Customer Reviews

Dark Tapestry (Colin and Leora Mysteries)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dark Tapestry is the most appropriate title for this book; for someone like myself to even read through a novel in less than a couple of months is unusual but from the very start of this one, you can't put it down without being kept awake by the intrigue. What starts off as a simple case of a child kidnapping leads you right into a world of both desparation and yet faith: both threads continue right to the very last page of the very last chapter. This is topical and up-to-date, too: how many deceptions creep right around you and just when you think you know the answers, up comes another very clever twist in the plot. The book is written by an orthodox Jew, but whatever your persuasions there's an excellent and exciting ending together with a thought that certainly stimulates an inward look at your own way of living, and most certainly makes you wonder how you would deal with an expert adversary and, most importantly of all, how a family is finally re-united... even that is not the end of the story! Just to give you an idea: I can read a couple Clive Cusslers or whatever when I'm on vacation away from home; and that'll be over 3 weeks or so. This one I read at home (and at work, don't tell anyone!) and it was compelling. I should say here that I have no financial/commercial/etc interest in the author/publishers: if you want to know why I am enthusiastic about this book, buy it and you'll know what I mean, but be prepared for late nights!

Once I started this book, I could not put it down! Ruthie Pearlman has done it again! Quite a while ago I read her other books and enjoyed them immensely. Now that I've read Dark Tapestry, I'm glad I enjoyed her work once again! It's a thriller for the 21st Century and one that will capture your mind and heart!

I really enjoyed the book until about 2/3 of way through. A combination of my own frustration at the pace of progress reading the book (I normally speed read and so I have to really try hard to not do the same when I am reading for pleasure) and that as soon as the "Shakespeare" popped up it was clear who was "to blame" kinda spoilt it for me. Having then "cheated" and confirmed my assumption I didn't properly read the remainder of the book. As a non-Jew I struggled with some of the terminology (which I didn't do with an earlier book of Ruthie's which had a glossary of terms in it) and I found the Internet angle far too overt... I liked all of the characters in the book with the exception of Josh's mother - which is a bit of a disadvantage when reading a book like this, as I suspect one is really supposed to be sympathetic towards her. I was confused by her - in the earlier stages of the book (given that Josh was about 8 years old) I got the feeling that she was in her late 20s early 30s. But by the half-way stage when Leora had come onto the scene she suddenly turned into a middle aged woman. That was unnerving and confusing - and disrupted the flow at around the same point in the story as the "Shakespeare" angle emerged. This is intended as honest feedback - I think that the book shows promise for future C&L stories.

I was sceptical upon first hearing of the book, both by thedetective novel nature of the book and by the fact that my knowledgeof the Jewish community and religion is very sketchy, at best.Reading the book, therefore, was a pleasant surprise. The plot waswell thought-out and obviously well researched, and none of the twistswere too twisty. As a reader, everything that was going on wassolvable before you the book laid it all in front of you. As anon-Jew, some of the language was unfamiliar but, generally, even ifyou didn't quite understand the nuance of a term, the general flowwasn't interrupted...

Occasionally, little bits of thecharacterisation annoyed me, but that was mainly due to the fact thatI sometimes found myself just wanting to shake some sense into thecharacters, rather than it being bad characterisation, because it'sactually quite good, and the level of interaction you can feel withthem only goes to reinforce that. You'll see what I mean when youread it.

Should you buy it? Certainly. It was an excellent read,well-paced, well-thought out and with "real" people in thestory with a plot that had me intrigued all the way through.

This is a crime thriller set in the orthodox Jewish community of North West London, yet is not exclusive to a Jewish audience. Not usually a fan of "Jewish fiction", I found Dark Tapestry to be fastpaced, interesting, entertaining, well written and hard to put down. I was particularly drawn to the main character Colin Sommers, a likeable detective, on his rediscovery of his orthodox Jewish roots. I look forward to the next book in the "Colin and Leora Mysteries" series.

I originally bought this book out of curiosity - the combination of detective fiction and Orthodox Judaism intrigued me (plus it's set near where I live). What I found was a superior thriller, gripping and with many twists and turns, with the counterpoint of the Jewish background. As a non-Jew, I found the Jewish content accessible and well explained, and empathised with the hero Colin as he encountered Orthodox Judaism and rediscovered his own background. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

If you like the Kellerman thrillers you'll love this. This is a top clas thriller full of excitement, jewish customs and suspense. I read the book in one day because I couldn't put it down! I read it while in bed, feeding my baby, even during meals ignoring all people - even my husband! This is compelling reading and you are drawn to the plight of the parents whose child has been kidnapped - particularly in light of the recent headlines in the UK. Ruthie Pearlman describes ultra orthodox jewish life well and provides a wonderful insight into this way of life. This is a white knuckle ride of a book which will leave you holding your breath until you reach the final chapter. Even though I guessed who the kidnapper was I was thrown by the twist at the end! Read it and see for yourself! I should point out that I am not related to the author nor will I receive any benefit, monetary or otherwise for writing this review - I simply felt that ths book needs to be read by all.