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Dave Gurney #7
On Harrow Hill
When an old colleague comes to him for help solving the mysterious death of his town's most prominent resident, retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney must use all of his analytical skills to hunt a murderer who just might be killing from beyond the grave.
The idyllic community of Larchfield is rocked to its core when Angus Russell, its wealthiest and most powerful citizen, is found dead in his mansion on Harrow Hill. A preliminary analysis of DNA gathered at the crime scene points to the guilt of local bad boy Billy Tate, whose hatred for the victim was well known. Except that Tate fell from the roof of a local church and was declared dead by the medical examiner the day before Russell was killed. When police rush to the mortuary, they discover Tate’s coffin has been broken open from the inside and the body is gone.
A series of murders soon follows as Larchfield loses its collective mind. Gun sales explode. Conspiracy theories and religious fundamentalism spread. The once-peaceful town becomes a magnet for sensation seekers, self-proclaimed zombie hunters, TV producers eager for ratings, and apocalyptic preachers rallying the faithful for the end of days. His quiet retirement shattered, ex-NYPD detective Dave Gurney finds himself not only facing down a murderer, but struggling to restore order to the town rapidly spiraling out of control.
The idyllic community of Larchfield is rocked to its core when Angus Russell, its wealthiest and most powerful citizen, is found dead in his mansion on Harrow Hill. A preliminary analysis of DNA gathered at the crime scene points to the guilt of local bad boy Billy Tate, whose hatred for the victim was well known. Except that Tate fell from the roof of a local church and was declared dead by the medical examiner the day before Russell was killed. When police rush to the mortuary, they discover Tate’s coffin has been broken open from the inside and the body is gone.
A series of murders soon follows as Larchfield loses its collective mind. Gun sales explode. Conspiracy theories and religious fundamentalism spread. The once-peaceful town becomes a magnet for sensation seekers, self-proclaimed zombie hunters, TV producers eager for ratings, and apocalyptic preachers rallying the faithful for the end of days. His quiet retirement shattered, ex-NYPD detective Dave Gurney finds himself not only facing down a murderer, but struggling to restore order to the town rapidly spiraling out of control.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 19, 2020
About the author
John Verdon
14 books1,747 followersJOHN VERDON has held several executive positions with Manhattan advertising firms, but like his protagonist, he recently relocated with his wife to rural upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
March 2, 2021
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, John Vernon, and Counterpoint Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
The arrival of a new John Verdon thriller is sure to excite many who have loved past novels with Dave Gurney helping on yet another homicide investigation. Gurney, a former NYPD Homicide Detective with many years experience, has a way not only with coming to assist many of the rural New York communities, but also finds himself growing in unique ways. With this case, which has layers upon layers of oddity, Gurney agrees to head to the community of Larchfield, where his former partner is running the show. However, there is nothing routine or textbook about what he discovers, save the increasing number of bodies piling up. Verdon is at his best with On Harrow Hill, and this is one book sure to impress anyone who takes the time to read it.
Dave Gurney has been enjoying retired life, though he seems never to be able to get into the swing of things before he’s called upon to help with another homicide. When his former partner asks for a favour, Gurney cannot say no, remembering their time on the NYPD together and the night Gurney was almost killed. He agrees to come to Larchfield, a small community that has no experience with crime, let alone murder.
The town’s wealthiest man, Angus Russell, has been found murdered inside his mansion on Harrow Hill. During the preliminary investigation, forensics uncovered a print and some blood of the suspected killer, Billy Tate. This should make it a fairly simply open and shut case, save for the fact that Tate died in a freak accident the night before and is currently in a coffin, awaiting burial. Baffled by this, Gurney tries to deal with the widow, though she is anything but helpful, wanting to tie up all the loose ends so that she can return to the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed.
If that were not enough, there’s a disturbance at the morgue and the Tate coffin’s been opened. Analysis shows the baffling proof that it was destroyed from the inside out, which is substantiated by some surveillance video that show Billy Tate alive and well—at least as well as someone who was struck by lightning and fell from a church steeple can be—before he leaves the building.
Given barely enough time to wrap his head around that, Gurney and the local authorities discover that two more bodies have turned up, one likely murdered on the way to the Russell killing and one soon thereafter. Might Tate have been resurrected and begun an odd killing spree? The mysteries continue with a massive manhunt started.
As Tate’s involvement with a satanic movement comes to light, Gurney follows new leads to help put some order to the case. Fanning the flames is a religious movement committed to ‘saving the town’ from the zombie satanist, while a reality news website has made it their business to add as much glitz and spin to things as possible. Gurney must wrestle false leads away from these two sources, while also protecting himself, as his property is targeted at one point.
While Billy Tate remains on the lam, Gurney and the others will have it find a motive that explains it all, while also capturing the killer before more bodies turn up. From whispers about a sordid past through to opponents of Tate’s personal beliefs, there are no shortage of people offering themselves up as potential victims, though Dave Gurney does not seem dissuaded in the least to catch yet another sadistic killer!
John Verdon does a masterful job in yet another thriller in this series, pulling the reader into the middle of the case in the opening chapters. His attention to detail and wonderful subplot development makes this book one that the reader will want to devour as quickly as possible, as I did. Using a few tangential leads to keep things interesting, there is no lack of intensity as the narrative builds, right up to the final reveal that had me shaking my head.
Dave Gurney cannot catch the break that retirement was supposed to bring him. If it’s not being asked to help out yet again, he’s thrust into the middle of a new household project his wife has for him (this time an alpaca farm)! While personal growth and backstory may not be something to which he is subjected throughout, the reader can see how his methodical thinking helps to shape the pace of the story and solving the crime at hand. He is by no means indestructible, though he tries to take it all in and find the core issue, working it through to a reasonable conclusion. However, resurrection and satanic belief might be a little outside Gurney’s ability to comprehend, even with 25 years in NYPD Homicide.
Verdon develops a handful of key secondary characters in this piece, who are essential to the success of the novel. There is no shortage of personalities in this piece, all of whom work their own angles to enrich the plot and keep the reader wondering. While it is not a whodunit with a few potential killers the reader must suss out, there is much to be said about those who make up the foundation of a small community. Some complement Gurney and some prove to be essential roadblocks to solving the crime.
This was perhaps the best Verdon piece I have read, though I have loved them all a great deal. The flow of the story is perfect, revealing much as the narrative builds. Verdon has done well to develop this quirky, layered story that is not a simple A to Z crime thriller. Rather, the reader must wade through some distracting side stories (as Dave Gurney does too) to get to the heart of the matter. With a mix of chapter lengths, the reader gets hooked and then finds themselves sitting for long periods just to get a better understanding of what’s going on. While it is not your typical crime thriller, its uniqueness makes it one readers will want to explore and challenge themselves with throughout the journey.
Kudos, Mr. Verdon, for a book I could not stop reading. I hope others are ready for as wild a ride!
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://mysteryandsuspense.com/on-har...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The arrival of a new John Verdon thriller is sure to excite many who have loved past novels with Dave Gurney helping on yet another homicide investigation. Gurney, a former NYPD Homicide Detective with many years experience, has a way not only with coming to assist many of the rural New York communities, but also finds himself growing in unique ways. With this case, which has layers upon layers of oddity, Gurney agrees to head to the community of Larchfield, where his former partner is running the show. However, there is nothing routine or textbook about what he discovers, save the increasing number of bodies piling up. Verdon is at his best with On Harrow Hill, and this is one book sure to impress anyone who takes the time to read it.
Dave Gurney has been enjoying retired life, though he seems never to be able to get into the swing of things before he’s called upon to help with another homicide. When his former partner asks for a favour, Gurney cannot say no, remembering their time on the NYPD together and the night Gurney was almost killed. He agrees to come to Larchfield, a small community that has no experience with crime, let alone murder.
The town’s wealthiest man, Angus Russell, has been found murdered inside his mansion on Harrow Hill. During the preliminary investigation, forensics uncovered a print and some blood of the suspected killer, Billy Tate. This should make it a fairly simply open and shut case, save for the fact that Tate died in a freak accident the night before and is currently in a coffin, awaiting burial. Baffled by this, Gurney tries to deal with the widow, though she is anything but helpful, wanting to tie up all the loose ends so that she can return to the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed.
If that were not enough, there’s a disturbance at the morgue and the Tate coffin’s been opened. Analysis shows the baffling proof that it was destroyed from the inside out, which is substantiated by some surveillance video that show Billy Tate alive and well—at least as well as someone who was struck by lightning and fell from a church steeple can be—before he leaves the building.
Given barely enough time to wrap his head around that, Gurney and the local authorities discover that two more bodies have turned up, one likely murdered on the way to the Russell killing and one soon thereafter. Might Tate have been resurrected and begun an odd killing spree? The mysteries continue with a massive manhunt started.
As Tate’s involvement with a satanic movement comes to light, Gurney follows new leads to help put some order to the case. Fanning the flames is a religious movement committed to ‘saving the town’ from the zombie satanist, while a reality news website has made it their business to add as much glitz and spin to things as possible. Gurney must wrestle false leads away from these two sources, while also protecting himself, as his property is targeted at one point.
While Billy Tate remains on the lam, Gurney and the others will have it find a motive that explains it all, while also capturing the killer before more bodies turn up. From whispers about a sordid past through to opponents of Tate’s personal beliefs, there are no shortage of people offering themselves up as potential victims, though Dave Gurney does not seem dissuaded in the least to catch yet another sadistic killer!
