Bottled Spider [Hardcover]

John Gardner (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this first of a new historical series, prolific British veteran Gardner (License Renewed and 15 other James Bond novels; The Liquidator and seven other Boysie Oakes novels; etc.) offers two books in one: the first, a poignant and spellbinding memoir of London during the Blitz; the second, a routine and plodding police procedural. Despite seemingly insurmountable male opposition, Woman Police Constable Suzie Montford is promoted to detective sergeant when the military draft creates a shortage of male police officers. The serious-minded Suzie doesn't get much chance to prove herself professionally before being matched with DCS Tommy "Dandy Tom" Livermore. Tommy is "an anomaly, a rarity, seen only once in a generation: a gentleman detective." Oh my, someone call central casting at once. See if Bill and Myrna are still available. The two are faced with a series of murders of young women, including a popular BBC announcer, strangled with piano wire, the handiwork of Golly Goldfinch, a grotesquely ugly man-child who obeys voices that order him to kill. He may appear simpleminded, but he is a dangerous quarry. Unfortunately, Golly is more pathetic than frightening and never believable. The best parts of the book describe WWII London and are very fine indeed.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

First in a new series, this historical features a young, inexperienced policewoman in World War II-era London. She investigates a frightening serial murderer who has been strangling young women with piano wire. A promising work from a practiced hand.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727858297
• ISBN-13: 978-0727858290
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #635,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful to be able to read this great writer again., February 8, 2006

By 

Dr. Fred R. Eichelman "arous" (Salem,, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bottled Spider (Hardcover)

Shame on Amazon. I have not been able to find a book I had not read by John Gardner in over five years. I consider him the most outstanding author of thrillers and spy fiction on any continent and had lost track of him when he returned to England after living here in Virginia several years. While many think of John Gardner as a Bond writer, actually much better than Fleming or Benson, that made up only 1/4th of his work and he has created epic characters in epic works. I say shame on Amazon as if you look for Gardner they give you hundreds of listings and not his latest series. Not under his name that is. I had to trace Gardner down in England through friends and found that he had written five I have not read and is on a sixth on now. Fortunately he gave me the names of the books I sought. For the record, he is better than ever.

"Bottled Spider" starts a series that will run through World War Two in London. This first one is in 1940 during the blitz and involves the nastiest seriel killer I have ever read about in fiction. "Golly" makes Jack the Ripper look like a kindergarten student and his "control" is equally chilling. While there is a lot of gore, Gardner writes so concisely and so beautifully that you are not repelled by it, The descriptions of England at the time and his development of characters are superb. The lead is a young police officer, Susannah Mountford, and Gardner gets into her head so well that you feel like she is telling the story. You feel what she feels and you know this is someone you would like to know.

The plotting is superb in suspense and action.

My wife and I have been to England three times now and the places described, most of them, are familiar. The bombings form a sub plot and the history given takes the reader easily back to that time and the places described. Thank you John Gardner for proving what we have always known. You are the best and I will eagerly start the second book in the series as soon as I send this off.

5.0 out of 5 stars Bottled Spider, an Exciting and Descriptive Tale of Murder, February 25, 2003

By 

Gene P (Great Falls, VA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bottled Spider (Hardcover)

Bottled Spider is an exciting tale of a serial killer, the likes of Jack-the-ripper, in 1940 war torn London. John Gardner tells the story in a highly descriptive fashion from the perspective of a young female rookie police officer who finds herself assuming investigative responsibilities normally handled by more senior male officers who are now involved with the war against Hitler. The killer is not pleased that a young women "leads" the investigation, and is all too happy to include her in his affirmative action plan. It is an interesting blend of murder, romance, and contemporary issues, in a setting few of us have experienced.