Bill Selnes › Comments

It is sad when that happens. Happened to me recently with an author I'd recently discovered & thought very good for the first couple of books. Talk about a plunge in quality in a couple of later ones....no more for me. - Maxine

Oh, I've had that happen too. Sorry to hear it Bernadette. I hope it's just a one-off. - Margot Kinberg

If it happens I usually try to read another to see if it was an aberation or a full scale decline. - Bill Selnes

well done Rob - Kerrie

Congratulations. - Bill Selnes

I DNF'd one a couple of years ago - fairly ordinary cookie-cutter thriller - and he seems to get blurbed by James P quite often - not exactly a glowing recommendation IMHO - Bernadette

Thought it was a Hollywood thriller on paper but possibly even less credible. Characters do not reach 2 dimensional. - Bill Selnes

Can't comment on blogger Bill. This was what I wanted to say: Thanks for your review, Bill. I've not read this one, but Yours Untill Death and it seems to me you may like it more. Can't tell if he is more often as bleak as in this one since I have not read more. - Jose Ignacio

Writing on the Wall was a DNF for me some years back. Found it a bit too slow and earnest for my tastes. - LauraRoot

100 books already? You're a machine Kerrie. :-) - Craig Sisterson

Impressive - Jose Ignacio

Amazingly impressive! - Bill Selnes

I am glad you enjoyed the first book in a strong legal mystery series. - Bill Selnes

I enjoyed everything about the book but the ending. Connelly writes as well about lawyers as he does about police. - Bill Selnes

I agree in general that Connelly's books are all good, but most of them have a part that lags (for me) - sometimes the beginning, sometimes the middle, and sometimes the end. I can't remember too much about the end of this one, but I do remember enjoying it a lot, assuming it was the one about Mickey as the "bottom feeder" representing people who were about to have their houses repossessed, finding ways to delay the money men. I loved that element of it. (But I may have the wrong book!) - Maxine

that's the book Maxine - Craig Sisterson

apologies for the delay on this guys - i've been laid up in bed the past 48 hours with a really nasty flu virus. - Craig Sisterson

After going through a pair of summer colds I have empathy for your winter flu. Drink lots of fluids and get lots of rest. - Bill Selnes

Glad to see you back, José Ignacio. - Margot Kinberg

Welcome back, Jose Ignacio. I'm also away for a long weekend & the internet access here is so painfully slow I'll catch up when I am back, either tomorrow or if there is too much to do when I get home, Tues. - Maxine

interesting stuff. the first time in decades Perry has really spoken to NZ writers/journalists, and opened up to anyone at all about the infamous 1954 murder... - Craig Sisterson

Hear hear! - Maxine

good book too. well deserved - Craig Sisterson

I am going to have to learn more about this Prize. I had not heard of it until your post Craig. Thanks. - Bill Selnes

It's quite new Bill - just inaugurated in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. - Craig Sisterson

Perhaps Bill S can enlighten us as to whether this is a shock or not. I've never heard of the bloke but my knowledge of things Canadian is not vast. - Bernadette from Bookmarklet

I'll look forward to your post too, Bill. - Margot Kinberg

Maxine - I can't find how to comment on your post, but I'll follow your advice and read BURNED first. - Jose Ignacio

Oh, Bill, that really is an appalling story! I can imagine there was controversy about that decision. Sarah, there's similar legislation in the US. - Margot Kinberg

Who is going to be Harry? - Bill Selnes

Yes, I think they rewrote the film to allow for it, but yes, I agree. Though he was good. - Maxine

So.... I'm looking forward to your eagerly reading and reviewing this Bernadette ;-) - Margot Kinberg

LOL, Bill!! - Margot Kinberg

Though I note Bill has not read The Fear Index ;-) - Maxine

It is not going to be a priority in my life. - Bill Selnes

I should think not :) - Bernadette

Unfortunately not available via Amazon UK unless you are prepared to pay a great deal of money (same for #1). Sad. - Maxine

Seems unlikely, Craig. - Maxine

I loved the early books in this series, but found this one less than riveting. There are few series I read that I find vary as much as these... but in general love the characters, and love Laurie (R) King. - Moira Redmond

I have mixed emotions about the series. I loved the first book. Some of the others I read but was left uncertain about continuing to read the series. - Bill Selnes

Don't know if it's Blogger or the iPad but I can't seem to comment on your blog Bill - today the captcha had a little symbol that looked a bit like an alien ship with 3 legs - I've no clue how I was supposed to recreate that in text format! I was going to say that it is a nice review and I like the character of Hazel - she's quite believeable - perhaps apart from her penchant for going to places alone that she really shouldn't go. - Bernadette

one level of captcha requires that you get one word right, but I have no idea how you set the levels on Blogger. Since I stopped using Captcha on my blog I really haven't had many problems except that if the person uses Anonymous as id then it is auto assigned to Spam - but it is Blogger determining that, not me. 722 Anonymous comments since 12 March. One wonders why they bother since they never see publication. - Kerrie

Good on ya, Kerrie!! - Margot Kinberg

thankfully I'm only doing one challenge this year (read 365 stories) and I'm probably hopelessly behind on that. Well done. - Rob

Me neither, though I have to by osmosis at times like Euro 2012. - Maxine

Maxine, I am sure, if it is not already available, it will soon be possible to watch T.V. on your e reader. - Bill Selnes

Scream! - Maxine

Congrat. Rob, Well done - Jose Ignacio

Congratulations! - Bill Selnes

ah, my favourite Canadian author (with apologies to Linwood Barclay, Rick Mofina, Chevy Stevens, Lou Allin, and a few other terrific Canucks)... had the pleasure of meeting Deverell in Vancouver back in 2008, and it was our conversation about crime fiction then that really got me rolling with being a reviewer, interviewer, festival chair, awards judge and more when I returned to New... more... - Craig Sisterson

Thanks for adding your personal contacts with Deverell. I would like to meet him. - Bill Selnes

Oooh, Margot, another picture! Lovely- I think I prefer this one to the previous one, marginally, but then I am a sucker for that beautiful turquoise of your blouse. I also think it is nicer not having your arm in the way ;-) Very attractive. - Maxine

*Blush* That's very kind of you José Ignacio. - Margot Kinberg

Thanks to Rhian and Margot for organising this. I've linked to the post on my blog today. - Sarah Ward

It's an excellent pair of reviews, Sarah and Bill - Margot Kinberg

Thanks for the kind words, Margot. - Bill Selnes

I'm proud of you.both - Jose Ignacio

Links to Maxine's reviews now added. - Karen Meek

I have now just realised this author is male ;-) - Maxine

Thank you for the comments. Bernadette, I regret your difficulties commenting on the blog and appreciate you commenting here. Karen, you sound like myself with this author though I have the 3rd to read and expect I will read it. - Bill Selnes

Thanks, Bill :-) - Margot Kinberg

You're welcome. Without your inspiration there would not have been the post. - Bill Selnes

Yes, a very interesting post, and question, Bill. - Maxine

Reading recommendations of "buried treasure" from Michael Connelly, Natasha Cooper, Tana French and several Canadian authors eg Gail Bowen, Louise Penny, Robert Rotenberg, William Deverell. - Maxine from Bookmarklet

Is sad and Canadian that none of the Canadian authors named a favourite by a Canadian. - Bill Selnes

Quite fiendish, Norman! :-) - Margot Kinberg

Interesting but far too difficult for me - Bill Selnes