Scan barcode
jonathanrobert's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mad_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
In this day and age of social and political unrest in so many places in the world, it is a bit difficult to put DOVER ONE into its proper place in history. Let's start out with the fact the overweight and poorly groomed Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover is not a very nice man. Then let's add a case in which he has no interest that centers around Juliet Rugg who is described as standing 5 feet, 3 inches tall in stiletto heels, and weighs in at 16 stone (that's 224 pounds in American - yes, I googled it). So we start out with an unattractive police inspector with a misogynistic attitude toward a potential victim. All of this would seem to place the action in the mid-twentieth century before the words 'political correctness' were ever spoken.
However, a thoroughly boorish and unlikeable protagonist does not necessarily make a book unreadable. In fact, once you wrinkle your nose at his characteristics several times, you will find that he is surrounded by the very essence of BBC mystery suspects.
First published over fifty years ago, DOVER ONE is a book of its time. The 1960s was a time of change, not all of which was acceptable to the post-WWII generation. Bits and pieces of the time are interspersed quite subtly throughout the novel. This subtlety makes the book somewhat timeless. Young, modern readers may have difficulty with concepts of being "on the phone" indicating whether or not one had landline in their home, but older folks, like myself will see this as a sign of those times.
The first half of DOVER ONE is pretty much dedicated to making you thoroughly dislike Wilfred Dover while introducing his sergeant, Charles Edward MacGregor, almost as a minor character hardly worth mentioning. Detective Sergeant MacGregor lives in the background but does all the actual work. The residents of Irlam Old Hall are a colorful lot; just the sort you would expect to find in an English village where class structure runs rampant.
I have always enjoyed reading books where inuendo rather than blatant four-letter words are used in delicate situations. The nod to human nature and frailty is given in this way here.
Overall, DOVER ONE is a throwback to an earlier time. Once that is discerned, the case moves on apace. If I had thoughts of stopping this series at book one, I have certainly changed my mind.
The end of the book is priceless!
However, a thoroughly boorish and unlikeable protagonist does not necessarily make a book unreadable. In fact, once you wrinkle your nose at his characteristics several times, you will find that he is surrounded by the very essence of BBC mystery suspects.
First published over fifty years ago, DOVER ONE is a book of its time. The 1960s was a time of change, not all of which was acceptable to the post-WWII generation. Bits and pieces of the time are interspersed quite subtly throughout the novel. This subtlety makes the book somewhat timeless. Young, modern readers may have difficulty with concepts of being "on the phone" indicating whether or not one had landline in their home, but older folks, like myself will see this as a sign of those times.
The first half of DOVER ONE is pretty much dedicated to making you thoroughly dislike Wilfred Dover while introducing his sergeant, Charles Edward MacGregor, almost as a minor character hardly worth mentioning. Detective Sergeant MacGregor lives in the background but does all the actual work. The residents of Irlam Old Hall are a colorful lot; just the sort you would expect to find in an English village where class structure runs rampant.
I have always enjoyed reading books where inuendo rather than blatant four-letter words are used in delicate situations. The nod to human nature and frailty is given in this way here.
Overall, DOVER ONE is a throwback to an earlier time. Once that is discerned, the case moves on apace. If I had thoughts of stopping this series at book one, I have certainly changed my mind.
The end of the book is priceless!
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this so much (and turns out I've read other Joyce Porters and liked them, she does the Hon Con series), but would have liked it more if there hadn't been so much fat shaming. I'm fairly good about recognizing different times held different attitudes and making allowances (e.g. I'm reading an Edward Eager's children's fantasy which features both black cannibals, and attacking Indians, and I'm rolling my eyes but it's fine, I get it). But, in this book, the victim is apparently very, very, very, very fat, and is constantly referred to in the most negative terms imaginable, as if Ms. Porter had had her entire family killed by a very fat woman and was taking literary revenge. She's laying it on, excuse the pun, a bit thick.
Other than that, it's delightful—an engaging set of well-differentiated suspects, clear clues, she played fair with her readers, the detectives nonetheless were a little sharper than me and solved it before I could, all the things you want from a mystery. It's just that she really has it in for fat people. Now, the main character (Dover himself) is also fat, so maybe she thought she had to pile on the adjectives to make it clear how much more fat poor dead Juliet was. But it's offputting:
"She was so fat that it was frankly unbelievable."
"She kept simpering like a great fat cow"
"All that fat and bouncing flesh—it was revolting!"
(These are the first three mentions of her fat. It goes on like this throughout the book).
And yet she was supposedly not quite so obese as to lack sexually desirability, having various lovers and being widely regarded as the town bad girl.
So as long as you can put up with that (I could, it's annoying but not a deal breaker) everything else was worth reading.
Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.
Other than that, it's delightful—an engaging set of well-differentiated suspects, clear clues, she played fair with her readers, the detectives nonetheless were a little sharper than me and solved it before I could, all the things you want from a mystery. It's just that she really has it in for fat people. Now, the main character (Dover himself) is also fat, so maybe she thought she had to pile on the adjectives to make it clear how much more fat poor dead Juliet was. But it's offputting:
"She was so fat that it was frankly unbelievable."
"She kept simpering like a great fat cow"
"All that fat and bouncing flesh—it was revolting!"
(These are the first three mentions of her fat. It goes on like this throughout the book).
And yet she was supposedly not quite so obese as to lack sexually desirability, having various lovers and being widely regarded as the town bad girl.
So as long as you can put up with that (I could, it's annoying but not a deal breaker) everything else was worth reading.
Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.
verityw's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Wanted to like this more. The detective is obnoxious but that’s not necessarily a deal breaker. Can’t put my finger on why I didn’t like it more. Might try another one in the series. Might not.
joycerl's review against another edition
5.0
This book was set in the 60’s. I loved the sarcasm dripping through it.Dover is a sloppy chief Inspector sent to investigate the disappearance of a rather large girl, Julia Rugg.He has to deal with the imbeciles that live around where Miss Rugg lived as he interviews them about the disappearance.The book has slight shades of dark humor.
#netgalley #doverone #joyceporter #doveroneadovermystery1
#netgalley #doverone #joyceporter #doveroneadovermystery1
michelleful's review against another edition
3.0
Middle-of-the-road police procedural. I thought it would be fresh, given that it features an almost "anti-detective", who is bad-tempered and blustery rather than the suave, authoritative sleuths in a lot of mysteries, but I soon tired of Dover's absolute lack of redeeming qualities. It was fairly clear early on whodunnit and I was almost screaming at the police to go . The ending was also rather infuriating, if somewhat realistic.
Spoiler
check the freezercheryl59's review against another edition
3.0
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. It probably isn't the usual type of book I would choose but I liked it, Inspector Dover is a great character and I would read more in the series.
lldavids44's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Murder Mystery
Not for everyone, the main character is quite unlikeable. But I love dark humor and cynicism, and this was a fun, quick read
Not for everyone, the main character is quite unlikeable. But I love dark humor and cynicism, and this was a fun, quick read
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I'm happy I got this ARC because I discovered a new to me humorous and entertaining series.
Dover is the perfect anti-hero, he will make you laugh and you end loving him for all his imperfections.
The story is engrossing and entertaining, it aged well and it's an interesting depiction of an era.
I loved the quirky cast of characters and the plot.
Looking forward to reading the next instalment, it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Dover is the perfect anti-hero, he will make you laugh and you end loving him for all his imperfections.
The story is engrossing and entertaining, it aged well and it's an interesting depiction of an era.
I loved the quirky cast of characters and the plot.
Looking forward to reading the next instalment, it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.