by Nancy,
When I suggested this novel I was unaware it was part 4 in a series [sorry]. I am hoping this won't impact our understanding of the characters and story too much. Also, apologies for dragging you into my UK crime drama obsession haha.
The story is set on the east coast of Scotland and in Edinburg. As a storm rages and erodes the cliff face and houses fall into the sea, bodies are uncovered and a horrible crime scene is exposed [sounds pretty creepy].
The pivotal character in the series, Ash Henderson, is on hand to solve the mystery.
Some questions to think about as we read.
Is the story plausible?
So often this genre can be unbelievable, Stuart McBride is a very experienced crime writer, but do you think this could actually happen?
Are there any plot twists that you were not expecting or that surprised you?
There are two simultaneous investigations going being conducted in the novel, one is a whodunit. Did you guess who the perpetrator was?
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteI love all our new choices, Pachinko is huge, would you like to spread it over 2 months? Also I'm having trouble with posting the new titles on the blog argggg. will keep trying. hope you're all well love Nancy
Hi Nancy! Absolutely we can read Pachinko for November and December. Probably a good idea since those two months can be quite hectic over here. Maybe we finally hit the max on books allowed in the right hand column XD
ReplyDeleteThat being said I'm enjoying Coffin Maker despite not being finished and look forward to discussing it!
Hi Nancy!
ReplyDeleteHow are you? Things are going fine here. School starts next week. Benjamin is going to be quite sad about the end of summer but Lillian is thrilled at going to a new school. I’m not ready for the crazy week nights of homework, packing lunches, and studying. Plus both kids are going to do various activities on Saturdays. I never wanted to be one of those parents who has to rush from this sport thing to that sport thing, but here I am XD. O well.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I was pretty big into murder mysteries when I was in Uni but haven’t really gotten into one in a while. I enjoyed how Mr. MacBride’s novel was fast paced and no slow lulls. While a bit over the top, I really enjoyed Ash Henderson. So much that I checked out if he was in any of the other novels by Mr. MacBride, before I read your little intro that stated that. Haha. I am game for reading the rest of the Oldcastle novels if you would like to. I think I would enjoy finding out how Ash meets Alice.
For your question about plausibility, I certainly think most of the story is plausible. The only exception I’d say would be about how fast the coast line was eroding into the ocean. It seemed exaggeratedly fast. I recognize that Mr. MacBride used it as a tool to create suspense and action but I just found the timing of the erosions that took the various houses off the land to be a bit ridiculous. But overall I enjoyed it. And there was the part where Gordon Smith merely got dragged into the sea with house. I felt he should have been punished more. Also I would hardly call shooting out his knee caps to be a punishment worthy of what Helen had in mind. That sounds kind of grim but after what was described as Gordon’s handy work, I think we can spare a little extra gore toward him. I also felt it wasn’t “final” enough. Ash survived his multiple “deaths” in this novel, who’s to say that Gordon Smith didn’t make some miraculous escape? I would have preferred a level of dead that Leah received. Wow, not sounding any less grim.
I did appreciate that Leah was killed by Gordon in the end because it took the responsibility of punishment out of Ash’s hands. It was probably quite a gray area. On one hand, Leah was probably groomed and conditioned to be an object of evil by Gordon. On the other, she murdered Helen way to easily.
I didn’t have any idea who the perpetrator was going to be regarding the little boy strangler, so Kenneth was a surprise for me. And Alice’s accident was a surprise for me. When she wasn’t answering her phone, I thought for sure that Gordon had gotten her! I was glad she wasn’t harmed by him but I felt that Mr. MacBride probably lost out on a potentially exciting rescue scene. Regardless, I enjoyed this novel immensely.
Right before I got my copy of Coffin Maker, I was reading a book called “The Family Upstairs” by Lisa Jewell. It had started out so well and I was enthralled. Then halfway through it just sputtered out of steam and became quite disappointing. So I appreciate following it up with Coffin Maker which was far superior. Thank you for the excellent book, Nancy. If you want to continue your “UK crime drama obsession” with the rest of Ash’s story, I’d be happy to join you! Let me know. Looking forward to your thoughts!
Much love,
Katie
ReplyDeleteHi Katie,
Happy to hear all is well with you guys. It is such a busy time in life being the mother of growing children. I remember juggling after school sports and activities, working and home life. It is exhausting but enjoy it while you still have some control over them haha.
I found our story very atmospheric and enjoyed the wild stormy imagery. It was how I remember Scotland to be, I remember I always felt cold there.
I do believe I was at a disadvantage by not having read the previous books in the series, although the important information was translated. Shall I just mix the other Oldcastle titles into our list? I would also love to read this series.
I asked if we thought this story was plausible?
I agree with you about the timely erosion of the cliffs and I also found myself eye rolling at Ash Henderson’s super human strength and resilience escaping certain death on multiple occasions. Also, there was the coffin makers slip up in not ensuring Ash was really dead this seemed oddly remiss for such a precise killer. I think he needed a more gruesome and confirmed ending too. Who knows, maybe we haven’t seen the last of him!!
The second investigation I found much more realistic. It was such a tragic story, exposing the failings of so many systems, supports and organisations supposed to keep children safe. I didn’t suspect the killer until just before he was revealed, but in hindsight the clues were there.
So much happening all at once and I too felt swept along and read this story in a few days. I do love this genre though and am so happy you enjoyed this book and are keen for the rest.
I didn’t find many surprises in this story [maybe I read too many of them]. I was suspect on Leah McNeil and expected Gordon Smith to eventually turn on her.
The things that did surprise me though were Alice’s accident and the extent of her injuries and I did not expect Shifty to go along with murder. Perhaps if I knew his character better this wouldn’t have surprised me.
Bizarrely, with all the gruesomeness and horror going on I found myself more concerned for Henry the dog!! So glad they found him safe and sound .
p.s Just did some checking and there are only two previous Ash Henderson novels, sorry, I'll add them in.
ReplyDeletemuch love Nancy