Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Crossbones Yard (Alice Quentin, Bk 1)

Crossbones Yard (Alice Quentin, Bk 1)
reviewed on + 112 more book reviews


Summary: Not the worst, but not the best Brit Mystery adventure. It is more of a psychological than procedural plot, so not as appealing to my forensics-fan tastes.

The setting is in and around modern London, outside of the central tourist area. Alice is a bit burnt out herself, but her job as psychologist with the national Health Service keeps her group in tea and biscuits. I've read other books set in the same area, but most of the events take place within walking distance of either her home (with her unbalanced brother as occasioanl roomie) or the local police station.

Yes. There was the occasioanl mental yelling at various characters about their really stupid moves - much like the teenagers heading to the basement and not out the door! But there was suspense and a really unexpected twist at the end, which places some of the earlier dialogues in a very different light. The characters seem to fit into the "tired daily grind interrupted by murder and mayhem (in the form of the British hyenna press)" mold. But with out the social angst of the Swedish mystery writers to make the resigned apathy meaningful. Are things really that bad for the British masses?

As i am a fan of many British mystery writers I will probably borrow more books by Kate Rhodes from the library. But I do not feel compelled to keep my own copy.

Now that I think of it. I think I'll go and queue up for the latest Robert Galbraith's Coramon's adventure.