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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Há muito tempo que não lia nada de Lynda La Plante, pelo que resolvi iniciar esta série "Anna Travis". Não me captou tanto como os outros que li, talvez por as personagens principais não me terem cativado tanto. Todavia, é uma obra com um enredo interessante e bem escrita, pelo que tenciono ler mais livros desta série.
I am torn about this rating. I loved the plot, and the fact that we, the reader, know who did it, but we weren't sure just how he'd be caught. I also loved the investigation's twists and turns.
But, sadly, I did not like the characters. Anna's desire to be liked by her superior seemed to go beyond professional from the beginning. She always saw him as a father figure, so when they eventually had sex it was jarring and a little icky.
I also didn't like the dialogue. Anna was so lackluster at her role as 'honeypot' that I was certain that the bad guy would see through her immediately. She was boring, which made me think "Duh, yeah, of course he's only looking for info! It's not like she's at all interesting to talk to!"
My final quibble was with the procedure. I mean, maybe it's my modern sensibilities, but having two police fly to the west coast in order to look at papers in person? Then, fly to the Midwest to look at other papers? What a waste of money! Scan those documents! Email them!
I may try further installments, because like I said, I really enjoyed the plot and the pacing, and I will have my fingers crossed for an improvement in those other areas.
But, sadly, I did not like the characters. Anna's desire to be liked by her superior seemed to go beyond professional from the beginning. She always saw him as a father figure, so when they eventually had sex it was jarring and a little icky.
I also didn't like the dialogue. Anna was so lackluster at her role as 'honeypot' that I was certain that the bad guy would see through her immediately. She was boring, which made me think "Duh, yeah, of course he's only looking for info! It's not like she's at all interesting to talk to!"
My final quibble was with the procedure. I mean, maybe it's my modern sensibilities, but having two police fly to the west coast in order to look at papers in person? Then, fly to the Midwest to look at other papers? What a waste of money! Scan those documents! Email them!
I may try further installments, because like I said, I really enjoyed the plot and the pacing, and I will have my fingers crossed for an improvement in those other areas.
The mystery was okay. Detailed police procedural. But the personal relationship between young female detective and gruff superior was awful. Written in the simple minded style of a Harlequin romance, it was so cliché ridden that I almost stopped reading.
How have I read mysteries for so many years, yet never heard of Lynda La Plante? Seems she's also responsible for the "Prime Suspect" books on which that BBC series starring Helen Mirren is based.
A friend had me watch several series of another BBC series, and I noticed that this series was based on novels by Lynda La Plante. I checked three of them out from the library and just read the first one.
"Above Suspicion" is an excellent start to the series with young detective Anna Travis serving on her first Murder Squad case. Her father was a highly regarded officer, and Anna hopes to do his memory proud.
The BBC adaptation was quite faithful to the book, although, as expected, the book did have bits not included in the program.
La Plante is a solid writer and her characters are all believable. I am ready to jump into the next entry in the series.
If you've never read any of her books, I highly recommend the Anna Travis series.
A friend had me watch several series of another BBC series, and I noticed that this series was based on novels by Lynda La Plante. I checked three of them out from the library and just read the first one.
"Above Suspicion" is an excellent start to the series with young detective Anna Travis serving on her first Murder Squad case. Her father was a highly regarded officer, and Anna hopes to do his memory proud.
The BBC adaptation was quite faithful to the book, although, as expected, the book did have bits not included in the program.
La Plante is a solid writer and her characters are all believable. I am ready to jump into the next entry in the series.
If you've never read any of her books, I highly recommend the Anna Travis series.
Blurb;
Young Anna Travis has been assigned to her first murder case - a series of killings that has shocked even the most hardened of detectives. They started eight years ago - now the body count is up to six. The method of killing is identical, the backgrounds of the girls identical - all drug users and prostitutes.
Then a seventh body is found. The modus operandi is the same, but the victim is a young student with the ‘face of an angel’. The profile of the murderer has changed dramatically.
Determined to earn the respect of her male colleagues, Anna stumbles on a vital piece of information which links one man to the killings, a much loved actor on the brink of international stardom. His arrest would create a media frenzy. But if he were found innocent, his wouldn’t be the only career over - Anna’s hard fought reputation would be destroyed once and for all…
My opinion;
What this blurb doesn’t tell you about the book is how powerfully fascinating it is. We follow Anna and the team of murder investigators on their journey to solving this, almost century long, mystery. We travel north and south of the country, and then things take a surprising twist when a body is discovered in America. Everything links to this actor, the audience suddenly think “Yes! yes! it’s him! well done anna”. But then said actor turns the charm on our oh-so-loveable lead character and the audience begins to soften to him… or do they? Anna’s character is also drawn into this trap, but it is slowly revealed he isn’t as nice as you would like to think, again we are drawn away, but this game of tug of war continues throughout the novel whilst you are thrown from one side to the other as to whether to adore or hate this murder suspect.
