I have recently re-read The Private Patient by PD James and decided to take a look at some of her earlier works written back in the 1970s and though monetary values and technology has made these rather dated the narrative drive and excellence of the writing remain. So I picked up The Black Tower and settled down for a quiet afternoon on the sofa with the rain and wind outside and me nice and warm inside. Bliss.
At the start of this book Adam Dalgliesh is recuperating from a serious illness when he receives a call for advice from an elderly friend who works as a chaplain in a home for the disabled on the Dorset Coast. When he arrives it is only to discover that his friend has died as has one of the patients at Toynton Grange who committed suicide by hurling his wheelchair over a cliff. Or did he? The Grange is not the caring house one would hope to find and there is obviously evil lurking underneath the surface. Had forgotten most of it so it was almost like reading a new PDJ. On the cover of the book there is a quote from The Times: 'She writes like an angel. Every character is clearly drawn. Her atmosphere is unerringly, chillingly convincing'. Not going to argue with that.
I then turned to another book I had brought home from the library, mistakenly thinking it was another PDJ only to find it wasn't. It was by an author Peter James who has the fortune or misfortune, not sure which, of being shelved next to the Baroness in the library. I thought I would give it a whirl and then found myself engrossed in a cracking good thriller. Our hero is Inspector Roy Grace and true to the genre he has marriage problems. Not a widower or a divorcee this time, just for a change his wife went missing nine years ago, walked out one day and never came back. This is a new departure from the normal maverick/miserable detective we are usually given and the first title I read, Looking Good Dead, is further on in the series and he seems to be moving on and finding a new love in his life, so fingers crossed it doesn't go tits up. Bet it will though.
Series set in Brighton, well plotted and well written. This particular story featuring the making of snuff movies and all rather unpleasant but dealt with in a straightforward manner and no over the top gratuitous details given and I thought I would read more of this author. Great I thought now I have another name to add to my list of crime writers to read, went into the library and borrowed another and then picked up two in a charity shop so I am good to go.
Then I read the latest Tess Gerritsen - The Killing Place. This is another author I only recently discovered and in my usual manner read the lot in one huge splurge. Her earlier novels are more romantic thrillers than anything else, pacy and enjoyable but once she decided to create Detective Jane Rizzoli and Dr Maura Isles, the cirminal pathologist, then she ups her game and the writing, plotting and narrative are so much better. In The Killing Place, Maura is attending a conference in Wyoming where she bumps into an old colleague and his friends and on an impulse decides to take up their offer of a place on a road trip they are planning. It is snowing and cold and when the car gets stuck in a ditch in the middle of nowhere all looks bleak until they spot a private road leading to the village of Kingdom Come. But when they arrive the village is deserted, half eaten meals are discovered on the tables, the windows are open, a dead dog lies in the back yard, cars are left in the garages and it is clear something mysterious and horrible has happened. As they seek overnight shelter in one of the empty houses Maura becomes aware that something or someone is lurking in the dark woods.
This is a terrifically enjoyable read, creepy and scary and kept me up late one night (probably not the best time to read it) until I had come to the last page. I really do like this lady's writing and, as I discovered this week, does Simon over on Savidge Reads. He has an interview with Tess Gerritsen so please do nip over and take a look.
I am also reading some of the early Reginald Hill oeuvre which I seem to have missed or forgotten when I discovered them several years ago, and enjoying them too. Sometimes it is good to have a binge and race through an author's output as I then re-read them a few years later and enjoy them all over again. I call it literary recycling.
And in the midst of all the crime I took time out to take a second look at Down Under by Bill Bryson which I read years ago, but in view of my upcoming visit, decided to read again. As always, BB reduced me to helpless laughter with his laid back style and his humour, but what I love about him is his simple and unalloyed enjoyment when he comes across something that really takes his fancy. It is usually something small and silly but he makes no bones about how he feels and that is what makes his books not only historically interesting, but also endearing.
Not been too well this week so these books have helped take my mind off things. Tomorrow I may let rip at Strictly Come Dancing. Bet you can't wait........
