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mfeibel's review
4.0
I liked this second Barnes Murder Squad book. Not as much as the first, but I liked it. I was worried the ending was going to be too similar to Die With Me in regards to Donovan's character but it ended up going another way.
Honestly, my biggest issue with the book was that Tartaglia spent a disturbing amount of time fantasizing about murder victims and how he might have hooked up with them when they were alive. Too much focusing on the attractiveness of the corpses made him seem creepy.
Also, what happened with him and Liz (who btw I totally thought was a transgender woman, there were so many references to how masculine she was)?
Honestly, my biggest issue with the book was that Tartaglia spent a disturbing amount of time fantasizing about murder victims and how he might have hooked up with them when they were alive. Too much focusing on the attractiveness of the corpses made him seem creepy.
Also, what happened with him and Liz (who btw I totally thought was a transgender woman, there were so many references to how masculine she was)?
fictionophile's review
4.0
Just turned the last page of "Our Lady of Pain" by Elena Forbes. The second installment in what is shaping up to be a superb British police procedural series.
The first book in the series, "Die with me", I reviewed on my blog on June 13, 2009.
"Our Lady of Pain" is set in London, in February, with DCI Mark Tartaglia and policewoman Sam Donovan working an intriguing murder case. The body of a beautiful young art dealer is found by a passing jogger naked and frozen in Holland Park. Her body is posed in such a way that she looks like she is praying and an excerpt of a poem is found in her mouth.
The murder investigation is hindered by the fact that the victim, Rachel Tenison led a very mysterious and disturbing life. They flounder along with the case until a journalist links this case with one from the previous year which has some similarities to the one that they are working on... At this point a detective from the first case, Simon Turner, is assigned to work with them.
The suspects are credible villains who hide their motivations and lie about their whereabouts forcing Tartaglia and the Barnes Murder Squad to work even harder and more ingeniously to seek out the truth.
With brilliant characterizations and a steadily increasing grip of suspense, this novel delivered on all levels. It has in fact, ascertained that Elena Forbes has been added to my favorite novelists list.
The first book in the series, "Die with me", I reviewed on my blog on June 13, 2009.
"Our Lady of Pain" is set in London, in February, with DCI Mark Tartaglia and policewoman Sam Donovan working an intriguing murder case. The body of a beautiful young art dealer is found by a passing jogger naked and frozen in Holland Park. Her body is posed in such a way that she looks like she is praying and an excerpt of a poem is found in her mouth.
The murder investigation is hindered by the fact that the victim, Rachel Tenison led a very mysterious and disturbing life. They flounder along with the case until a journalist links this case with one from the previous year which has some similarities to the one that they are working on... At this point a detective from the first case, Simon Turner, is assigned to work with them.
The suspects are credible villains who hide their motivations and lie about their whereabouts forcing Tartaglia and the Barnes Murder Squad to work even harder and more ingeniously to seek out the truth.
With brilliant characterizations and a steadily increasing grip of suspense, this novel delivered on all levels. It has in fact, ascertained that Elena Forbes has been added to my favorite novelists list.
cindyann62's review
4.0
Hardcover
400 pages did NOT seem like 400 pages. The story moved along very well and the writing was good. This was a book we picked up at the Great American book giveaway (basically, all the books the library wants to clear off it's shelves..YES!) and since I'm quarantined at the bf's house, I pulled it off of his shelf. I haven't read the 1st book in the series (?) and I don't recognize the author but I will be looking her up. One review did mention a similarity to the endings and I'm hoping that's not true going forward because I really enjoyed her writing.
400 pages did NOT seem like 400 pages. The story moved along very well and the writing was good. This was a book we picked up at the Great American book giveaway (basically, all the books the library wants to clear off it's shelves..YES!) and since I'm quarantined at the bf's house, I pulled it off of his shelf. I haven't read the 1st book in the series (?) and I don't recognize the author but I will be looking her up. One review did mention a similarity to the endings and I'm hoping that's not true going forward because I really enjoyed her writing.
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
This is the second book in the series featuring Mark Tartaglia. Tartaglia is a detective inspector on a murder investigation team in London. This story begins with the discovery of a naked, frozen body in Holland Park. The body is arranged and the clothing is nowhere to be found. Tartaglia and his partner Sam Donovan are on the case and find it hard to get to know the victim, Rachel Tenison. Rachel seems to have been a very secretive person, and even her best friend doesn't know everything she was involved in. When a journalist makes links between this case and an unsolved one from a year earlier, the loose ends grow.
The case here revolves around personalities and relationships and, while there are moments of action, the greater part of the plot is of the people involved.
I like the inclusion of the personal lives of some of the police involved. It gives the book a good feel for me to see the whole personality, rather than just the workplace persona.
The case here revolves around personalities and relationships and, while there are moments of action, the greater part of the plot is of the people involved.
I like the inclusion of the personal lives of some of the police involved. It gives the book a good feel for me to see the whole personality, rather than just the workplace persona.
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