But a spanner is thrown into the works via Anna’s boss, Robert Langton. The description of this handosme, rugged, slightly alcoholic man is not portrayed as he should be through the film version as the actor just doesn’t fit the persona with his physical appearance, but he does a good job in living up to expectations of the role. Anyway, ignoring this point, a slight romance occurs between the characters of Langton and Anna and this is the moment you fall in love with the novel for what it is. The secrecy, the hardness of the characters, yet the loving relationships behind-closed-doors gives a wonderful back story and side plot to the novel, keeping the reader interested throughout.
La Plante does a fabulous job of describing the scenes, it is clear that she has done some attentive research into the murder victims profiles and spent a great deal of time writing the novel and keeping it as her baby. The complexity of the story line and sort after intricate details along with the compelling relationships between the characters makes this novel a must read.
I would rate this novel a 4 out of 5 for the simple reason that when you finish it you need to read more! However, the relationships between the characters do not turn out as, I suspect, the entire audience wants them to! Not to give you a spoiler, but it leaves you asking “Why La Plante?! Why?!”
This is a fantastic introduction to a series of novels written by an extremely talented author. After reading the entire series, it has made me want to read more of La Plante’s work, which I am assured is just as fantastic! Bookstore, here I come!
Young Anna Travis has been assigned to her first murder case - a series of killings that has shocked even the most hardened of detectives. They started eight years ago - now the body count is up to six. The method of killing is identical, the backgrounds of the girls identical - all drug users and prostitutes.
Then a seventh body is found. The modus operandi is the same, but the victim is a young student with the ‘face of an angel’. The profile of the murderer has changed dramatically.
Determined to earn the respect of her male colleagues, Anna stumbles on a vital piece of information which links one man to the killings, a much loved actor on the brink of international stardom. His arrest would create a media frenzy. But if he were found innocent, his wouldn’t be the only career over - Anna’s hard fought reputation would be destroyed once and for all…
My opinion;
What this blurb doesn’t tell you about the book is how powerfully fascinating it is. We follow Anna and the team of murder investigators on their journey to solving this, almost century long, mystery. We travel north and south of the country, and then things take a surprising twist when a body is discovered in America. Everything links to this actor, the audience suddenly think “Yes! yes! it’s him! well done anna”. But then said actor turns the charm on our oh-so-loveable lead character and the audience begins to soften to him… or do they? Anna’s character is also drawn into this trap, but it is slowly revealed he isn’t as nice as you would like to think, again we are drawn away, but this game of tug of war continues throughout the novel whilst you are thrown from one side to the other as to whether to adore or hate this murder suspect.
But a spanner is thrown into the works via Anna’s boss, Robert Langton. The description of this handosme, rugged, slightly alcoholic man is not portrayed as he should be through the film version as the actor just doesn’t fit the persona with his physical appearance, but he does a good job in living up to expectations of the role. Anyway, ignoring this point, a slight romance occurs between the characters of Langton and Anna and this is the moment you fall in love with the novel for what it is. The secrecy, the hardness of the characters, yet the loving relationships behind-closed-doors gives a wonderful back story and side plot to the novel, keeping the reader interested throughout.
La Plante does a fabulous job of describing the scenes, it is clear that she has done some attentive research into the murder victims profiles and spent a great deal of time writing the novel and keeping it as her baby. The complexity of the story line and sort after intricate details along with the compelling relationships between the characters makes this novel a must read.
I would rate this novel a 4 out of 5 for the simple reason that when you finish it you need to read more! However, the relationships between the characters do not turn out as, I suspect, the entire audience wants them to! Not to give you a spoiler, but it leaves you asking “Why La Plante?! Why?!”
This is a fantastic introduction to a series of novels written by an extremely talented author. After reading the entire series, it has made me want to read more of La Plante’s work, which I am assured is just as fantastic! Bookstore, here I come!
The first book by Lynda La Plante that I have read - I have added her to my list of authors to read more. I was thrown off by some red herrings but was on the wrong track. Some other reviewers have said it was boring and obvious, I do not agree and found it an enjoyable read
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Great book. Kept you on the edge of your seat. I intend to read the others in the series!
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
not horrible but not good. the ending was not it. I would have liked it if it was a bit darker. He should have killed her or escaped from prison and she would be left with the fear of him returning to come after her. Idk but this ending was too perfect for a serial killer book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Gore, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Misogyny
challenging
dark