John Verdon does a masterful job in yet another thriller in this series, pulling the reader into the middle of the case in the opening chapters. His attention to detail and wonderful subplot development makes this book one that the reader will want to devour as quickly as possible, as I did. Using a few tangential leads to keep things interesting, there is no lack of intensity as the narrative builds, right up to the final reveal that had me shaking my head.
Dave Gurney cannot catch the break that retirement was supposed to bring him. If it’s not being asked to help out yet again, he’s thrust into the middle of a new household project his wife has for him (this time an alpaca farm)! While personal growth and backstory may not be something to which he is subjected throughout, the reader can see how his methodical thinking helps to shape the pace of the story and solving the crime at hand. He is by no means indestructible, though he tries to take it all in and find the core issue, working it through to a reasonable conclusion. However, resurrection and satanic belief might be a little outside Gurney’s ability to comprehend, even with 25 years in NYPD Homicide.
Verdon develops a handful of key secondary characters in this piece, who are essential to the success of the novel. There is no shortage of personalities in this piece, all of whom work their own angles to enrich the plot and keep the reader wondering. While it is not a whodunit with a few potential killers the reader must suss out, there is much to be said about those who make up the foundation of a small community. Some complement Gurney and some prove to be essential roadblocks to solving the crime.
This was perhaps the best Verdon piece I have read, though I have loved them all a great deal. The flow of the story is perfect, revealing much as the narrative builds. Verdon has done well to develop this quirky, layered story that is not a simple A to Z crime thriller. Rather, the reader must wade through some distracting side stories (as Dave Gurney does too) to get to the heart of the matter. With a mix of chapter lengths, the reader gets hooked and then finds themselves sitting for long periods just to get a better understanding of what’s going on. While it is not your typical crime thriller, its uniqueness makes it one readers will want to explore and challenge themselves with throughout the journey.
Kudos, Mr. Verdon, for a book I could not stop reading. I hope others are ready for as wild a ride!
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://mysteryandsuspense.com/on-har...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
March 16, 2021
When I read John Verdon’s first book Think of a Number , I remember thinking it one of the cleverest books I had ever read. Clever remains the first word that comes to mind for the rest of his books.
Extremely clever puzzle is what comes to mind for Verdon’s most recent On Harrow Hill
Verdon’s detective, Dave Gurney, retired from NYPD with an outstanding reputation for solving difficult homicides. He and his wife, Madeleine purchased a fifty acre farm in upstate NY. From the beginning of his retirement, police departments consulted Gurney when difficult cases occurred in their jurisdictions. Eventually he found himself teaching at the state police academy part time. Madeleine has been disturbed by Gurney's quasi-retirement, she had hoped for a true retirement for Gurney. Madeleine quite rightly felt it was her time in Gurney's life.
In On Harrow Hill , Gurney's old partner, Mike Morgan, has called on Gurney for help. Morgan was Gurney’s partner for only a year and Gurney would prefer to have nothing to do with Morgan, but on the other hand, Gurney owes Morgan a major solid.
Morgan is the police chief in the small town of Larchfield, about an hour away from Dave’s farm. Larchfield is a town of wealth, where a few people control every aspect to the town. The town’s hated leading citizen has been murdered, and the main suspect has been dead since before the murder.
The forces of hysteria take over the town with the charge lead by a gun-toting fundamentalist preacher. The preacher, media, zombie hunters, Satanists, town fathers, armed militia, all vie for villains of the day, no ties allowed. The one religious figure who might have countered these forces is the first victim’s sister and the town’s Episcopal priest. Priest or not, she sure ain’t no bundle of sweetness and light.
In fact, few of the characters are likeable; fun change for a book.
There is some true growth for Dave Gurney; he is better adjusting to being a husband in retirement. Madeleine is more accepting of Gurney’s semi-retirement, forging new experiences herself.
As usual, the plotting for a Verdon book is exquisite. On Harrow Hill is constructed as a puzzle, but with a few pieces missing; except the pieces aren’t missing. Just turn some of the pieces in a different direction and see them differently. They will fit, maybe just not the way you were expecting them to. This is what makes Verdon’s books so fresh and original.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for review purposes.
Extremely clever puzzle is what comes to mind for Verdon’s most recent On Harrow Hill
Verdon’s detective, Dave Gurney, retired from NYPD with an outstanding reputation for solving difficult homicides. He and his wife, Madeleine purchased a fifty acre farm in upstate NY. From the beginning of his retirement, police departments consulted Gurney when difficult cases occurred in their jurisdictions. Eventually he found himself teaching at the state police academy part time. Madeleine has been disturbed by Gurney's quasi-retirement, she had hoped for a true retirement for Gurney. Madeleine quite rightly felt it was her time in Gurney's life.
In On Harrow Hill , Gurney's old partner, Mike Morgan, has called on Gurney for help. Morgan was Gurney’s partner for only a year and Gurney would prefer to have nothing to do with Morgan, but on the other hand, Gurney owes Morgan a major solid.
Morgan is the police chief in the small town of Larchfield, about an hour away from Dave’s farm. Larchfield is a town of wealth, where a few people control every aspect to the town. The town’s hated leading citizen has been murdered, and the main suspect has been dead since before the murder.
The forces of hysteria take over the town with the charge lead by a gun-toting fundamentalist preacher. The preacher, media, zombie hunters, Satanists, town fathers, armed militia, all vie for villains of the day, no ties allowed. The one religious figure who might have countered these forces is the first victim’s sister and the town’s Episcopal priest. Priest or not, she sure ain’t no bundle of sweetness and light.
In fact, few of the characters are likeable; fun change for a book.
There is some true growth for Dave Gurney; he is better adjusting to being a husband in retirement. Madeleine is more accepting of Gurney’s semi-retirement, forging new experiences herself.
As usual, the plotting for a Verdon book is exquisite. On Harrow Hill is constructed as a puzzle, but with a few pieces missing; except the pieces aren’t missing. Just turn some of the pieces in a different direction and see them differently. They will fit, maybe just not the way you were expecting them to. This is what makes Verdon’s books so fresh and original.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for review purposes.
August 22, 2021
“Soy el ángel negro que se alzó de entre los muertos”
Nadie diría que el retiro de David Gurney sea muy real, siempre empieza como asesor pero siempre acaba metido hasta el cuello y vamos ya por su séptima entrega.
En mi opinión, la serie empezó muy bien pero a medida que ha ido avanzando me da la impresión de que ha ido perdiendo fuerza, aun así una novela entretenida.
Nadie diría que el retiro de David Gurney sea muy real, siempre empieza como asesor pero siempre acaba metido hasta el cuello y vamos ya por su séptima entrega.
En mi opinión, la serie empezó muy bien pero a medida que ha ido avanzando me da la impresión de que ha ido perdiendo fuerza, aun así una novela entretenida.
September 6, 2023
Que siento una debilidad especial por el personaje de Dave Gurney no es ningún secreto. Y es que las tramas que escribe John Verdon son más allá de lo atrapante.
Con esta nueva entrega, vuelve a ganarse el puesto de estar entre mis escritores favoritos. Para mi lo tiene todo, una trama interesante y llena de sorpresas y giros, un personaje entrañable y unos casos con unas resoluciones de infarto.
Mi queridísimo Gurney es un detective retirado (esta es la séptima vez que se retira y que ayuda en la resolución de un caso por "última" vez jajaja) que se caracteriza por su ingenio, por ver más allá y por cuestionarlo absolutamente todo.
Vive apartado de la ciudad, junto a su mujer Madeleine que no termina de ver nunca ese ansiado restiro. Verdon nos lleva de la mano al pueblo de Larchfield donde se ha producido un asesinato un tanto peculiar. El sherif (antiguo compañero de Gurney en un caso anterior) le pide ayuda para poder resolver el panorama que se le presenta. Pero claro...no todo va a ser tan secillo como tener de asesor a Gurney. Cuando nuestro detective llega al pueblo se encuentra no solo con un caso raro sino que el pueblo tiene un halo de corrupción importante.
A grandes rasgos y para hacer que te pique la curiosidad, Verdon nos presenta a Billy Tate (odiado en todo el pueblo) que cae fulmimado por un rayo desde el tejado de una iglesia. El cuerpo es llevado a la morgue, donde un video de vigilancia capta su vuelta a la vida y su resurgir de los muertos (después de haber sido declarado muerto por el forense) para ir asesinando en apariencia sin ton ni son.
Y aquí es donde ya puedes empezar a enloquecer, nada es lo que parece. Hay sospechosos hasta debajo de las piedras, en ese pueblo corrupto todos tienen motivos para callar...y para matar.
Cuando digo que nada es lo que parece, es que nada lo es. Hasta el propio Gurney duda de todo, hasta de si mismo.
Yo he dudado en cada momento, intentando buscarle los tres pies al gato...y nada y eso que sigo fielmente a Gurney.
Lo ha vuelto a hacer.
Me ha vuelto a enamorar 🥰
Espero que nuuunca, nunca se retire y siga deleitándome con sus casos.
Con esta nueva entrega, vuelve a ganarse el puesto de estar entre mis escritores favoritos. Para mi lo tiene todo, una trama interesante y llena de sorpresas y giros, un personaje entrañable y unos casos con unas resoluciones de infarto.
