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fictionophile's review
3.0
"Quick and the dead" is the first in a mystery series featuring art expert and ex-copper Alexandra Quick.
Alexandra is thirty-three years old, divorced, and on her second career. She, and her friend and business partner Helena Drummond, work jointly to produce high-quality art book anthologies with corresponding relevant stories. Helena is older than Alex, flamboyant, eccentric, and more than a bit of a 'cougar'. She is an art historian and works as a professor at the University of Kent at Canterbury.
When Helena fails to turn up at a very important meeting with a prospective publisher, Alex's ex-copper senses are immediately roused. After the meeting she goes to Helena's house, only to find that there is a dead, and very savagely mutilated, woman in Helena's bed. Of Helena, there is no trace...
As Alex begins her own investigation into the mysterious woman's death, she wonders where her friend Helena could possibly be. She knows in her heart that the police are wrong in their supposition that Helena is the murderer. She also carries guilt due to the fact that Helena had told Alex she was being stalked - and Alex had dismissed her concerns due to the fact that Helena was a bit of a drama queen.
The murder victim turns out to be someone from the art world. Amy Morrison had just released a highly successful book about an Italian painter. Due to the fact that she was universally disliked, was "cold and heartless", the list of possible suspects to her murder is rather a long one.
"By all accounts, the only person Amy had loved was Amy".
There were several parts of this story that I really enjoyed. I liked the scenes between Alex and her friend Sam who owns a nearby bookshop, also the scenes between Alex and her less than nurturing parents. I loved the scenes (though they were far too few), of Alex looking after her brother's rescue dog, the Airedale terrier, named Anton.
I found this book to be escapist mystery. By that I mean it was an easy read, but that the characters and the various threads of the plot just didn't mesh in the way I wanted them to. A woman as supposedly intelligent as Alex, who was one of the youngest ever police Detective Inspectors in the country, surely wouldn't resign from her career over a man??? She professes to have 'chronic sadness', after her miscarriage and divorce, but her actions do not bear this out. The plot, though interesting, was in my opinion, rather far-fetched. That being said, my attention was held throughout, with no significant lags in my interest. Though I quite enjoyed this novel, I cannot in all honesty see me pursuing the Alexandra Quick series. In short, this was an entertaining, though less than plausible mystery novel.
This review is my way of saying thank-you to Severn House publishing house for providing me with auto-approval for their titles offered on NetGalley.
Alexandra is thirty-three years old, divorced, and on her second career. She, and her friend and business partner Helena Drummond, work jointly to produce high-quality art book anthologies with corresponding relevant stories. Helena is older than Alex, flamboyant, eccentric, and more than a bit of a 'cougar'. She is an art historian and works as a professor at the University of Kent at Canterbury.
When Helena fails to turn up at a very important meeting with a prospective publisher, Alex's ex-copper senses are immediately roused. After the meeting she goes to Helena's house, only to find that there is a dead, and very savagely mutilated, woman in Helena's bed. Of Helena, there is no trace...
As Alex begins her own investigation into the mysterious woman's death, she wonders where her friend Helena could possibly be. She knows in her heart that the police are wrong in their supposition that Helena is the murderer. She also carries guilt due to the fact that Helena had told Alex she was being stalked - and Alex had dismissed her concerns due to the fact that Helena was a bit of a drama queen.
The murder victim turns out to be someone from the art world. Amy Morrison had just released a highly successful book about an Italian painter. Due to the fact that she was universally disliked, was "cold and heartless", the list of possible suspects to her murder is rather a long one.
"By all accounts, the only person Amy had loved was Amy".
There were several parts of this story that I really enjoyed. I liked the scenes between Alex and her friend Sam who owns a nearby bookshop, also the scenes between Alex and her less than nurturing parents. I loved the scenes (though they were far too few), of Alex looking after her brother's rescue dog, the Airedale terrier, named Anton.
I found this book to be escapist mystery. By that I mean it was an easy read, but that the characters and the various threads of the plot just didn't mesh in the way I wanted them to. A woman as supposedly intelligent as Alex, who was one of the youngest ever police Detective Inspectors in the country, surely wouldn't resign from her career over a man??? She professes to have 'chronic sadness', after her miscarriage and divorce, but her actions do not bear this out. The plot, though interesting, was in my opinion, rather far-fetched. That being said, my attention was held throughout, with no significant lags in my interest. Though I quite enjoyed this novel, I cannot in all honesty see me pursuing the Alexandra Quick series. In short, this was an entertaining, though less than plausible mystery novel.
