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stephbookshine's review
5.0
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author and Farrago and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Dover returns, and for anyone who has read Dover One, he is just as bloody-minded and bloody amusing as before!
If you haven’t read the previous book, there is nothing to worry about as each plot stands completely alone, and there cannot be much character development when your main character is already as perfect(ly awful) as DCI Dover. Dover is a textbook reluctant hero who steadfastly refuses to even contemplate ‘coming good’, but somehow seems to muddle through his cases anyway.
The cases follow traditional mystery patterns, with a small pool of suspects and plenty of obscure clues and twists to the reader expectations. This particular case has the fascinating hook of the victim possibly being murdered twice, which really puts Porter’s odd investigative pair through their paces. Keen young MacGregor with his fancy ‘actual police knowledge’ and ‘logical thought processes’ is the perfect foil for his lazy, grumpy, greedy, arrogant, and sadly rather stupid superior.
I am thoroughly enjoying this murder mystery series and look forward to continuing in Dover’s morose foot-reprints for as far as he can be bothered to plod!
Chief Inspector Dover wasn’t very optimistic about his chances of solving the case after all this time. Most of his cases he never solved anyhow, but he belligerently attributed this to the fact that the sticky ones were always, unfairly, shoved onto him. There may have been a faint whiff of truth in this because the Assistant Commissioner (Crime) couldn’t stand the sight of him (this feeling was mutual) and ruthlessly pushed him out on cases which were located in the remote provinces, whenever he got the chance.
– Joyce Porter, Dover Two
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2019/12/31/dover-two-joyce-porter/
Dover returns, and for anyone who has read Dover One, he is just as bloody-minded and bloody amusing as before!
If you haven’t read the previous book, there is nothing to worry about as each plot stands completely alone, and there cannot be much character development when your main character is already as perfect(ly awful) as DCI Dover. Dover is a textbook reluctant hero who steadfastly refuses to even contemplate ‘coming good’, but somehow seems to muddle through his cases anyway.
The cases follow traditional mystery patterns, with a small pool of suspects and plenty of obscure clues and twists to the reader expectations. This particular case has the fascinating hook of the victim possibly being murdered twice, which really puts Porter’s odd investigative pair through their paces. Keen young MacGregor with his fancy ‘actual police knowledge’ and ‘logical thought processes’ is the perfect foil for his lazy, grumpy, greedy, arrogant, and sadly rather stupid superior.
I am thoroughly enjoying this murder mystery series and look forward to continuing in Dover’s morose foot-reprints for as far as he can be bothered to plod!
Chief Inspector Dover wasn’t very optimistic about his chances of solving the case after all this time. Most of his cases he never solved anyhow, but he belligerently attributed this to the fact that the sticky ones were always, unfairly, shoved onto him. There may have been a faint whiff of truth in this because the Assistant Commissioner (Crime) couldn’t stand the sight of him (this feeling was mutual) and ruthlessly pushed him out on cases which were located in the remote provinces, whenever he got the chance.
– Joyce Porter, Dover Two
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2019/12/31/dover-two-joyce-porter/
pvn's review
3.0
This is good, and better than Dover One. Written in the 60s, the main character pretty unlikable, which is unusual for a fictional inspector. But he is a "character" and we get to know him a little more here. The author has a pretty good writing style, which helps things along.
I really appreciate the copy for review!!
I really appreciate the copy for review!!