I just finished reading this, and I enjoyed it very much. The writing style would put you in mind of a cross between Faulkner and Harper Lee, if they'd ever collaborated and written a crime novel! Some parts of it are a bit far-fetched though, for example the author being jailed for the murders. But it was the ending that I found most disappointing. I had guessed who the murderer was about 2/3 of the way through but it was still a bit of a shock to find that it was actually him, because there was absolutely no hint that it was him. And what was really galling was, there was no indication of any motive for him killing those little girls. There was no clue that he was an absolute monster. His interactions with the narrator were perfectly normal. I just would have liked a little more explanation about how the narrator came to realise that the sherriff was the murderer, and why the sherriff did what he did!What were other peoples thoughts on this?

Must say, Tel, I really enjoyed this one but the pace of it was really unusual.  There were long slow periods then all hell broke loose - the girlfriend's murder, the jailing - but there was something really mesmerising about it.  Now you say it, I guess there wasn't a real motive, but I did think that apart from that - and it's a big "apart from"! - the ends were quite well tied off.  I do so hate a story that doesn't finish! I did wonder at one point whether the murderer was going to be the narrator instead.  Or that friend he made in NY who worked to get him freed.  Or his friend - was it "Riley"? - back in his home town.  I did guess about two thirds of the way through like you, but I thought it ws really well done...Might read it again one day, look for more early clues!

annie130:

I did wonder at one point whether the murderer was going to be the narrator instead

Yes I found myself wondering exactly the same thing Annie, was there going to be some really bizarre twist where the narrator was actually going to be the killer! Maybe there are subtle clues buried in there somewhere that give more clues as to the motivation of the murderer that we missed first time round. MOH is going to read this next so I'll see if she comes to the same conclusion as us!

I really enjoyed this.  It seems to be given the tag "slow-moving" thriller in such a way that the slow moving is a fault but it was just right for me.  I am not normally a big fan of thrillers although I had my Patricia Cornwell, Ruth Rendell, Minette Walters phases and did enjoy them, however I thought this was so well written.  I loved the staccato-like narrative where he lists feelings, his environment etc. 

It didn't get overwhelming approval on the R and J discussion segment of their show last night which is unusual for them as they usually don't have anything negative to say about anything.  The author was on saying that he didn't want to set the novel in England as most crime/thrillers are heavily based on police procedure and focus on the crime or the mind set of the killer and I must say, I preferred this setting and he really succeeded in painting a very vivid picture of Augusta Falls - not a million miles from the small village environment I come from!!

Re the killer's identity, yes, I began to think that it was the narrator and was perhaps trying to convince myself about this for most of the novel and then I thought it might be Gunther's eldest son, distracted by the red herring Sheriff Dearing threw in with the note he left in the file "Where did the boy go after Jessup?".  I think I was dragged up all these dead ends because I thought it couldn't be the obvious suspect.

Anyway, thankfully, all these thoughts didn't distract me too much from a beautifully written tale and such a poignant one, that poor man had such a hard life.  The bit where Amelia and he are "apprehended" by the sheriff whilst they investigate the back of the pick up was hilarious - I didn't really think he'd arrest them but I suppose if I'd been up to similar tricks in my home village, I would have been locked up too!!

I've put the book on the mobile library so it will be interesting to see what other folk think - might be a "marmite" book again??

lovelytreez:

 The bit where Amelia and he are "apprehended" by the sheriff whilst they investigate the back of the pick up was hilarious 

I know, can you imagine being in that position!!! That sherrif who brought them in was a bit of a pr1ck wasn't he? Drunk on his own self-importance and authority I'd guess. But then again, this was late 1940s America, they were very moral back then and I suppose he must have seen himself as the guardian of public decency. Very funny bit though!

