Micro-review of A Lesson In Dying written by Ann Cleeves
One hundred and sixty-five pages and thirteen chapters of pure mystery genius! I try to abstain from comparing authors to other authors. I find more joy in comparing an author against themselves. Asking myself if over time their writing gets more distinct and enjoyable or if it becomes weighed down by banalities and technicalities. Ann Cleeves writing is of the highest quality and only gets better with each novel!
This prolific author is best known for her Shetland and Vera series' which serve as the foundation for the well received television series of the same name's. This is the third Inspector Ramsay series that I have had the pleasure of reading. A Lesson in Dying is said to have been the first book in the Inspector Ramsay series.
What is most impressive about this particular story is that Detective Inspector Stephen Ramsay is portrayed as a fallible and realistic copper. He is clever but still manages to get the wrong end of the stick, several times. Which we all know happens within the bounds of real life murder investigations. He is not presented as this omniscient, omnipresent, otherworldly detective who solves the murder investigation single handed!
Main characters are: Jack Robson made to appear as a naive, incorrigible romantic & veritable boy scout but actually has the sharpest brain in the village. Patty, Jack's daughter, is a bored housewife who assists in the amateur investigation that uncovers a plethora of relevant evidence. Paul and Hannah Wilcox impersonate a perfect power couple, with Hannah the breadwinner and Paul contributing as "Mr. Mom." Angela Bradshaw depicted as a desperate and conniving "gold digger" consorts with the village men in hopes of advancing her social status. Irene Hunt, the even tempered, sympathetic protector of the wronged. Matthew Carpenter, the pariah and professional underdog of the group. Last but not least, Harold and Kitty Medburn round out the group as miscreant murder victim and admirable martyr, respectively! Are you able to guess who committed these heinous crimes?
It actually takes "the village" to solve these nefarious plots of violence and butchery.
The setting: the small Northumberland Village of Heppleburn. The village has as much personality as it's inhabitants.
What made it relevant for me: the camaraderie, between me and the villagers, while attempting to solve a slew of murders beside Inspector Ramsay. I was hoodwinked numerous times by the "red herrings" and oblivious to the surreptitious clues left by our cunning author!
One hundred and sixty-five pages and thirteen chapters of pure mystery genius! I try to abstain from comparing authors to other authors. I find more joy in comparing an author against themselves. Asking myself if over time their writing gets more distinct and enjoyable or if it becomes weighed down by banalities and technicalities. Ann Cleeves writing is of the highest quality and only gets better with each novel!
This prolific author is best known for her Shetland and Vera series' which serve as the foundation for the well received television series of the same name's. This is the third Inspector Ramsay series that I have had the pleasure of reading. A Lesson in Dying is said to have been the first book in the Inspector Ramsay series.
What is most impressive about this particular story is that Detective Inspector Stephen Ramsay is portrayed as a fallible and realistic copper. He is clever but still manages to get the wrong end of the stick, several times. Which we all know happens within the bounds of real life murder investigations. He is not presented as this omniscient, omnipresent, otherworldly detective who solves the murder investigation single handed!
Main characters are: Jack Robson made to appear as a naive, incorrigible romantic & veritable boy scout but actually has the sharpest brain in the village. Patty, Jack's daughter, is a bored housewife who assists in the amateur investigation that uncovers a plethora of relevant evidence. Paul and Hannah Wilcox impersonate a perfect power couple, with Hannah the breadwinner and Paul contributing as "Mr. Mom." Angela Bradshaw depicted as a desperate and conniving "gold digger" consorts with the village men in hopes of advancing her social status. Irene Hunt, the even tempered, sympathetic protector of the wronged. Matthew Carpenter, the pariah and professional underdog of the group. Last but not least, Harold and Kitty Medburn round out the group as miscreant murder victim and admirable martyr, respectively! Are you able to guess who committed these heinous crimes?
It actually takes "the village" to solve these nefarious plots of violence and butchery.
The setting: the small Northumberland Village of Heppleburn. The village has as much personality as it's inhabitants.
What made it relevant for me: the camaraderie, between me and the villagers, while attempting to solve a slew of murders beside Inspector Ramsay. I was hoodwinked numerous times by the "red herrings" and oblivious to the surreptitious clues left by our cunning author!
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