The Red Dahlia [Anna Travis] [Import] [Hardcover]

Linda La Plante (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd; First edition (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743257073
• ISBN-13: 978-0743257077
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,798,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Increasing maturity, September 28, 2007

By 

Sbl617 "Susan" (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Red Dahlia (Anna Travis Mysteries) (Paperback)

The Red Dahlia Anna Travis is a smoother character after her promotion to DI. An Oxford graduate, she claims respect in this second outing. She's a more than worthy successor to LaPlante's Jane Tennison [Prime Suspect]. There is already a third volume released, Clean Cut.

I won't be able to stand it, though, if she disposes of Travis as she did courageous LAPD/PI Lorraine Page after the same number of books [Cold Shoulder, etc.]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not too bad but not really good, July 12, 2008

By 

T. Schiel (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Red Dahlia (Anna Travis Mysteries) (Paperback)

She writes simply which is sort of okay, but there is not much depth. This makes for a really quick read. I didn't really connect with the main characters since it is baffling that a smart up and coming detective, Travis is smitten by a rude, alcoholic, unpleasant partner, Langton. This ugly romance did nothing for advancing an interesting plot and put me off the whole book. It is a just the facts book with minimum character development, very little atmosphere and no real mood in the story....A light snack but no substantial meal here. I'm glad I got this from the library since it would have been a disappointing buy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a prose stylist..., July 8, 2008

By 

S. McGill - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Red Dahlia (Anna Travis Mysteries) (Paperback)

I enjoyed the plotting of this book but Lynda La Plante really isn't a prose stylist. Her books are easy and quick to read but I also get the sense that they are quickly written also; perhaps dictated to a secretary? I don't know how many times Travers wrote "copious notes" or Langton "snapped" etc etc but it was enough to make the writing sound mechanical, as if the author couldn't be bothered thinking up new or poetic ways of expressing things. Nothing is left to the imagination - even the housekeeper's thoughts are laid out before us at one point (this is particularly jarring since the rest of the book isn't written from her point of view). Many of the plot developments are telegraphed ahead of their 'reveal' point so there aren't a lot that surprises. Definitely a book for holiday reading; an easy read that doesn't require concentration. Read James Ellroy's 'The Black Dahalia' to see how a pro handles this type of storytelling with finesse.