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Product Description
Review
`With vivid crime scene descriptions, a colourful cast of villains and some cutting police dialogue... engaging' --Irish Times, 30 June 2011
'Fun, fearsome and fiercely independent' --Sunday Telegraph, 3 July 2011
`La Plante invests the plot with a host of twists and turns on the way to an entirely satisfying climax' --Irish Times
'Fun, fearsome and fiercely independent' --Sunday Telegraph, 3 July 2011
`La Plante invests the plot with a host of twists and turns on the way to an entirely satisfying climax' --Irish Times
`The pressure and the tension mounts beautifully' --Daily Express
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to confess that this was the first novel I have read from this author, though I have watched and generally enjoyed her TV crime series 'Trial and Retribution' and - especially - 'Prime Suspect'.
The lead character is a female DCI whose boyfriend was a murder victim shortly before the timeframe of the novel opens. She has refused compassionate leave. New to her rank, her DCS (a former lover, who was responsible for her promotion) is trying to ease her into her new responsibilities gently, starting with a straightforward, open-and-shut case, followed by the case which is the core subject of the novel - a missing person case which looks as though it may turn out to be rather nasty - and in due course it does exactly that. In these circumstances I'd expect to feel at least some degree of empathy with the character, but that didn't happen. I certainly don't see myself as misogynistic, or even sexist, but I found myself disliking her.
A central element of the plot is the emerging Jekyll-and-Hyde personality of the 'missing person' but - for me, at least - the initial character portrayal is so sympathetic that the emerging depravity fails to convince. It's very hard to believe that someone so universally well-liked for so long could turn into a seriously nasty Mr. Hyde unless he was in the grip of a severe personality disorder, and that's never even hinted at.
Overall, though, after a slowish start the plot chugs along quite acceptably, and some chapters could fairly be described as page-turners. Unfortunately, there's no grand finale; the narrtative just seems to wind down to a conclusion as the enquiry progresses. That no doubt happens often enough in the real world, but it's not what we expect in a crime novel!
The surprise referred to in the heading is the relatively poor quality of the writing. The sentences are very short, and there's little attempt to evoke atmosphere, which seems odd from an accomplished writer of screenplays. I'm no fan of the see-how-many-big-words-I-know school of writing, but this novel is at the other end of the scale, using only a fairly limited vocabulary.
In summary, it's an undemanding and at times quite enjoyable read, but it could have been so much better.
The lead character is a female DCI whose boyfriend was a murder victim shortly before the timeframe of the novel opens. She has refused compassionate leave. New to her rank, her DCS (a former lover, who was responsible for her promotion) is trying to ease her into her new responsibilities gently, starting with a straightforward, open-and-shut case, followed by the case which is the core subject of the novel - a missing person case which looks as though it may turn out to be rather nasty - and in due course it does exactly that. In these circumstances I'd expect to feel at least some degree of empathy with the character, but that didn't happen. I certainly don't see myself as misogynistic, or even sexist, but I found myself disliking her.
A central element of the plot is the emerging Jekyll-and-Hyde personality of the 'missing person' but - for me, at least - the initial character portrayal is so sympathetic that the emerging depravity fails to convince. It's very hard to believe that someone so universally well-liked for so long could turn into a seriously nasty Mr. Hyde unless he was in the grip of a severe personality disorder, and that's never even hinted at.
Overall, though, after a slowish start the plot chugs along quite acceptably, and some chapters could fairly be described as page-turners. Unfortunately, there's no grand finale; the narrtative just seems to wind down to a conclusion as the enquiry progresses. That no doubt happens often enough in the real world, but it's not what we expect in a crime novel!
The surprise referred to in the heading is the relatively poor quality of the writing. The sentences are very short, and there's little attempt to evoke atmosphere, which seems odd from an accomplished writer of screenplays. I'm no fan of the see-how-many-big-words-I-know school of writing, but this novel is at the other end of the scale, using only a fairly limited vocabulary.
In summary, it's an undemanding and at times quite enjoyable read, but it could have been so much better.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've previously read a number of books by this author and usually enjoyed them, so pre-ordered this latest book.
A very brief basis to the story:
Ed Rawlings reported his son Alan as a missing person. Alan appears to have been a very decent, hard-working, studious man. Kind and thoughtful but shy; he kept himself to himself and didn't drink or use drugs.
Detective Chief Inspector Anna Travis heads up investigating his apparent disappearance - under the watchful eye of Detective Chief Superintendent Langton, who treats Anna as his protégée.
The investigation starts in Hounslow but extends to the surfing beaches of Newquay and other areas in Cornwall.
