murfman's review against another edition
5.0
This was my fisrt Inspector Morse novel to read, the only one I've been able to find State-side, and I absolutely loved it. This is book 12 of 13 so some of the sub-plots I was not privy to. But It was an amazingly well written and planned mystery. Kudos to Mr. Dexter. I am actively hunting all of the series now.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
5.0
Just finished this, the 12th book in the Inspector Morse series. Such a bittersweet read, knowing what I know about Morse and that I have almost reached the end of the series. I kept putting the book down to make it last longer. Great character work is displayed in this depiction of Morse and in the “persons of interest” . Morse’s bad habits are catching up with him and we see foreshadowing of what is to come. The mystery is intriguing and it is really engaging to watch Morse and Lewis work through it, playing off of one another. Strange also has a plot line here that is pointing to the 13th and final book in the series.
The piece at the end brought me to tears and made me commit to rereading the series once I am done. Very moody writing here, feelings of regret and melancholy tinged with some slivers of hope. 5 star read!
The piece at the end brought me to tears and made me commit to rereading the series once I am done. Very moody writing here, feelings of regret and melancholy tinged with some slivers of hope. 5 star read!
hayesstw's review against another edition
4.0
Second time of reading, but as the last time of reading was over 20 years ago I had dorgotten most of the plot. It was shown on TV a couple of nights ago, but after 9 pm the picture seems to freeze a lot, and so we missed large chunks of it, so I read the book to see what happened.
I've always enjoyed the Inspector Morse series, which seem to be among the better whodunits, but there seemed to be an odd slip in this one -- one of the murder victims is said to have died instantly on being shot in the chest, and yet there are descriptions of blood everywhere. I thought that if someone died instantly, their heart would have stopped beating and there would be very little bleeding.
In some ways the film version seemed better -- what we were able to see if it, anyway, Much of the plot turns on academic rivalries in an Oxford college, and the scheming and back stabbing in sharp contrast with academic and church processions.
I've always enjoyed the Inspector Morse series, which seem to be among the better whodunits, but there seemed to be an odd slip in this one -- one of the murder victims is said to have died instantly on being shot in the chest, and yet there are descriptions of blood everywhere. I thought that if someone died instantly, their heart would have stopped beating and there would be very little bleeding.
In some ways the film version seemed better -- what we were able to see if it, anyway, Much of the plot turns on academic rivalries in an Oxford college, and the scheming and back stabbing in sharp contrast with academic and church processions.
ruthiella's review against another edition
3.0
“And suddenly Lewis felt very happy that he was back in harness with this arrogant, ungracious, vulnerable, lovable man with whom he had worked so closely for so many years”
“Some people took little or no mental exercise except that of jumping to conclusions; while Morse was a man who took excessive mental exercise and who still jumped to dubious conclusions”
Death is Now My Neighbor is the penultimate book in the Inspector Morse series and the one where Morse’s first name is finally revealed to the reader. Other than that, I don’t have much to add. It is a classic Morse/Lewis mystery where their synergy ultimately solves the mystery and gives the book its unique flavor. Morse is still a hard drinking, classical music loving, porn sniffing perv, however.
“Some people took little or no mental exercise except that of jumping to conclusions; while Morse was a man who took excessive mental exercise and who still jumped to dubious conclusions”
Death is Now My Neighbor is the penultimate book in the Inspector Morse series and the one where Morse’s first name is finally revealed to the reader. Other than that, I don’t have much to add. It is a classic Morse/Lewis mystery where their synergy ultimately solves the mystery and gives the book its unique flavor. Morse is still a hard drinking, classical music loving, porn sniffing perv, however.
francinecallaloosoup's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first time reading Inspector Morse, and I loved everything about it! The writing is stellar, and Morse is an intriguing and interesting character.
theelliemo's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say? It’s Morse, at his irascible, brilliant best, and at his drinking, smoking worst. This is The One In Which We Find Out What His First Name Is. Damn you Dexter, I got some dust in my eye just at the moment I read the postcard that Morse sent to Lewis...
samanthawattam's review against another edition
3.0
I thought it was a good story which starts out with the shooting through her kitchen window of Rachel James whilst she is getting ready for work. The real stand out for me was the character of Sir Clixby Bream who is very appropriately named, is so creepy (I also have in my head the image of Richard Briers who portrayed him in the TV series so brilliantly). I do take issue with Morse taking it upon himself to get a burglar to break into a suspect's house to have a look around for him and he steals a clock the burglar that is not Morse! We also discover Morse's first name!
francinec's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first time reading Inspector Morse, and I loved everything about it! The writing is stellar, and Morse is an intriguing and interesting character.
lucyb's review against another edition
3.0
I swear the series just gets better as it hurtles (with ever more ominous foreshadowing) towards its close. This one is particularly full of satisfying red herrings, thoughtfully provided clues, detailed characterization, and rage against systematized misogyny. Also, the relationship between Morse and Lewis is further explored and deepened, which is always a pleasure.
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