balthazarlawson's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Dan Corrigan is burnt out and decides to take a break from London and moves into his sister's cottage in a small village in Devon. He gets to know his neighbour, Alan, and on a trip to Exeter, in search of real coffee, they come upon a cryptic message on a slab of stone in a cafe that claims to be more than it is. This sets them on the path to decrypt the message and find it's meaning. But there are those that don't want the truth revealed.
This is a novella that introduces the main characters of the series and is a good introduction. You get to learn about their personality and their motivations. I really enjoyed this, though, one or two things about the main character did annoyed me. His intense reactions is clearly why he is hiding out in a small village.
This is a novella that introduces the main characters of the series and is a good introduction. You get to learn about their personality and their motivations. I really enjoyed this, though, one or two things about the main character did annoyed me. His intense reactions is clearly why he is hiding out in a small village.
crazydach's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly I was getting really interesting and then it started to wind up. Good story but maybe too short
katiya's review against another edition
4.0
4.75 Stars
(This book came close to 5 stars for me and I generally don't award such an honour. I went back and forth on this and then remembered the advice I received when I first began reviewing on GR: Only grant 5 stars to books that are life-changing. So close, so close!)
We have Dan, a Londoner, who's left his corporate world behind for a time as he heads to his sister's holiday cottage in Devonshire and Alan, a local and a former teacher, who befriends Dan. We follow the pair through their adventures (and misadventures) as they try to solve the riddle of a cypher chiselled in stone and its relation to a manor house.
As other reviewers have mentioned, Dan is a bit much. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I would even manage to finish the story. And then we met Alan. Together the two complete each other. Dan's rough edges are smoothed by Alan's empathy and Alan's hesitancy is overcome by Dan's exuberance. Once that had been settled, the fun began! The mystery (a puzzle rather than a murder) was quite basic and if you wanted to spoil a good read, you could have guessed the outcome, but you would have missed all the enjoyable parts: the camaraderie, the logistics of solving a code, the blast of being ejected from places because you and your mate were being cheeky. (Well, Alan might protest a little at that last one.)
I absolutely scored up my copy with the various quips and potshots they took at each other - all in a sense of fun. It's isn't endearment unless there a slight touch of sarcasm, fondly meant, of course. The friendship between these two completely opposite men was joyful, playful, and enduring. It is the very essence of the success of the storytelling. Such good writing.
I see that I'm very late to the party and I have three more books in this series and I hope for many many more. I also have high hopes of a tv series or (gasp!) a movie. What say you, Michael?
Highly recommended.
*Revised to upgrade my rating to 4.95 Stars.
(This book came close to 5 stars for me and I generally don't award such an honour. I went back and forth on this and then remembered the advice I received when I first began reviewing on GR: Only grant 5 stars to books that are life-changing. So close, so close!)
We have Dan, a Londoner, who's left his corporate world behind for a time as he heads to his sister's holiday cottage in Devonshire and Alan, a local and a former teacher, who befriends Dan. We follow the pair through their adventures (and misadventures) as they try to solve the riddle of a cypher chiselled in stone and its relation to a manor house.
As other reviewers have mentioned, Dan is a bit much. In the beginning, I wasn't sure I would even manage to finish the story. And then we met Alan. Together the two complete each other. Dan's rough edges are smoothed by Alan's empathy and Alan's hesitancy is overcome by Dan's exuberance. Once that had been settled, the fun began! The mystery (a puzzle rather than a murder) was quite basic and if you wanted to spoil a good read, you could have guessed the outcome, but you would have missed all the enjoyable parts: the camaraderie, the logistics of solving a code, the blast of being ejected from places because you and your mate were being cheeky. (Well, Alan might protest a little at that last one.)
I absolutely scored up my copy with the various quips and potshots they took at each other - all in a sense of fun. It's isn't endearment unless there a slight touch of sarcasm, fondly meant, of course. The friendship between these two completely opposite men was joyful, playful, and enduring. It is the very essence of the success of the storytelling. Such good writing.
I see that I'm very late to the party and I have three more books in this series and I hope for many many more. I also have high hopes of a tv series or (gasp!) a movie. What say you, Michael?
Highly recommended.
*Revised to upgrade my rating to 4.95 Stars.
cantdrive55's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.75
avidreadergirl1's review against another edition
4.0
Actually 3.75 stars for this book. Rarely do I give such high mark to first books in a series but this one was fun and fast paced while avoiding many of the faults of cozy mystery.
In this first book, Dan, a Londoner suffering a burnout, an Alan, former teacher turned author, join forces to elucidate a mystery set in motion during a visit at a local café. Dan, being used to a fast-paced life, is a bit discombobulated when he arrives at his sister’s house in Devonshire and Alan, his friendly neighbor, keen on finding inspiration for his new book are both intrigued by a coded inscription on a stone slab shown to them in a cafe in town. Throughout this fast-paced adventure, they face the wrath of the family that owns the stone that sends both men on a quest to discover the truth and the truth comes out in the end.
In this first book, Dan, a Londoner suffering a burnout, an Alan, former teacher turned author, join forces to elucidate a mystery set in motion during a visit at a local café. Dan, being used to a fast-paced life, is a bit discombobulated when he arrives at his sister’s house in Devonshire and Alan, his friendly neighbor, keen on finding inspiration for his new book are both intrigued by a coded inscription on a stone slab shown to them in a cafe in town. Throughout this fast-paced adventure, they face the wrath of the family that owns the stone that sends both men on a quest to discover the truth and the truth comes out in the end.
bookslayer's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
dedasab's review against another edition
2.0
The book wasn't for me, I agree with the reviews that say that the mystery itself wasn't interesting.
historynerd04's review against another edition
2.0
Waaaay too much dialog. Show, don’t tell is a well used phrase for a reason. Also, none of the characters are particularly likeable.
vesper1931's review against another edition
4.0
Dan Corrigan is on holiday in Embervale, Dartmoor for his health. With his neighbour Alan Hargreaves he comes across a coded message on a stone in a coffee shop. He comes interested and they start to investigate the history.
An enjoyable and well-written mystery that searches into the past. A good start to the series
An enjoyable and well-written mystery that searches into the past. A good start to the series
More...