Easy and enjoyable - Rated 
As with The Savage Garden Mark Mills puts the location at the very heart of this book. It is evident that a very thorough research went into preparation on the historical location. The sea plays a major part and is the setting for many key events, linking nature and human emotions.
I enjoyed reading the book not only because of the easy writing style that Mark Mills developed but also because he manages to link the lives and secrets of very contrasting individuals that were brought together by a seemingly innocent death of the New York socialite.
The two main characters are Conrad Labarde, the reclusive fisherman, and Tom Hollis, a widowed Deputy Police Chief. The author cleverly explores the past and present of these characters that lead to a mutual understanding when it matters most.
It is not the most on the edge, bite-your-nails murder mystery I have read but it is a stimulating book which is easy and enjoyable to read and I am waiting with anticipation for Mark Mills' next novel.
Drips in Atmoshere - Rated
Good read. Moves along at a reasonable pace with lashings of atmoshere that perfectly reflects the Hamptons area of Long Island, New York circa 1947.
It's a good, but not riveting read and the pace of it reminded me of Winter In Madrid - slow to build up but quickens it's pace nicely toward the latter third of the book. Interesting, realistic and believable characters add flavour to the small fishing town the story is set in.
Most notable I thought for it's engrossing atmosheric detail.
Thriller with depth - Rated
A murder mystery set in Long Island in the late 1940's with plenty of excellent historical and background information about the area. This I think was the reason for me that the mystery was a little slow to get going and at one time I nearly gave up. Get beyond this slow start and it is well worth reading as everything that came before begins to make sense!
Lillian Wallace youngest daughter of a wealthy New York family who have a summer home in East Hampton is found dead in mysterious circumstances.
Her death is declared an accident but two local men have their own good reasons to believe otherwise. Conrad Labarde, local fisherman who discovered the body and Tom Hollis, deputy police chief, individually unravel the mysteries behind Lillian's death. Complex twists and turns lead to the conclusion, thanks to the collaboration of these two men.
I believe this is Mark Mills's first novel though he is already an established script writer. Murder mysteries are not my favourite genre but I will certainly add this author to the list of thriller writers that I do enjoy. In fact The Savage Garden is already on my bookshelf, waiting to be read.
Interesting thriller - Rated 
Set in 1947, two fisherman find the body of a woman, a member of a rich local family, tangled in their net off the coast of Amagansett, Long Island. One of them, Conrad Labarde, a Basque immigrant and decorated war hero, has a good reason to carry out his own investigation. Deputy Police Chief Tom Hollis, a cop with an instinctive natural nose, also suspects foul play. However, because he was framed while a cop in New York, he has to be careful.
I really liked the characters in this, especially Conrad Labarde. The descriptions of his experiences in Italy during the war are moving.
The bad guys in this are really very dislikable. Because of the setting, I could not help think of 'The Great Gatsby' and that is not the only connection !
The murder mystery in this is more of a case of why rather than who dunnit, but I still found it absorbing and the climax, totally satisfying.
A good read - Rated
Very gripping crime novel set in the unusual venue of a North American fishing community. First few pages did not impress but I was soon pleased that I perservered. Excellent
|
