Helpful Score: 2
Another excellent thriller from the British writer. Seemingly unconnected stories come together under investigation many years later and the reality of the tragic past is finally unveiled.
Helpful Score: 1
Twisting and turning, the plot kept me guessing (mostly wrong guesses) the whole way through. Another winner from Minette Walters.
Helpful Score: 1
In 1970 Howard Stamp-a mentally retarded twenty-two-year-old, was charged with brutally murdering his grandmother. The evidence was controversial but Stamp was convicted. Three years later, he committed suicide.
After tyring to bring Stamp's case to public attention for years, George Gardener teams up with anthropolostist Dr Jonathan Hughes, who has reexamined Stamp's case for a book on injustice. The more George learns about Jonathan, the more similarities she discovers between scientist and subject. And-if a dangerous kiler is still at large-she must help Jonathan defest his own demons.
...taken from the back cover of the book
After tyring to bring Stamp's case to public attention for years, George Gardener teams up with anthropolostist Dr Jonathan Hughes, who has reexamined Stamp's case for a book on injustice. The more George learns about Jonathan, the more similarities she discovers between scientist and subject. And-if a dangerous kiler is still at large-she must help Jonathan defest his own demons.
...taken from the back cover of the book
This was my second read by Minette Walters. The first one I read was The Dark Room which I thoroughly enjoyed. This book had great potential with a good plot but Minette was unable to carry it off. The book was a slow read for me as the story and characters got very convoluted and confusing. In the end, the reader is left to assume who the killer was as the murder was not fully resolved. I will, however, read some more of her works as I think this was just a misfire.
Good mystery. George Gardener teams up with anthropologist Jonathan Hughes to reexamine a case from 1970 where a retarded 20 year old was convicted of murder. The more they study, the more they begin to think the murderer is among them.
This is a very different "twisted" who done it... very suspenseful!!!
This was the first book by this author that I have read and enjoyed it immensely.
A twisty story for sure. Walters is adept at creating characters with many dimensions, which is a primary reason I like her books.
In this one we have George Gardener, councilor of a certain age, and younger anthropologist Jonathan Hughes, working together to find out the truth about a long-ago murder. Howard Stamp was convicted of the killing of his grandmother in 1970, and committed suicide three years later. George is convinced that Howard did not commit the murder even though he confessed to it. Jonathan studies certain types of personalities and wants to learn more about Howard.
The two start off antagonistically but George presses on because she wants Jonathan's help. In time they do find a way to work together. George does not fret about appearances and Jonathan finds her, at their first meeting, the ugliest person he's ever met. She does have a way of twisting her face, creating bizarre expressions. Jonathan is the opposite and concerned about looking the part at all times.
The investigation involves digging deeply back in time and getting to know persons who were present when Grace, the grandmother, was killed. It turns out that a young girl disappeared only days before the death, and the two amateur sleuths think there may be a connection.
What a complicated way around it turns out to be. Much of the time we are treated to the conversations between George and Jon as they assess what they know and don't know and what to do next. At times, honestly, it made my head ache. In the end, though, I was glad to have gotten to know them and to find out the truth about the murder.
In this one we have George Gardener, councilor of a certain age, and younger anthropologist Jonathan Hughes, working together to find out the truth about a long-ago murder. Howard Stamp was convicted of the killing of his grandmother in 1970, and committed suicide three years later. George is convinced that Howard did not commit the murder even though he confessed to it. Jonathan studies certain types of personalities and wants to learn more about Howard.
The two start off antagonistically but George presses on because she wants Jonathan's help. In time they do find a way to work together. George does not fret about appearances and Jonathan finds her, at their first meeting, the ugliest person he's ever met. She does have a way of twisting her face, creating bizarre expressions. Jonathan is the opposite and concerned about looking the part at all times.
The investigation involves digging deeply back in time and getting to know persons who were present when Grace, the grandmother, was killed. It turns out that a young girl disappeared only days before the death, and the two amateur sleuths think there may be a connection.
What a complicated way around it turns out to be. Much of the time we are treated to the conversations between George and Jon as they assess what they know and don't know and what to do next. At times, honestly, it made my head ache. In the end, though, I was glad to have gotten to know them and to find out the truth about the murder.
From Publishers Weekly
Bestseller Walters (Fox Evil, etc.) delivers another complex tale of murder and deception. In 1970, 20-year-old Howard Stamp is convicted of brutally killing his 57-year-old grandmother with a carving knife; three years later, he commits suicide in prison. In 2002, London anthropologist Jonathan Hughes includes the Stamp case in his book, Disordered Minds, which examines infamous miscarriages of justice. The mentally slow Stamp may have been coerced into confessing to the murder. George (Georgina) Gardener, an elderly councilor living in Stamp's hometown of Bournemouth, has come to believe in Stamp's innocence herself and asks Jonathan for help in clearing the young man's name. The two get off to a rocky start, but they form an uneasy alliance that gradually grows into a deep friendship. Watching this relationship develop is one of the novel's more entertaining aspects. Walters uses to good effect the multiple viewpoints of her numerous characters, as well as flashbacks, letters, newspaper articles and e-mails to reveal the truth behind the decades-old murder. However, as in life, there are no easy answers, and although the ending may disappoint some, it caps perfectly all that has come before it.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Bestseller Walters (Fox Evil, etc.) delivers another complex tale of murder and deception. In 1970, 20-year-old Howard Stamp is convicted of brutally killing his 57-year-old grandmother with a carving knife; three years later, he commits suicide in prison. In 2002, London anthropologist Jonathan Hughes includes the Stamp case in his book, Disordered Minds, which examines infamous miscarriages of justice. The mentally slow Stamp may have been coerced into confessing to the murder. George (Georgina) Gardener, an elderly councilor living in Stamp's hometown of Bournemouth, has come to believe in Stamp's innocence herself and asks Jonathan for help in clearing the young man's name. The two get off to a rocky start, but they form an uneasy alliance that gradually grows into a deep friendship. Watching this relationship develop is one of the novel's more entertaining aspects. Walters uses to good effect the multiple viewpoints of her numerous characters, as well as flashbacks, letters, newspaper articles and e-mails to reveal the truth behind the decades-old murder. However, as in life, there are no easy answers, and although the ending may disappoint some, it caps perfectly all that has come before it.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Minette Walters is one of the best all time mystery writers
Another great Minette Walters book!
