by Wilkie Collins
My niece, a PhD candidate in English Lit praised this book, she said it was one of her favouite books of all time, so I thought I would give it a try.
The book was written in 1848 and is considered the first mystery fiction book. It was an amazing read. It is incredible how close it was in story and characters to mysteries being written today. It had the usual police detective who is sure of himself and who sees things others don't see. It also had a cast of unusual and in some cases hilarious characters, a butler who is devoted to his mistress, her daughter and Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (it is his bible for understanding life and directing his actions), a religious fanantic, a servant who kills herself when her love for a gentleman is unrequited, mysterious Indians, a damsel and two romantic interests.
The story is centred around the theft of a huge diamond the Moonstone. A Brit had stolen the diamond from a shrine when serving in India. When he dies he bequeaths the diamond to a niece. The stone has been kept in a bank for safekeeping but it is delivered to the niece on her birthday only to be stolen on the night of her birthday party. Police are called but the young lady refuses to coooperate with the police so she becomes a suspect in the disapperance of the gem. She rejects both her suitors for different reasons.
The mystery is solved in the end with the help of an unusual country doctor and the police detective who initially was unsuccessful in solving the crime.
The book was very entertaining and did an excellent job of presenting the passions and foibles of humans. It is amazing how little people have changed in 160 years...
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Thursday, 16 February 2012
The Impossible Dead
by Ian Rankin,
I thought I had read some other books by Rankin, in his Inspector Rebus series but I can't see any notes in my book diary so perhaps I haven't. This is his second book including Inspector Malcolm Fox.
Inspector Fox is part of a police internal affairs team in Scotland. They have been sent to investigate some police in a town outside Glasgow to find out if three officers there have been protecting one of the officers from complaints of abusing his position, securing sexual favours in return for not charging people. No surprise, Fox and his colleagues do not receive a warm welcome. As part of their investigation Fox interviews the uncle of Paul Carter, the police officer who has been charged with the offences. His uncle, a retired police officer, was the one who reported on his nephew.
Fox likes the uncle who is now running a security firm. The uncle is murdered and then his nephew is also killed. Although it is not his responsibility Fox starts investigating to find out why the uncle would have been murdered. At first the nephew is suspected. Fox thinks he was innocent. Despite warnings from his superiors and other police officials and government officials including a cabinet minister Fox keeps trying to figure out why the uncle was investigating the death/murder of a separation activist in the 1980's. He ends up solving the crimes almost losing his own life but digs up a number of skeleton in police officer closets as a result.
It was an interesting story, kept you guessing. I think that in reality a person like this would be reprimanded quite quickly and probably lose his job. He really overstepped his authority in a number of ways, kept information from his bosses, interfered in areas where he had no authority, etc.
I think I will pick up a book in the Inspector Rebus series sometime.
I thought I had read some other books by Rankin, in his Inspector Rebus series but I can't see any notes in my book diary so perhaps I haven't. This is his second book including Inspector Malcolm Fox.
Inspector Fox is part of a police internal affairs team in Scotland. They have been sent to investigate some police in a town outside Glasgow to find out if three officers there have been protecting one of the officers from complaints of abusing his position, securing sexual favours in return for not charging people. No surprise, Fox and his colleagues do not receive a warm welcome. As part of their investigation Fox interviews the uncle of Paul Carter, the police officer who has been charged with the offences. His uncle, a retired police officer, was the one who reported on his nephew.
Fox likes the uncle who is now running a security firm. The uncle is murdered and then his nephew is also killed. Although it is not his responsibility Fox starts investigating to find out why the uncle would have been murdered. At first the nephew is suspected. Fox thinks he was innocent. Despite warnings from his superiors and other police officials and government officials including a cabinet minister Fox keeps trying to figure out why the uncle was investigating the death/murder of a separation activist in the 1980's. He ends up solving the crimes almost losing his own life but digs up a number of skeleton in police officer closets as a result.
It was an interesting story, kept you guessing. I think that in reality a person like this would be reprimanded quite quickly and probably lose his job. He really overstepped his authority in a number of ways, kept information from his bosses, interfered in areas where he had no authority, etc.
I think I will pick up a book in the Inspector Rebus series sometime.
The Winter Palace
by Eva Stachniak
This book is the story of a young woman who's father takes her family from Poland to Russia. He is a book binder and restores some books for the Empress Elizabeth. When her father dies the girl is brought to the palace because the Empress had agreed to look after her for her father. At first she is given a job as a seamstress, she hates the job and is no good at it. Then she is selected to read to the young Prince Peter whom the unmarried, childless Elizabeth, has selected as her heir.
