River of Darkness [Import] [Paperback]

Rennie Airth (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan and Company (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333779665
• ISBN-13: 978-0333779668
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,139,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I urge you all to get a copy and read it., October 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: River of Darkness: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

River Of Darkness by Rennie Airth is set just after the first world war, in 1921. The story opens with the discovery of the horrifying stabbing of Colonel Fletcher, his wife and two of their staff. At first it looks like robbery, but Lucy Fletcher, the Colonels wife has her throat cut, and the robbery looks staged. Their child found under the bed is unable to speak.

When I first started reading it I found myself to some degree confusing Maddam of Scotland Yard with Inspector Rutledge of Scotland Yard, first introduced to us in `Test Of Wills', by Charles Todd.. Both men have served at the front, and both are now back at Scotland Yard considerably harrowed by their experiences, which is clear by their hollowed and general appearance of fatigue. But I soon found that the story in River Of Darkness overtook me, being more interesting than the person investigating. It is a powerful, complex and gripping tale.

Much of it is narrated by Billy Styles, a young constable eager to prove himself as a police officer. Also I found that the evidence of the effects of war more effective. Rennie Airth transports you back to that time. I really felt that I was there, some of the descriptions are vivid, and I felt for the people trying to put their lives back together. It is clear that with the great loses that this war incurred, everyone was touched in some way.

Apart from being a compelling read, this book is beautifully written, and unusual, in that we are to a degree conditioned that most times we know little about the murder victim, often we learn only about them until after they are a victim. To get to like a victim before they are murdered is rare and unexpected..

I urge you all to get a copy and read it.

Lizzie Hayes

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! A new, intelligent mystery., January 10, 2001

By 

K. L Sadler "Dr. Karen L. Sadler" (Freedom, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: River of Darkness (John Madden Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was one of those accidental finds. Rennie Airth better be working on his next mystery with Madden as the protagonist, or I will be extremely disappointed. This book was definitely a work of art and of love. I am very curious to know about the member of Airth's family that he modeled Madden after. As always the British and now the South Africans write with class and intelligence, and it is nice to see a new detective in the manner of P. D. James' Adam Dagliesh. Like other readers I can easily see this being made into a movie or one of the Mystery series on PBS. The plot of this book is plausible, the characters are very well-drawn out, the involvement of World War I in shaping the minds and lives of those who live in England after the war understandable and obviously well-researched. This is probably the best new mystery and author I have read for at least two years. I hope to see more of him in the future. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superior Police Procedural, December 22, 1999

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: River of Darkness: A Novel of Suspense (Hardcover)

Historically based crime novels are popular. This is one of the best of this subgenre. Set in the more contemporary but still unfamiliar world of post-WW1 England, this book combines the police procedural with elements of the psychological crime novel. The story is told from both the prespective of the police and a psychopathic, but capable, serial killer. The period detail is convincing. The characters are drawn well, the plotting is superior, and the quality of writing very good. A very enjoyable book. I look forward to the sequel.