A Dance of Ghosts
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Book Description
An utterly convincing and utterly compelling crime debut from a major new talent.
'A Dance of Ghosts is unputdownable. Riveting.' Mo Hayder
Product Description
PI John Craine is struggling to cope with the weight of his past. Sixteen years ago his wife, Stacy, was brutally murdered. Craine found her body in their bed. And since then, to escape the pain and the unanswered questions, he has buried himself in work by day, and whisky by night.
But one phone call changes everything. The mother of missing young woman Anna Gerrish calls on his services, and Craine soon finds himself at the centre of a sinister web of corruption and lies that leads back into the murky waters of the past - and to the night that Craine has spent over a decade trying to forget. As he delves deeper and deeper into the case everything gets increasingly, terrifyingly, personal. And it's down to Craine to stop history from repeating itself ...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This is a very good read from Kevin Brooks. His first adult novel certainly sets a standard for debut UK crime story telling.
'A Dance of Ghosts' is not - for a change - based around the workings of a police investigation but rather the investigations carried out by a fragile PI, John Craine who carries on where the police left off.
Craine does, naturally, have a very troubled past and this comes back to haunt him as he searches out the killer of a prostitute, seemingly the same person who savagely attacked and killed Craine's wife sixteen years ago.
As the story unfolds, we learn this cannot be the case despite some 'fixed' evidence put into play by a very bent copper. It is this amalgam of takes on the search for the killer which develops throughout the story, helped in no small part by a young computer whizz who can do anything, anytime, anywhere and leads to a gripping finale. It is, however, this finale which leaves me a little short of awarding full marks. Even so, there is plenty in the book to like. The dialogue is excellent, the characters seem as though they just might exist in real life (well, maybe not the computer guy but what do I know?) and there is very little wasted space on unnecessary backgrounds. The author tells us what we need to know and it works well.
I look forward to the author's next adult book (though on the basis of this novel maybe I'll catch one of his children's books and see what my grandchildren think).
'A Dance of Ghosts' is not - for a change - based around the workings of a police investigation but rather the investigations carried out by a fragile PI, John Craine who carries on where the police left off.
Craine does, naturally, have a very troubled past and this comes back to haunt him as he searches out the killer of a prostitute, seemingly the same person who savagely attacked and killed Craine's wife sixteen years ago.
As the story unfolds, we learn this cannot be the case despite some 'fixed' evidence put into play by a very bent copper. It is this amalgam of takes on the search for the killer which develops throughout the story, helped in no small part by a young computer whizz who can do anything, anytime, anywhere and leads to a gripping finale. It is, however, this finale which leaves me a little short of awarding full marks. Even so, there is plenty in the book to like. The dialogue is excellent, the characters seem as though they just might exist in real life (well, maybe not the computer guy but what do I know?) and there is very little wasted space on unnecessary backgrounds. The author tells us what we need to know and it works well.
I look forward to the author's next adult book (though on the basis of this novel maybe I'll catch one of his children's books and see what my grandchildren think).
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Exploring several themes including justice and revenge, love and loss and the nature of family, Kevin Brooks debut (adult) novel is an atmospheric thriller in which the past intrudes on the present.
Using a number of conventional thriller elements, Brooks nonetheless manages to conjure up an intriguing and involving plotline. John Craine's character is beautifully judged, and the supporting cast are given sufficient depth to add to the interest, while leaving no doubt where the main story lies. The only jarring note comes with the main villain who I felt strained credibility a little too much.
The writing is excellent, particularly when conveying Craine's ongoing despair at his wife's murder, and the pace of the plot is beautifully judged with various strands come together for a surprising ending, which also leaves open enough of those strands for a follow up book.
Kevin Brooks is a welcome addition to the thriller genre and I will look forward to seeing where he can take the next book, which I hope will continue John Craine's story.
Using a number of conventional thriller elements, Brooks nonetheless manages to conjure up an intriguing and involving plotline. John Craine's character is beautifully judged, and the supporting cast are given sufficient depth to add to the interest, while leaving no doubt where the main story lies. The only jarring note comes with the main villain who I felt strained credibility a little too much.
The writing is excellent, particularly when conveying Craine's ongoing despair at his wife's murder, and the pace of the plot is beautifully judged with various strands come together for a surprising ending, which also leaves open enough of those strands for a follow up book.
Kevin Brooks is a welcome addition to the thriller genre and I will look forward to seeing where he can take the next book, which I hope will continue John Craine's story.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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I picked this book as I'd read Kevin Brooks' previous YA book, Martyn Pig, and enjoyed it, and so was keen to read his first go at adult fiction.
The book took a while to get going, but once it did it was a simple but exciting page turner. As someone else has said in another review, the book doesn't really break any new ground with detective fiction, but I did find the characters believable. The number of coincidences which help the story along get a bit unbelievable at times, but all together the twists and turns do hang together enough to take you with it.
Whilst I found this book enjoyable it was a bit light weight for me, and could have benefited from a bit more information in places.
Altogether a good first adult book, I look forward to reading some more of Kevin's work when I am after something more easy going in the future.
The book took a while to get going, but once it did it was a simple but exciting page turner. As someone else has said in another review, the book doesn't really break any new ground with detective fiction, but I did find the characters believable. The number of coincidences which help the story along get a bit unbelievable at times, but all together the twists and turns do hang together enough to take you with it.
Whilst I found this book enjoyable it was a bit light weight for me, and could have benefited from a bit more information in places.
Altogether a good first adult book, I look forward to reading some more of Kevin's work when I am after something more easy going in the future.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good Story - unacceptable language
I have very mixed feelings about this book - the story gripped me and I wanted to know what happened next but I found the use of what is to my mind foul language totally... Read more
Published 11 months ago by lindy-lou
It's enjoyable but nothing ground breaking
Whilst I enjoyed most of this book, the circumstances surrounding the characters are typical of an investigative plot, Private Investigator by day, whom by night drowns his sorrows... Read more
Published 12 months ago by roses
BRUTAL
I'd sum up A Dance of Ghosts in one word - BRUTAL. Anyone with a shy disposition who is easily offended should avoid this book at all costs because it's a shocker in every sense... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Faydra
A BOOK THAT GRABS YOU
A really good book. Pacy, dark, and with new factors slipping into view as the tale progresses which make it an even better read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. Colin Moss
A gripping read
This is an above average crime thriller. The characters are sharp and the plot is tight and fast moving. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kate
well I really enjoyed this.
I'm not generally a fan of detective books/tv shows and I don't like thrillers/horrors as I'm easily scared. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mad Saint Uden
Good gripping novel
John Crane- a private detective : son of a policeman , has experienced tragedy and sadness in his past and is still struggling to come to terms with it . Read more
Published 13 months ago by BusyReader
Not as good as I'd hoped....
I found this book quite slow to get in to - a few pages or maybe a chapter at night was enough. I can't honestly say I enjoyed it because I found myself a little nervous of what... Read more
Published 13 months ago by The Good Daughter
Well put together 'gritty' book
Overall, this is a good book. The story is well put together and the characters are interesting. The story is good and is not just one dimensional. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Jon Forster
The new Marlowe.
This is a stunningly good thriller. A laconic, tough, sentimental
hero. A great plot, Duplicitious police and a memorable ending. Read more
hero. A great plot, Duplicitious police and a memorable ending. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mostly Cheese
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