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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting concept, a group of "Exiteers" (pronounced as musketeers) are people who assist end of life in an underground organised fashion in the UK. They assist people who choose to die, however this couple of Exiteers find out they assisted the wrong person! A strange murder mystery story ensues with a typical "who dun it" storyline. Entertaining yes, kept me wanting to read, but felt it lacked "something". Certainly not the best I've read recently.
Wonderfully entertaining yet deep and profound all at the same time. With characters having names like Felix Pink and Shifty Sands, you could well think this is a bit of a comedy. But it isn't, well, it is in a very dark way. This writer is clever enough to tie in the important and current ethical issue of choice about one's end of life, with the most human like characters who grow and evolve as the plot goes, and finally with a plot that twists, twines and has surprises galore. It is a gem to read.
Felix Pink is an Exiteer. Not a musketeer, although there are distinct similarities! Felix, aka John in Exiteer world, is one of a small group of people who assist people wishing to end their lives. They don't actually do the deed, but sit and be a companion to their clients. A task that requires some strong nerves, deep compassion and patience. Until one day Felix and his Exiteer partner, the much younger Amanda realise that unwittingly, the wrong person in the house they are in has died. A truly intriguing and alarming premise that poses so many questions about this well-argued issue.
The police become involved, naturally, with lead investigator PC Calvin Bridge at the helm. Calvin has his own life issues going on, the highlight of his day being the local betting shop and the somewhat dodgy characters who pass their days there. So many great and intriguing characters. Felix must stay one step ahead of the police, and yet he knows that something is not quite right with the people in the house where the wrong client died. So many inconsistencies.... how can he solve all this without being caught?
Wonderful book, loved it. Can totally imagine this as a darkly funny British comedy-drama.
Felix Pink is an Exiteer. Not a musketeer, although there are distinct similarities! Felix, aka John in Exiteer world, is one of a small group of people who assist people wishing to end their lives. They don't actually do the deed, but sit and be a companion to their clients. A task that requires some strong nerves, deep compassion and patience. Until one day Felix and his Exiteer partner, the much younger Amanda realise that unwittingly, the wrong person in the house they are in has died. A truly intriguing and alarming premise that poses so many questions about this well-argued issue.
The police become involved, naturally, with lead investigator PC Calvin Bridge at the helm. Calvin has his own life issues going on, the highlight of his day being the local betting shop and the somewhat dodgy characters who pass their days there. So many great and intriguing characters. Felix must stay one step ahead of the police, and yet he knows that something is not quite right with the people in the house where the wrong client died. So many inconsistencies.... how can he solve all this without being caught?
Wonderful book, loved it. Can totally imagine this as a darkly funny British comedy-drama.
Recently I wrote about how my carefully crafted reading schedule goes up in flames every time I get a book by Sharon Bolton. Well, you’ll be relieved to know I gave myself a stern talking to. There’s a proper list to be followed so like a responsible adult I reached for the next book in the queue. Then I got the latest from Belinda Bauer.
*Sigh*….Here’s my review.
I should begin with a trigger warning for those of you passionate about garden gnomes. The book contains a scene that can only be described as utter lawn ornament carnage & it’s not pretty. So maybe skim that part. You’re welcome.
This is the story of how one simple mistake alters the lives of a handful of residents in the small village of Bideford. The cast is a mixture of decent folk & quirky oddballs who all weigh in as the book progresses. But the 2 main narrators are Felix Pink & PC Calvin Bridge.
Felix is a 75 year old widower. He lives a quiet, orderly life & has always played by the rules. After watching his wife lose a slow battle with dementia, Felix became an Exiteer…..one of a small group who witness the death of those who have chosen to end their suffering with assisted suicide. They work in pairs & for his next assignment, Felix is accompanied by new recruit Amanda.
They travel to the home of Charles Cann, an elderly man with cancer. One look & Felix knows it will be a short visit. In fact, he’s more worried about Amanda. Ah well, the first time is always the toughest. All they have to do is sit there so really, what could go wrong? Oh ye Gods, where to start…
In the blink of an eye, Felix goes from upstanding citizen to man on the run. Worse yet, someone called the cops which brings PC Calvin Bridge to the Cann residence.
Calvin is a 27 year old guy who is trying to remember why he became a cop. After a brief stint as a detective under DCI Kirsty King, he’s happy to be back in uniform & patrolling the streets. He knows the local criminal element well so when he gets a call about a home invasion, he figures he’ll have it solved by tea time. And he might have…if only he hadn’t found a body.
