R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed Lost and Gone Forever (Scotland Yard's Murder Squad, Bk 5) on + 1438 more book reviews
This novel continues the search for Jack the Ripper from the previous novel in the series. Has he died? In addition, Walter Day, a skilled Scotland Yard detective, has been missing for months. What happens next? Highly competent assassins, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, are hired to track Jack whose murdering spree seems to be continuing.
As the tale opens, Day has been missing for a year but the author begins revealing tidbits about what is happening to him. Nevil Hammersmith is heading a private inquiry firm subsidized by Clare Day with the sole purpose of locating Walter. Assisting him is the intrepid Hattie whose purpose is to make the firm profitable by taking on minor cases to help pay the bills.
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Twists and turns keep action moving. Jack is murdering members of The Karstphanomen, a secret society that performs its own criminal justice. Since it had tortured Jack at one point, he is determined to eliminate those involved. Meanwhile, he has held Day captive and inflicted a form of mental brainwashing such that Day has forgotten who he is. When freed, he takes on a street existence. As he begins to remember his previous life, Day knows the danger Jack poses to those he loves.
The climax of the story occurs at Plumm's, a department store offering many types of goods and tea shops. This is Victorian London's dark side with a culprit like no other. Jack is bright, creative and always a few steps ahead of those who try to capture him, murdering anyone who could give him away. What happens to the characters and can they capture Jack? Read the novel to see how this talented author weaves his masterful tale.
As the tale opens, Day has been missing for a year but the author begins revealing tidbits about what is happening to him. Nevil Hammersmith is heading a private inquiry firm subsidized by Clare Day with the sole purpose of locating Walter. Assisting him is the intrepid Hattie whose purpose is to make the firm profitable by taking on minor cases to help pay the bills.
.
Twists and turns keep action moving. Jack is murdering members of The Karstphanomen, a secret society that performs its own criminal justice. Since it had tortured Jack at one point, he is determined to eliminate those involved. Meanwhile, he has held Day captive and inflicted a form of mental brainwashing such that Day has forgotten who he is. When freed, he takes on a street existence. As he begins to remember his previous life, Day knows the danger Jack poses to those he loves.
The climax of the story occurs at Plumm's, a department store offering many types of goods and tea shops. This is Victorian London's dark side with a culprit like no other. Jack is bright, creative and always a few steps ahead of those who try to capture him, murdering anyone who could give him away. What happens to the characters and can they capture Jack? Read the novel to see how this talented author weaves his masterful tale.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I've been reading and enjoying Alex Grecian's Murder Squad series since the very first book, The Yard. Grecian has created several marvelous characters, and it's easy to become irritated when you feel that they all aren't getting their fair share of time in the spotlight. And that can happen here. Points of view can change from one book to another as a certain character takes charge of the narrative. Relationships shift... and bad things can happen.
Bad things have been happening to Walter Day for an entire year. He's been held captive by Jack the Ripper, and if you're afraid that Lost and Gone Forever's gore factor is going to be too high for you, or that you just don't want to read scenes of torture, you can rest easy. Grecian does something much worse (in my opinion) than describing gore and torture: he lets your imagination fill in the blanks. Toward the end of Walter's lightly described time with Jack, Jack looks at Walter and makes the comment that he's broken his favorite toy. I don't know about you, but my imagination can fill in a lot of blanks with that one short sentence.
It's so tempting to talk more in depth about the plot of this book, but I don't like giving things away, so let's talk about more general things. There are quite a few plot threads in this book, and sometimes it seems as though they jostle each other for space. Did I find it confusing? Not at all. I just admired Grecian's ability to keep everything straight. Throughout the book, Claire Day was working on a children's story, and we were treated to excerpts from it. Something tells me there was supposed to be some symbolism there, but frankly the story almost bored me to tears, and I skimmed through those sections quickly. I probably missed something important, but I have yet to feel any real remorse.
I've always found Alex Grecian's writing to be very visual, very imaginative, and his pacing and characterization are wonderful. If you're new to this series, I do suggest that you start at the beginning with The Yard because, as I said earlier, characters grow and change, things happen to them, relationships shift... and that information will be invaluable in later books.
Be warned: these books read quickly, and they are very addictive!
Bad things have been happening to Walter Day for an entire year. He's been held captive by Jack the Ripper, and if you're afraid that Lost and Gone Forever's gore factor is going to be too high for you, or that you just don't want to read scenes of torture, you can rest easy. Grecian does something much worse (in my opinion) than describing gore and torture: he lets your imagination fill in the blanks. Toward the end of Walter's lightly described time with Jack, Jack looks at Walter and makes the comment that he's broken his favorite toy. I don't know about you, but my imagination can fill in a lot of blanks with that one short sentence.
It's so tempting to talk more in depth about the plot of this book, but I don't like giving things away, so let's talk about more general things. There are quite a few plot threads in this book, and sometimes it seems as though they jostle each other for space. Did I find it confusing? Not at all. I just admired Grecian's ability to keep everything straight. Throughout the book, Claire Day was working on a children's story, and we were treated to excerpts from it. Something tells me there was supposed to be some symbolism there, but frankly the story almost bored me to tears, and I skimmed through those sections quickly. I probably missed something important, but I have yet to feel any real remorse.
I've always found Alex Grecian's writing to be very visual, very imaginative, and his pacing and characterization are wonderful. If you're new to this series, I do suggest that you start at the beginning with The Yard because, as I said earlier, characters grow and change, things happen to them, relationships shift... and that information will be invaluable in later books.
Be warned: these books read quickly, and they are very addictive!
