Interesting take on a hero

Is a hero an antihero just because he’s unlikeable? The detective here is weak, adulterous, lying and, in the end, pretty rubbish at identifying the killer who was pretty obviously mad from the start.
Having said all that, I didn’t not enjoy the book but I can’t really decide why 🤷🏼‍♀️

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1 person found this helpful

Another rewarding read from Miss Ellis

I have been a fan of Miss Ellis for several years having read all her Wesley Peterson novels so was looking forward to her new venture. This time I decided to go for the Audible version, unfortunately this was a mistake. The story line is very good but I find the narrator has a habit of over emphasising the last syllabal of the vast majority of the words which is so very annoying. This has spoilt the novel for me but because I have started I will listen to the end but very much doubt that I will go Audible again in this series which is a pity as in many respects Audible is a really enjoyable way of relaxing. I congratulate Miss Ellis on another excellent story and very much look forward to "reading" the next Albert Lincoln novel.

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1 person found this helpful

Excellent

Clever story with a surprising end. An excellent novel not just a murder story. Effective performance with excellent pace - really added to the experience.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent post war crime novel.

I don't know why this novel has been so overlooked by readers as it's cracking! Set in a small English village just after the First World War we follow the lives of the inhabitants in the wake of a series of murders. The description the author gives of aftermath of the war on the daily lives of the people is stunning and had me running to Google on more than one occasion to find out more. I'm not saying it's an edge of the seat gruesome who dun it because it's not rather it's a slow burner which pulls you in and gently reveals the clues and the red herrings at it goes along. It does have some twists but these were incidental as I was totally invested in the characters.

The only slight hiccup I found with the book was every so often within the narration the narrator would really emphasise the last word of a sentence when it wasn't needed but that aside I'm so glad I picked this gem up in the sale - BOGOF. I preferred this book to the one I paid for!

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3 people found this helpful

Pronounciation

I loved the story, the intricacy of the plot and surprises. Well written and entertaining. The accentuated end words became irritating unfortunately and spoiled an otherwise good story telling. For example the exaggerated 'T's 'at the end of a sentence. Sounds trivial but became annoying by the end of the book.

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historical stand alone crime

What made the experience of listening to A High Mortality of Doves the most enjoyable?

The story is a slow-burn style that unfolds steadily and creepily! Kate Ellis is known for a couple of crime series that are well-loved yet this reveals her strengths in a new arena. The story is set after 'WW1 and we follow a small community where there are repeated murders of women.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A High Mortality of Doves?

The twist at the end I did not see coming!

Have you listened to any of Peter Noble’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes I was totally caught up in the characters and who would be killed next. I was sure I had guessed right who the killer was -- wrong!!

Any additional comments?

I feel that this book is a credit to Kate Ellis and if you enjoy her other series, try this. It reveals a deeper use of psychological depth to her characters. Her creating of an atmosphere and ability to slowly reveal a small community with all its murky underside was also a strength.More please Ms Ellis!

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7 people found this helpful

I enjoyed this.

I enjoyed this prequel to the Boy who Live with the Dead which I had already listened to. The narration was good and kept me interested. I hopefully will listen to more by this author in the future.

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A well crafted and written crime thriller World War one

This is the first book I have read by Kate Ellis and I am delighted to have discovered her as an author. The pace of the book was excellent and how it subtly unfold, kept me wanting to return to the book to hear more. The characters were well developed and kept my interest, as did the plot. I loved the period detail which gave one a real insight into life immediately post World War I.

I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys crime thrillers that are well written in every aspect, historically, psychologically, with literary skill.

My slight disappointment was the twist at the end. Given how well the characters and plot with crafted and written, the exposure of the murderer seemed out character for that individual and slightly at odds with some of the information as to how that person had been portrayed That having been said, the ending of the book was true to itself and left one with a real sense of the story and the people that hung around for awhile, which is always a good sign of a good book well written. I’m looking forward to reading more of Kate Ellis’s books.

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dull, dull, dull.

I always read reviews and listen to the brief sample before I buy. The reviews of this book were pretty accurate with reference to the narration and the irritating stress of the final consonant. Nevertheless the narration was pretty good. The detective, as one reviewer put it, was a lying adulterer and an unlikable character. The book p!ods on only to be relieved by another murder or two or four. Just at the point where I nearly lost the will to live the book ends as if the author felt the same. Whenever a reviewer praises 'twists and turns ' in the plot I generally assume that
the author has come unstuck and has to invent something implausible to get back on track. With regard to being a best-seller, you can fool some people some of the time............... I would not recommend and am heartily glad that I did not pay full price as I am a pensioner and have to watch the pennies.

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