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otherwyrld's review against another edition
3.0
London Calling is the first of a new series featuring Inspector Carlyle of the Metropolitan Police, and the first novel by James Craig. It is a fast-moving political crime book set in modern day London in the run-up to a general election. A crime from the past of both the supposed incoming Prime Minister and his close friends threaten to ruin their chances of being elected to power. It is up to Carlyle to try and solve the case whilst still getting justice for the victim of the past crime. In this he
The novel was okay as a first book, but pretty unmemorable. The idea that people in power will get away with some pretty horrible things is nothing new, and we are meant to feel the same powerlessness as Carlyle does as he works his way to the inevitable end of the story. The problem is, Carlyle is such a bland character, it is difficult to get worked up about it. Do these uber-elite people get their just desserts? It depends on your point of view.
One annoying thing about the book was the over detailed and precise descriptions of everything that the author includes on every page. To someone living in another country, it might be useful to describe how many police stations there are in London, or exactly how a Blackberry works, but as someone who lives here I just find it irritating. It pulls me out of the plot once too often.
I may read more of these books, but I suspect that I may be disappointed by them as well. In the murky world of real-life policing and politics, people like Inspector Carlyle are rarely winners, and who wants to read stories about someone who loses all the time?
Spoiler
fails miserably.The novel was okay as a first book, but pretty unmemorable. The idea that people in power will get away with some pretty horrible things is nothing new, and we are meant to feel the same powerlessness as Carlyle does as he works his way to the inevitable end of the story. The problem is, Carlyle is such a bland character, it is difficult to get worked up about it. Do these uber-elite people get their just desserts? It depends on your point of view.
One annoying thing about the book was the over detailed and precise descriptions of everything that the author includes on every page. To someone living in another country, it might be useful to describe how many police stations there are in London, or exactly how a Blackberry works, but as someone who lives here I just find it irritating. It pulls me out of the plot once too often.
I may read more of these books, but I suspect that I may be disappointed by them as well. In the murky world of real-life policing and politics, people like Inspector Carlyle are rarely winners, and who wants to read stories about someone who loses all the time?
gawronma's review against another edition
3.0
It was a nice debut novel. I did have high expectations and was slightly disappointed with story. There was some unfilfulled potential with the characters and story. Despite my disappointment, I am curious to see where the characters will be going.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
2.0
London Calling by James Craig is a 2014 Witness Impulse publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the Inspector Carlyle series. Originally released back in 2011 the series is now with a new publisher and there are several more installments available. However, I don't see myself investing in the series in the future. This one is kind of a mess, to be honest.
The Inspector is tipped off about a dead body in a hotel, and thus begins a convoluted investigation that runs alongside a political election and exposes a crime committed many years ago. But, the story deals primarily with the Inspectors personal thoughts about his wife, his boss, and the media and at times the author goes into too much detail when describing things like a police building and detailing it's history. There is very little dialogue among the characters and many scenes are too graphic in their depictions of depraved sexual acts for my taste.
The plot was very slow moving, and not in a good slow building of suspense, but with only an occasional plot twist or big reveal. I very nearly gave up on this one and then the ending made me very angry with myself for sticking with it. Carlyle was a very dull guy and the dialogue was boring with no chemistry between the Inspector and anyone in the book, even his wife whom he only seems to speak with on the phone or his daughter who seems fine with his frequent disappearances from home.
The author definitely has the right idea, especially when it come to college “clubs”, politics, and corruption. He just needs to create characters that readers will forge a bond with and begin to care about in some way. While I have no problems reading dark, gritty thrillers, this one goes a little overboard at times, but often that is matter of taste. However, when I feel like I might be sick, that's where I draw the line.
I will at times give a series a second chance because the first book can be pretty rough when trying to establish characters and write a compelling thriller too, but it will be a long time before I feel that adventurous.
1.5 rounded to 2
This is the first book in the Inspector Carlyle series. Originally released back in 2011 the series is now with a new publisher and there are several more installments available. However, I don't see myself investing in the series in the future. This one is kind of a mess, to be honest.
The Inspector is tipped off about a dead body in a hotel, and thus begins a convoluted investigation that runs alongside a political election and exposes a crime committed many years ago. But, the story deals primarily with the Inspectors personal thoughts about his wife, his boss, and the media and at times the author goes into too much detail when describing things like a police building and detailing it's history. There is very little dialogue among the characters and many scenes are too graphic in their depictions of depraved sexual acts for my taste.
The plot was very slow moving, and not in a good slow building of suspense, but with only an occasional plot twist or big reveal. I very nearly gave up on this one and then the ending made me very angry with myself for sticking with it. Carlyle was a very dull guy and the dialogue was boring with no chemistry between the Inspector and anyone in the book, even his wife whom he only seems to speak with on the phone or his daughter who seems fine with his frequent disappearances from home.
The author definitely has the right idea, especially when it come to college “clubs”, politics, and corruption. He just needs to create characters that readers will forge a bond with and begin to care about in some way. While I have no problems reading dark, gritty thrillers, this one goes a little overboard at times, but often that is matter of taste. However, when I feel like I might be sick, that's where I draw the line.
I will at times give a series a second chance because the first book can be pretty rough when trying to establish characters and write a compelling thriller too, but it will be a long time before I feel that adventurous.
1.5 rounded to 2
ceeceerose's review against another edition
3.0
A new London crime detective takes to the big city streets with a vengeance. There is a little political intrigue mixed up with the murders John Carlyle is investigating...the case involves a former Cambridge University club filled with future politicos who are being killed off one by one years later. Carlyle is a believable London inspector who fights crime with a passion, though the writing could be a little better and the book does have its fair share of cliches. Not the best British mystery (by a long shot) but far from the worst. Definitely something for British mystery lovers to try.
louiseog's review
4.0
Not sure if I should find this as good fun as I did.
Set at the end of an election in which the patently Conservative leader is in a close run race. He is an ex public school boy who was the member of a secret society at Oxford with his brother who is foreign secretary and the Mayor of London. Suddenly the members of this society are being horrifically murdered and it is up to the police to find out although they are not getting much help from the powers that be.
Set at the end of an election in which the patently Conservative leader is in a close run race. He is an ex public school boy who was the member of a secret society at Oxford with his brother who is foreign secretary and the Mayor of London. Suddenly the members of this society are being horrifically murdered and it is up to the police to find out although they are not getting much help from the powers that be.
audreyintheheadphones's review
3.0
A strangely more-ish but problematic cross between a Jeffrey Archer novel and a lad mag.
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