The Secret of Annexe 3

Rating:
Summary: Not Dexter's best effort
Review: A good read, but this mystery is not up to the author's standards. The dialogue was not as humorous and imaginative, especially between Morse and Lewis, as it was in previous novels. For some reason the characters come off a little flat in this book. The plot suffers a little as well - just not the usual Dexter potboiler.

Rating:
Summary: Not my favourite Morse, but still worth reading.
Review: Although this book was not my favourite of the brilliant Inspector Morse series, it is still worth reading. Even Colin Dexter's less than best efforts are a cut above many who write in this genre. This is a puzzle that has Morse and Lewis going off in the wrong direction right up until the end of the book. They have the gist right, but no way of connecting the facts to make them make sense. Who was the person dressed as a Rastafarian at the New Year's Eve fancy dress ball? Who killed who? Was it the jealous husband or was it the lover? For a time Morse and Lewis did not know the exact identity of the corpse found on the bed in Annexe 3. Morse and Lewis are pitted against a very clever killer this time, but they do manage to sort it out. This is really a wonderful British procedural series. The character of Morse is developing into something quite special.

Rating:
Summary: The real mystery is...
Review: At an airport, my head filled with work, I wanted, needed a distraction. I'd seen the Morse series before on TV and decided to check out a book.
I'd never read a detective novel before but I knew what to expect; a clever, contrived and ultimately satisfying journey from confusion and blood to clarity and purity.
Indeed the early part of the book where all of the characters seemed two-dimensional and the plot vague and weak only increased my anticipation of the ultimate journey to the light.
Sadly, what I found was so disappointing I ended up giving the book away to a hotel receptionist.
The characters presented here are two-dimensional beyond belief (Lewis eating egg and chips every night indeed! Is that what Dexter believes to be representative of the working class). His Morse is truly disagreeable and not at all clever....("Clever!" says Morse when a couple check into the hotel under a classically-referenced pseudonym). No Morse, "clever" is when criminals conceal their identity.
Dexter seems to think he's an intellectual with vague classical references; none of which actually mean anything. It's as if he is wedging his limited classical square pegs into the narrative's round holes (and believe me, there ARE holes!)....and HE wrote the narrative!
Each chapter is preceded by a quotation, usually inappropriate which firstly confused me (as it usually had little to do with the chapter) and secondly showed the marked difference in literary ability between the quotor and the quotee.
Finally, and fundamentally the story is flawed. I won't give away the final version of events as established (in case you intend to read the book); but even the most willing suspender of disbelief would not understand the rationale behind the murder plot; contrived but not clever and I would consider reckless and destined to immediate failure (Who wouldn't have guessed the postman's address ruse?). And not telling a rastafarian from a white guy....Come on!
The real mystery is why the publishers wasted ink and paper on this rubbish.

Eddie Vertente

Rating:
Summary: A nice, middling Morse
Review: I came across this in a used book store and recognized it immediately for what it was: a Morse mystery that I had never read. As Inspector Morse stories go, this one is good but not exceptional. It is always good to be in the presence of the cranky Inspector, especially since he is so clearly personified by the late, great John Thaw, and this story has some very unique elements in the telling of a good story, but it relies a little too much on coincidence for its final resolution. It was a necessary device in this case, but if Morse hadn't been in that particular pub at that particular time... Oh, well. I think we read these as much for the enjoyment of Morse's cognitive processes and his relationship with Lewis, his long-suffering sergeant. And there are far worse ways to spend and evening! (I don't want this back.)

Rating:
Summary: A nice, middling Morse
Review: I came across this in a used book store and recognized it immediately for what it was: a Morse mystery that I had never read. As Inspector Morse stories go, this one is good but not exceptional. It is always good to be in the presence of the cranky Inspector, especially since he is so clearly personified by the late, great John Thaw, and this story has some very unique elements in the telling of a good story, but it relies a little too much on coincidence for its final resolution. It was a necessary device in this case, but if Morse hadn't been in that particular pub at that particular time... Oh, well. I think we read these as much for the enjoyment of Morse's cognitive processes and his relationship with Lewis, his long-suffering sergeant. And there are far worse ways to spend and evening! (I don't want this back.)