Mi queridísimo Gurney es un detective retirado (esta es la séptima vez que se retira y que ayuda en la resolución de un caso por "última" vez jajaja) que se caracteriza por su ingenio, por ver más allá y por cuestionarlo absolutamente todo.
Vive apartado de la ciudad, junto a su mujer Madeleine que no termina de ver nunca ese ansiado restiro. Verdon nos lleva de la mano al pueblo de Larchfield donde se ha producido un asesinato un tanto peculiar. El sherif (antiguo compañero de Gurney en un caso anterior) le pide ayuda para poder resolver el panorama que se le presenta. Pero claro...no todo va a ser tan secillo como tener de asesor a Gurney. Cuando nuestro detective llega al pueblo se encuentra no solo con un caso raro sino que el pueblo tiene un halo de corrupción importante.
A grandes rasgos y para hacer que te pique la curiosidad, Verdon nos presenta a Billy Tate (odiado en todo el pueblo) que cae fulmimado por un rayo desde el tejado de una iglesia. El cuerpo es llevado a la morgue, donde un video de vigilancia capta su vuelta a la vida y su resurgir de los muertos (después de haber sido declarado muerto por el forense) para ir asesinando en apariencia sin ton ni son.
Y aquí es donde ya puedes empezar a enloquecer, nada es lo que parece. Hay sospechosos hasta debajo de las piedras, en ese pueblo corrupto todos tienen motivos para callar...y para matar.
Cuando digo que nada es lo que parece, es que nada lo es. Hasta el propio Gurney duda de todo, hasta de si mismo.
Yo he dudado en cada momento, intentando buscarle los tres pies al gato...y nada y eso que sigo fielmente a Gurney.
Lo ha vuelto a hacer.
Me ha vuelto a enamorar 🥰
Espero que nuuunca, nunca se retire y siga deleitándome con sus casos.
December 11, 2020
Este libro es el libro 7º libro de la serie Dave Gurney, en este libro Mike Morgan un antiguo compañero de Gurney de cuando estaba en la policía de Nueva York, le pide ayuda para investigar un crimen en Larchfield, donde es el jefe de policía. Pero el crimen es un poco peculiar han asesinado a Angus Russell, el benefactor de la ciudad y encuentran huellas de su asesino junto al cadáver, Billy Tate, pero eso es imposible porque Billy murió el día antes del asesinato de Angus....
Me ha encantado reencontrarme con el tándem Dave Gurney y Jack Hardwick, tan correcto uno y tan irreverente el otro, pero se complementan perfectamente. Los personajes de esta novela están perfectamente perfilados y tienen sus personalidades muy bien definidas.
La trama me ha enganchado desde el comienzo y me ha mantenido intrigada así hasta el final, esa trama tan peculiar me ha hecho querer saber por donde iba a tirar el autor, poco a poco según avanzas en la lectura se va desembrollando la trama, y he de decir que yo he acabado sospechando de casi todos.
Me ha encantado reencontrarme con el tándem Dave Gurney y Jack Hardwick, tan correcto uno y tan irreverente el otro, pero se complementan perfectamente. Los personajes de esta novela están perfectamente perfilados y tienen sus personalidades muy bien definidas.
La trama me ha enganchado desde el comienzo y me ha mantenido intrigada así hasta el final, esa trama tan peculiar me ha hecho querer saber por donde iba a tirar el autor, poco a poco según avanzas en la lectura se va desembrollando la trama, y he de decir que yo he acabado sospechando de casi todos.
March 4, 2021
I have just finished reading On Harrow Hill, by Author John Verdon.
This is the 7th book in the Dave Gurney Series.
Although this is a series, I do think this could be read as a stand-alone book.
I have read all of the books in this series and have enjoyed every one, however this was my favourite so far.
The writing style, storyline, dialogue, and characters are all done exceptionally well.
This particular story has an especially interesting development, with so many twists and turns, that it was impossible to determine how the outcome would turn out.
The main character Dave Gurney is a master detective, who is retired but has so much to still offer in solving a case. His attention to detail is masterful.
I would highly recommend this book and series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Author John Verdon, and Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press for my advanced copy to read and review.
#OnHarrowHill #NetGalley
This is the 7th book in the Dave Gurney Series.
Although this is a series, I do think this could be read as a stand-alone book.
I have read all of the books in this series and have enjoyed every one, however this was my favourite so far.
The writing style, storyline, dialogue, and characters are all done exceptionally well.
This particular story has an especially interesting development, with so many twists and turns, that it was impossible to determine how the outcome would turn out.
The main character Dave Gurney is a master detective, who is retired but has so much to still offer in solving a case. His attention to detail is masterful.
I would highly recommend this book and series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Author John Verdon, and Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press for my advanced copy to read and review.
#OnHarrowHill #NetGalley
December 9, 2020
Pesadísimo.
Larguísimo.
Aburridísimo.
Larguísimo.
Aburridísimo.
December 1, 2020
Diez años han pasado desde aquel 2010 en el que John Verdon publicó Sé lo que estás pensando, y 7 novelas con el detective retirado David Gurney como protagonista, con su mujer Madeleine como su contrapunto y con su amigo y "el que mejor le entiende" Jack Hardwick como apoyo, colaborador y hasta revulsivo en ciertos momentos.
Las novelas de John Verdon están muy bien planteadas, con cierta tensión acumulada aunque sin grandes sobresaltos, plasmadas de ideas lógicas, bien calculadas y calculadoras que hacen dudar al lector hasta de las premisas básicas. A mí me sucede constantemente.
En esta novela, he adivinado y acertado algo, me ha sorprendido bastante y me ha descolocado y despistado mucho y muchas veces a lo largo de la trama.
No puedo más que recomendarlo.
Las novelas de John Verdon están muy bien planteadas, con cierta tensión acumulada aunque sin grandes sobresaltos, plasmadas de ideas lógicas, bien calculadas y calculadoras que hacen dudar al lector hasta de las premisas básicas. A mí me sucede constantemente.
En esta novela, he adivinado y acertado algo, me ha sorprendido bastante y me ha descolocado y despistado mucho y muchas veces a lo largo de la trama.
No puedo más que recomendarlo.
April 27, 2021
This is the 7th book in the excellent Dave Gurney series by author John Vernon. I have followed this series from the start and each book is of a consistently high standard with some exceptionally well thought out plots.
Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney was very highly respected and even though he is retired he is often approached to help with difficult investigations. This time he receives an interesting proposition from his former partner Mike Morgan who is now chief of police in Larchfield, the home to a number of wealthy individuals. Patriarch Angus Russell was found murdered in his mansion and Mike Morgan wants Dave to lead the investigations in an effort to take some of the pressure off himself. The crime scene evidence and motive heavily points to Billy Tate, only the big flaw in this is that Tate was pronounced dead having been struck by lightning the day before the murder. When the police rush to the mortuary, they discover Tate’s coffin has been broken open from the inside and the body is gone.
If you like well thought out plots then this series could be for you. The stories are always a little different to the run of the mill mysteries and with the twists and turns added make addictive reads.
Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney was very highly respected and even though he is retired he is often approached to help with difficult investigations. This time he receives an interesting proposition from his former partner Mike Morgan who is now chief of police in Larchfield, the home to a number of wealthy individuals. Patriarch Angus Russell was found murdered in his mansion and Mike Morgan wants Dave to lead the investigations in an effort to take some of the pressure off himself. The crime scene evidence and motive heavily points to Billy Tate, only the big flaw in this is that Tate was pronounced dead having been struck by lightning the day before the murder. When the police rush to the mortuary, they discover Tate’s coffin has been broken open from the inside and the body is gone.
If you like well thought out plots then this series could be for you. The stories are always a little different to the run of the mill mysteries and with the twists and turns added make addictive reads.
December 12, 2020
Es una pena porque no me ha terminado de enganchar. Demasiados personajes poco perfilados... se me ha hecho un poco aburrido. Los giros de la trama en el último tercio del libro hacen que mejore, por suerte...
March 20, 2022
Από εκείνα τα βιβλία που ανυπομονείς να τελειώσουν, αλλά ταυτόχρονα δεν θέλεις να τελειώσουν!
Το έβδομο βιβλίο του John Verdon κυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Διόπτρα και εμπλέκει τον συνταξιούχο ντετέκτιβ Ντέιβ Γκάρνεϊ σε άλλη μία μυστηριώδη υπόθεση στην οποία, όπως φαίνεται, Ο δολοφόνος είναι νεκρός.
Κάθε φορά που ο Ντέιβ Γκάρνεϊ θεωρεί πως έχει κλείσει τους λογαριασμούς του με το αστυνομικό του παρελθόν στο Τμήμα Ανθρωποκτονιών της Νέας Υόρκης, αυτό επιστρέφει για να ανατρέψει ξανά την καθημερινή του ρουτίνα. Αυτή τη φορά, το κάνει με τη μορφή ενός πρώην συνεργάτη του, ο οποίος ζητά τη βοήθειά του σε μια περίεργη υπόθεση δολοφονίας. Η μικρή, ήσυχη και ειδυλλιακή κοινότητα του Λάρτσφιλντ συγκλονίζεται από τη δολοφονία του επιφανούς μέλους της -και άτυπου αρχηγού της-, Άνγκους Ράσελ, ο οποίος ανακαλύπτεται στην έπαυλή του, μέσα σε μια λίμνη αίματος, με κομμένη καρωτίδα. Τα πρώτα στοιχεία υποδεικνύουν ως δολοφόνο τον Μπίλι Τέιτ, έναν νεαρό με προβληματική, παραβατική συμπεριφορά. Όμως αυτό μοιάζει αδύνατον, αφού ο Τέιτ σκοτώθηκε την προηγούμενη μέρα από κεραυνό και βρίσκεται μέσα σε ένα φέρετρο, στο τοπικό γραφείο κηδειών.
