Short Notes - Part I

Here comes the post on pending activity: A high-level note on each of the books I read in the last few months

1. Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
I had not tried historical fiction mainly on the assumption that they are tedious and are written in complex, old English (like all those Victorian novels). The story blurb of Girl with a Pearl Earring was so intriguing that I decided to give it a try and promptly borrowed it from the library. 

I was not disappointed. The theme of the book is based on the famous painting of the same name by Johannes Vermeer. The story is narrated from the model’s point of view – a maid who worked in Vermeer’s house – about how the whole painting came into existence. It delves into the delicate and budding relationship between Griet (the maid) and Vermeer (the master) during her stay in his house. It is never once boring. Griet comes across as a silent, strong girl with a natural flair and curiosity towards art and colours. She also has strong moral values and is troubled by the ambiguous and changing nature of her relationship with Vermeer, others in the household, and her own family. The writing is so fluid and masterful that I didn’t realise how quickly I ate up the pages. 

This one is worth my shelf space at home, so I am planning to buy a copy for myself. 

2. Bloodhounds - Peter Lovesey

Peter Lovesey’s book was an impulsive selection. I had never heard of the author, nor did anyone recommend the book to me. When I googled his name, I was surprised to find he was a prolific writer and British. (I have become interested in British novels of late) 

Bloodhounds blurb says this: 'Darling, if ever I've met a group of potential murderers anywhere, it's the Bloodhounds.' Thus says one of the members of the Bloodhounds of Bath, a society that meets in a crypt to discuss crime novels. But to their latest recruit, they seem just a gaggle of dotty misfits, until one of them reveals that he is in possession of an immensely valuable stamp, recently stolen from the Postal Museum. Then theft is overtaken by murder when the corpse of one of the Bloodhounds is found in a locked houseboat, with the only key in the possession of a man with a perfect alibi. Burly Peter Diamond finds himself embroiled in a mystery evoking the classic crime puzzles of John Dickson Carr.

Bloodhounds is an efficient detective novel, if I can call it that. It ticks off various requirements of a good detective novel (taut writing, decent plot with good twists, memorable characters and a conclusion that keeps you guessing till the end). Worth one’s time if one is in the mood for reading a mystery/thriller.

3. Diamond Dust - Peter Lovesey
This was the second story (two-in-one novels) in Peter Lovesey’s book.

Blurb says this: A detective learns to suppress his feelings when a verdict is announced, and Peter Diamond reveals no joy when Jake Carpenter is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. But the next day, when a woman is shot dead in the Royal Victoria Park, Diamond's self-control dissolves in an instant. The dead woman is his own wife. Barred from taking part in the investigation, Diamond begins a parallel one of his own - with very different results to those of his erstwhile colleagues.

Again, this book was a good read – I could never guess the culprit – with a satisfying end. I wish my library stocked more of Peter Lovesey. I would have loved to read others as well.

4. Daddy's Gone a Hunting - Mary Higgins Clark
Another suspense/thriller novel, Daddy’s Gone a Hunting has a very interesting plot.  

The story exposes a dark secret from a family’s past that threatens the lives of two sisters, Kate and Hannah Connelly, when the family-owned furniture firm in Long Island City, founded by their grandfather and famous for its fine reproductions of antiques, explodes into flames in the middle of the night, leveling the buildings to the ground, including the museum where priceless antiques have been on permanent display for years.

Although I enjoyed the book, something was amiss. I was underwhelmed by the writing. I must confess I was suffering from high expectations, since I had read so much about Mary Higgins Clark and her prominence as a mystery/crime writer. I cannot really pin it on anything specific but there was something lacking in the writing – a tad too long, a bit too descriptive – that was showing up constantly throughout the book.

I guess I chose one of the lesser ones from her repertoire. I am planning to read another book of hers to see if it is me or the writing.