Reviews
A Few Right Thinking Men: A Rowland Sinclair Mystery (16pt Large Print Edition) by Sulari Gentill
seriouslybookish's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think I've ever read an Australian historical mystery before so I was bloody excited when I came across this.
It's well written, there is no denying that. The characters are well developed and each have their own thing that makes them unique and interesting. I loved that they were artists. Art and murder mystery is not a combination I've read before so it was something different. I enjoyed used politics as a central element of the story but without having the characters deeply entrenched in politics. (It has me intrigued about Australian politics after WWI. I'm excited to read up on it).
Now what I didn't really enjoy was the excessive historical facts that took up a significant portion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some if it but half way through the book and I was skin reading those parts. The plot was nothing special. The author did a good job as a way of introducing Rowly to the sluething investigatuve life but it was missing a lot. It felt a little like cut and paste. Also the real reason that started the thing just wasn't executed properly.
I get that this is the first book in the series but it needed more when it came to the plot. The last 25% really let this book down in my opinion.
I do think I'll continue with the series so I hope it get better.
It's well written, there is no denying that. The characters are well developed and each have their own thing that makes them unique and interesting. I loved that they were artists. Art and murder mystery is not a combination I've read before so it was something different. I enjoyed used politics as a central element of the story but without having the characters deeply entrenched in politics. (It has me intrigued about Australian politics after WWI. I'm excited to read up on it).
Now what I didn't really enjoy was the excessive historical facts that took up a significant portion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed some if it but half way through the book and I was skin reading those parts. The plot was nothing special. The author did a good job as a way of introducing Rowly to the sluething investigatuve life but it was missing a lot. It felt a little like cut and paste. Also the real reason that started the thing just wasn't executed properly.
I get that this is the first book in the series but it needed more when it came to the plot. The last 25% really let this book down in my opinion.
I do think I'll continue with the series so I hope it get better.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
First published in 2010, this is a re-release by Pantera Press in paperback format. Written by Sulari Gentill and set in 1930s Australia, it's beautifully written and redolent of classic golden age detective fiction.
The series is written around real life history, with verifiable political and news stories of the time seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. I have been most impressed with Ms. Gentill's ability to place her characters peripheral to real history and really allow the reader to feel like they're there.
This is the first book in the series and introduces the dashing (and charmingly egalitarian) Rowland Sinclair and an ensemble cast of friends and associates along with a beautifully drawn depression-era Australia.
Having read the series (and looking forward to new installments), one thing that has impressed me very much is the author's facility with a really well planned and executed story arc. I can't imagine how many books ahead she had planned when writing the first book, but there are foreshadowings in this book which play out in book 8 in the series. In addition, each book is complete in itself. Honestly, I read them out of order when I could find them, and never felt lost or cheated. They're really well written enjoyable books. The dialogue is pitch perfect, the characters and setting are stellar, the writing is great, and the plot adheres to the 10 commandments of detective fiction (the reader gets all the info to 'solve' the crime, no hidden perpetrators, no 'evil twins' etc etc).
Other reviewers have done a good job of describing the plot, so I've concentrated on the books as a series. I did review book 8 on my blog here. I've seen this series compared to Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books, but apart from the setting (depression era Australia), I don't see it. Both series are fun, but while Phryne's sort of a fantasy cozy, the Sinclair books have a lot more in common with Ngaio Marsh than Kerry Greenwood.
Well written, solid from this, the first, book, beautifully plotted. 323 pages, but I never found my interest flagging. Well worth a read.
Four solid stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
First published in 2010, this is a re-release by Pantera Press in paperback format. Written by Sulari Gentill and set in 1930s Australia, it's beautifully written and redolent of classic golden age detective fiction.
The series is written around real life history, with verifiable political and news stories of the time seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. I have been most impressed with Ms. Gentill's ability to place her characters peripheral to real history and really allow the reader to feel like they're there.
This is the first book in the series and introduces the dashing (and charmingly egalitarian) Rowland Sinclair and an ensemble cast of friends and associates along with a beautifully drawn depression-era Australia.
Having read the series (and looking forward to new installments), one thing that has impressed me very much is the author's facility with a really well planned and executed story arc. I can't imagine how many books ahead she had planned when writing the first book, but there are foreshadowings in this book which play out in book 8 in the series. In addition, each book is complete in itself. Honestly, I read them out of order when I could find them, and never felt lost or cheated. They're really well written enjoyable books. The dialogue is pitch perfect, the characters and setting are stellar, the writing is great, and the plot adheres to the 10 commandments of detective fiction (the reader gets all the info to 'solve' the crime, no hidden perpetrators, no 'evil twins' etc etc).
Other reviewers have done a good job of describing the plot, so I've concentrated on the books as a series. I did review book 8 on my blog here. I've seen this series compared to Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books, but apart from the setting (depression era Australia), I don't see it. Both series are fun, but while Phryne's sort of a fantasy cozy, the Sinclair books have a lot more in common with Ngaio Marsh than Kerry Greenwood.
Well written, solid from this, the first, book, beautifully plotted. 323 pages, but I never found my interest flagging. Well worth a read.
Four solid stars
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
elnell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gillyreads's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed reading this, but it took me a long time as I just wasn’t often motivated to pick it up often.
I particularly enjoyed reading a mystery set in a period I don’t know that much about - the 30s in Australian.
I will probably continue with the series.
I particularly enjoyed reading a mystery set in a period I don’t know that much about - the 30s in Australian.
I will probably continue with the series.
cwalter01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Once again, an ambiguous ending to a book in a bigger series
h1339's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
libbeta's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
knit_the_resistance's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Set in 1930s depression era Australia, the book explores a time and part of the world that I knew nothing about -- the rise of postwar fascism in Australia in opposition to communism. I have no idea whether it's based on real events but it rings true. The author quotes what she purports to be contemporaneous clips from newspapers. Since I listened to the audiobook I didn't get to read whether these were actual sources.
The main characters are a loveable mess of freespirited artists set against the background of fading Victorians. It feels like Downton Abbey.
The audiobook reader is plummy and lush with a little difficulty with the Irish women but that's a nitpick.
Could use some editing.
The main characters are a loveable mess of freespirited artists set against the background of fading Victorians. It feels like Downton Abbey.
The audiobook reader is plummy and lush with a little difficulty with the Irish women but that's a nitpick.
Could use some editing.
jm_donellan's review against another edition
4.0
Having just signed to Pantera Press, I thought I'd check out some of the other authors in their ranks. Historical crime fiction really isn't usually my mug of chai, so to speak, but I enjoyed the hell out of this. A very interesting era of Australian history, well researched and with some wonderfully vibrant characters. I'll be checking out the sequel next.
tigermomnc's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0