Customer Reviews

Talent for Destruction

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

 

 

This was the first book I ever read from Sheila Radley (which I believe is a psuedonym). I bought it at a used book store, simply because I was intrigued by the cover art depicting a skeletal hand in the snow. What a great book!

OK, I should throw in a disclaimer. What makes this British mystery wonderful is a combination of intelligent, artful writing -- and the psychological interplay between the characters. It is not an "action" novel, so if you are into spy thrillers and such, you should probably skip this. If you enjoy the work of Agatha Christie (made edgier for modern times) you may really like A Talent for Destruction.

I personally loved it. It made me want to read all the other Sheila Radley mysteries -- which I did! They are all enjoyable, although I placed a caution on my review of This Way Out, which can be a very unsettling night's reading...

Two boys discover a skeleton in the snow. Inspector Quantrill discovers a connection to the Rectory. But just who killed the man and why?

I liked this book at first. The opening was promising. But too soon we were presented with too few suspects. The whole explanation of crime was a little far-fetched and I found the end disappointing and vague. We find out the identity of the murderer, but the motivation was weak and never explained to my satisfaction.

I expected more.

I enjoyed the ride but not sure why it doesn't complete hold - maybe drags a little. Nice premise though and beautifully written. Memorable.