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j_h_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Book 2 in a series. The characters are becoming more rounded and the writing continues to focus on police investigations into hate crimes committed in a London police jurisdiction.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
5.0
Two books in and the Zigic and Ferreira is a new much anticipated, favourite series.
If you've read the first book, then as soon as you start TELL NO TALES, you're straight back with characters that you really know, in a place that you're comfortable in, even though there is nothing comfortable about events, or the social climate. If you haven't read the first, then it won't matter a bit - there is still plenty here for new readers.
Tackling the question of immigration, immigrant workers, tensions with Nationalist groups, and the explosion in Hate Crimes that has occurred in many communities worldwide can't be an easy undertaking - the issues behind everything are complicated and fraught with political and personal implications. Setting events within the purview of the Hate Crimes division, and then never creating an easy situation for them to deal with gives the reader the opportunity to connect, see, even understand many of those issues through the investigator's eyes. Add to that in TELL NO TALES you have the viewpoint of a survivor (and participant), as well as a look at the politics behind many of the tensions, which gives the difficulties more nuance, more complications, more connections.
The other element that contributes much to these books is the way that no-one here is exactly 100% perfect. Zigic is a well-meaning, frequently absent husband and father, who worries about the effect that this will have on his family. There are such nice glimpses into the things that make you go hmmm - the use of very Slavic names for his very English boys and the potential impact that could have. The way that their quiet domestic community is being pressed in upon as the suburbs extend, potentially bringing the problems of his work-beat closer to home. Both of these main characters are the children of immigrant families, so many of the tensions, the problems of acceptance, fitting in are all too obviously understood. Ferreira is the child of Portuguese parents, trying to step away from family control, branch out a little, living the hard partying life of a young woman who is feeling the pressure of family obligations.
This understanding of the experience of many of the victims, and the perpetrators being perused isn't done in a heavy handed manner however. This is a strong police procedural into which these elements are seamlessly introduced, tucked into the narrative in a way that's informative rather than pointed.
All of which is delivered in a flowing, strong style that effortlessly holds the reader's attention, always promising more in the next chapter. TELL NO TALES is great crime fiction. It's a tale being told, it's a look into a particularly dark aspect of society and a very current day problem, and it's an exploration of the things that go wrong (and right) in our world.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-tell-no-tales-eva-dolan
If you've read the first book, then as soon as you start TELL NO TALES, you're straight back with characters that you really know, in a place that you're comfortable in, even though there is nothing comfortable about events, or the social climate. If you haven't read the first, then it won't matter a bit - there is still plenty here for new readers.
Tackling the question of immigration, immigrant workers, tensions with Nationalist groups, and the explosion in Hate Crimes that has occurred in many communities worldwide can't be an easy undertaking - the issues behind everything are complicated and fraught with political and personal implications. Setting events within the purview of the Hate Crimes division, and then never creating an easy situation for them to deal with gives the reader the opportunity to connect, see, even understand many of those issues through the investigator's eyes. Add to that in TELL NO TALES you have the viewpoint of a survivor (and participant), as well as a look at the politics behind many of the tensions, which gives the difficulties more nuance, more complications, more connections.
The other element that contributes much to these books is the way that no-one here is exactly 100% perfect. Zigic is a well-meaning, frequently absent husband and father, who worries about the effect that this will have on his family. There are such nice glimpses into the things that make you go hmmm - the use of very Slavic names for his very English boys and the potential impact that could have. The way that their quiet domestic community is being pressed in upon as the suburbs extend, potentially bringing the problems of his work-beat closer to home. Both of these main characters are the children of immigrant families, so many of the tensions, the problems of acceptance, fitting in are all too obviously understood. Ferreira is the child of Portuguese parents, trying to step away from family control, branch out a little, living the hard partying life of a young woman who is feeling the pressure of family obligations.
This understanding of the experience of many of the victims, and the perpetrators being perused isn't done in a heavy handed manner however. This is a strong police procedural into which these elements are seamlessly introduced, tucked into the narrative in a way that's informative rather than pointed.
All of which is delivered in a flowing, strong style that effortlessly holds the reader's attention, always promising more in the next chapter. TELL NO TALES is great crime fiction. It's a tale being told, it's a look into a particularly dark aspect of society and a very current day problem, and it's an exploration of the things that go wrong (and right) in our world.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-tell-no-tales-eva-dolan
saltycorpse's review
4.0
This is the second book in this series and Eva Dolan delivers again. Great characters and, as far as detective series go, a decently original take as the primary characters work in a Hate Crimes unit. Hopefully the 3rd in the series is as good as the first two.
london1955's review against another edition
5.0
Second book of this newcomer Eva Dolan and I must say it is better then the first. It gripped me from the first few pages and I found I could not put it down. There were lots of twists and turns in the storyline which kept me intrigued till the end. I am looking forward to the next book. Keep up the good work Eva
myrdyr's review against another edition
4.0
I am not sure what changed from the first book in the series because they were both well written, but I enjoyed this one more and found the characters to be more likeable.
