- Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (25 Jun 1981)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140058036
- ISBN-13: 978-0140058031
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.4 x 1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,528,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Peter Lovesey has been a full time writer since 1975. His book describes Scotland Yard's Sergeant Cribb, who goes undercover in London music halls of the 19th-century to discover the identity and motivation of a mysterious killer.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sergeant Cribb and his Watson (Constable Thackeray) star again in this usually unusual novel, written in Lovesey's entertaining style. This is a book where you read to the end of the chapter and then to the end of the next chapter, regardless of what you should actually be doing, just like those cornflakes! I couldn't put it down. The period detail is wonderful, as is the colourful picture of Victorian life it paints, you can almost imagine yourself there! The characters are brought to life before you as you try to work out who the murderer could be in this story highlighting the darker side of Music Hall's existence. It's one of those mysteries where you have kick yourself for not knowing who is responsible for the murder, it all becomes so obvious. If only it were like that beforehand, you may have beaten a master at his own game! A joy to read.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's been a while since I've been really disappointed with a book, but unfortunately Peter Lovesey's Abracadaver has broken that run. I have really enjoyed other books of his (notably The False Inspector Dew) and this one starts off promisingly with setting that fits the golden age of Victorian crime novels. Bizarre accidents in theatres around London set the scene but the plot is then mostly fairly straightforward, with few twists and not many red herrings along the way to the eventual unmasking of the criminal. Some of the Victorian settings are done well, though at times characters seem to tip over into caricature and that (for me at least) wasn't helped by the audio version I listened to not being one of the best.
Really good audio books add something special extra, bringing out the best of the characters. In this case a slightly staid audio version brings out the worst in the characters.
All in all, it's a light Victorian criminal amble. It has its moments but if this sort of story is your thing there are plenty of other better books to go for first.
Really good audio books add something special extra, bringing out the best of the characters. In this case a slightly staid audio version brings out the worst in the characters.
All in all, it's a light Victorian criminal amble. It has its moments but if this sort of story is your thing there are plenty of other better books to go for first.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A Nice Little Victorian Mystery
5 Feb 2002
Format:Hardcover
I love the characters in Lovesey's books! Thackery is a gem. You can just see him walking along in his bowler hat and black suit. This book goes into the life in the music halls that were popular in the Victorian era. Lovesey has a great sense of period, and that's what makes his books so entertaining. I am really enjoying this series. The mystery in this particular books isn't quite as good as the previous two in the series, but there is certainly enough to maintain your interest if you're a Victorian Mystery buff like me.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Great Victorian-era Mystery
21 Mar 2010
Format:Paperback
It's the late 19th century in London as the events of "Abracadaver" begin to unfold. We open on two sisters' argument over who's to blame for a trapeze act gone wrong, only to find their act had been sabotaged through no fault of either sister. It is soon discovered that this is not the only act of the old music halls that has succumbed to sabotage, there seems to be a dark practical joker on the loose, and his theatrics seem to know no bounds. After one of the joker's antics proves fatal, Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray of Scotland Yard are called in to catch the now murderous and always elusive villain.
Through excellent descriptions and detail, this fast paced, fun, and intriguing novel takes the reader straight back to London's streets and music halls of the late 1800's. Follow Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray as they attempt to solve another great Victorian-era mystery.
Through excellent descriptions and detail, this fast paced, fun, and intriguing novel takes the reader straight back to London's streets and music halls of the late 1800's. Follow Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray as they attempt to solve another great Victorian-era mystery.
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