Customer Reviews

To Play the Fool

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those of you who have read all of the Mary Russell books by King, you might be pleasantly surprised that she writes other, more modern books. For those of you who live in the SF Bay area, you will also be excited by the locations that are described in this book. I had read many of Laurie King's other books before reading this one and I will say that it was one of the most interesting and best written. The novel is based on the mystery surrounding the murder of a homeless man, but the story actually told is of Brother Erasmus, a Fool, who only speaks in quotes from Shakespeare and the Bible. The real mystery is who Brother Erasmus really is, what he is hiding, and why he speaks only in quotes. There are some other homeless characters in the book who are also well characterized. This book has a lot of metaphysical discussion on those who live outside society in this way. And there is a lot of suspense and mystery involved in finding Brother Erasmus's secrets. Eventually the detective Kate Martinelli founds out who the murderer was, but she is more interested in the life of the characters she meets. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes your mysteries to be a bit more literary. King has been compared a lot to PD James, and I think that comparison holds true.

I am increasingly becoming a fan of this author. However, I am not sure what the point was in the long and involved examination of the Fool movement in this installment of the Kate Martinelli series. It was not particularly interesting and, as a sub-theme, actually took over the story rather than assist the reader in any way to deal with the main plot. Also, there is unnecessary repetition in the description and exchanges in the Kate/Lee relationship. We seem to be told several times, and in a variety of different ways, that Lee is disabled and Kate blames herself for it. Nevertheless, this book was worth three stars as the talent of the author to spin an engaging story is well evident.

This book has made me a huge fan of Laurie King. I really liked her other Martinelli books and love the Russel series, but this book is far and above her best. It was very hard to put down and when I finished, she kept me wanting more. Readers who love interesting characters will love this book. Brother Erasmus is the best of the supporting cast. I just wish we could have more of him! The plot is exciting and unique as well. A great read!

This book contains a lot of elements; from mystery to friendship to religion. Don't worry she doesn't get all holy on you but there's a lot of quoting going on from the Bible and other books. The book contains some historical info in it also to help you understand and get into not only the case but even one of the protaganists.

The mystery involves a religious fool and of course a dead body. However, this is not your everyday fool. His job is to be a fool and in this book you learn just how smart true fools really are.

This is Laurie R. King's second Kate Martinelli book, and it's a well-chosen follow-up to her previous novel. Slimmer and more concise than the sometimes-wordy first volume, this book places its focus on Brother Erasmus, a homeless preacher, committed Fool, murder suspect, and one of the most interesting characters in recent popular fiction.

When a much-loathed panhandler is found partially cremated in Golden Gate Park, all the evidence points to Brother Erasmus. After all, the two had butted heads in the past; the disposition of the body mirrors how Erasmus took care of a beloved dog; and Erasmus is incapable of defending himself, since he speaks only in quotes. But somehow Brother Erasmus, both gentle and crafty, doesn't feel right for the crime. Did someone else really do it, or is Kate losing her edge and getting sentimental?

Brother Erasmus is surely one of the most interesting characters in ANY genre of fiction in the last several years. He feels like someone you know and want to trust, but he also remains enigmatic. And Kate's efforts to crack his shell reveal as much about her as they reveal about him.

As in the previous book, character is more important than crime. The resolution of the mystery is almost an afterthought; indeed, the mystery itself is important mainly to introduce us to Brother Erasmus. Not everyone will like this style, which more closely resembles mainstream literary fiction than most paperback mystery. But for readers willing to invest themselves in the story and the characters, this is one of the most interesting and promising character-driven stories published in over a decade. Highly recommended for mystery fans and newbies, this novel is one that will sit in a treasured place on your shelf for years to come.

Wow - a book worth re-reading, just to savor the delicious prose and extremely human characters! Everything about this book is delicious. The plot is a good blend of suspense and fun, the characters have soul, and the writing is superb. Some chapters and passages were so well crafted that I went back to enjoy them two and three times. It's amazing what King can do with black ink, white paper, and 26 letters. King's books are all good, but this has got to be the best of all. I think I'll go read it again!

What a sensational read! The San Francisco atmosphere, the subtle but brilliant plotting, and the unforgettable character Erasmus make this a book to relish. I've read it several times since it was first published, and it never fails to entertain and intrigue me. Buy it and read it -- it's a keeper. (And don't miss the other books in the Martinelli series.) Three cheers for Laurie King!

To Play the Fool is the second of a series of mystery novels by Laurie King that feature the San Francisco homicide detective Kate Martinelli. The first book, A Grave Talent, was an Edgar Award winner.

This book picks up about a year after the first, and finds Martinelli and her partner Al Hawken investigating the death of a homeless man in Golden Gate Park. There are no witnesses or evidence, but an enigmatic old man called Brother Erasmus who speaks only in quotations becomes a prime suspect. Quickly the story changes from a homicide investigation to an attempt to find out about the mysterious Erasmus, who is either a saintly fool or mentally ill.

Laurie King is in her element as the scholarly street person quotes from the Bible and Shakespeare to answer all questions, leaving the two worldly detectives to puzzle over his meaning. Either he killed the man, or he knows who did. They must find a way to make him talk in a way that will make sense to the legal system to solve the crime.

As with A Grave Talent, King creates wonderfully complex characters that draw the reader into the story. Also her plot is sufficiently complex to keep you guessing. I fell in love with the kindly Brother Erasmus and the people who were drawn to him. A delightful story that is well told.

As a fan of the author's Russell/Holmes series, I was very happy to discover that King also has written a contemporary mystery series. The first book introduced us to homicide detective Al Hawkin and his new partner, Kate Martinelli, exploring their new relationship amid a series of murders. In this second book, though, Al is pretty much absent, showing up every now and then for an interogation. It was very frustrating to have an interesting main character from the first book relegated to now-you-see-him-now-you-don't status. Also missing is a case in between this one and the first that Kate & Al investigated. Perhaps King will return to this story at a later date; she's done something similar in her other series.

Despite Al's glaring absence, I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be more of a character-driven story than one centered on the plot, concentrating more on developing the many personalities involved. Erasmus is a wonderful, vibrant character, and several of the other homeless people are quite vivid themselves. A great read.

I've enjoyed all of her Kate Martinelli books, but this is by far the best of them. It ranks up there with some of my favorite mysteries! It's a highly original creative book -- one that builds on the typical "woman sleuth solves mystery" but adds interesting complexity and fascinating characters to the mix. I highly recommend this book.