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
The second in the series set in Peterborough. detectives Zigic and Ferreira are part of the police hate crimes unit and investigate a car crashing deliberately into a bus stop where migrant workers wait for their collection. The investigation into the two deaths links into the brutal murders of local Pakistani residents , the local far right UKIP style MP , and far right extremist groups. well plotted, great characters and very topical this is a series and a writer that I am increasingly enjoying.
anetq's review against another edition
4.0
Dolan writes crime fiction, but her cases in the Hate Crimes unit tell a few more stories than the run of the mill crime fiction... Like this one, which cements the bon mot I learned a long time ago: Idiots come in every skin colour. Solving murders in an immigrant community, which does not trust the police is no easy feat, and this thing keeps twisting and getting more complex as the cases pile up.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
For the booktrail of the locations in the novel - Booktrail of Peterborough locations in Tell No Tales
Eva Dolan takes you to some dark parts of Peterborough and to some even darker parts of your imagination
Story in a nutshell
One morning in Peterborough a car ploughs into a bus stop, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. The victims? Migrant workers in the area.
DS Ferreira and DI Zigic are called in from the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit to handle the case. They are up to their necks in another case with Neo-Nazi overtones, and so this hit and run seems like an open and shut case. But things are never as easy as that.
Tensions are rising amongst the locals and the media starts hounding the police for answers. The trail and search for the truth will take them on a journey into the world of local politics, right wing policies and a cover up of some very dark secrets.
Setting
The Peterborough of Eva Dolan is a dark and dangerous place to be. This is seemingly a hotbed of local politics with racist overtones and the possibility that a local politician, head of a recently established right-wing party, must be involved somehow. Has he risen through the ranks with a race card in his hand? Does he have connections to the extremists living in Peterborough?
This Peterborough is the stomping ground for two gritty and raw detectives – Detectives Zigic and Ferreira – their work in Peterborough Police’s `Hate Crimes’ Unit is complicated as it is sensitive and shines a light on the varied and difficult work of race-related crime. Added to this hit and run is a series of murders of black and Asian men. So, no wonder the city and local area is awash with hatred and extreme tension.
Peterborough here is a sad and divided city – extremists on one side and other groups on the other. Divided by political tension and suspicion of race, this place is a difficult one to police and where the police find it hard to get answers.
Every time Ferreira went into the centre of Peterborough there seemed to be more empty shops and as she came out of the car park near the city marketplace heading towards Margate she noticed another window opaque with whitewash..
The plight of the immigrants here is sad and all too real as are the effects on the community at large, the way events can spiral out of control –
Neighbour against neighbour, nobody feeling safe to walk the streets. Then the vigilantes step in…
The novel not only places you in Peterborough but in any town in England where these issues are important and need to be explored.
Grim and gritty but very real.
Eva Dolan takes you to some dark parts of Peterborough and to some even darker parts of your imagination
Story in a nutshell
One morning in Peterborough a car ploughs into a bus stop, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. The victims? Migrant workers in the area.
DS Ferreira and DI Zigic are called in from the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit to handle the case. They are up to their necks in another case with Neo-Nazi overtones, and so this hit and run seems like an open and shut case. But things are never as easy as that.
Tensions are rising amongst the locals and the media starts hounding the police for answers. The trail and search for the truth will take them on a journey into the world of local politics, right wing policies and a cover up of some very dark secrets.
Setting
The Peterborough of Eva Dolan is a dark and dangerous place to be. This is seemingly a hotbed of local politics with racist overtones and the possibility that a local politician, head of a recently established right-wing party, must be involved somehow. Has he risen through the ranks with a race card in his hand? Does he have connections to the extremists living in Peterborough?
This Peterborough is the stomping ground for two gritty and raw detectives – Detectives Zigic and Ferreira – their work in Peterborough Police’s `Hate Crimes’ Unit is complicated as it is sensitive and shines a light on the varied and difficult work of race-related crime. Added to this hit and run is a series of murders of black and Asian men. So, no wonder the city and local area is awash with hatred and extreme tension.
Peterborough here is a sad and divided city – extremists on one side and other groups on the other. Divided by political tension and suspicion of race, this place is a difficult one to police and where the police find it hard to get answers.
Every time Ferreira went into the centre of Peterborough there seemed to be more empty shops and as she came out of the car park near the city marketplace heading towards Margate she noticed another window opaque with whitewash..
The plight of the immigrants here is sad and all too real as are the effects on the community at large, the way events can spiral out of control –
Neighbour against neighbour, nobody feeling safe to walk the streets. Then the vigilantes step in…
The novel not only places you in Peterborough but in any town in England where these issues are important and need to be explored.
Grim and gritty but very real.
sean67's review against another edition
3.0
Trying to like this series but really it is not grabbing me as i would have hoped. There were some very good moments here, but also a lot that caused my attention to drift, and I had to struggle in parts to stay true to the course. Not bad by any means but I'm not a fan yet.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
Long Way Home was one of my top ten reads of 2014. I have no doubt that this follow up will be among my top ten of 2015. There are two different investigations taking place throughout this novel. A hit and run and another involving a number of deaths which look racially motivated. Pressure is on the team for both cases to be solved quickly.
I like the way modern life in towns and cities was described. Different cultures living next to each other in difficult times. With politics showing its ugly side it all seemed very true.
The ending was one that left me aching for the third in the series.
With this second novel Eva Dolan is going to be regarded as a top British crime writer.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the advance copy received.
I like the way modern life in towns and cities was described. Different cultures living next to each other in difficult times. With politics showing its ugly side it all seemed very true.
The ending was one that left me aching for the third in the series.
With this second novel Eva Dolan is going to be regarded as a top British crime writer.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the advance copy received.
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