It took me a long time to get drawn into this story as I found it rather plodded along and was fairly long winded and drawn out. It didn't strike me as following the author's usual captive style of storytelling. However, if you stick with it until around 80% of the way through, it picks up and feels more like the author's previous works.
This is the seventh in the series featuring Anna Travis. Earlier books in order are:
Above Suspicion (2004)
The Red Dahlia (2006)
Clean Cut (2007)
Deadly Intent (2008)
Silent Scream (2009)
Blind Fury (2010)
Overall a decent enough read - I was going to allocate three stars but changed my mind and upped it to four as it did appeal far more in the closing chapters.
A very brief basis to the story:
Ed Rawlings reported his son Alan as a missing person. Alan appears to have been a very decent, hard-working, studious man. Kind and thoughtful but shy; he kept himself to himself and didn't drink or use drugs.
Detective Chief Inspector Anna Travis heads up investigating his apparent disappearance - under the watchful eye of Detective Chief Superintendent Langton, who treats Anna as his protégée.
The investigation starts in Hounslow but extends to the surfing beaches of Newquay and other areas in Cornwall.
It took me a long time to get drawn into this story as I found it rather plodded along and was fairly long winded and drawn out. It didn't strike me as following the author's usual captive style of storytelling. However, if you stick with it until around 80% of the way through, it picks up and feels more like the author's previous works.
This is the seventh in the series featuring Anna Travis. Earlier books in order are:
Above Suspicion (2004)
The Red Dahlia (2006)
Clean Cut (2007)
Deadly Intent (2008)
Silent Scream (2009)
Blind Fury (2010)
Overall a decent enough read - I was going to allocate three stars but changed my mind and upped it to four as it did appeal far more in the closing chapters.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
So yet again I have to abandon a book - this time about three quarters of the way through!
I have always liked Lynda La Plante's TV dramas, so I assumed that I was going to enjoy this book.
Unfortunately it is in my opinion, just a tedious endlessly long drawn out account of a missing person / murder investigation. Every boring little detail of the investigation is there, what Anna was wearing, the food the police ate, tiny details about people's appearance. I persevered so long because after all, it was written by Lynda La Plante, so I kept on hoping for some excitement or tension. But there was none.
In short, it was a book that was difficult to pick up and very easy to put down - a complete waste of time.Blood Line
I have always liked Lynda La Plante's TV dramas, so I assumed that I was going to enjoy this book.
Unfortunately it is in my opinion, just a tedious endlessly long drawn out account of a missing person / murder investigation. Every boring little detail of the investigation is there, what Anna was wearing, the food the police ate, tiny details about people's appearance. I persevered so long because after all, it was written by Lynda La Plante, so I kept on hoping for some excitement or tension. But there was none.
In short, it was a book that was difficult to pick up and very easy to put down - a complete waste of time.Blood Line
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Blood line
Excellent couldn't put it down Lynda never disappoints i have read cold heart cold shoulder cold blood these are all connected one character a great read make sure you buy all at... Read more
Published 5 days ago by claymijay
no body but a great story
Anna Travis is approached by a man whose son has gone missing. Eventually DCS Langton tells her to start investigating it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. J. Mackenzie
stop knocking this book pleae!!!!
I really must put in a good word about this book,as so many people have been disappointed with it.I found the storyline excellent and page turned it avidly. Read more
Published 5 months ago by appley
Bloodline
Saw this book on Amazon website, ordered it and was delighted with the speedy delivery. This is an excellent book - could not put it down, well worth reading.
Published 8 months ago by Jim
So boring!!
I found this book really hard work. Nothing really happens until the end. Anna is annoying the whole way through and there is not enough of Langton as he takes a back seat during... Read more
Published 8 months ago by chicken2000
Cold Heart
Sadly the worst Lynda La Plante has written.I'm not a lover of books set in the States so much so I failed to finish it. The first time ever.
Published 8 months ago by Tony G
Sorry Disappointed
I have read all the books in the Travis/Langton series and thoroughly enjoyed every one.Some more than others. Read more
Published 8 months ago by FIZZCOOKS
A bit disapointing
I have read all the books in the Anna Travis collection and on the whole really enjoyed them, however, i felt that Bloodline started off really good and it had me hooked from the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by goldie
How Much for Kindle
Considering the world is going green and we don't want to chop trees to make books and newspapers, I think the Kindle price has been created in a fantasy reality, akin with a Terry... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Meatius
Happy Reading
L.L.P. has done it again. Brill plot another book you cannot put down 'till the macarbe ending Yes! Anna Travis is back doing the solving under the watchful eye of J. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Berthablue
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