays a supporting role as sounding board and a different view on the crime. In this novel, the crime is once again murder – but the murder weapon is rare. It’s the toxin from fugu (or puffer fish) and it was painstakingly extracted by one of the professors at Chubb university, Millie – who happens to be the daughter of the chief medical examiner. When multiple murders occur, several people stand to benefit from their deaths. Did someone steal Millie’s toxin or was the thief closer to home?
McCullough’s characterisation is also a strongpoint. While we see the return of old favourites like Carmine’s eccentrically dressed colleague, Delia, there are also many new characters to meet. There’s Millie and her husband Jim, Uda the strange servant and some unusual suspects. The subject of racism also comes up in this book, as Jim is a professor trying to be recognised for his ground-breaking work. The only problem is that he’s an African-American man in late 1960’s America. Could Jim have tired of the struggle for equality (which has seen him in hospital with deadly infections) and decided to remove the main man opposed to his book? Or is this a red herring?
The things that set McCullough’s murder mysteries apart is that they are not always concluded satisfactorily or that the ending is open enough to make you wonder if Carmine and his team really have succeeded. The latter can also be very frustrating if you want to see justice done! It is definitely a page turner though and McCullough will have you questions your suspicions for ‘whodunit’ throughout.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Although this is the fourth book in the series starring Carmine Delmonico, detective in Holloman, Connecticut, the books are easily read as stand-alone novels or out of order. (However, I would recommend all four books to you simply because of the chill down the spine McCullough leaves you with on the last line). These books are set in the 1960s, so the policing is done the ‘old-fashioned’ way without internet, mobile phones or DNA evidence. It provides a fascinating setting that relies on closely observed reactions and mannerisms of suspects, lateral thinking and the odd bit of luck.
Strangely enough for a crime fiction novel, Carmine is happily married detective with children. His wife, Desdemona, plays a supporting role as sounding board and a different view on the crime. In this novel, the crime is once again murder – but the murder weapon is rare. It’s the toxin from fugu (or puffer fish) and it was painstakingly extracted by one of the professors at Chubb university, Millie – who happens to be the daughter of the chief medical examiner. When multiple murders occur, several people stand to benefit from their deaths. Did someone steal Millie’s toxin or was the thief closer to home?
McCullough’s characterisation is also a strongpoint. While we see the return of old favourites like Carmine’s eccentrically dressed colleague, Delia, there are also many new characters to meet. There’s Millie and her husband Jim, Uda the strange servant and some unusual suspects. The subject of racism also comes up in this book, as Jim is a professor trying to be recognised for his ground-breaking work. The only problem is that he’s an African-American man in late 1960’s America. Could Jim have tired of the struggle for equality (which has seen him in hospital with deadly infections) and decided to remove the main man opposed to his book? Or is this a red herring?
The things that set McCullough’s murder mysteries apart is that they are not always concluded satisfactorily or that the ending is open enough to make you wonder if Carmine and his team really have succeeded. The latter can also be very frustrating if you want to see justice done! It is definitely a page turner though and McCullough will have you questions your suspicions for ‘whodunit’ throughout.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
sardine164's review against another edition
1.0
For me, this was unconvincing. The characters were inconsistent, and there was a lot of dialog between characters, particularly the detectives' discussions, to move the story along. (I felt that the detectives made rather a lot of assumptions, with no proper evidence.) Other reviews have mentioned about the racism; I also felt uncomfortable about the depiction of the characters.
So, not really my cup of tea. That said, it is a light, easy-reading whodunnit with a bit of a twist.
So, not really my cup of tea. That said, it is a light, easy-reading whodunnit with a bit of a twist.
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I keep reading McCullough because I love her ideas and I keep waiting for her to...I don't know, get better, I guess. She's been ill and had surgeries for crazy things that seem would make it impossible to write, but she keeps churning them out!
I really enjoy these (not quite old enough to be called historical) police procedurals. This is the 4th in a series centered around Captain Carmine Delmonico, set in the 1960's at Chubb University in Holloman.
The characters are great and the the plot twists are terrific. The problem with these books is that she seems unable to flesh them out. There are clues along the way and you can certainly "solve along with" the detectives, but there are glimmers of greatness that just don't play out. There isn't enough detail.
This one ends with something of a twist, shoving in your face who you knew had to be the killer all along, but throwing in a few tragic reveals that change your feelings (at least mine) for the main characters involved in the central "crime". McCullough strives to mislead you the entire novel, only to circle back around.
We get a few more details about Carmine's personal life which is the unifying thread through the series, but not many. There is just enough about him to provide the excuse to call this a series. A bit like the "In Death..." series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). You need familiar characters to root for, but the novel isn't about them. They are anchors more than characters.
I have the next in the series waiting to be read, but I am almost over looking for the greatness I once expected from her novels and now am reduced to settling for hints of what that greatness could have been had she written these novels a decade or so ago.
I really enjoy these (not quite old enough to be called historical) police procedurals. This is the 4th in a series centered around Captain Carmine Delmonico, set in the 1960's at Chubb University in Holloman.
The characters are great and the the plot twists are terrific. The problem with these books is that she seems unable to flesh them out. There are clues along the way and you can certainly "solve along with" the detectives, but there are glimmers of greatness that just don't play out. There isn't enough detail.
This one ends with something of a twist, shoving in your face who you knew had to be the killer all along, but throwing in a few tragic reveals that change your feelings (at least mine) for the main characters involved in the central "crime". McCullough strives to mislead you the entire novel, only to circle back around.