Μπορεί να επέστρεψε ο νεκρός από τον άλλον κόσμο και να σηκώθηκε από το φέρετρο για να πάρει εκδίκηση; Ίσως και να μπορεί! Γιατί το βίντεο από την κάμερα ασφαλείας του γραφείου κηδειών δείχνει τον Τέιτ να… ανασταίνεται, να σπάει το καπάκι του φέρετρου και να εξαφανίζεται μέσα στη νύχτα. Η αστυνομική ομάδα αντιλαμβάνεται το παράδοξο της υπόθεσης και βρίσκεται σε σύγχυση, ταυτόχρονα όμως είναι φανερό σε όλους πως ο… νεκραναστημένος δεν έχει καλές προθέσεις και είναι πολύ επικίνδυνος.
Και πράγματι, περισσότεροι φόνοι πραγματοποιούνται τις αμέσως επόμενες μέρες και για όλους τους μοιάζει να ευθύνεται ο Τέιτ. Ταυτόχρονα, το Λάρτσφιλντ κατακλύζεται από θεωρίες συνωμοσίες, φανατικούς θρησκόληπτους, κυνηγούς ζόμπι και δημοσιογράφους και η κατάσταση αρχίζει να ξεφεύγει από τον έλεγχο. Ο πρώην συνεργάτης του Γκάρνεϊ και διοικητής του τμήματος θέλει να κλείσει την υπόθεση, με την τοπική ηγεσία να τον πιέζει να βρει τον ένοχο το συντομότερο, ώστε το χωριό να σταματήσει να εκτίθεται στα ΜΜΕ, όμως ο Γκάρνεϊ διατηρεί τις αμφιβολίες του. Το ένστικτό του τού λέει πως αυτή η υπόθεση κρύβει πολλά περισσότερα απ’ όσα δείχνει. Έτσι, δεν θα ησυχάσει αν δεν φτάσει στη λύση του γρίφου – ακόμα κι αν μπει και ο ίδιος στο στόχαστρο του δολοφόνου…
Ο συγγραφέας επιστρέφει με μια συναρπαστική ιστορία, στην οποία συναντά κανείς όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά που κάνουν τα βιβλία του επιτυχημένα: δυνατή πλοκή, δομημένη αφήγηση, πλούσιο λεξιλόγιο, παραστατικές περιγραφές και ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες. Και φυσικά, άλλον έναν περίπλοκο αστυνομικό γρίφο με κοινωνικές προεκτάσεις, που αντικατοπτρίζουν εν μέρει και τον προβληματισμό του συγγραφέα για επίκαιρα κοινωνικά ζητήματα: Η οικονομική κρίση αποτυπώνεται στο σταδιακό σβήσιμο της επιχειρηματικής ζωής στα περίχωρα της φάρμας του Γκάρνεϊ, με πολλά μαγαζιά να έχουν κατεβάσει ρολά ή να φυτοζωούν. Η ανασφάλεια και η καχυποψία οδηγούν τους πολίτες σε ακραίες συμπεριφορές, όπως το να κουβαλούν μαζί τους ένα όπλο, να φανατίζονται και να ακολουθούν τυφλά επικίνδυνους ανθρώπους, που έχουν τους δικούς τους σκοτεινούς σκοπούς. Μια μερίδα του κλήρου επιχειρεί να επιβάλλει τις φασιστικές απόψεις της και να προκαλέσει το θρησκευτικό αίσθημα των πιστών και των φανατικών. Το φαίνεσθαι και οι εντυπώσεις υπερισχύουν της αλήθειας και του δικαίου. Οι δημοσιογράφοι διψούν για αίμα και τρόμο και κυνηγούν την είδηση, αδιαφορώντας για τις συνέπειες. Οι αριβίστες και οι προνομιούχοι είναι πρόθυμοι να φτάσουν στα άκρα για να διεκδικήσουν ή να διατηρήσουν τα κεκτημένα τους.
Μέσα σε όλα αυτά, λοιπόν, ο Ντέιβ Γκάρνεϊ προσπαθεί να αποκωδικοποιήσει τις ανθρώπινες συμπεριφορές, να ανακαλύψει τα αληθινά κίνητρα και τις προθέσεις, να μην επηρεάζεται από τις εντυπώσεις, να αμφισβητεί όσα μαθαίνει, να βλέπει πέρα και πίσω από αυτό που φαίνεται εκ πρώτης όψεως και να φτάσει στην αλήθεια. Παρ’ όλο που είναι πλέον συνταξιούχος και χορτασμένος από την καριέρα του, το μικρόβιο του αστυνομικού δεν έχει φύγει από μέσα του. Η αίσθηση της αδρεναλίνης που ξυπνάει με κάθε νέα υπόθεση, το κυνήγι των στοιχείων, η αναζήτηση των αιτίων, η ανάλυση των συμπεριφορών και τα κίνητρα του καθενός για τις πράξεις του είναι το οξυγόνο του. Αφοσιώνεται, παθιάζεται, προβληματίζεται, χάνεται στην υπόθεση. Η σχέση με τη γυναίκα του έρχεται να εξισορροπήσει λίγο την τεταμένη ατμόσφαιρα της αστυνομικής έρευνας και να τον κάνει πιο ανθρώπινο ως χαρακτήρα. Εκείνη είναι ο αφανής ήρωας, που μένει κυρίως στο περιθώριο και προσπαθεί να τον ωθήσει να χαλαρώσει και να απολαύσει την ηρεμία της εξοχής, τις καθημερινές μικρές χαρές της ζωής, έστω κι αν ξέρει πως συνήθως το μυαλό του είναι αλλού. Οι δυο τους αλληλοσυμπληρώνονται και οι στιγμές που μοιράζονται αποφορτίζουν την αφήγηση όσο και όπου χρειάζεται.
Εξαιρετική η σκέψη του Verdon να τοποθετήσει το πλαίσιο της ιστορίας του σε μια μικρή, κλειστή και προνομιούχα κοινότητα, έναν επίγειο παράδεισο για λίγους που μετατρέπεται σε κόλαση, ενώ οι εξέχοντες κάτοικοί του μοιάζουν ανήμποροι να αντιδράσουν μπροστά σε έναν παρανοϊκό δολοφόνο που σκοτώνει αδιακρίτως. Όσο η πλοκή εξελίσσεται, το άμεμπτο και… σνομπ αφήγημα του ειδυλλιακού αυτού τόπου καταρρέει και εμφανίζονται οι ρωγμές του, τα κρυμμένα μυστικά και τα κρίματα των κατοίκων του. Η λεπτή ειρωνεία με την οποία χειρίζεται ο συγγραφέας το όλο θέμα του λαμπερού Λάρτσφιλντ, που χάνει ένα μέρος του λούστρου του με κάθε νέα δολοφονία, είναι εξίσου απολαυστική με την εξέλιξη της αστυνομικής υπόθεσης, που φροντίζει να διατηρεί συνεχώς τους παλμούς στα ύψη.
Το Ο δολοφόνος είν��ι νεκρός είναι ένα εφευρετικό, συναρπαστικό whodunit μυστήριο με έντονο άρωμα καλού αστυνομικού νουάρ. Ένα βιβλίο που επιβεβαιώνει ότι ο John Verdon δικαίως κατέχει μια ξεχωριστή θέση στον χώρο της αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας, αλλά και στις καρδιές των φανατικών αναγνωστών της.
Το έβδομο βιβλίο του John Verdon κυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Διόπτρα και εμπλέκει τον συνταξιούχο ντετέκτιβ Ντέιβ Γκάρνεϊ σε άλλη μία μυστηριώδη υπόθεση στην οποία, όπως φαίνεται, Ο δολοφόνος είναι νεκρός.
Κάθε φορά που ο Ντέιβ Γκάρνεϊ θεωρεί πως έχει κλείσει τους λογαριασμούς του με το αστυνομικό του παρελθόν στο Τμήμα Ανθρωποκτονιών της Νέας Υόρκης, αυτό επιστρέφει για να ανατρέψει ξανά την καθημερινή του ρουτίνα. Αυτή τη φορά, το κάνει με τη μορφή ενός πρώην συνεργάτη του, ο οποίος ζητά τη βοήθειά του σε μια περίεργη υπόθεση δολοφονίας. Η μικρή, ήσυχη και ειδυλλιακή κοινότητα του Λάρτσφιλντ συγκλονίζεται από τη δολοφονία του επιφανούς μέλους της -και άτυπου αρχηγού της-, Άνγκους Ράσελ, ο οποίος ανακαλύπτεται στην έπαυλή του, μέσα σε μια λίμνη αίματος, με κομμένη καρωτίδα. Τα πρώτα στοιχεία υποδεικνύουν ως δολοφόνο τον Μπίλι Τέιτ, έναν νεαρό με προβληματική, παραβατική συμπεριφορά. Όμως αυτό μοιάζει αδύνατον, αφού ο Τέιτ σκοτώθηκε την προηγούμενη μέρα από κεραυνό και βρίσκεται μέσα σε ένα φέρετρο, στο τοπικό γραφείο κηδειών.
