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lunaseline's review against another edition
4.0
Redan i första boken om Caleb Zelic störde jag mig på den numera klassiska deckargrejen med svek och korruption och personlig inblandning i de brott som ska lösas, företrädesvis på grund av att goda huvudpersoner också visar sig inkorporera någon typ av ondska. Gäsp.
Att Viskic fortsätter med samma grej, och dessutom låter mycket av Darkness for Light handla om, eller hänvisa till, saker som hänt vår fallna hjälte i tidigare böcker, ger jag inte mycket för. Skriv gärna en serie om en person, men låt varje utgåva stå för sig själv, tack.
Men visst, jag förlåter henne ändå det mesta. För jag får hänga i Melbourne, folk pratar australiska - eller, än mer ovanligt i bokskörden: teckenspråk. Och jag får hänga med Caleb, som jag gillade redan från början. Både för det där med dövheten, som ger intressanta djup till allt som sker, men också för att han verkar genuint trevligt. Vilket också kan bero på allt det australiska - och det faktum att jag uppskattar både Viskic språk och ton (vilket inte är samma sak, och inte alltid något författare "sätter" som hon gör).
Intrigen är tämligen komplicerad, vilket gör den mindre förutsägbar än andra i genren, samtidigt som jag inte riktigt engagerar mig i de finansiella affärerna och deras medföljande brottslighet. Men det gör inte så mycket, eftersom jag engagerar mig i personerna, och i texten. Det är inte klassiker-litteratur eller intellektuell contemporary... men det är lagom smart samtidigt som det är underhållande. Och australiskt.
Att Viskic fortsätter med samma grej, och dessutom låter mycket av Darkness for Light handla om, eller hänvisa till, saker som hänt vår fallna hjälte i tidigare böcker, ger jag inte mycket för. Skriv gärna en serie om en person, men låt varje utgåva stå för sig själv, tack.
Men visst, jag förlåter henne ändå det mesta. För jag får hänga i Melbourne, folk pratar australiska - eller, än mer ovanligt i bokskörden: teckenspråk. Och jag får hänga med Caleb, som jag gillade redan från början. Både för det där med dövheten, som ger intressanta djup till allt som sker, men också för att han verkar genuint trevligt. Vilket också kan bero på allt det australiska - och det faktum att jag uppskattar både Viskic språk och ton (vilket inte är samma sak, och inte alltid något författare "sätter" som hon gör).
Intrigen är tämligen komplicerad, vilket gör den mindre förutsägbar än andra i genren, samtidigt som jag inte riktigt engagerar mig i de finansiella affärerna och deras medföljande brottslighet. Men det gör inte så mycket, eftersom jag engagerar mig i personerna, och i texten. Det är inte klassiker-litteratur eller intellektuell contemporary... men det är lagom smart samtidigt som det är underhållande. Och australiskt.
bioniclib's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this better than the last book. Caleb seemed like less of a jerk and the mystery was better. I was on the fence about continuing but this book turned things around for me!
Now for some spoiler-y stuff to help me remember what happened in the book.
I also like Antonio and the introducing Deaf Culture into the series.
I didn't think she'd kill of Frankie!
Now for some spoiler-y stuff to help me remember what happened in the book.
Spoiler
Someone had paired his hearing aids with a phone and used that to track him. When he realized this he threw one of them and turned the other one off to misdirect the dude. I cringed when I read that!I also like Antonio and the introducing Deaf Culture into the series.
I didn't think she'd kill of Frankie!
jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really enjoying this series. Dark and violent at times, the mysteries are intriguing and complex (sometimes too complex - there were times when I couldn't keep track of who was doing what, but honestly the writing is so good I was ok with that!) Caleb Zelik is really interesting to read, and I love how he notices things visually that I probably wouldn't notice. Look forward to more in this series.
esshgee's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. I like the characters and really enjoyed the Alberto's cafe storyline
martadee's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
5.0
The third book in the Caleb Zelic series finds him working hard rebuilding his life and his business after the very heated ending of the previous novel, AND FIRE CAME DOWN. In the time since his on again / off again business partner Frankie has disappeared, but his ex-wife Kat, now pregnant with their child, is back. He's getting therapy for his problems (albeit frequently standing around in the Victoria Market), and he's reconnected with long time friends in the deaf community.