This is one of those reads where you should go in knowing as little as possible about the plot so I’ll quit while I’m ahead. But what you’ll find is a story that is just as much about the characters as who-dun-it. Compared to the author’s previous book, this is a slower paced tale full of warmth, humour & surprising twists.
It all kicks off with the body. Then we meet the cast & learn of the events & people that have shaped their lives. The MC’s are 2 men at very different stages but as the story progresses, both begin to reflect on the choices they’ve made. I particularly enjoyed Felix’s journey. When we first meet, he’s a man who is awaiting his own demise as he helps others on their way. But a funny thing happens as events spin out of control. He’s not allowed to passively stand by & is forced to participate in his life.
Bauer excels at characterization & with just a few sentences, even minor characters jump off the page. The dialogue is sharp & economical & as the pace picks up in the second half, it becomes an entertaining mix of mayhem & misunderstandings as characters race to either find or avoid each other.
It’s much more than a cleverly constructed murder mystery. Interspersed with devious twists & wry humour are moments that are poignant & all too familiar for those of us with elderly family members. Through Felix & Charles, we feel the heartache of losing someone bit by bit & frustration over the small things we gradually surrender with age. Multiple story lines eventually intersect & there are plenty of surprises in store. The ending brings the story full circle & I thought it was perfect. Wishing you red skies every night, Skipper.
Oops, I forgot to include a warning for those fond of vending machines. Oh well, you’ll get over it. Now, where did I put that reading list….
*Sigh*….Here’s my review.
I should begin with a trigger warning for those of you passionate about garden gnomes. The book contains a scene that can only be described as utter lawn ornament carnage & it’s not pretty. So maybe skim that part. You’re welcome.
This is the story of how one simple mistake alters the lives of a handful of residents in the small village of Bideford. The cast is a mixture of decent folk & quirky oddballs who all weigh in as the book progresses. But the 2 main narrators are Felix Pink & PC Calvin Bridge.
Felix is a 75 year old widower. He lives a quiet, orderly life & has always played by the rules. After watching his wife lose a slow battle with dementia, Felix became an Exiteer…..one of a small group who witness the death of those who have chosen to end their suffering with assisted suicide. They work in pairs & for his next assignment, Felix is accompanied by new recruit Amanda.
They travel to the home of Charles Cann, an elderly man with cancer. One look & Felix knows it will be a short visit. In fact, he’s more worried about Amanda. Ah well, the first time is always the toughest. All they have to do is sit there so really, what could go wrong? Oh ye Gods, where to start…
In the blink of an eye, Felix goes from upstanding citizen to man on the run. Worse yet, someone called the cops which brings PC Calvin Bridge to the Cann residence.
Calvin is a 27 year old guy who is trying to remember why he became a cop. After a brief stint as a detective under DCI Kirsty King, he’s happy to be back in uniform & patrolling the streets. He knows the local criminal element well so when he gets a call about a home invasion, he figures he’ll have it solved by tea time. And he might have…if only he hadn’t found a body.
This is one of those reads where you should go in knowing as little as possible about the plot so I’ll quit while I’m ahead. But what you’ll find is a story that is just as much about the characters as who-dun-it. Compared to the author’s previous book, this is a slower paced tale full of warmth, humour & surprising twists.
It all kicks off with the body. Then we meet the cast & learn of the events & people that have shaped their lives. The MC’s are 2 men at very different stages but as the story progresses, both begin to reflect on the choices they’ve made. I particularly enjoyed Felix’s journey. When we first meet, he’s a man who is awaiting his own demise as he helps others on their way. But a funny thing happens as events spin out of control. He’s not allowed to passively stand by & is forced to participate in his life.
Bauer excels at characterization & with just a few sentences, even minor characters jump off the page. The dialogue is sharp & economical & as the pace picks up in the second half, it becomes an entertaining mix of mayhem & misunderstandings as characters race to either find or avoid each other.
It’s much more than a cleverly constructed murder mystery. Interspersed with devious twists & wry humour are moments that are poignant & all too familiar for those of us with elderly family members. Through Felix & Charles, we feel the heartache of losing someone bit by bit & frustration over the small things we gradually surrender with age. Multiple story lines eventually intersect & there are plenty of surprises in store. The ending brings the story full circle & I thought it was perfect. Wishing you red skies every night, Skipper.
Oops, I forgot to include a warning for those fond of vending machines. Oh well, you’ll get over it. Now, where did I put that reading list….