Rating: 
Summary: A Masterpiece of a Mystery
Review: I found An Instance of the Fingerpost to be one of the most engaging mysteries I have ever read. The book's basis is a murder-mystery focused upon the death of an Oxford professor and priest, Dr. Grove. The central premise is explored by four highly different narrators - an Italian visitor, a young student whose father was accused of treason, a cryptographer with the English government, and a historian. I found the use of the different narrators fascinating, as the reader is able to explore how different viewers of the same events can see things very differently, depending on their prior knowledge of and interest in the events.While the solution to the central mystery is a shock and a revelation, the interest of Pear's book does not stop with the who-dunit aspect of the book. Rather, the reader is drawn into a scholarly exposition on the history of science; an interesting study of the political scene in England at the time of the murder; and a close development of all the central characters. Having recently finished this book, I plan to read it again in a few weeks. I think that, knowing the ultimate result, rereading the stories leading up to it will be time well spent.
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Summary: A wonderful and thought-provoking world to be drawn into.
Review: I had read the only two Iain Pears art mystery stories published in paperback and enjoyed them very much - especially for their delicious humor and sense of place. I saved An Instance of the Fingerpost to read on a long flite home from Italy and was so captivated that I didn't want to get off the plane after over 24 hours, nor did I want to finish the book. I wanted to stay in 17th century Oxford. This is a book like Gone with the Wind, or War and Peace: It takes you into it and engulfs your world. But the reader has to love history first and mystery second. It is best to read this book without reading even the Amazon review. Really, just know that the year is 1663, Charles II is on the throne, in Oxford there is a murder and an old woman is dying. This is a roman a clef, you will meet and understand many famous people and all the while unbeknownst to the reader the subject is...well, I won't give it away. Best of all this book has a sly sense of humor which keeps the reader on his toes. You will also learn more than you ever wanted to know about 17th century medicine...fascinating stuff. And Oxford, Morse would be at home. Read this book.
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Summary: Alexandria revisited
Review: An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears relates four views of the same events taking place immediately after the restoration of Charles II in England. Similar but superior to the Alexandrian Quartet; we believe what we want to believe and if we are politically connected our beliefs can be highly dangerous to others. Superior in that we gain insight into the customs and practices of the time along with an uneasy feeling that what Pears writes of science and politics is as true today as it was then.
Rating: 
Summary: Inriguing but overlong
Review: The great weakness of this book is its prolixity: it is simply much too long. An engaging, well written historical murder mystery, with a background of rival ambitions and political and religious faction and intrigue, set in Oxford in the Restoration England of 1663, it is ingenious, witty, deftly plotted, filled with a rogues' gallery of colorful although not necessarily very believable characters (the heroine is particularly hard to swallow), has a surprise ending, and is of considerable historical interest. Many of the characters are real historical personages (e.g., Robert Boyle, John Locke, Christopher Wren). One feels the author has done his homework and knows his period, but he is too much enamored of his erudition and glib facility, to the detriment of his tale. The story is told, Rashomon-like, by four narrators: a visiting Italian physician (who may be much more) drawn into the circle of several Oxford men of science and learning; an Oxford student and young madman with his own axe to grind at any cost; a malicious, unscrupulous, egotistical Oxford mathematician and divine with secret ties to high government officials; and an eccentric, ineffectual Oxford antiquarian scholar who is smitten with the heroine and scorned by his peers. Each is quite different from the others, and the truth gradually begins to emerge as their radically divergent versions of the events unfold. The trouble is that the book is 700 pages long, when it ought to be, say, 400 pages long. There are precious few murder mysteries, even learned historical ones, that merit a 700-page treatment; this isn't one of them. It is much too ponderous and slow-moving; it is larded with too many lengthy passages of philosophizing, moralizing, adducing quotations from "authorities," reflecting and meditating and agonizing over this and that, that impede the forward motion of the narrative; all too frequently one wants to prod the author to get on with it. The events here, the story to be told, simply don't justify a book of this length. An aggressive editor not afraid to brandish his red pen fearlessly could have made this a much better read.
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Summary: Frankly, this book is brilliant in every way
Review: I cannot recommend a book more highly than Iain Pears debut novel. It is simply brilliant. Telling the story of a 17th century murder, from the perspective of four witnesses, the book is so well written, and researched, that you can't help feeling as if you are living and breathing this turbulent period of English History. To say too much about the plot would spoil the story and the wonderful, end when the truth is revealed in a remarkable denouement. This is a book that I couldn't wait to get to the end of, yet felt bereft when I closed the pages for the last time on a series of characters who seemed so real. An Instance of the Fingerpost is more than a whodunnit (much, MUCH more in fact) and more than a historical novel, though the characters are woven into the fabric of history). Yet for all the scholarly research, the book is as easy to read as Dr. Suess. It's quite remarkable to find a book so beautifully written, with such knowledge and passion for the period. I cannot wait for Iain Pears' next novel. PLEASE buy this book, it is superb.
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Summary: please read the whole book
Review: I have just read many reviews. Two people gave the book 1 star after not even finishing the book!! On just any book, this would be a crime. For this book, it is a travesty. This book patiently sets up the great finally and these people are missing it. The end puts the other parts of the book into perspective. When you read it the second time, everything makes much more sense; so please at least read the whole book before reviewing it.
Rating: 
Summary: ZZZZZZ..................
Review: This book was extremely boring. I'm a big fan of Umberto Eco, and (to a much lesser degree) Perez-Reverte, so I thought this book was a sure thing. But WOW was I wrong! I struggled through the first two character's tales, and then just couldn't justify wasting ONE MORE MINUTE on this borrrring tale. The characters are boring and horribly unsimpathetic, as is the story, as is the historical period (Cromwell does not exactly equal exicitement). The research done for the book is surly commendable but the fact is that the time period is so lame that it really doesn't lend to decent storytelling. AVIOD THIS! IT STINKS!
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Summary: Mind-numbingly boring, just couldn't get into this...
Review: I bought this book to read during the four-hour train ride to New York. What a waste. An Instance of the Fingerpost is a historical novel with a touch of intrigue. I love historical novels, cannot resist them, but this one left a bad taste in my mouth. For one thing, the author drones on and on with descriptions that serve no purpose to the story. It felt as though Pears wanted to share his thoughts -- however remote -- to the reader even if it had no relevance whatsoever. Yawning and wishing you had something else to keep yourself amused are never good signs. So I gave up on this book before finishing it. I felt cheated the way I do when I watch a very good film trailer: good premise, big hype, bad outcome. I cannot fathom the good reviews here. Disappointing...
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Intrigueing portrait of Oxford circa 1650. Great story, detailed, well woven, believable. Aside from Grapes of Wrath this is the best book I have ever read. Plenty of twists and turns.
Rating:
Summary: Boooooooorrrring
Review: Reduce this book by 50% and it would still be way too verbose. The first narative was able to maintain my interest from time to time, but the second two just overwhelmed me with needless boring nonsense. I was waiting for the blundy girl to be narrator, that may have spiced things up a bit. What an enormous waste of time. Fingerpost, I gladly give you the finger.
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