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knottyrambler's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
littletaiko's review against another edition
3.0
While this was a bit disjointed I couldn't help but like Peter Diamond and his wry little observations. He is no longer with the police force and has started working security at a department store. A little Japanese girl is found locked in the store and nobody has come forward to claim her. Furthermore she doesn't speak and appears to be autistic. Diamond feels compelled to track down her family. Through some crazy turn of events involving trips to NYC and Japan with the help of a famous sumo wrestler, the truth comes out regarding the girl's family. I didn't buy into Diamond's actions but he was so darn charming it didn't bother me as much as it should have.
bkdrgn303's review against another edition
4.0
Big pharma, autism, sumo wrestlers, the Mob. What could go wrong?
nomadpenguin's review against another edition
1.0
Paper thin characters, boring plot, casually racist
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
A unique case, featuring a missing autistic Japanese girl at Harrods. A case which quickly spirals from London to New York and Tokyo.
Whilst quite enjoyable, it does take the reader to stretch their imagination and plausibility to all the goings on in the plot. Quite a lot to take in from terrorism, a sinful priest, mafia, pharmaceuticals, dodgy dealings, murder, kidnap, sumo and that is with a few things missing. It is a fun read though and despite him being a curmudgeon, Peter Diamond is very likeable and the payment he received did bring a slight tear to my eye.
I'm looking forward to the next book, who knows where we will end up. One thing is for sure don't ask Peter to paint!
Whilst quite enjoyable, it does take the reader to stretch their imagination and plausibility to all the goings on in the plot. Quite a lot to take in from terrorism, a sinful priest, mafia, pharmaceuticals, dodgy dealings, murder, kidnap, sumo and that is with a few things missing. It is a fun read though and despite him being a curmudgeon, Peter Diamond is very likeable and the payment he received did bring a slight tear to my eye.
I'm looking forward to the next book, who knows where we will end up. One thing is for sure don't ask Peter to paint!
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by staffer Jo. Read her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/616647028
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1140449__Sdiamond%20solitaire%20lovesey__Orightresult__X2?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1140449__Sdiamond%20solitaire%20lovesey__Orightresult__X2?lang=eng&suite=pearl
blaps_mortisaga's review against another edition
3.0
Actually I should have given it 4 stars, but after "The Last Detective" which was amazing this book disappointed me a bit. I expected a great book, I got 'only' a good book.
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
Held my attention throughout, and (absolute coincidence) some of takes place in Japan, and I'm actually in Japan for a holiday, as I write this review, so I could tell his details were right.
No nitpicks other than when looked at soberly afterward there was a lot of coincidences, deus-ex-machina, fortuitious clues, etc. But of course that's whey we're reading ... a story about a mystery where there aren't any clues and nothing gets solved would be disappointing in the extreme. But we're not supposed to notice how bare-faced it is, I suppose!
(Note: I'm a writer myself, so suffer pangs of guilt every time I offer less than five stars. These aren't ratings of quality, just my subjective account of how much I liked them: 5* = one of my all-time favourites, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
No nitpicks other than when looked at soberly afterward there was a lot of coincidences, deus-ex-machina, fortuitious clues, etc. But of course that's whey we're reading ... a story about a mystery where there aren't any clues and nothing gets solved would be disappointing in the extreme. But we're not supposed to notice how bare-faced it is, I suppose!
(Note: I'm a writer myself, so suffer pangs of guilt every time I offer less than five stars. These aren't ratings of quality, just my subjective account of how much I liked them: 5* = one of my all-time favourites, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
cjeanne99's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Peter Diamond - recently fired from his job as a security guard at Harrod’s, becomes involved in the life of the autistic child found hiding at Harrod’s. She has no identity papers and will not speak. Diamond is obsessed with finding her parents. He gets national publicity - which draws the attention of Mr. Yamagata, a well known sumo wrestler. He offers to bankroll Diamond’s investigation to finding Naomi’s parents. When a Japanese woman appears at the school where Naomi is staying, presenting her passport and a picture of Naomi, and whisking her away, Diamond goes off in pursuit.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical firm Manflex is looking for their next breakthrough drug. They think they found it in a memory enhancing compound currently in review in Indianapolis. Vice Chairman Michael Leapman is fast-tracking the drug - in order to pay off the Gatti family the $$ he borrowed to boost the company. Chairman Manfred Flexner steps down, his son is appointed CEO - and the pieces begin to unravel.
As the plotlines of the Manflex memory drug and finding Naomi’s parents converge - Diamond has his hands full. With the help of Yamagata, financially and literally, he is able to track Naomi to New York City and then back to Yokohama.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical firm Manflex is looking for their next breakthrough drug. They think they found it in a memory enhancing compound currently in review in Indianapolis. Vice Chairman Michael Leapman is fast-tracking the drug - in order to pay off the Gatti family the $$ he borrowed to boost the company. Chairman Manfred Flexner steps down, his son is appointed CEO - and the pieces begin to unravel.
As the plotlines of the Manflex memory drug and finding Naomi’s parents converge - Diamond has his hands full. With the help of Yamagata, financially and literally, he is able to track Naomi to New York City and then back to Yokohama.
latas's review against another edition
3.0
This is over the top, throw-logic-out-of-the-window kind of book.
Diamond's race from London to Manhattan to Tokyo to find the missing Japanese girl was completely implausible. Diamond had lost his job but was still able to worm his way through any situation quite easily. The child care home allows him to take the girl alone to the studio !? Even without any authority, he could order for lab results in NY and they were readily complied. The NYPD cops seemed quite jobless to take heed of Diamond's far fetched theories and go on raids. No one even bothered to verify his credentials ! When Diamond easily got into Manflex's personnel records, my rating dropped to 1 *. Then There were too many such plot holes, I don't even care to list them here.
Yet, this was a fun ride. Most of the 3 stars are for the final chase in Japan and for the sumo wrestler's presence.
Diamond's race from London to Manhattan to Tokyo to find the missing Japanese girl was completely implausible. Diamond had lost his job but was still able to worm his way through any situation quite easily. The child care home allows him to take the girl alone to the studio !? Even without any authority, he could order for lab results in NY and they were readily complied. The NYPD cops seemed quite jobless to take heed of Diamond's far fetched theories and go on raids. No one even bothered to verify his credentials ! When Diamond easily got into Manflex's personnel records, my rating dropped to 1 *. Then There were too many such plot holes, I don't even care to list them here.
Yet, this was a fun ride. Most of the 3 stars are for the final chase in Japan and for the sumo wrestler's presence.