Customer Reviews

The Rhythm of Revenge

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A heroine who is a tap dancer - that made me curious. And I loved it. The plot is suspenseful and romantic, funny and involving. I held my breath during the showdown and almost missed my jazz dance class. If you like Martha Grimes, adore Elizabeth George and get a thrill out of watching Riverdance, then you will love The Rhythm of Revenge.

This is the 1st installment of Inspector Terry mystery andtakes place in London.

When Jessica Warner disappears shortly beforethe big premiere of the London-based tap-dance troupe, Inspector Terry is called in to investigate. Suspense mounts as Jessica's husband, ex-lovers, their jealous wives, and fellow cast members reveal their true feelings about Jessica.

When I first started reading this book, I thought that I would get confused, but the opposite happened. Each character comes to life as you turn the pages. They become real, feeling people. Spindler's writing style literally transports you to another place with descriptions so vivid its as if we all become part of the performing cast. This fast-paced story line is filled with non-stop action. Spindler has written an enticing web of mystery, adultery, deceit, love and hate. I am really looking forward to the next Inspector Terry mystery.

Pam Stone END

The Rhythm Of Revenge is alive with characters who literally leap off the page and speak to you. When Jessica Warner, the star attraction of a London-based tap-dance troupe, disappears shortly before the premiere of their big production, Inspector Terry is called in to investigate. Suspense mounts as Jessica's husband, friends, ex-lovers, their jealous wives and fellow cast members reveal their true feelings as Terry puts them under scrutiny one by one. Christine Spindler has orchestrated a magnificent production of her own with this novel. The setting is well-conceived, the plot is convincing and the layers of deception and secrecy are complex and intense. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants a read that will capture their attention from beginning to end.

What an exciting find, a brand-new author, and one who writes well. Christine Spindler has created an intriguing cast of characters; although her supposed lead is the least-fleshed-out of them, he will be back in future stories, and likely we'll learn more about him. What we know now is fascinating and, pardon the pun, novel. There were a few editing flaws, including the misuse of "laying" for "lying," but very few. I loved this book, and highly recommend it to everyone, especially mystery or police procedural stories, and perhaps most especially to anyone interested in theatre.

When I started reading this book, I thought the number of characters would confuse. The opposite happened. Each character comes to life as you turn the pages. They become real, feeling people that you don't want to leave behind when you finish reading the book. When I got to the last page, I still wanted to know what happens next?

Not your average murder mystery, its not about guessing 'who dunnit" more why, and what will they do next?

The lives and subplots of all the characters are as important, if not more so than the police investigation.

I highly recommend this book, and look forward to more Inspector Terry books in the near future.

The story leaves you with a warm feeling, and wanting more from this intuitive new author.

I loved this book. The writing is crisp, intelligent, and the plot is different. For once in a mystery I see true character development rather than just a whodunnit. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested. Just when you think you have it figured out, you take a new turn in the road. If you like mysteries and you want characters you care about, this one's for you.

I could not put this book down. I thought it was a psychological thriller with wonderful characters and a plot that engaged me from the begining.

I found all the characters to be ones I wanted to read more about.

In the beginning I, also, found Jessica to be unlikeable and hard to care about, but as time went by, it was easier to care for/about her.

I thought Inspector Rick Terry to be a sensitve and smart man and I look forward to further books by him.

I usually just sit down and write a paragraph or so about the book I have just finished. This one is harder to categorize, and a summary will not do justice to the complex characters. A dancer disappears and Inspector Terry and his men have to find her or her body.

Christine Spindler's THE RHYTHM OF REVENGE is a truly remarkable first novel. Jessica Warner, premier danseuse of a London dance company, star of "The Taming of the Shoe" disappears just before opening night, and DI Terry and his men must find her. Sounds like many other books, but it's not. Spindler's characters are all twisted, in one way or another. And the dance company is a tap dance troupe, not a ballet company. And the production is a hard rock version of a Shakespearian classic.

If you are looking for a sense of place, it's really not there. The characters live and work in an almost claustrophobic arena that could almost be anywhere in the world. But it's their own, unique world.

Christine Spindler has woven an enticing web of mystery, adultery, deceit, love, and hate out of provocative words, enticing locales, complex characters, and deep emotion. I definitely recommend this to anyone, especially those people who may not like mysteries, because this isn't your typical mystery.

I'm eagerly looking forward to the next Inspector Terry mystery!

Wow! This book is a real treat---the reader embarks on the plot in very much the same way as he/she would enter a room and observe its inhabitants; by catching glimpses of the conversations and attempting to draw meaning from the actions. The Caesar dance studio is a full blooded organism--throbbing with the people who make it work--each of these people have lives--many lives which are disclosed partly but mostly are kept private--very much like our own. As the "new kid on the block", the reader is allowed to let all the impressions sink in and actually speculate, as does Inspector Terry, the police detective called on the job when the Caesar's lead dancer is discovered missing right before a key performance.
This "slice of life" technique works wonderfully well, upstaging the actual mystery with its sophisticated nuances and effective dialogue.
A word of warning, Ms. Spindler forces you to like her characters and you will feel pain when they are hurt, physically and mentally. Inspector Terry is sensitive and not the usual brilliant sleuth--what a relief!
I cannot wait to read the next installment of Inspector Terry's career. Brava Ms Spindler for an acute study of 21st century life.