A Taste for Burning [Hardcover]

Jo Bannister (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1995

Inspector Liz Graham and Sergeant Cal Donovan of Castlemere, England, find themselves investigating their own chief in a deadly arson case that may involve the chief's own son. By the author of Charisma.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bannister's (The Matrix) tightly knit British procedural dealing with racism and other issues of morality accelerates gradually in tempo and intensity. Detective Chief Inspector Frank Shapiro is admired and emulated by his sergeant, Cal Donovan, and highly regarded by Assistant Inspector Liz Graham. Their loyalty is tested, however, when Shapiro is put on leave for possibly having withheld evidence in a high-profile case eight years earlier. Donovan and Graham are deeply absorbed in a case of fatal arson in the Asian community in their town of Castlemere, but on their own time, and without telling their stuffy, by-the-books superintendent, they cautiously work to clear Shapiro's name. Weaving through their steady efforts is a cast of difficult family members and self-righteous con men. The ultimate question-on which side of the law is the evildoer?-is answered in a conclusion that, while somewhat drawn-out and melodramatic, features an interesting twist.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 251 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312131917
• ISBN-13: 978-0312131913
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,435,722 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wit and Grit Transform the British Police Procedural, July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Taste for Burning (Paperback)

Having gulped the second and third volumes of Jo Bannister's Castlemere CID series in 24 hours, I am dizzy with admiration for this first-rate author. CHARISMA's plot includes a serial killer, a traveling preacher, the IRA, and a drug ring. A TASTE FOR BURNING includes a pyromaniac, a fascist-turned-animal-activist, a police cover-up, and the relationships between fathers and sons. Both are well-plotted and well-written, but that's beside the point. What makes this series a winner are its wit, its grit, and its characterization. The humor is dry and ironic. The portrayal of CID work in a small depressed British town is gritty and realistic; it is the very opposite of the cliche British village mystery--more like a small town version of "Prime Suspect" (the Helen Mirren series on PBS). The characterization is superb, especially the three sleuths: Chief Inspector Frank Shapiro, Inspector Liz Graham, and Sargeant Cal Donovan. Each is distinct, interesting but realistic, likeable yet flawed, and their relationships with each other and other characters are no small part of the appeal of this series. Readers of British procedurals ready for a dose of contemporary reality as well as readers of American procedurals ready for a jaunt abroad should enjoy this really well-written series. As for me, I'm going to buy #1 (A BLEEDING OF INNOCENTS) and #4 (NO BIRDS SING) immediately, and #5 (BROKEN LINES) just as soon as it gets into paperback!