Newcomers to this series will find themselves having to sort through some rapid fire introductions to a very strong set of characters. Zelic is a private investigator, a deaf man with a complicated relationship with every woman in his life. Then there's Kat, his ex-wife, friend and artist, who along with her family are worthy of a novel in their own right, but Zelic is really is trying to work out what shape their future is going to take, while they both worry about the life of their baby due to past miscarriages. Finally there's business partner Frankie. She's harder to quantify, but goes from nowhere to be seen, to back in Zelic's life creating problems as always quickly. Things get ridiculously complicated when a prospective client is murdered; Frankie's sister is beaten up and her niece Tilda kidnapped. To say nothing of the lurking presence of a federal cop who may or may not be as dodgy, or not as dodgy, as Frankie. Nobody, including Zelic, can tell.
Caleb Zelic is one of those enduring crash bang sort of characters in Australian crime fiction that is capable of stuffing things up at lightning pace and resolving things at similar speed, somehow coming out of it with no clue how to make all the bad stuff never happen again. And not only is the reader happy to forgive him all of that, it's possible to actually like him for it. This is no slick, lone wolf, PI type, talking (or belting) his way into and out of trouble. He's much more of a car crash PI character who is wonderfully human, absolutely forgiveable and immensely likeable in a "come closer mate whilst I just slip my hands around your bloody stupid throat, then we'll decide if it's a hug or strangulation" way.
I admit there is always going to be a sneaking liking for an underdog in these parts, and obviously there's a level of vulnerability inherent in a character who is deaf relying on communication as a way of solving problems, but there's nothing manipulative or overtly sympathy seeking about Zelic. He beats himself up with a ferocity that allows the reader to spend a lot of time shouting "oh for goodness sake what are you doing now man" at the pages. Reading isn't often an interactive pastime, but that's just one of the pleasant surprises about this series.
A series that, in an ideal world, you'd be insisting people read from the start, although nothing's ideal these days, and what the hell. Read the Caleb Zelic series from the start, or start here, and read them backwards, individually, in any order, multiple times, anywhere, anytime. Just get on with reading these books.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/darkness-light-emma-viskic-0
Newcomers to this series will find themselves having to sort through some rapid fire introductions to a very strong set of characters. Zelic is a private investigator, a deaf man with a complicated relationship with every woman in his life. Then there's Kat, his ex-wife, friend and artist, who along with her family are worthy of a novel in their own right, but Zelic is really is trying to work out what shape their future is going to take, while they both worry about the life of their baby due to past miscarriages. Finally there's business partner Frankie. She's harder to quantify, but goes from nowhere to be seen, to back in Zelic's life creating problems as always quickly. Things get ridiculously complicated when a prospective client is murdered; Frankie's sister is beaten up and her niece Tilda kidnapped. To say nothing of the lurking presence of a federal cop who may or may not be as dodgy, or not as dodgy, as Frankie. Nobody, including Zelic, can tell.
Caleb Zelic is one of those enduring crash bang sort of characters in Australian crime fiction that is capable of stuffing things up at lightning pace and resolving things at similar speed, somehow coming out of it with no clue how to make all the bad stuff never happen again. And not only is the reader happy to forgive him all of that, it's possible to actually like him for it. This is no slick, lone wolf, PI type, talking (or belting) his way into and out of trouble. He's much more of a car crash PI character who is wonderfully human, absolutely forgiveable and immensely likeable in a "come closer mate whilst I just slip my hands around your bloody stupid throat, then we'll decide if it's a hug or strangulation" way.