We get a few more details about Carmine's personal life which is the unifying thread through the series, but not many. There is just enough about him to provide the excuse to call this a series. A bit like the "In Death..." series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). You need familiar characters to root for, but the novel isn't about them. They are anchors more than characters.
I have the next in the series waiting to be read, but I am almost over looking for the greatness I once expected from her novels and now am reduced to settling for hints of what that greatness could have been had she written these novels a decade or so ago.
nursenell's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite, to date, in this series about Detective Delmonico, set in a CT university town in 1969. Someone is using a very rare neurotoxin extracted from the blowfish to murder people. Delmonico's own niece is the biochemist who has extracted the toxin, and reports 6 ampules of it stolen from her lab. Her husband, another biochemist, is about to have a book published that is expected to be a best seller but not everyone thinks he wrote the book or is enthusiastic over its pending publication. And so the murders begin.
jrmama42's review against another edition
4.0
I've enjoyed following Carmine Delmonico and the other characters in this series. Some of the books are a bit gruesome, but this one was less so. At least not blood-and-gore type gruesome... The mystery of a serial murderer who uses a very lethal and rare poison to dispatch his enemies is well plotted and hard to put down. It was a quick read, and quite enjoyable.
ffij's review against another edition
2.0
I could never get into this book. I ended up skipping to the end. The synopsis was so intriguing to me but in all honesty I found the reveal underwhelming and predictable.
samstillreading's review against another edition
4.0
Reading The Prodigal Son and other books in the historical crime fiction Carmine Delmonico series, you would never guess that they are written by the same author as The Thorn Birds. Colleen McCullough proves once again that she’s a master of fiction with a wide ranging imagination in this book.
Although this is the fourth book in the series starring Carmine Delmonico, detective in Holloman, Connecticut, the books are easily read as stand-alone novels or out of order. (However, I would recommend all four books to you simply because of the chill down the spine McCullough leaves you with on the last line). These books are set in the 1960s, so the policing is done the ‘old-fashioned’ way without internet, mobile phones or DNA evidence. It provides a fascinating setting that relies on closely observed reactions and mannerisms of suspects, lateral thinking and the odd bit of luck.
Strangely enough for a crime fiction novel, Carmine is happily married detective with children. His wife, Desdemona, plays a supporting role as sounding board and a different view on the crime. In this novel, the crime is once again murder – but the murder weapon is rare. It’s the toxin from fugu (or puffer fish) and it was painstakingly extracted by one of the professors at Chubb university, Millie – who happens to be the daughter of the chief medical examiner. When multiple murders occur, several people stand to benefit from their deaths. Did someone steal Millie’s toxin or was the thief closer to home?
McCullough’s characterisation is also a strongpoint. While we see the return of old favourites like Carmine’s eccentrically dressed colleague, Delia, there are also many new characters to meet. There’s Millie and her husband Jim, Uda the strange servant and some unusual suspects. The subject of racism also comes up in this book, as Jim is a professor trying to be recognised for his ground-breaking work. The only problem is that he’s an African-American man in late 1960’s America. Could Jim have tired of the struggle for equality (which has seen him in hospital with deadly infections) and decided to remove the main man opposed to his book? Or is this a red herring?
The things that set McCullough’s murder mysteries apart is that they are not always concluded satisfactorily or that the ending is open enough to make you wonder if Carmine and his team really have succeeded. The latter can also be very frustrating if you want to see justice done! It is definitely a page turner though and McCullough will have you questions your suspicions for ‘whodunit’ throughout.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Although this is the fourth book in the series starring Carmine Delmonico, detective in Holloman, Connecticut, the books are easily read as stand-alone novels or out of order. (However, I would recommend all four books to you simply because of the chill down the spine McCullough leaves you with on the last line). These books are set in the 1960s, so the policing is done the ‘old-fashioned’ way without internet, mobile phones or DNA evidence. It provides a fascinating setting that relies on closely observed reactions and mannerisms of suspects, lateral thinking and the odd bit of luck.
Strangely enough for a crime fiction novel, Carmine is happily married detective with children. His wife, Desdemona, plays a supporting role as sounding board and a different view on the crime. In this novel, the crime is once again murder – but the murder weapon is rare. It’s the toxin from fugu (or puffer fish) and it was painstakingly extracted by one of the professors at Chubb university, Millie – who happens to be the daughter of the chief medical examiner. When multiple murders occur, several people stand to benefit from their deaths. Did someone steal Millie’s toxin or was the thief closer to home?
McCullough’s characterisation is also a strongpoint. While we see the return of old favourites like Carmine’s eccentrically dressed colleague, Delia, there are also many new characters to meet. There’s Millie and her husband Jim, Uda the strange servant and some unusual suspects. The subject of racism also comes up in this book, as Jim is a professor trying to be recognised for his ground-breaking work. The only problem is that he’s an African-American man in late 1960’s America. Could Jim have tired of the struggle for equality (which has seen him in hospital with deadly infections) and decided to remove the main man opposed to his book? Or is this a red herring?
The things that set McCullough’s murder mysteries apart is that they are not always concluded satisfactorily or that the ending is open enough to make you wonder if Carmine and his team really have succeeded. The latter can also be very frustrating if you want to see justice done! It is definitely a page turner though and McCullough will have you questions your suspicions for ‘whodunit’ throughout.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
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