This review is my way of saying thank-you to Severn House publishing house for providing me with auto-approval for their titles offered on NetGalley.
canada_matt's review
4.0
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Susan Moody, and Severn House Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
Moody opens a new mystery path with a highly energetic Alex Quick. A former member of the police, soured by a cheating husband and crippling miscarriage, Quick turns her interests elsewhere and finds herself in the world of writing. After a few minor pieces receive modest publication, she turns to the world of art, another of her passions. Eventually collaborating with Dr. Helena Drummond, they prepare to pitch an idea to a small publisher in rural England. When Drummond does not turn up, Quick is left to wonder what could have happened. Thinking back to the various off-hand comments Drummond made about a stalker, Quick is left to wonder if there is some truth to it. Upon arrival at Drummond's home, Quick discovers a body, brutally massacred, with a striking resemblance to her friend. Using former police contacts, Quick is able to learn that the victim is not Drummond, but one Amy Morrison. Quick begins piecing together a backstory on Morrison while she continues to look for Drummond, who has seemingly gone on the lam. The more Quick is able to learn, the greater the chances that Dr. Helena Drummond might be a suspect in the Morrison murder. A manhunt begins, as Quick can do nothing but wait. Further investigation into the life and times of Amy Morrison turns up a sordid past and many people who have motive to kill her. When another body turns up, Quick must come to terms with what might have happened to Drummond while remaining fixated on solving the Morrison murder. An intriguing way to introduce a new character in what is sure to be an interesting series, should Moody continue on with it from hereon in.
This is my first experience reading Moody and if this is a testament to her abilities, it will not be my last. While keeping the story simple, Moody is able to move it forward in an effective manner. She pulls the reader in with some backstory on Alex, but also leaves much unsaid. Alex's past does not flood the narrative, though there is also not a 'crime fighting heroine' that pervades the pages either. It is a wonderful mix of mystery, art history, and personal journey as one woman seeks to find the killer of a friend. Utilising a number of characters from many walks of life, the suspect list, though never formally large, is on offer and the reader can speculate alongside a sleuthing Alex Quick. When everything comes together in the end, it is no whodunit shocker, though there are some surprises along the way and the rationale is intriguing to the attentive reader. Moody effectively treats her readers to a great novel and potential series, with a raw writing style and an intriguing presentation style.
Kudos, Madam Moody for this introductory novel into the life of Alex Quick. I do not it is not your last, for I am eager to see what else you have in store for her.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Moody opens a new mystery path with a highly energetic Alex Quick. A former member of the police, soured by a cheating husband and crippling miscarriage, Quick turns her interests elsewhere and finds herself in the world of writing. After a few minor pieces receive modest publication, she turns to the world of art, another of her passions. Eventually collaborating with Dr. Helena Drummond, they prepare to pitch an idea to a small publisher in rural England. When Drummond does not turn up, Quick is left to wonder what could have happened. Thinking back to the various off-hand comments Drummond made about a stalker, Quick is left to wonder if there is some truth to it. Upon arrival at Drummond's home, Quick discovers a body, brutally massacred, with a striking resemblance to her friend. Using former police contacts, Quick is able to learn that the victim is not Drummond, but one Amy Morrison. Quick begins piecing together a backstory on Morrison while she continues to look for Drummond, who has seemingly gone on the lam. The more Quick is able to learn, the greater the chances that Dr. Helena Drummond might be a suspect in the Morrison murder. A manhunt begins, as Quick can do nothing but wait. Further investigation into the life and times of Amy Morrison turns up a sordid past and many people who have motive to kill her. When another body turns up, Quick must come to terms with what might have happened to Drummond while remaining fixated on solving the Morrison murder. An intriguing way to introduce a new character in what is sure to be an interesting series, should Moody continue on with it from hereon in.
This is my first experience reading Moody and if this is a testament to her abilities, it will not be my last. While keeping the story simple, Moody is able to move it forward in an effective manner. She pulls the reader in with some backstory on Alex, but also leaves much unsaid. Alex's past does not flood the narrative, though there is also not a 'crime fighting heroine' that pervades the pages either. It is a wonderful mix of mystery, art history, and personal journey as one woman seeks to find the killer of a friend. Utilising a number of characters from many walks of life, the suspect list, though never formally large, is on offer and the reader can speculate alongside a sleuthing Alex Quick. When everything comes together in the end, it is no whodunit shocker, though there are some surprises along the way and the rationale is intriguing to the attentive reader. Moody effectively treats her readers to a great novel and potential series, with a raw writing style and an intriguing presentation style.
Kudos, Madam Moody for this introductory novel into the life of Alex Quick. I do not it is not your last, for I am eager to see what else you have in store for her.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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