Daily Express, June 16 2006
'A delicious black comedy...a clever story of obsession and revenge, with a spectacular final twist'
Book Description
The eagerly awaited new novel from the bestselling author of CHOCOLAT
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Gentlemen and Players is a wonderful book which convinced me that nobody does plots, intrigues and denouements better than Joanne Harris. On the face of it, this is a straightforward story, of the jealous son of a pirvate school caretaker, who infiltrates himself into the school by stealing bits of uniform and surruptiously taking part in sports and games, and later lessons. However, this turns out to be a tale of high drama, as a number of years later, the school suffers various calamities which threaten its very existence.
The characters are very well drawn - Roy Straitley, the aging classics master is perhaps the key character and so much of the story revolves around his slightly embittered and cynical personality. Roy has seen it all before, and yet events take even him by surprise and he turns out to be a key player in the unfolding drama. But all the characterisations are strong, and several weeks after reading the book, I find it easy to remember the parts played by the various "gentlemen and players".
This is a "mystery" book - at its core is a complex story with an unpredictable ending. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great story, and the feeling of being so absorbed in a book that you want to go on reading it at a single sitting.
The characters are very well drawn - Roy Straitley, the aging classics master is perhaps the key character and so much of the story revolves around his slightly embittered and cynical personality. Roy has seen it all before, and yet events take even him by surprise and he turns out to be a key player in the unfolding drama. But all the characterisations are strong, and several weeks after reading the book, I find it easy to remember the parts played by the various "gentlemen and players".
This is a "mystery" book - at its core is a complex story with an unpredictable ending. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great story, and the feeling of being so absorbed in a book that you want to go on reading it at a single sitting.
70 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was recommended this book by my wife who has read all of her books! Eventually I took up the challenge and was completely absorbed by the brilliant characters! The book is written from a dual narrative perspective and manages to switch from one to the other without losing the thread - it is a real testament to the quality of the writing that I was desperate to find out what was going to happen from both narrative views. Add to this the fact that the book has unexpected developments that hit you at precisely the right time and have you thumbing back through what you've read for clues. I read this book incredibly quickly and am still thinking about the way it all panned out.
In short this is an incredibly good book, very readable and keeps your interest at every page. It has a wry humour despite some extremely dark human behaviour!
I would recommend this book to anyone. I enjoyed it so much even though it made my wife extremely smug to be proved right! I now want to read her other books - apparently one is written from the perspective of a bottle of wine!! If she can pull that off then she is, indeed, an exceptionally talented writer!
In short this is an incredibly good book, very readable and keeps your interest at every page. It has a wry humour despite some extremely dark human behaviour!
I would recommend this book to anyone. I enjoyed it so much even though it made my wife extremely smug to be proved right! I now want to read her other books - apparently one is written from the perspective of a bottle of wine!! If she can pull that off then she is, indeed, an exceptionally talented writer!
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At first when reading this book, I believed it to be rather banal. However, this opinion soon changed after the first few chapters. The book draws you in as it takes you and the characters down a path of suspicion, away from the hinted truth. The ingenious twists and turns are what set this book apart from other thrillers. This grippingly inventive novel shows just how superb a writer Joanne Harris truly is.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Book
I've read most Joanne Harris books and this is by far one of my favourites. I adore the setting, the characters and the twist. Brilliant read.
Published 1 month ago by Blue Shoes
Best Joanne Harris I have read
I first encountered Joanne Harris in "Blackberry Wine". I had never before read such a whimsical, magical tale of slight mystery enveloped in such atmosphere and I loved it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Snuffycat
Compelling narative
I had not read any Joanne Harris before but I loved this. The novel is clever in its construction and delivery and the characters are well developed and believable. Read more
Published 5 months ago by RoverP
Revenge is sweet
A dark tale of revenge and very different to her novel `Chocolat', it was full of twists and turns but a little confusing at times because you often wondered who was speaking. Read more
Published 7 months ago by booklover
Excellent read!
Great book; lots of twists and very clever - would definately recommend. Have never read another book by Joanne Harris but will be looking for one now!
Published 9 months ago by Eloise
CLEVERLY DONE
Beware, St. Oswald's Grammar - so aloof and elite! Your downfall is being meticulously plotted, a series of scandals soon to threaten your very existence. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. D. L. Rees
One of best books I have ever read
Quite simply brilliant. I had no idea the twist in the end was coming. You can't help thinking of your own school days when you read this story!! Thoroughly enjoyable.
Published 9 months ago by JMD
Gentlemen & Players
I had read, and enjoyed, this book some years ago and recently re-read it as our monthly book club choice. Read more
Published 10 months ago by S Riaz
Come on Pinchbeck, Fac ut vivas, Live a little.
This cleverly and deviously constructed novel manages to withhold it's final delicious twist until just before the end. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Eileen Shaw
Had to re-read it immediately
There were so many twists and turns, and I had to re read it immediately to see how Joanne Harris had cleverly hidden things. Definitley recommended it.
Published 12 months ago by katiewoky
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