Scan barcode
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
This could almost be labeled amateur sleuth, but it doesn't have the same feel as others I've read. It felt more like historical mystery along the lines of Maisie Dobbs, written by Jacqueline Winspear. That may only be because of the time the book is set, after WWI.
Soldiers have come home from the war in various states of wellness or injury. This is also a view of the class system in England and the changes that were occurring.
Laurence Bartram is at odds with his life. He's home from the war, his wife and child died while he was fighting. He has enough money to set aside to live reasonably well without having to immediately find a job. He's writing a book about the architecture of the churches in England. Then he hears from the sister of an old schoolmate. Mary wants Laurence to find out why her brother committed suicide. He came home mentally exhausted from the war, but was doing so much better at the convalescent home where he was recovering. Then Emmett's body is found, dead from what looks to be a self-inflicted wound.
Mary thinks that Laurence must have been closer to him than she. Added to the fact that they both fought in the war, maybe Laurence has insight into what might have caused the death.
Laurence and his friend Charles proceed to investigate, finding out more than they originally imagined would be the story.
There's human greed and pettiness causing more grief and death even among the allies.
I loved this slow moving book. I immediately bought the second in the series and I can't wait to read the next.
Soldiers have come home from the war in various states of wellness or injury. This is also a view of the class system in England and the changes that were occurring.
Laurence Bartram is at odds with his life. He's home from the war, his wife and child died while he was fighting. He has enough money to set aside to live reasonably well without having to immediately find a job. He's writing a book about the architecture of the churches in England. Then he hears from the sister of an old schoolmate. Mary wants Laurence to find out why her brother committed suicide. He came home mentally exhausted from the war, but was doing so much better at the convalescent home where he was recovering. Then Emmett's body is found, dead from what looks to be a self-inflicted wound.
Mary thinks that Laurence must have been closer to him than she. Added to the fact that they both fought in the war, maybe Laurence has insight into what might have caused the death.
Laurence and his friend Charles proceed to investigate, finding out more than they originally imagined would be the story.
There's human greed and pettiness causing more grief and death even among the allies.
I loved this slow moving book. I immediately bought the second in the series and I can't wait to read the next.
eososray's review against another edition
3.0
I love mysteries set in WWI and one with a physiological aspect had to be read.
The damage of war is not always in the physical wounds but the emotional and mental wounds that were not understood by either the medical field or the friends and family at home. The author does a wonderful job of portraying this in the story and most especially in the main character of John Emmett.
The mystery wasn't stunning though it was an integral and vital part of the story. The conclusion of this story took far too long after finding out the answer to the mystery but it was a good book for the most part.
The damage of war is not always in the physical wounds but the emotional and mental wounds that were not understood by either the medical field or the friends and family at home. The author does a wonderful job of portraying this in the story and most especially in the main character of John Emmett.
The mystery wasn't stunning though it was an integral and vital part of the story. The conclusion of this story took far too long after finding out the answer to the mystery but it was a good book for the most part.
appletonkelli's review against another edition
4.0
This wonderful WW1 mystery kept me guessing until nearly the end of the book.
mildemakrel's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ecclescake's review
3.0
An excellent recounting of the horror of war, but especially the specific horror of the Great War.
I found myself getting some of the many characters confused (especially those who were only referred to, rather than actually "appearing" in the story), and had to glance back a couple of times to remind myself exactly who was who.
The mystery element was well written and I didn't guess "whodunnit". In fact I wasn't completely convinced there was a "dunnit" until the final revelation, which was very chilling.
I found some of the action a bit slow, but on the whole would recommend this book as a good read on many levels.
I found myself getting some of the many characters confused (especially those who were only referred to, rather than actually "appearing" in the story), and had to glance back a couple of times to remind myself exactly who was who.
The mystery element was well written and I didn't guess "whodunnit". In fact I wasn't completely convinced there was a "dunnit" until the final revelation, which was very chilling.
I found some of the action a bit slow, but on the whole would recommend this book as a good read on many levels.
tlchand's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction - and this one didn't disappoint. Loved the mystery element.
msievers's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting tale of WWI using a mysterious death as a means of telling the story in flashback. As a mystery novel, it was not quite captivating enough, but as historical fiction, it was more satisfying.
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
3.0
The Return of Captain John Emmett is a mystery novel set in post-Great War London. Laurence Bartram, an officer in the war, is trying to get on with his life when he receives a letter from a Mary Emmett, sister to John Emmett, an old school friend of Laurence's. She informs Laurence that her brother has killed himself while in a veterans' hospital and wants Laurence's help in understanding why.
Laurence, in a quest to help Mary, starts digging into John's past, which soon leads him in the mysterious pasts of others from the war. He starts thinking that perhaps John didn't kill himself, after all. He senses secrets are being kept and there is something much larger going on.
For a mystery novel, there wasn't much action. John, with the help of a friend named Charles, goes around asking questions. People seem to easily open up, perhaps relieved that they can unburden themselves with things they've kept inside for ages. There is a lot of dialogue.
As the story goes on, things start to steadily unfold, and I wasn't sure exactly where the story was going for a while, but I was intrigued. I found the end satisfying. While the mystery was solved, other parts of the story were not tied up in a neat little bow, which I liked, and it was a nice ending.
Laurence, in a quest to help Mary, starts digging into John's past, which soon leads him in the mysterious pasts of others from the war. He starts thinking that perhaps John didn't kill himself, after all. He senses secrets are being kept and there is something much larger going on.
For a mystery novel, there wasn't much action. John, with the help of a friend named Charles, goes around asking questions. People seem to easily open up, perhaps relieved that they can unburden themselves with things they've kept inside for ages. There is a lot of dialogue.
As the story goes on, things start to steadily unfold, and I wasn't sure exactly where the story was going for a while, but I was intrigued. I found the end satisfying. While the mystery was solved, other parts of the story were not tied up in a neat little bow, which I liked, and it was a nice ending.
lgiegerich's review against another edition
3.0
Generally, I liked it. Interesting protagonist, good evocation of the time period. But it just seemed to take to long to get anywhere mystery-wise, which was bound up in perhaps a too nearly coincidental manner. It probably didn't need to be 436 pages.
affiknittyreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is somewhat like the Maisie Dobbs series, in its setting and that it is ostensibly a mystery, but really is more about the character development. It's a little darker and grittier, though (which is not to say that it's terribly dark or gritty). I enjoyed it; I don't know if this is the beginning of a series, but I'd certainly read more featuring these characters.