Customer Reviews

Friends for Life

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

 

 

I read this book under the British title "Darkening Echoes". An intelligent, compelling and shocking mystery, while not literary, it is written a notch above popular fiction. The main characters are three- dimensional and psychological sleuthing (on the part of the reader) is possible. It is totally unconventional within its genre and this is what gives it room to develop the characters in a way seldom found in mystery novels. You neither know until well into the book who is to be murdered or yet who is the murderer or even if there definitely will be a murder although presuming there will be is part of the tension as you read the book. This is a delicious read and I firmly hope that this book is not watered down or altered to the lowest common denominator of American reader that only seeks escapism, blood, sensationalism or mindless comedy as T.V. producers often do when trying to adapt British material for the target American audience These characters are identifiable as real and ordinary people and thus easy to get involved with and care about. The female characters are strong and should not be offensive to women with a disgust for traditional romantic plots that demean or trivialize women. I give it a 9 in its genre. Only P.D.James, and Peter Ackroyd and established literary mystery classics rate a 10.
I am eagerly waiting for her next book "Kensington Court" publ. Apr 97 by Little, Brown in the U.K. and hope that you publish this as well & don't have to order her next book
all the way from Britain. P.S. There was a long waiting list at my library in Canada for "Friends for Life" a.k.a. "Darkening Echoes"

I enjoyed this book immensely. The weave of characters and their lives amongst the murder and mystery was very well done. Carol Smith wrote a fine story. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and also wants to "get involved" with the characters lives. I will read her work again.

This book was also published in the U.K. under the title "Darkening Echoes".