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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about David Hewson's A SEASON FOR THE DEAD.
bev208@bellsouth.net
What other mystery writers do you read?
I read many mystery writers including the following: Alex Kava, Kay Hooper, Iris Johansen, Jonathan Kellerman, James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, Phillip Margolin, Nevada Barr, and Lincoln Child. As you can see I like male and female authors.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
I have never read a book by David Hewson before but I would read more books by him. Detective Nic Costa is a very good detective. He solves murders in his own way. Having him as the main character in future books will make interesting reading. It took a while before the book drew me into the story but I did enjoy it and was anxious to find out why the murders occurred. Almost at the end it took a twist and made everything become clear. I even enjoyed reading about Nic's father and Bea, his lady friend. It helps to learn more about the character's family and his life which makes him what he is all about. It makes for them being more human. If you do not care for religion and history in your books you would not care for this book. I do like religion and history in my books. I always learn things even though the books are fiction.
kpmannix@hotmail.com
What other mystery writers do you read?
Robert Parker, James Lee Burke, Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
Excellent. I was hooked after the shocking first 6 pages. Well-written, interesting story and characters, wonderful sense of locale. I enjoyed the suspense. People, however, will inevitably compare it to THE DA VINCI CODE.
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
Yes. I look forward to this series.
photofoot@comcast.net
What other mystery writers do you read?
James Patterson, Dan Brown, John Grisham.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
The first fifty pages grabbed me and that was it. I can't wait to finish it!
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
Yes.
SAL2NB@aol.com
What other mystery writers do you read?
Some of my favorite mystery authors are Peter Robinson, Peter Lovesey, Val McDermid, Robert B. Parker, Ed McBain, Stephen Booth, Steven Havill, Randy Wayne White and Stephen White. I tend to especially like British authors.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
I thought A SEASON FOR THE DEAD was very nicely done. The book started perhaps a little slowly, but as the characters and the plot developed the pace picked up and the book became more compelling. I thought that the sense of place, Rome in August was nicely done. Although the "whodunit" was revealed fairly early on, there were enough plot twists to maintain interest.
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
I look forward to future titles from Hewson. The second Nic Costa book is out in England; I'm tempted to order it from there.
SCARTER163@aol.com
What other mystery writers do you read?
Other mystery writers: too many to list, recent and currently John Swann, Dan Brown, John Dunning, Dashiell Hammett, Lawrence Block, John MacDonald, Patricia Highsmith, Steve Martini, Dick Francis and Jonathan Kellerman.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
Enjoyed the book very much, once I got over the "skinning." Took a while to get that picture out of my head. Wish I had been to Rome as it is always nice to know the lay of the land although David gave me a good feel for the territory in the book. The characters were interesting and engaging, was rooting for romance to develop.
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
This was my first by David Hewson, won't be the last. Am hoping for less graphic murders.
Walrus618@aol.com
What other mystery writers do you read?
I enjoy reading books by Anne Perry, MC Beaton, Jeffery Deaver, Patricia Cornwell, Bartholomew Gill, Ruth Rendell, Reginald Hill, Val McDermid, Jonathan Kellerman, Michael Connelly and Elizabeth George.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
I enjoyed A SEASON FOR THE DEAD very much. The descriptions of the setting and characters were very detailed and vivid. I enjoy reading books that bring history into play and this one does that really well. It makes me want to learn more about Caravaggio and his works!
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
I would definitely read future titles by David Hewson. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
b.ostly@comcast.net
What other mystery writers do you read?
The list below is representative of the mystery writers whose books I seek out and read.
Thomas Perry
Elizabeth George
Brian Haig
Michael Frayn
Arturo Perez Reverte
Robert Hellenga
Carl Hiaasen
Elmore Leonard
P. D. James
Nelson DeMille
Walter Mosley
John Le Carre
Lee Child
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
I will answer this by first stating what I look for in books of fiction. First, the story itself should be engaging and plausible. Grand, worldwide plots almost always do not pass this hurdle.
Second, the major actors, at the very least, should be well-rounded characters. No simple, one-dimensional stick-figures, no polarized “black and white” set pieces, and no superheros with astounding physical and mental powers and technical skills. The “good guys” do not have to be likable and the “bad guys” should not be bred-to-the-bone evildoers. Rather, the characters should possess the same depths and intricacies as real people. Also, the settings should be treated as among the critical characters.
Third, the language and dialogue should be appropriate for the characters, and descriptions of the characters' feelings and mental states should be revealed by the dialogue rather than by the excessive use of defining adjectives and adverbs. Also, no need to use forced, overblown words, phrases or figures of speech.
When I put A SEASON FOR THE DEAD up against this framework, it fails. I am a Jesuit-educated ex-Catholic, and normally I am pulled in by stories of religious intrigue. I am also sucked in by mystery fiction that includes art, music, old documents, or antiquities as major or minor components of the story. Note that my list of favorite authors above includes authors such as Robert Hellenga, Michael Frayn, and Arturo Perez-Reverte.
This is the first time since college many years ago when I have been asked to write a review of a book. I opened Hewson’s book wanting to like it, wanting to be excited about it. But as I read I found myself not caring about the story or any of the characters. I found the characters to be at best just caricatures of real people. I did not find them interesting. And the use of setting, which had such promise in the beginning, seems contrived.
I was also turned off by the use of overreaching language, starting with “…an empty furnace echoing to the whispers of desiccated ghosts…” on page 1. Had I not agreed to read and review this book I would have put it down by page 50, if not sooner. As I soldiered on through the book I kept hoping that the story and characters would come to life, but that didn’t happen. I was overjoyed to see the last page.
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
Probably not, but ever the optimist and since I read this book for Bookreporter.com, I will read reviews of his future books to see what other reviewers have to say about him.
clynsg@yahoo.com
What other mystery writers do you read?
Several, most often those that are either humorous as well or more toward the adventure genre --- Earlene Fowler, Tom Clancy, Anne Perry. Like police procedurals.
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
Good story idea, but couldn't get into really caring about the characters. They mostly seemed rather distasteful.
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
Might very well read them, but would not keep to read again. Not an author I would just pick up, no matter what the title.
laderman1@comcast.net
What did you think of A SEASON FOR THE DEAD?
It was a decent enough book, but not compelling. For me, the sign of a good mystery or suspense book is that I try to steal time here and there to read it. I can’t wait to push on. This book wasn’t a hard slog, but I wasn’t anxious to turn every page.
I must admit I don’t have a clue about how the Italian detectives operate, but this read to me like New York or Chicago cops with Italian names in Rome. Maybe it was authentic, but it didn’t seem that way. When Martin Cruz Smith wrote GORKY PARK, he researched Russian cops, largely by talking to émigrés in New York. Basically, they told him his Moscow cops weren’t authentic, and made suggestions to make them so.
Also, Nic Costa’s thing about Caravaggio --- just seemed weird, contrived. I took art history in college, too, and I know Caravaggio’s style, but don’t have the familiarity with his works that I have with, say, Van Gogh or Monet or even Michelangelo. Suggest reproductions of the painting discussed might make the discussions more real.
For that matter, a map of Rome and the Vatican might have helped, too.
Would you ever read future titles by David Hewson?
Perhaps, depending on the story.
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