After the Armistice Ball
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Product Description
Review
"* 'McPherson's refreshing debut introduces the captivating Dandy Gilver... memorable supporting characters plus vivid descriptions enhance a compelling mystery' Publishers Weekly, starred review * 'Perhaps the time has come for contemporary Scottish crime fiction to lighten up. Tartan noir has reigned unopposed for too long. Tartan tweed might give it a run for its dirty money.' Scottish Daily Mail"
Publishing News
The new star of Scottish crime writing. Highly praised, the Dandy Gilver series is one to watch.Author tour on publication.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Catriona McPherson has created, in Dandy (short for Dandelion) Gilver, an endearing character. Dandy - married to boring old Hugh who is more keen on his huntin', shootin' and fishin' than paying his wife the attention she so obiously seeks - is bored to tears. This leads her into a new life as an amateur sleuth which starts as a mild diversion (her household runs on wheels well-oiled by butler, cook and maids a'plenty) but which becomes increasinlgly more important to her as the story unfolds.
Although there are some minor flaws, one being a definite loose end left untied, the possibilities for a series are there. The author has managed to capture the essence of the 1920s - she even knows that the term "weekend" wasn't use in high places; one was always invited to stay from "Friday to Monday."
I would have liked at least one sub-plot and a little more background colour - dinner parties, conversations between butler/cook. Perhaps this is a draw-back of the first person narrative: the narrator-only viewpoint. Overall, a good first novel.
Although there are some minor flaws, one being a definite loose end left untied, the possibilities for a series are there. The author has managed to capture the essence of the 1920s - she even knows that the term "weekend" wasn't use in high places; one was always invited to stay from "Friday to Monday."
I would have liked at least one sub-plot and a little more background colour - dinner parties, conversations between butler/cook. Perhaps this is a draw-back of the first person narrative: the narrator-only viewpoint. Overall, a good first novel.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a Scotland lover I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, with its mentions of Highland country life, and was intrigued as the scene was set. However, this rapidly led to frustration: first at having to wade through the author's pet technique of using elaborate similies to describe any event, however trivial, and then at the plodding 'plot'. Although Dandy is a quirky character, I wanted more than pages and pages of her thoughts (and those of her sidekick) processing and repeating facts and ideas about the crime. After her first visit to Galloway any action seemed to cease completely, to be replaced by musings about murder and even more about those blessed missing diamonds. If you care about precious stones as much as some of the book's characters, then you might want to read on further, but be warned, you'll have to put up with a wildly far-fetched ending too. What a disappointment. Nice jacket cover though.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a pleasure to read. It's well-plotted; you can see some twists coming (so you feel clever) but there are surprises as well. The main character is an engaging personality; likeable, intelligent, and with enough depth that you feel you'll find out more about her as the series develops (lets hope there'll be sequels). And the writing is elegant and funny. Recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Well plotted mystery
Dandy Gilver is asked to look into Lena Duffy's claims that her diamonds were stolen at an Armistice Ball. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Damaskcat
Amateur sleuth too strong of a word for Dandy Gilver
I loved the book cover. I loved the wit of the author and how she had her "sleuth" that really is the worse amateur, look at the world and herself with sarcasm and irony. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Luthien Arnatuile
An exciting new discovery
I took a gamble and bought this book by (to me) an unknown author after an Amazon recommendation and it paid off! Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2010 by Jill Besterman
Fluffy fun but not a 'keeper'
A light and easy way to pass an hour or two, but overall I was a bit disappointed. The setting, after the Great War, is quite well done, and the characterisation started off well,... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2009 by snowqueen01
Disappointing - and unnecessarily 'wordy'
I've been looking for another 'character' for my afternoon read now that I've ready all the MC Beaton books.
I had high hopes of this being it.
No. Read more
I had high hopes of this being it.
No. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2009 by Grumbleguts
Jolly Good Read!!
I bought this book because I saw a picture of a book cover that I liked the look of, it happened to be the 3rd one of this series of books, and I thought I should read the others... Read more
Published on 7 April 2009 by A. Lucas
After The Armistice Ball
Excellent writing with an interesting, likeable heroine. It's also good that the author does not tell us everything about this woman in the first book, lending the first person... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2008 by Rich
Haunting sense of time and place
I wish I'd written this book. I kept having to remind myself that this novel was written recently by a modern woman rather than its 1920s narrator. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2008 by Mrs. B. Salter-Murison
A topping mystery
This book is a delight and I look forward to reading others by Catriona McPherson. My tastes in crime fiction are eclectic, the only essential is fine writing and this prose is... Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2008 by L. Mumbray-Williams
Very disappointed
I picked up on this new series of crime from 'Book and Magazine Collector' where it had been recommended.
I was SO disappointed in the book itself. Read more
I was SO disappointed in the book itself. Read more
Published on 14 May 2006 by Nicholas Peacock MA
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