I admit there is always going to be a sneaking liking for an underdog in these parts, and obviously there's a level of vulnerability inherent in a character who is deaf relying on communication as a way of solving problems, but there's nothing manipulative or overtly sympathy seeking about Zelic. He beats himself up with a ferocity that allows the reader to spend a lot of time shouting "oh for goodness sake what are you doing now man" at the pages. Reading isn't often an interactive pastime, but that's just one of the pleasant surprises about this series.
A series that, in an ideal world, you'd be insisting people read from the start, although nothing's ideal these days, and what the hell. Read the Caleb Zelic series from the start, or start here, and read them backwards, individually, in any order, multiple times, anywhere, anytime. Just get on with reading these books.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/darkness-light-emma-viskic-0
madeleinekl's review against another edition
3.0
Good solid Australian crime, sometimes the plot got a bit convoluted but the characters and writing keeps it all moving along at such a pace you don't mind. I thought I'd read the first two books in this series but had actually only read the first one, but it didn't matter that much and most relevant plot points from the previous books were explained - though I definitely recommend reading 'Resurrection Bay' anyway if you like crime fiction.
never4get's review against another edition
4.0
A continuation of the Caleb Zelic investigator series - number 3 in the series. I love the carefully crafted description of Caleb's deafness and his interaction in the world by a combination of lip-reading and his hearing aids, or sign language with others who share that with him. The difficulties of lip reading when people mumble, speak too quickly or have facial hair are quite illustrative - and amusing.
'Make Good Decisions' was Caleb's motto after the previous traumas he'd endured.
But Caleb again gets drawn into a crime against his will when there are a number of brutal murders and a child is kidnapped when he was 'looking after' her. This brings his former partner Frankie back into the scene [because Frankie is her aunt] and together they frantically try to work out the background and locate where she is. Meanwhile Caleb is being pursued by a federal police agent Imogen who is determined to get information she wants from Frankie's sister - who has been brutally attacked and is in an induced coma.
As always, the delightful interaction between Caleb and his wife Kat are a welcome respite from the harrowing pace of what is going on in Caleb's life. Their relationship is still undefined - with another Aboriginal man hovering on the periphery and helping Kat with her artwork. So far Kat's pregnancy is going OK, but both are always on edge that she will suffer another miscarriage.
In this book Frankie is eliminated completely, and is revealed once again as a traitor to Caleb. The daughter is eventually returned to her sister, but because Caleb had revealed all her illegal trading, she tells the daughter that he is a 'bad man' - which confuses the daughter because she had liked him very much.
There is also a side story of a restaurant owned by a deaf owner with totally deaf employees, which was being sabotaged by someone. Caleb solves that issue, but not without putting the elderly owner offside for a time at least. The end of the book is quite hopeful, after a successful ultrasound and a joyful party at the restaurant. I look forward to the next book.
'Make Good Decisions' was Caleb's motto after the previous traumas he'd endured.
But Caleb again gets drawn into a crime against his will when there are a number of brutal murders and a child is kidnapped when he was 'looking after' her. This brings his former partner Frankie back into the scene [because Frankie is her aunt] and together they frantically try to work out the background and locate where she is. Meanwhile Caleb is being pursued by a federal police agent Imogen who is determined to get information she wants from Frankie's sister - who has been brutally attacked and is in an induced coma.
As always, the delightful interaction between Caleb and his wife Kat are a welcome respite from the harrowing pace of what is going on in Caleb's life. Their relationship is still undefined - with another Aboriginal man hovering on the periphery and helping Kat with her artwork. So far Kat's pregnancy is going OK, but both are always on edge that she will suffer another miscarriage.
In this book Frankie is eliminated completely, and is revealed once again as a traitor to Caleb. The daughter is eventually returned to her sister, but because Caleb had revealed all her illegal trading, she tells the daughter that he is a 'bad man' - which confuses the daughter because she had liked him very much.
There is also a side story of a restaurant owned by a deaf owner with totally deaf employees, which was being sabotaged by someone. Caleb solves that issue, but not without putting the elderly owner offside for a time at least. The end of the book is quite hopeful, after a successful ultrasound and a joyful party at the restaurant. I look forward to the next book.