After reading two rather (for different reasons) demanding books I fell gratefully back into the arms of an author one can be confident of enjoying. Wolf Pear also had the honour of being first up on my all-singing and dancing Kindle Fire, a nice 60th birthday present from my work colleagues.
Dianne Gray can’t be pigeonholed. This book is, I guess, a detective novel with a large helping of paranormal. But equally as important as the detective is the well-drawn character Esther, superficially unattractive but with redeeming features that, compared to her awful family, make you want to cheer for a good outcome for her.
Early on in the story Esther is seen to dispose of a dead body (or was it dead?) in her garden and to hurriedly cover the dug area with tomato plants. Too rare in this book are Ms Gray’s excellent descriptions of nature seen to best effect in Let Sleeping Gods Lie. But in Esther’s yard ‘She flicked seeds onto the grass where crimson rosellas screeched like a thousand rubber soles on a squash court. Sugarcane fires to the south turned the sunset to blood. Silver heat blurred the fields in the distance‘.
Many miles away Detective JD Cusack sets off to find his brother’s killer. We quickly learn that JD has acquired, quite unwanted by him, extraordinary psychic powers. He is also hyper-sensitive to touch and to any objects with a history – buildings, books etc. These senses lead him northwards through Ms Gray’s native Australia, following the killer. A serial killer he soon realises.
Meanwhile Esther’s tomatoes thrive and grow to prize-winning proportions, leading to speculation as to her propagation secrets. Finally JD and Esther meet and all is revealed.
Excellent stuff as usual and one can’t help hurrying to the end. If I’m honest JD was a bit too gifted and weird to gain my sympathy, a bit over-egged, but maybe that’s me.
My only worry is that I’m fast running out of this author’s works and we must all hope her WIPs soon see the light of day.
Janna G. Noelle said:
Great review, Roy. 🙂 I really enjoy Dianne’s blog, and look forward to getting into her books later on this year as I work my way through my TBR pile.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Janna! Dianne deserves to be promoted in your TBR pile, never fails to entertain. Best wishes.
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Red Hen said:
Well, I`m engrossed in your Tess of Portelet Manor. It`s been a long while since a heroine has grabbed me so much that I`m diving into the book any chance I get. You can stuff your good descriptions. I realise from Tess that the important thing is to have a really good story to tell.
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Roy McCarthy said:
You’re very kind RH, thank you. Yes I enjoyed developing the story of Tess and the cottage. I couldn’t leave the story lie where I left it with ‘Midsummer’. I’m pleased you like it.
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debdundas said:
Thanks for the review, Roy. I’ll have to give her a go. I’m interviewing on stage Andrew Taylor next week. Do you know his work?
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Roy McCarthy said:
You must Deb, really. Dianne’s good. So many books, so little time though eh? I don’t think I know Andrew Taylor – is it for the Star?
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debdundas said:
Yes, it is. So an ‘official’ interview. He’s written more than 31 separate titles – the Roth trilogy, Lydmouth Series, etc., etc. I’ve been reading and doing research over the past few weeks … interesting reads.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Look forward to reading Deb.
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debdundas said:
Thanks, Roy… but it’s a live, on-stage thing. I think they post it up on YouTube after the fact …
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Roy McCarthy said:
Oo scary – though maybe not if you’re an experienced journo. Post up the link afterwards. Best wishes.
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debdundas said:
Will do, thanks.
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debdundas said:
Oh, and happy belated birthday (although I may have already wished you one ….)…
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you:-)
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diannegray said:
Thank you so much for the review, Roy. What a lovely surprise! 😀
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Roy McCarthy said:
Absolutely my pleasure Dianne.
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diannegray said:
Reblogged this on Dianne Gray author and commented:
Check out Roy’s review on his blog page Back On The Rock 😀
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Jill Weatherholt said:
Great review, Roy! Dianne is great and so funny. This book sounds like a real page turner. Her books are in my mountainous TBR pile.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Jill. That’s the only problem with Dianne’s books, they’re not long enough 🙂
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nrhatch said:
I love Dianne’s “way with words.” Enjoyed your review.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you! Indeed Dianne has a great grasp of imagery, but her storylines march on straight through. Thanks for commenting.
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Kozo said:
Great review. I agree that Dianne Gray cannot be pigeon-holed. She has more diversity than the “teach the world to sing” Coke commercial. I have not read this book yet, but I am putting it on my list just to find out what happens to those tomato plants.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Ha ha! Can I steal that line please? Thanks for the comment, she is indeed a treasure.
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justinwriter said:
Nice review and thanks for the description samples. 🙂
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Justin. Yes, her brilliant imagery is not so evident in this one, but I wish I could write stuff half as good.
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EllaDee said:
I love Dianne’s books, and blog. Your review confirms why Wolf Pear is on my list – I am eking out her novels – as you say “one can’t help hurrying to the end”, while she, I hope, is WIPing 🙂
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Ella. If you haven’t already you ought to read Dianne’s short story collection as well. She’s a master of those as well.
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harulawordsthatserve said:
Great review, especially your comments on the characters. I’ve read this and found it very engaging, as with all Dianne’s work I’ve had the pleasure to read so far. Maybe I’m slow, but I didn’t work out how it was all going to wrap up, well, until it did! kept me going until the end:-)
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Roy McCarthy said:
Harula you’re not the only one. At first I thought it was ‘x’ under the tomatoes then his body was found elsewhere and I was thinking ‘who the heck…’ right up to the end 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting.
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lexiesnana said:
Love Dianne Gray and now I will load this on my Kindle. Thanks
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Roy McCarthy said:
Good choice, you can’t get enough of a good thing. Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Maddie Cochere said:
Wonderful review! I’m a huge Dianne Gray fan, and am adding this to my “must-buy” list!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Good choice Maddie. You’ll look differently at tomatoes afterwards 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
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ocdreader said:
Very nice review! I have only read two of Dianne’s books so far, but I am savoring the remaining books because there aren’t enough of them! 🙂
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you for commenting OCD! Indeed Dianne’s books are like gold nuggets.
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Rohan 7 Things said:
Great review Roy! Having just finished The Everything Theory which I thoroughly enjoyed I’m looking forward to delving into Dianne’s work again and Wolf Pear sounds really intriguing!
Thanks for sharing, all the best 🙂
Rohan.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thanks Rohan. Yes The Everything Theory was intriguing for sure. Hope you enjoy Wolf Pear and thanks for commenting.
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A.M.B. said:
A Kindle Fire is a very nice birthday present! Wolf Pear sounds interesting.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Yes AMB – the old, basic one – once the wonder of the age – is now lying unloved in the corner 😦
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4amWriter said:
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading, especially if she does a great job on descriptions. I eat that stuff up! Thanks for the review!
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Kathryn, though Let Sleeping Gods Lie is the one for Dianne’s awesome descriptive work. Thanks for the comment 🙂
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roughwighting said:
Great review! I enjoy Diane’s blog, and her book sounds enticing.
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Roy McCarthy said:
Thank you Pam! Dianne’s books are as entertaining as her blog, rush out and buy one. Thanks for the visit and comment.
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