Μπορεί να επέστρεψε ο νεκρός από τον άλλον κόσμο και να σηκώθηκε από το φέρετρο για να πάρει εκδίκηση; Ίσως και να μπορεί! Γιατί το βίντεο από την κάμερα ασφαλείας του γραφείου κηδειών δείχνει τον Τέιτ να… ανασταίνεται, να σπάει το καπάκι του φέρετρου και να εξαφανίζεται μέσα στη νύχτα. Η αστυνομική ομάδα αντιλαμβάνεται το παράδοξο της υπόθεσης και βρίσκεται σε σύγχυση, ταυτόχρονα όμως είναι φανερό σε όλους πως ο… νεκραναστημένος δεν έχει καλές προθέσεις και είναι πολύ επικίνδυνος.
Και πράγματι, περισσότεροι φόνοι πραγματοποιούνται τις αμέσως επόμενες μέρες και για όλους τους μοιάζει να ευθύνεται ο Τέιτ. Ταυτόχρονα, το Λάρτσφιλντ κατακλύζεται από θεωρίες συνωμοσίες, φανατικούς θρησκόληπτους, κυνηγούς ζόμπι και δημοσιογράφους και η κατάσταση αρχίζει να ξεφεύγει από τον έλεγχο. Ο πρώην συνεργάτης του Γκάρνεϊ και διοικητής του τμήματος θέλει να κλείσει την υπόθεση, με την τοπική ηγεσία να τον πιέζει να βρει τον ένοχο το συντομότερο, ώστε το χωριό να σταματήσει να εκτίθεται στα ΜΜΕ, όμως ο Γκάρνεϊ διατηρεί τις αμφιβολίες του. Το ένστικτό του τού λέει πως αυτή η υπόθεση κρύβει πολλά περισσότερα απ’ όσα δείχνει. Έτσι, δεν θα ησυχάσει αν δεν φτάσει στη λύση του γρίφου – ακόμα κι αν μπει και ο ίδιος στο στόχαστρο του δολοφόνου…
Ο συγγραφέας επιστρέφει με μια συναρπαστική ιστορία, στην οποία συναντά κανείς όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά που κάνουν τα βιβλία του επιτυχημένα: δυνατή πλοκή, δομημένη αφήγηση, πλούσιο λεξιλόγιο, παραστατικές περιγραφές και ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες. Και φυσικά, άλλον έναν περίπλοκο αστυνομικό γρίφο με κοινωνικές προεκτάσεις, που αντικατοπτρίζουν εν μέρει και τον προβληματισμό του συγγραφέα για επίκαιρα κοινωνικά ζητήματα: Η οικονομική κρίση αποτυπώνεται στο σταδιακό σβήσιμο της επιχειρηματικής ζωής στα περίχωρα της φάρμας του Γκάρνεϊ, με πολλά μαγαζιά να έχουν κατεβάσει ρολά ή να φυτοζωούν. Η ανασφάλεια και η καχυποψία οδηγούν τους πολίτες σε ακραίες συμπεριφορές, όπως το να κουβαλούν μαζί τους ένα όπλο, να φανατίζονται και να ακολουθούν τυφλά επικίνδυνους ανθρώπους, που έχουν τους δικούς τους σκοτεινούς σκοπούς. Μια μερίδα του κλήρου επιχειρεί να επιβάλλει τις φασιστικές απόψεις της και να προκαλέσει το θρησκευτικό αίσθημα των πιστών και των φανατικών. Το φαίνεσθαι και οι εντυπώσεις υπερισχύουν της αλήθειας και του δικαίου. Οι δημοσιογράφοι διψούν για αίμα και τρόμο και κυνηγούν την είδηση, αδιαφορώντας για τις συνέπειες. Οι αριβίστες και οι προνομιούχοι είναι πρόθυμοι να φτάσουν στα άκρα για να διεκδικήσουν ή να διατηρήσουν τα κεκτημένα τους.
Μέσα σε όλα αυτά, λοιπόν, ο Ντέιβ Γκάρνεϊ προσπαθεί να αποκωδικοποιήσει τις ανθρώπινες συμπεριφορές, να ανακαλύψει τα αληθινά κίνητρα και τις προθέσεις, να μην επηρεάζεται από τις εντυπώσεις, να αμφισβητεί όσα μαθαίνει, να βλέπει πέρα και πίσω από αυτό που φαίνεται εκ πρώτης όψεως και να φτάσει στην αλήθεια. Παρ’ όλο που είναι πλέον συνταξιούχος και χορτασμένος από την καριέρα του, το μικρόβιο του αστυνομικού δεν έχει φύγει από μέσα του. Η αίσθηση της αδρεναλίνης που ξυπνάει με κάθε νέα υπόθεση, το κυνήγι των στοιχείων, η αναζήτηση των αιτίων, η ανάλυση των συμπεριφορών και τα κίνητρα του καθενός για τις πράξεις του είναι το οξυγόνο του. Αφοσιώνεται, παθιάζεται, προβληματίζεται, χάνεται στην υπόθεση. Η σχέση με τη γυναίκα του έρχεται να εξισορροπήσει λίγο την τεταμένη ατμόσφαιρα της αστυνομικής έρευνας και να τον κάνει πιο ανθρώπινο ως χαρακτήρα. Εκείνη είναι ο αφανής ήρωας, που μένει κυρίως στο περιθώριο και προσπαθεί να τον ωθήσει να χαλαρώσει και να απολαύσει την ηρεμία της εξοχής, τις καθημερινές μικρές χαρές της ζωής, έστω κι αν ξέρει πως συνήθως το μυαλό του είναι αλλού. Οι δυο τους αλληλοσυμπληρώνονται και οι στιγμές που μοιράζονται αποφορτίζουν την αφήγηση όσο και όπου χρειάζεται.
Εξαιρετική η σκέψη του Verdon να τοποθετήσει το πλαίσιο της ιστορίας του σε μια μικρή, κλειστή και προνομιούχα κοινότητα, έναν επίγειο παράδεισο για λίγους που μετατρέπεται σε κόλαση, ενώ οι εξέχοντες κάτοικοί του μοιάζουν ανήμποροι να αντιδράσουν μπροστά σε έναν παρανοϊκό δολοφόνο που σκοτώνει αδιακρίτως. Όσο η πλοκή εξελίσσεται, το άμεμπτο και… σνομπ αφήγημα του ειδυλλιακού αυτού τόπου καταρρέει και εμφανίζονται οι ρωγμές του, τα κρυμμένα μυστικά και τα κρίματα των κατοίκων του. Η λεπτή ειρωνεία με την οποία χειρίζεται ο συγγραφέας το όλο θέμα του λαμπερού Λάρτσφιλντ, που χάνει ένα μέρος του λούστρου του με κάθε νέα δολοφονία, είναι εξίσου απολαυστική με την εξέλιξη της αστυνομικής υπόθεσης, που φροντίζει να διατηρεί συνεχώς τους παλμούς στα ύψη.
Το Ο δολοφόνος είν��ι νεκρός είναι ένα εφευρετικό, συναρπαστικό whodunit μυστήριο με έντονο άρωμα καλού αστυνομικού νουάρ. Ένα βιβλίο που επιβεβαιώνει ότι ο John Verdon δικαίως κατέχει μια ξεχωριστή θέση στον χώρο της αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας, αλλά και στις καρδιές των φανατικών αναγνωστών της.
September 27, 2021
3,5 / 5
Seri kitapları arka arkaya okumayı özellikle de polisiyeyse çok severim. Ancak bu seriyi o şekilde okumamam gerekiyormuş. Her kitapta tekrarlanan açıklamalar ve 7 kitaptan 5 tanesinin aynı tarzda final yapması gözüme batıp, canımı sıktı.
Bu arada elbette serileri sırasıyla okumak daha iyi ama bu seride çok da şart değil. Zira her kitapta farklı bir polisiye hikaye var, ana ve yan karakterlerle ilgili bilgiler de her kitapta tekrar tekrar anlatıliyor.
Seri kitapları arka arkaya okumayı özellikle de polisiyeyse çok severim. Ancak bu seriyi o şekilde okumamam gerekiyormuş. Her kitapta tekrarlanan açıklamalar ve 7 kitaptan 5 tanesinin aynı tarzda final yapması gözüme batıp, canımı sıktı.
Bu arada elbette serileri sırasıyla okumak daha iyi ama bu seride çok da şart değil. Zira her kitapta farklı bir polisiye hikaye var, ana ve yan karakterlerle ilgili bilgiler de her kitapta tekrar tekrar anlatıliyor.
June 11, 2022
I loved every second of this book, as I have all of the others in this excellent detective series. The mystery is a bit convoluted but well written enough that the reader can follow. Two things make this story special, in my opinion.
The first is that since I have read this series in order, I can see the progress in the relationship between Dave Gurney and his wife, Madeleine. He is working hard to be more present in every moment, and she is working on accepting that murder and mayhem is what challenges him in life.
And the second is the timeliness of this novel in relation to our present troubles in America. This takes place in a small town, which is owned practically by an extremely wealthy man who has ties to a rather ultra conservative church, whose motto is about taking back America, using guns and God as their weapons of choice.
As always, I am grateful for this author, who has written a terrific series.
The first is that since I have read this series in order, I can see the progress in the relationship between Dave Gurney and his wife, Madeleine. He is working hard to be more present in every moment, and she is working on accepting that murder and mayhem is what challenges him in life.