Telboy9999:

lovelytreez:

 The bit where Amelia and he are "apprehended" by the sheriff whilst they investigate the back of the pick up was hilarious 

I know, can you imagine being in that position!!! That sherrif who brought them in was a bit of a pr1ck wasn't he? Drunk on his own self-importance and authority I'd guess. But then again, this was late 1940s America, they were very moral back then and I suppose he must have seen himself as the guardian of public decency. Very funny bit though!

Erm, no Tony, I can't!!!!  And I think my village in the wilds of Tyrone would be almost as moral as Augusta Falls even now....

I really enjoyed it too, but agree we could have done with more info about the killer's motive.  I'd been warned to expect a twist at the end, so even though I guessed correctly about half way through, I didn't expect it to be him at the end (if that makes sense ).  I did have my suspicions about Joseph too, because his whereabouts at the times the murders were taking place always seemed a bit vague.  I had Reilly and the eldest Kruger boy in the frame at various points too, so all those red herrings worked!

i enjoyed this too but agree with all above, i wasn't expecting it to be the sheriff at all, as said before why? what motives? i thought it would be reilly or the kruger boy, was gripped with his life experiences/story though, falling in love with his teacher then losing bridget too. all in all i would recomend it !

Maybe it is the frame of mind I was in but I found this book profoundly depressing.....so much happened to that poor guy so young.  I could appreciate that it was really well written and a great storyline but I've swapped it on, can't imagine ever reading it again.

It is not that I don't like sad books - but this one seemed to have an air of unrelenting doom that almost made me dread picking it up.....

Helen

PS - I've just swapped it for a Precious Ramotswe book!! Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum!

 I've been desperate to read this thread but didnt dare until I'd finished the book.  

I really cant explain how much I enjoyed this read, I didnt guess the identity of the killer until around 10 pages from the end, which I was fairly pleased about because I hate working things out usually.  I agree that there didnt seem to be a motive, but I do think if we re-read the book we will pick up hints along the way.

I know this is classed as a 'thriller', and yes there are murders, but to me it is more of a 'coming of age' story.  Apart from the last few chapters, I dont think it fits the thriller genre at all.

What I did find thrilling was the excellent writing - the way we see Joseph develop into adult hood, the way all the events of his life form his character.  I loved the way that Joseph loved books and writing.

I thought every character was extremely well described, the Sheriff who caught them in the back of the truck was fantastic - I could see him in my mind.

Poor Joseph must have been one of the unluckiest characters I've ever come across though!

An unexpected excellent read, I admit that I wasnt sure whether I would enjoy it or not and am so glad that I read it.  I have another of his books on TBR and just hope it is as good as this one. 

I have just finished this book and I have to say I wasn't very impressed really.  I think it was so well written and I had no idea who had done it until the last two chapters of the book, but I found it a little laborious at times and skim read huge chunks of it.  I was interested in the story and how it would progress but it was too slow for me.  The pace as someone else said was unusual because nothing would be happening and then suddenly the plot has moved on hugely - odd.  Not a keeper for me - straight onto swaps!  Must def be a marmite book!

I really enjoyed it.    I have to say that I much preferred the "country" parts to the "city" parts - I felt the book flagged when he moved into New York and I was dreading that it wouldn't pick up again but after his wife (? did they marry, sorry it's been a few months since I read it) got murdered the pace picked up again.

I had no idea who the murderer was until the end of the book which is most unusual for me as I have always read a lot of crime thrillers and can usually work it out.

Loved this book, He has a very different way of writing 'crime', cant wait for his new one to come out soon- think its called 'a simple act of violence'

michelleh83:

Loved this book, He has a very different way of writing 'crime', cant wait for his new one to come out soon- think its called 'a simple act of violence'

 

Michelle - it's called 'A Simple Act Of Violence' - I was lucky enough to get a review copy. I posted my review on Books Review thread.  I'm off to see Roger Ellory on Wednesday evening and hoping he will sign my review copy

 Finished this yesterday and have to say it is a good read...did guess who dunnit....but near the end.....and I do think in places it was similar to Stephen Kings IT....