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rpmiller's review
4.0
Many of the characters are found in the previous volume, but are further developed here. The main story, although long, is an investigation of a murder, primarily regarding the opportunity while motive and means are secondary. There are several major twists that evolve during the investigation. Plenty of siency (science-fantasy) ideas presented in a credible fashion. Quite enjoyable.
sammystarbuck's review
2.0
Meh. Can't say this series is impressing me as much as his later ones. some great ideas, but the writing certainly isn't as good as it is in the likes of The Commonwealth Saga. Not terrible, mind you, but doesn't flow as nicely.
I'm also not so sure I like any of the characters so far, including Greg. I'll still read the final book in the trilogy, as I already have it, but I don't think my expectations will be very high.
I'm also not so sure I like any of the characters so far, including Greg. I'll still read the final book in the trilogy, as I already have it, but I don't think my expectations will be very high.
tome15's review
5.0
Hamilton, Peter F. A Quantum Murder. Greg Mandel No. 2. Tor, 1994.
Can Peter F. Hamilton write a closed-room mystery if he wants to? Sure. he can. This is especially possible if the victim is a famous eccentric quantum physicist working in a closed compound surrounded by bright, adoring students. Greg Mandel will need all his psi ability and some help from his old Mindstar black ops team to get it done. As you might expect, the path to the truth does not run anywhere near straight. Note: A Quantum Murder is also published in The Mandel Files, Volume 1.
Can Peter F. Hamilton write a closed-room mystery if he wants to? Sure. he can. This is especially possible if the victim is a famous eccentric quantum physicist working in a closed compound surrounded by bright, adoring students. Greg Mandel will need all his psi ability and some help from his old Mindstar black ops team to get it done. As you might expect, the path to the truth does not run anywhere near straight. Note: A Quantum Murder is also published in The Mandel Files, Volume 1.
shawnpconroy's review
4.0
Worth It, But Not Great
It was interesting to see the future of the characters from the first novel. I personally didn't find murder mystery to be as compelling as the industrial espionage of the first book. In fact, nothing seemed to happen for most of the book. I enjoyed the book, but I don't know if I'd read it again.
It was interesting to see the future of the characters from the first novel. I personally didn't find murder mystery to be as compelling as the industrial espionage of the first book. In fact, nothing seemed to happen for most of the book. I enjoyed the book, but I don't know if I'd read it again.
youngscrappytimelord's review
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
3.0
the_prickly_reader's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ghostmuppet's review
3.0
The second book in the series sees all the major characters returning to solve a murder. There were elements in the book that were a little 'ick'. This is the young adult feel at certain parts of the book (lots a young sex and relationships etc). Some terms that were added were a little iffy as well, and i can imagine some people would have been angry about them.
Some elements of the story were also stretching as well. While I can understand the space portion of the story, i think it could have been done in a different and more down to earth way. This is just a personal niggle.
The audio book was of the same high quality i have come to expect from the Audible.
Some elements of the story were also stretching as well. While I can understand the space portion of the story, i think it could have been done in a different and more down to earth way. This is just a personal niggle.
The audio book was of the same high quality i have come to expect from the Audible.
smcleish's review
3.0
Originally published on my blog here in October 2000.
Though slow in getting started, Hamilton's second science fiction mystery featuring psychic detective Greg Mandel turns into an interesting piece of detection. Like the others, it is set in a post-global warming, post-socialist dictatorship Britain, much of the novel taking place in an area fairly familiar to me, around Oakham and Peterborough. Seeing the familiar transformed as Hamilton has done here is quite strange; the idea that parts of Belfast might be centres of paramilitary activity is reasonably easy to accept today, but not that the same might become true of Peterborough housing estates.
The murder to be investigated takes place at Launde Abbey, a stately home now used as a centre for research in theoretical physics loosely attached to Cambridge University. Six or seven young students are given the opportunity to work with famous cosmologist Dr Edward Kitchener, and it is he who is murdered, during a night when a storm cuts the house off from the outside world.
It proves a strange case, for though Kitchener's research might make him a target for assassination by a rival industrial concern, it is hard to see how an outsider could get into the house (the only road is flooded and the storm prevented aircraft from reaching it), and a professional would be unlikely to mutilate the body in the way that Kitchener's corpse has been. The mutilation matches the modus operandi of a convicted serial killer, but he was safely in a criminal asylum on the night of the murder. The mutilation also makes the students in the house unlikely suspects, even though Kitchener caused tension be seducing all the young women he worked with.
The puzzle is rather unfair, in a way that science fiction mysteries are often accused of being. The solution relies on not yet invented technology, so new that it is not even known to the sleuth (which makes things a little more equal). It is extremely unlikely that any reader will think of the solution in advance, and I am not at all sure that Hamilton actually pulls all the loose ends tight at the end.
All in all, A Quantum Murder is a bit of a disappointment, too slow in parts and unconvincing as a mystery.
Though slow in getting started, Hamilton's second science fiction mystery featuring psychic detective Greg Mandel turns into an interesting piece of detection. Like the others, it is set in a post-global warming, post-socialist dictatorship Britain, much of the novel taking place in an area fairly familiar to me, around Oakham and Peterborough. Seeing the familiar transformed as Hamilton has done here is quite strange; the idea that parts of Belfast might be centres of paramilitary activity is reasonably easy to accept today, but not that the same might become true of Peterborough housing estates.
The murder to be investigated takes place at Launde Abbey, a stately home now used as a centre for research in theoretical physics loosely attached to Cambridge University. Six or seven young students are given the opportunity to work with famous cosmologist Dr Edward Kitchener, and it is he who is murdered, during a night when a storm cuts the house off from the outside world.
It proves a strange case, for though Kitchener's research might make him a target for assassination by a rival industrial concern, it is hard to see how an outsider could get into the house (the only road is flooded and the storm prevented aircraft from reaching it), and a professional would be unlikely to mutilate the body in the way that Kitchener's corpse has been. The mutilation matches the modus operandi of a convicted serial killer, but he was safely in a criminal asylum on the night of the murder. The mutilation also makes the students in the house unlikely suspects, even though Kitchener caused tension be seducing all the young women he worked with.
The puzzle is rather unfair, in a way that science fiction mysteries are often accused of being. The solution relies on not yet invented technology, so new that it is not even known to the sleuth (which makes things a little more equal). It is extremely unlikely that any reader will think of the solution in advance, and I am not at all sure that Hamilton actually pulls all the loose ends tight at the end.
All in all, A Quantum Murder is a bit of a disappointment, too slow in parts and unconvincing as a mystery.