And the second is the timeliness of this novel in relation to our present troubles in America. This takes place in a small town, which is owned practically by an extremely wealthy man who has ties to a rather ultra conservative church, whose motto is about taking back America, using guns and God as their weapons of choice.
As always, I am grateful for this author, who has written a terrific series.
July 6, 2022
Séptima entrega de una serie que ha ido de más a menos.
No puedo decir que sea un mal libro, peor esa chispa de los primeros títulos se perdió hace mucho y no la vamos a recuperar aquí.
La trama no está mal llevada, pero se va mucho por las ramas, se pierde en callejones que no llegan a ninguna parte. El ritmo es muy lento y se llega a hacer pesado. La vida de Dave y Madeline, aunque tiene ese toque de normalidad, llega a aburrir.
El final es coherente y cierra bien todo. No pierdo la esperanza de recuperar al Verdon de esos primeros libros. Veremos qué tal el siguiente.
March 30, 2021
Having a hard time rating this. It's a big complex story with multiple layers, starting out with...
The death of a very wealthy and powerful man who more or less rules over a perfectly bucolic, quaint little town in upstate New York. This happens in the first few pages; his death is graphic and discovered by his wife, a sultry young woman fifty years his junior.
When the police chief in the small town reaches out to old friend/colleague, Dave Gurney, retired NYC police detective, and who lives in a nearby town, the results are one crazy episode after another. Suffice to say there are more murders - ain't saying how many - each of which is a twist upon a twist as Dave gets further and further locked into what's happening in the 'perfect little town' of Larchfield, NY state. Mr. Verdon pulls out all the stops on this one!
What I like about the Dave Gurney series, which I've been following since its inception, is Dave Gurney himself, and his loving, ever-devoted and mostly uncomplaining wife, Madeline. They live on a farm. They've got chickens. He's retired; she still works a bit. They're talking about raising alpacas AND they grow asparagus like my dad used to do, right out in the garden. (Mr. Verdon gets all the details right when it comes to building a henhouse, cooking fresh asparagus, even though it's Madeline who loves this stuff; but because Dave loves her, he loves it, too.)
It's a perfect set-up for murder, pandemonium, criminals who seem to be dead but maybe aren't, and so on and so on. There's a hint of witchcraft here, a loud-mouthed pastor of a local extremist church who reminds me of a certain recent political leader, and a weird funeral director. (That's only the frosting; there's plenty of cake underneath.) Dave seems to be a conservative, or maybe he isn't. Maybe he just wants to be left alone and spend his retirement without any old friend coming along with: "Hey, Dave, since you're a decorated police detective, and you're retired, can you help me with ..."
You really can't pin Dave down. He's introspective, then he's practical. He's fed up with the elite, but he kind of likes what they drive. He's also driven to figure out what's up with Larchfield. He's one of the most 'real' characters in the many detective or mystery series that I read.
So I guess 4.5 stars.
I'll round it up.
The death of a very wealthy and powerful man who more or less rules over a perfectly bucolic, quaint little town in upstate New York. This happens in the first few pages; his death is graphic and discovered by his wife, a sultry young woman fifty years his junior.
When the police chief in the small town reaches out to old friend/colleague, Dave Gurney, retired NYC police detective, and who lives in a nearby town, the results are one crazy episode after another. Suffice to say there are more murders - ain't saying how many - each of which is a twist upon a twist as Dave gets further and further locked into what's happening in the 'perfect little town' of Larchfield, NY state. Mr. Verdon pulls out all the stops on this one!
What I like about the Dave Gurney series, which I've been following since its inception, is Dave Gurney himself, and his loving, ever-devoted and mostly uncomplaining wife, Madeline. They live on a farm. They've got chickens. He's retired; she still works a bit. They're talking about raising alpacas AND they grow asparagus like my dad used to do, right out in the garden. (Mr. Verdon gets all the details right when it comes to building a henhouse, cooking fresh asparagus, even though it's Madeline who loves this stuff; but because Dave loves her, he loves it, too.)
It's a perfect set-up for murder, pandemonium, criminals who seem to be dead but maybe aren't, and so on and so on. There's a hint of witchcraft here, a loud-mouthed pastor of a local extremist church who reminds me of a certain recent political leader, and a weird funeral director. (That's only the frosting; there's plenty of cake underneath.) Dave seems to be a conservative, or maybe he isn't. Maybe he just wants to be left alone and spend his retirement without any old friend coming along with: "Hey, Dave, since you're a decorated police detective, and you're retired, can you help me with ..."
You really can't pin Dave down. He's introspective, then he's practical. He's fed up with the elite, but he kind of likes what they drive. He's also driven to figure out what's up with Larchfield. He's one of the most 'real' characters in the many detective or mystery series that I read.
So I guess 4.5 stars.
I'll round it up.
March 24, 2021
¿Y ahora que hago con mi vida? 😢
Tengo que admitir que sentí algo diferente con este libro. No malo, sólo diferente. Hubo cosas que en otros libros no, como un momento en el que Dave fue algo más...¿agresivo? No sé, pero me encantó leer sobre ese lado de Gurney. 😂
Además de que en esta historia sí me confundí bastante.
Creo que lo que lo hizo sentir así fue que involucra a varias personas, y varios aspectos que seguir. Iban surgiendo más y más cosas, más detalles del pasado, más muertes, y yo estaba que no hallaba la relación.
Pero, obviamente, no era un enredo sin sentido; y me encanta que Verdon hace que el lector lo vaya entendiendo junto con Dave. Disfruto muchísimo poder llegar al nombre del responsable antes de que él aclare todo.
También hubo personajes secundarios que me agradaron bastante (Slovak y Barstow) y, como siempre, la presencia de Hardwick le da un toque divertido a todo. Añadiendo a esto que el libro empieza con una de las cosas que más disfruto: cuando Dave enseña en la academia. En serio, yo podría leer un libro entero solo de él dando clases.
He leído a muchos comparando este libro con el primero de la saga, pero ahora que lo pienso, no recuerdo mucho de mi experiencia leyendo 'Sé lo que estás pensando'. Así que supongo que eso me da un buen pretexto para releerlo. 😜
Sin embargo, a pesar de que obviamente tengo mis favoritas, le guardo un cariño especial a cada historia de esta serie.
Y no tengo mucho más que decir. Me encanta el trabajo de Verdon. Me encanta Dave, y su forma de resolver todo. Y yo seguiré siendo fiel seguidora de esta saga hasta que termine.
Fue una excelente decisión leer 'El Ángel Negro' para iniciar el año.
(22/01/21)
Tengo que admitir que sentí algo diferente con este libro. No malo, sólo diferente. Hubo cosas que en otros libros no, como un momento en el que Dave fue algo más...¿agresivo? No sé, pero me encantó leer sobre ese lado de Gurney. 😂
Además de que en esta historia sí me confundí bastante.
Creo que lo que lo hizo sentir así fue que involucra a varias personas, y varios aspectos que seguir. Iban surgiendo más y más cosas, más detalles del pasado, más muertes, y yo estaba que no hallaba la relación.
Pero, obviamente, no era un enredo sin sentido; y me encanta que Verdon hace que el lector lo vaya entendiendo junto con Dave. Disfruto muchísimo poder llegar al nombre del responsable antes de que él aclare todo.
También hubo personajes secundarios que me agradaron bastante (Slovak y Barstow) y, como siempre, la presencia de Hardwick le da un toque divertido a todo. Añadiendo a esto que el libro empieza con una de las cosas que más disfruto: cuando Dave enseña en la academia. En serio, yo podría leer un libro entero solo de él dando clases.
He leído a muchos comparando este libro con el primero de la saga, pero ahora que lo pienso, no recuerdo mucho de mi experiencia leyendo 'Sé lo que estás pensando'. Así que supongo que eso me da un buen pretexto para releerlo. 😜
Sin embargo, a pesar de que obviamente tengo mis favoritas, le guardo un cariño especial a cada historia de esta serie.
Y no tengo mucho más que decir. Me encanta el trabajo de Verdon. Me encanta Dave, y su forma de resolver todo. Y yo seguiré siendo fiel seguidora de esta saga hasta que termine.
Fue una excelente decisión leer 'El Ángel Negro' para iniciar el año.
(22/01/21)
December 6, 2020
Largo, se me ha hecho terriblemente largo y, en ocasiones, aburrido.
Si la trama del asesinato en sí podía resultar entretenida en su rebuscada complejidad, los miles de bandazos de la investigación y los pasos en falso me hicieron perder interés por momentos, aunque peor era cada vez que Gurney regresaba a casa y se enfrentaba a su tediosa vida matrimonial con Madeleine. Si vuelvo a oír hablar sobre alpacas me corto las venas.
En fin, pese a que resulta entretenida a ratos, sigo echando de menos al Verdon de las primeras novelas.
Si la trama del asesinato en sí podía resultar entretenida en su rebuscada complejidad, los miles de bandazos de la investigación y los pasos en falso me hicieron perder interés por momentos, aunque peor era cada vez que Gurney regresaba a casa y se enfrentaba a su tediosa vida matrimonial con Madeleine. Si vuelvo a oír hablar sobre alpacas me corto las venas.
En fin, pese a que resulta entretenida a ratos, sigo echando de menos al Verdon de las primeras novelas.