The young girl, Varvara, soon becomes a "spy" for the Empress and also for the Chancellor, they want her to eavesdrop on people and tell them what she sees and hears especially from and about the Princess Catherine who has come to Russia as a potential mate for Peter. I can't remember why but she seems to outlive her usefulness, or perhaps disappoints the Queen/Chancellor, and they marry her to a young army officer. At first she is not happy with her fate however she comes to love her husband and adores the daughter they have.
A few years later she is brought back to the palace and is working as a spy for the Empress, the Chancellor and is also now a spy/confidante for Catherine. The Empress is very moody and demanding. Peter has a mistress by this time and is ignoring possibly even plotting to get rid of Catherine. Catherine has two children, by lovers, the Empress immediately takes the children away from her and raises them. The second child dies in infancy. When the Empress dies times are tense and both parties are plotting for control, Catherine seizes control while her husband is off in the country with his mistress. Varvara plays go between for Catherine and her lovers, and also a British official and also helps arrange liaisons between Catherine and her lovers. She tries to aid Catherine when she is ill or distressed. Varvara also plays a key role for Catherine by going to the country palace and scooping away Catherine's son and bringing him to her in St. Petersburg. She thinks her place is secure in the palace but is shocked to learn that Catherine is questioning her daughter about her activities. She is shocked to find that despite everything she has done for Catherine, Catherine does not trust her. She leaves the palace in a fury.
Catherine suggest that she and her daughter take a trip around Europe and that when they return the daughter will be made a maid of the court. They do take the trip but Varvara buys land in Poland during their journey and decides she will not return to Russia.
I enjoyed the book, I think the main character had an unrealistic impression of her own importance, but I suppose that was the point of the story. The Empress was portrayed as a very cruel and vindictive person and the author certainly portrayed the game playing and rumour mongering well. Iit gave you a sense of what life was like in the royalty of Russia at the time and made me curious to know more about Catherine, I hope to read a bio about her soon.
This book is the story of a young woman who's father takes her family from Poland to Russia. He is a book binder and restores some books for the Empress Elizabeth. When her father dies the girl is brought to the palace because the Empress had agreed to look after her for her father. At first she is given a job as a seamstress, she hates the job and is no good at it. Then she is selected to read to the young Prince Peter whom the unmarried, childless Elizabeth, has selected as her heir.
The young girl, Varvara, soon becomes a "spy" for the Empress and also for the Chancellor, they want her to eavesdrop on people and tell them what she sees and hears especially from and about the Princess Catherine who has come to Russia as a potential mate for Peter. I can't remember why but she seems to outlive her usefulness, or perhaps disappoints the Queen/Chancellor, and they marry her to a young army officer. At first she is not happy with her fate however she comes to love her husband and adores the daughter they have.
A few years later she is brought back to the palace and is working as a spy for the Empress, the Chancellor and is also now a spy/confidante for Catherine. The Empress is very moody and demanding. Peter has a mistress by this time and is ignoring possibly even plotting to get rid of Catherine. Catherine has two children, by lovers, the Empress immediately takes the children away from her and raises them. The second child dies in infancy. When the Empress dies times are tense and both parties are plotting for control, Catherine seizes control while her husband is off in the country with his mistress. Varvara plays go between for Catherine and her lovers, and also a British official and also helps arrange liaisons between Catherine and her lovers. She tries to aid Catherine when she is ill or distressed. Varvara also plays a key role for Catherine by going to the country palace and scooping away Catherine's son and bringing him to her in St. Petersburg. She thinks her place is secure in the palace but is shocked to learn that Catherine is questioning her daughter about her activities. She is shocked to find that despite everything she has done for Catherine, Catherine does not trust her. She leaves the palace in a fury.
Catherine suggest that she and her daughter take a trip around Europe and that when they return the daughter will be made a maid of the court. They do take the trip but Varvara buys land in Poland during their journey and decides she will not return to Russia.
I enjoyed the book, I think the main character had an unrealistic impression of her own importance, but I suppose that was the point of the story. The Empress was portrayed as a very cruel and vindictive person and the author certainly portrayed the game playing and rumour mongering well. Iit gave you a sense of what life was like in the royalty of Russia at the time and made me curious to know more about Catherine, I hope to read a bio about her soon.
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