Rating: 
Summary: A Slight Trying of the Patience
Review: 'The Reaper' is a very well-written book, not that long to read, and evokes its desired ambience of a quiet English village quite satisfactorily. The plot is well executed. It's the characters that did it in for me. The book is not, in my estimation, a mystery, though that is where I found it at my local booksellers. There is murder and mischief aplenty, even some suspensful moments, but we know from the very outset whodunit. This puts it in the 'Columbo' league, where we know the identity of the killer, and the fun is supposed to be watching them squirm. While I enjoy that genre of suspense, it is not done as well as it could be in the case of 'The Reaper'. The story concerns young and handsome Reverend Otis Joy, who has newly come to preside over St. Bartholomew's Church in Wiltshire , England. The first chapter shows him murdering Bishop Glastonbury, and the subsequent disposal of the body. There are certain mysterious elements regarding Joy's past which come up, but then they are discarded for a little too long before being picked-up later on in the novel. A young, unhappily married woman named Rachel Jansen attends Joy's congregation, and is in love with him (in her own convoluted way). Their relationship makes for the bulk of the story. I say "their relationship", whereas it is more Rachel's inner thoughts regarding the ever-murderous Reverend Joy. And that is what bothered me the most about this book. There was no protagonist. No one to "root for". On one side we have Otis Joy, who murders people as though he were swatting flies, and then Rachel Jansen, who is overly-obsessed with the reverend to be of any sympathetic interest to the reader. She borders on being flaky, and I found it hard to readily embrace a book with a remorseless killer and an in-love flake as its protagonists. *This also, by the way, differs 'The Reaper' from being completely like a Columbo, as in Columbo, the star is the protagonist, the anchor to the ship, as it were. There really isn't such an anchor in this book.* 'The Reaper' does serve up a surprise or two (one very big one, as a matter of fact), and it is written well. I just wish that there had been a driving force of good somewhere in it - a Holmes, a Wimsey, a Poirot, a Marple, a Dalgliesh.... heck, even a Columbo.
Rating: 
Summary: Good and Bad -- They're All Right About This Cheeky Story
Review: Face it, you've got to be in a certain frame of mind to read a book where you're supposed to root for a serial killer. After a bad week at work, I was in exactly the right frame of mind... perhaps even sympathetic. The main characters aren't finely drawn -- it's as if the author or editor chopped off the usual introductory first chapter. But who cares? It's a light, mischievious read. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Good and Bad -- They're All Right About This Cheeky Story
Review: Face it, you've got to be in a certain frame of mind to read a book where you're supposed to root for a serial killer. After a bad week at work, I was in exactly the right frame of mind... perhaps even sympathetic. The main characters aren't finely drawn -- it's as if the author or editor chopped off the usual introductory first chapter. But who cares? It's a light, mischievious read. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: A great read for one and all
Review: I can only say that THE REAPER is a great fun thriller full of parallels and comedy.And I must mention "OJ" but read the book and you will see what I mean. Great characters and fun cheering for the wrong team. Peter's books are all brilliant and easy reads, you fall in love with his characters also, won't be able to guess what happens next. Many Turns and twists, plots and subplots as well as a giggle on every page. What more can you ask for when reading? I started this book at 8am and finished it at 8pm the same day, only stopping when my eyes needed a rest. In my opinion is a great book. ENJOY and thanks to Peter once again, I highly recommend BLOODHOUNDS
Rating:
Summary: A great read for one and all
Review: I can only say that THE REAPER is a great fun thriller full of parallels and comedy.And I must mention "OJ" but read the book and you will see what I mean. Great characters and fun cheering for the wrong team. Peter's books are all brilliant and easy reads, you fall in love with his characters also, won't be able to guess what happens next. Many Turns and twists, plots and subplots as well as a giggle on every page. What more can you ask for when reading? I started this book at 8am and finished it at 8pm the same day, only stopping when my eyes needed a rest. In my opinion is a great book. ENJOY and thanks to Peter once again, I highly recommend BLOODHOUNDS
Rating:
Summary: A great read for one and all
Review: I can only say that THE REAPER is a great fun thriller full of parallels and comedy.And I must mention "OJ" but read the book and you will see what I mean. Great characters and fun cheering for the wrong team. Peter's books are all brilliant and easy reads, you fall in love with his characters also, won't be able to guess what happens next. Many Turns and twists, plots and subplots as well as a giggle on every page. What more can you ask for when reading? I started this book at 8am and finished it at 8pm the same day, only stopping when my eyes needed a rest. In my opinion is a great book. ENJOY and thanks to Peter once again, I highly recommend BLOODHOUNDS
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: I loved this book. I found it to be funny and suspenseful and just quirky enough to hold your interest without losing site of the main plot. I thought the end had a believable yet interesting twist to it that kept me guessing and not willing to put it down. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: I loved this book. I found it to be funny and suspenseful and just quirky enough to hold your interest without losing site of the main plot. I thought the end had a believable yet interesting twist to it that kept me guessing and not willing to put it down. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Heaven sent
Review: I received The Reaper yesterday and finished it this morning. It is a real page turner. Can't wait for the movie. The book is not only a perfect British "cozy." It is also very well researched. it is s superb story, a mystery readers dream
Rating: 
Summary: We know who dunnit
Review: No mystery here about who did it, and kept doing it -- Lovesey tells us from the beginning it was the Rev. And we always know who the next victim will be. But why?? He didn't like getting caned at school so he simply must have his luxuries one day a week -- which means stealing -- which means knocking off anyone who wants to check the church financial books.... Besides, with the price of gas for boats, it takes more than stealing the cash from the local bake sales. And talk about dopey women....pitiful, not hilarious. Not even a snigger.
| 