June 5, 2021
Дейв Гърни няма да стои далече от Хароу Хил:
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
Да видим какво става на Хароу Хил… За разлика от последната, в която цяло градче се срутваше към неизбежен пожар, подклаждан от корумпирано полицейско управление, тук събитията се завъртат около богаташка общност, в която взаимната ненавист е основното гориво на отношенията. И в крайна сметка все някой трябва да изгори – и това е местният алфа властник, Ангъс, който е дърпал конците на всичко и всички, а без особен срам си е взел за съпруга и много по-млада от него местна красавица със сърце от лед. Случаят не ще да е толкова сложен – някой го е заклал в нощта, но е оставил отпечатъци и ДНК, но има малък проблем: този, на когото принадлежат, по това време е мъртъв от няколко часа, при това напълно доказано и потвърдено от сериозни свидетели, сред които началникът на местната полиция – малодушен и оплетен в зависимости компрометиран служетел на закона.
Софтпрес
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
Да видим какво става на Хароу Хил… За разлика от последната, в която цяло градче се срутваше към неизбежен пожар, подклаждан от корумпирано полицейско управление, тук събитията се завъртат около богаташка общност, в която взаимната ненавист е основното гориво на отношенията. И в крайна сметка все някой трябва да изгори – и това е местният алфа властник, Ангъс, който е дърпал конците на всичко и всички, а без особен срам си е взел за съпруга и много по-млада от него местна красавица със сърце от лед. Случаят не ще да е толкова сложен – някой го е заклал в нощта, но е оставил отпечатъци и ДНК, но има малък проблем: този, на когото принадлежат, по това време е мъртъв от няколко часа, при това напълно доказано и потвърдено от сериозни свидетели, сред които началникът на местната полиция – малодушен и оплетен в зависимости компрометиран служетел на закона.
Софтпрес
https://knigolandia.info/book-review/...
November 8, 2021
My thanks to Counterpoint press, John Verdon and Netgalley. This will most definitely be a dissenting point of view. I don't understand the accolades. One thing I often take notice of is whether the author is trying to sell fertilizer, "for the mind" or just a load of crap. For me, this question was answered in the first chapter. Great characters don't need to be "sold". Also, by trying to tell how good the teacher/cop was, gave away the whole story. For me it was a bit like yelling at your favorite futbal team, and knowing they can't hear you! How many times have I yelled at Real Madrid? Too many! I knew what was going on from the beginning. All of it!. "Which, surprised the hooey outta me!" Mr. Verdon is not someone that I need to read more from. Truly, I think anyone with a lick of common sense should pass.
Also, 3 stars is just me being generous and in a good mood.
Also, 3 stars is just me being generous and in a good mood.
May 17, 2021
הספר השביעי בסדרת הבלש דייב גרני המצוינת והאהובה עליי.
אחד מהאנשים העשירים והחשובים בעיירה השלווה לרצ'פילד נרצח, ומפקד המשטרה שם - מייק מורגן, שהיה בעבר שותף של גרני - מבקש ממנו לבוא לייעץ ולסייע בחקירה לכוח המשטרה. החקירה מגלה סודות אפלים ורציחות נוספות.
ספר מותח מאוד, לא צפוי, מלא טוויסטים, כמיטב המסורת של הסדרה ושל הסופר. מומלץ.
אחד מהאנשים העשירים והחשובים בעיירה השלווה לרצ'פילד נרצח, ומפקד המשטרה שם - מייק מורגן, שהיה בעבר שותף של גרני - מבקש ממנו לבוא לייעץ ולסייע בחקירה לכוח המשטרה. החקירה מגלה סודות אפלים ורציחות נוספות.
ספר מותח מאוד, לא צפוי, מלא טוויסטים, כמיטב המסורת של הסדרה ושל הסופר. מומלץ.
February 1, 2023
Поредната заплетена Гърни - главоблъсканица с първоначална постановка, сякаш извадена от хорър филм (Възкръснал мъртвец, оу йеа, много, много добре!!!) и лавинообразно нарастваща купчинка от трупове (14 бр., ако не се лъжа, станаха до края) в наглед идилична и отвсякъде подр��дена (да, бе да...) провинциална общност. Като добавим към сметката непрестанните майсторски сюжетни врътки и героите, сравнително читаво изградени и плътни (разбира се, за условностите на жанра), крайната оценка заковава Отличен Пет :)
February 3, 2021
Con un comienzo sorprende, se inicia esta última parte de la saga del detective Dave Gurney y aunque el final me parece enrevesado cierra la novela de forma coherente. Sin embargo, estimo que ha habido ciertos elementos que han provocado mi desinterés. El primero, responde a la idea de un personaje principal como único protagonista, desde el cual se desarrollan todos los elementos de la trama.
Aunque este hecho no rompe la dinámica de la novela me parece un recurso pobre y en cierta manera tedioso, ya que impide que en la investigación haya oras voces que aportan la resolución final del caso. Por decirlo de forma clara, el único, líder inteligente y capaz es el protagonista, los demás personajes sólo aparecen para engrandecer su figura principal. El segundo elemento que ha hecho que mi interés decaiga responde al hecho de que la investigación flojea, el autor va abriendo varias hipótesis y le da cierre en las últimas páginas pero siempre gira en torno a los mismos elementos sin un desarrollo, nudo y desenlace.
En términos generales se trata de una novela entretenida, magníficamente escrita y rápida en sus descripciones (lo que en este género es de valorar) y que adolece de cierta madurez en su planteamiento y desarrollo.
Aunque este hecho no rompe la dinámica de la novela me parece un recurso pobre y en cierta manera tedioso, ya que impide que en la investigación haya oras voces que aportan la resolución final del caso. Por decirlo de forma clara, el único, líder inteligente y capaz es el protagonista, los demás personajes sólo aparecen para engrandecer su figura principal. El segundo elemento que ha hecho que mi interés decaiga responde al hecho de que la investigación flojea, el autor va abriendo varias hipótesis y le da cierre en las últimas páginas pero siempre gira en torno a los mismos elementos sin un desarrollo, nudo y desenlace.
En términos generales se trata de una novela entretenida, magníficamente escrita y rápida en sus descripciones (lo que en este género es de valorar) y que adolece de cierta madurez en su planteamiento y desarrollo.
July 30, 2023
John Verdon’s engrossing 7th Dave Gurney thriller, “On Harrow Hill,” is a gritty, eerie police procedural.
Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney is called in to investigate a death by a colleague who suggests that the killing is suspicious and that some supernatural forces may be at play.
Angus Russell, the town’s wealthiest and most prominent citizen, is discovered dead in his mansion on Harrow Hill.
Gurney accepts the invitation to poke around and asks questions, but he states early on that the rat race of solving crime is behind him, even though at the opening chapter, Gurney is lecturing at a police training academy about police procedural and eyewitness statements. Still immersed in the world of police work, Gurney can’t help but entertain that niggling voice in the back of his head.
Harrow Hill is teeming with something dangerous as Gurney travels to the small town of Larchfield to examine the gruesome death of one of its own. Gurney is met with hostility and unthinkable circumstances. What looks like a random act of burglary turns into the most bizarre and macabre crime Gurney has ever seen.
When the preliminary analysis of DNA is gathered, Gurney and the local law officials are shocked to discover that conspiracy theorists and religious fundamentalists proclaim that Russell’s death is linked to a zombie apocalypse.
Verdon is an excellent storyteller, spinning an intelligent narrative that is both believable and page-turning. With an eye for detail, “On Harrow Hill” is a well-crafted thriller.
Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney is called in to investigate a death by a colleague who suggests that the killing is suspicious and that some supernatural forces may be at play.
Angus Russell, the town’s wealthiest and most prominent citizen, is discovered dead in his mansion on Harrow Hill.
Gurney accepts the invitation to poke around and asks questions, but he states early on that the rat race of solving crime is behind him, even though at the opening chapter, Gurney is lecturing at a police training academy about police procedural and eyewitness statements. Still immersed in the world of police work, Gurney can’t help but entertain that niggling voice in the back of his head.
Harrow Hill is teeming with something dangerous as Gurney travels to the small town of Larchfield to examine the gruesome death of one of its own. Gurney is met with hostility and unthinkable circumstances. What looks like a random act of burglary turns into the most bizarre and macabre crime Gurney has ever seen.
When the preliminary analysis of DNA is gathered, Gurney and the local law officials are shocked to discover that conspiracy theorists and religious fundamentalists proclaim that Russell’s death is linked to a zombie apocalypse.
Verdon is an excellent storyteller, spinning an intelligent narrative that is both believable and page-turning. With an eye for detail, “On Harrow Hill” is a well-crafted thriller.
February 25, 2022
A captivating read! This is the seventh and as far as I know, the last of the stand alone book by this author. As in all other books, retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney, his quiet introspective wife Madeleine and a former NYPD colleague Jack Hardwick are featured. A former colleague Mike Morgan calls Dave out of the blue and asks for help. Feeling indebted to Mike who had saved his life amidst their NYPD careers, Dave agrees to consult on a bizarre crime that happened in the town of Larchfield where Mike is the relatively newly installed Chief of Police. And so begins the investigation into the deaths of Billy Tate, a bad-boy outlier and Angus Russell, one the town’s wealthy inhabitants. A master at making sense out of a maze of spider webs, Dave sets to work trying to solve a seemingly endless series amid murders. The story includes religious zealots, witchcraft, mayhem, and lots of police procedures. In other words, an engaging who done it!
