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Friday, May 28, 2010

The Red Door

Todd, Charles.  The Red Door.

I find this series uneven; I will really enjoy one novel, then be less impressed with the next. The effects of shell-shock and guilt that have burdened Ian Rutledge since the war (WWI) are lessening a bit, and Hamish has been quieter in the last couple of novels.

There are a lot of characters and plot twists, but I found it difficult to care deeply about any of the characters, even the who truly deserved deep sympathy.  Todd did his best to give the victim a human touch, but for me, she still seemed a nebulous personality.

The case begins when Walter Teller disappears from an exclusive clinic.  Rutledge has difficulty getting information from the family (his brothers and sisters have gone in search of Walter); eventually, Walter Tellers appears again, with no memory of where he's been.

A Mrs. Peter Teller in Lancashire is murdered.  Rutledge goes to her small village to try to discover if she has any relation to his current case.  Guess what?  She does.  More people die.  I didn't really care.

Fiction.  Mystery.  2010. 344 pages.

6 comments:

  1. This series sounds good, but I don't think I will bother with it. Thanks for the reviews, though!

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  2. Thanks for the review. I also don't like it when a series is inconsistent. It leaves me wondering whether to keep following or not.

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  3. From the descriptions of both the Todd series, I was sure I'd like them, but I don't, and haven't even finished the books. It surprised me but there it is.

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  4. Kailana - I really enjoyed the first novels in the series, but some of the later ones don't have the same appeal for me.

    Nordicblogger - That's true, and sometimes I give up too early. It is also true that everyone has a different opinion about the same novel, so many will have loved this one, even though I didn't.

    Nan - I didn't care for the other series, either. I did like the first ones in the Ian Rutledge series, though, and am sorry that I haven't been able to say the same about the later ones.

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  5. I find it hard to continue with a book when I stop caring. I'm sorry this one wasn't better for you.

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  6. Oh, well, there always disappointments, but there are also many great reads waiting!

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