May 10, 2021
Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney is called by a former colleague, now Chief of Police in a small New York town, his analytical mind is pulled in all directions. Is it possible that someone has risen from the dead to wreak havoc on the town's residents?
The community of Larchfield is known as idyllic. Well, at least it was before the murder of Angus Russell, its wealthiest and most powerful citizen. Preliminary analysis of DNA gathered at the crime scene points to the guilt of local bad boy, Billy Tate. Billy Tate hated Angus Russell, there wasn't a soul in town who didn't know this to be a fact. There is only one problem, Billy Tate was pronounced dead the night before the murder when he was struck by lightning and fell off a church roof.
When the police check the body, they find that it is gone, the casket broken from the inside. As more town's people fall to the "Zombie Killer" the news and a fundamentalist group wreak even more havoc on the small town.
The real question becomes, who is the murderer?
The community of Larchfield is known as idyllic. Well, at least it was before the murder of Angus Russell, its wealthiest and most powerful citizen. Preliminary analysis of DNA gathered at the crime scene points to the guilt of local bad boy, Billy Tate. Billy Tate hated Angus Russell, there wasn't a soul in town who didn't know this to be a fact. There is only one problem, Billy Tate was pronounced dead the night before the murder when he was struck by lightning and fell off a church roof.
When the police check the body, they find that it is gone, the casket broken from the inside. As more town's people fall to the "Zombie Killer" the news and a fundamentalist group wreak even more havoc on the small town.
The real question becomes, who is the murderer?
August 16, 2023
Literalment adoro com escriu aquest home i, sé que potser no és everyones cup of tea perquè crea històries bastant rebuscades, però a mi m’encanten. Aquest llibre m’ha tingut enganxada des del primer moment i literal que cada vegada que tenia tiempo libre no podia parar de llegir. M’ha encantat i l’únic motiu perquè no li dono 5 estrelles és perquè he odiat una part del desenllaç (mínima però nose no m’ha agradat). Dicho esto, només dir que segueixo mantenint que el John Vernon és el meu escriptor de novel•la negra fav (junt amb la Agatha).
Personatge fav: òbviament el Dave però també la Madeleine
Personatge fav: òbviament el Dave però també la Madeleine
January 15, 2021
Seriously, I don't know how Dave gets mixed up in these things. And I don't know why Madeleine puts up with him ;) The zombie killer was an interesting idea for a while, a lot of strange things went on here, but good story
February 7, 2021
“Las cámaras, básicamente, son un puro nervio óptico. No tienen prejuicios, ni imaginación, ni el impulso de rellenar las lagunas. A diferencia de los humanos, solo ven lo que hay. Pero vayan con cuidado al mirar esos vídeos.” ~ El Ángel Negro de John Verdon.
Séptimo libro de la saga de David Gurney. En esta ocasión el detective es llamado para colaborar en la investigación de la muerte de un magnate. Angus Russel aparece asesinado en su casa y las huellas encontradas por toda la escena del crimen pertenecen a Billy Tate. Hasta ahí todo bien. El problema es que Tate murió días antes al caerle un rayo encima pero tras visualizar las cámaras de la morgue donde se encontraba Tate, los investigadores descubren que Tate no parecía estar tan muerto.
El caso se va enredando —a veces me ha parecido que demasiado— con más víctimas y a Gurney le cuesta encontrar el camino en línea recta que une víctima y culpable y más aún la razón que subyace al asesinato.
Leer a John Verdon siempre es buena inversión. Te pueden gustar más o menos los casos, pero es indiscutible que te lo narra como si fuese una película. Es más, no sé por qué no las llevan al cine ya. Tanto su narrativa como sus diálogos son de diez y además con él siempre aprendo algo de vocabulario. ¿Sabíais lo que es una rampa en una pierna? Yo lo acabo de aprender y creo que no se me olvida.
En El ángel negro, el detective Gurney se ha pasado menos tiempo divagando sobre la vida en el campo, el gallinero y el plantel de espárragos pero, claro, es que el caso se ha enredado y ha dado tantas vueltas y giros que el pobre hombre poco tiempo ha pasado en casa; lo justo para disfrutar de vez en cuando de un salmón a la plancha. Además de él, en este libro destacaría un personaje con breve aparición pero que me ha encantado: la fiscal Cam Stryker, así con toda su bordería, y el joven investigador Slovak.
El pero que le pongo —además de que me parece que se ha enredado de más— es el final. John Verdon parece que ya tiene un cliché para el final y lo utiliza en todos los libros. En este, además, me parecía que ya no era necesario. Por lo demás, como digo, es buena inversión de tiempo.
Séptimo libro de la saga de David Gurney. En esta ocasión el detective es llamado para colaborar en la investigación de la muerte de un magnate. Angus Russel aparece asesinado en su casa y las huellas encontradas por toda la escena del crimen pertenecen a Billy Tate. Hasta ahí todo bien. El problema es que Tate murió días antes al caerle un rayo encima pero tras visualizar las cámaras de la morgue donde se encontraba Tate, los investigadores descubren que Tate no parecía estar tan muerto.
El caso se va enredando —a veces me ha parecido que demasiado— con más víctimas y a Gurney le cuesta encontrar el camino en línea recta que une víctima y culpable y más aún la razón que subyace al asesinato.
Leer a John Verdon siempre es buena inversión. Te pueden gustar más o menos los casos, pero es indiscutible que te lo narra como si fuese una película. Es más, no sé por qué no las llevan al cine ya. Tanto su narrativa como sus diálogos son de diez y además con él siempre aprendo algo de vocabulario. ¿Sabíais lo que es una rampa en una pierna? Yo lo acabo de aprender y creo que no se me olvida.
En El ángel negro, el detective Gurney se ha pasado menos tiempo divagando sobre la vida en el campo, el gallinero y el plantel de espárragos pero, claro, es que el caso se ha enredado y ha dado tantas vueltas y giros que el pobre hombre poco tiempo ha pasado en casa; lo justo para disfrutar de vez en cuando de un salmón a la plancha. Además de él, en este libro destacaría un personaje con breve aparición pero que me ha encantado: la fiscal Cam Stryker, así con toda su bordería, y el joven investigador Slovak.
El pero que le pongo —además de que me parece que se ha enredado de más— es el final. John Verdon parece que ya tiene un cliché para el final y lo utiliza en todos los libros. En este, además, me parecía que ya no era necesario. Por lo demás, como digo, es buena inversión de tiempo.
December 22, 2020
3.5/5* en realidad.
El ángel negro es al séptima entrega de la serie protagonizada por el David Gurney. Una vez más nuestro detective de homicidios retirado (aunque no lo parezca) vuelve a enfrentarse a una investigación de un asesinato que parece no tener expliación lógica. La novela empieza muy al grano, en un par de capítulos estamos metidos en vereda y tenemos planteada la problemática principal y eso es algo que agradezco y que me ha gustado mucho.
Me gusta mucho el personaje de David y el contraste que hace con Madeline y su entorno en Walnnut Crossing y también con Hardwick.
La trama me ha resultado adictiva y me ha mantenido bastante pegada a sus páginas aunque me han faltado algunas cosillas en otros puntos.
Por ejemplo en la ambientación. Tratándose de una ambientación tan característica como es un pueblo pequeño lleno de secretos hubiera estado genial poder profundizar más en él y en sus vecinos, personajes que van cobrando mucha importancia a lo largo del libro.
Al faltar esa parte la trama se vuelve algo enrevesada y liosa, saltando de un personaje a otro, sin apenas conocerlos a ellos y a sus circustancias.
Algo que también me chirría bastante a estas alturas de la serie es que se repitan ciertos elementos una y otra vez en todos los libros. Son detalles que no tienen mucha importancia pero que al final le restan, quizás, algo de verosimilitud a la historia.
En definitiva, aunque he disfrutado de la novela y me ha gustado más que las dos últimas, sigo echando de menos al John Verdon de las primeras novelas.
El ángel negro es al séptima entrega de la serie protagonizada por el David Gurney. Una vez más nuestro detective de homicidios retirado (aunque no lo parezca) vuelve a enfrentarse a una investigación de un asesinato que parece no tener expliación lógica. La novela empieza muy al grano, en un par de capítulos estamos metidos en vereda y tenemos planteada la problemática principal y eso es algo que agradezco y que me ha gustado mucho.
Me gusta mucho el personaje de David y el contraste que hace con Madeline y su entorno en Walnnut Crossing y también con Hardwick.
La trama me ha resultado adictiva y me ha mantenido bastante pegada a sus páginas aunque me han faltado algunas cosillas en otros puntos.
Por ejemplo en la ambientación. Tratándose de una ambientación tan característica como es un pueblo pequeño lleno de secretos hubiera estado genial poder profundizar más en él y en sus vecinos, personajes que van cobrando mucha importancia a lo largo del libro.
Al faltar esa parte la trama se vuelve algo enrevesada y liosa, saltando de un personaje a otro, sin apenas conocerlos a ellos y a sus circustancias.
Algo que también me chirría bastante a estas alturas de la serie es que se repitan ciertos elementos una y otra vez en todos los libros. Son detalles que no tienen mucha importancia pero que al final le restan, quizás, algo de verosimilitud a la historia.
En definitiva, aunque he disfrutado de la novela y me ha gustado más que las dos últimas, sigo echando de menos al John Verdon de las primeras novelas.
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