Two things about Five attracted me immediately: the geocaching angle which I had never come across before, and the setting of Salzburg, Austria. I knew a little about putting map coordinates into a cell phone in order to go on "treasure hunts" so I knew that this could certainly add a cat-and-mouse quality to the investigation, and it does. The pitfalls of following the coordinates? The police can become so focused on the search that they forget to try to get ahead of the killer in order to stop the murders. Kaspary is aware of this danger, but the clues are few and far between.
Yes, I did like this investigation. A lot. Not just the geocaching, but watching how Kaspary and Wenninger work to find the killer-- all the way to the final reveal of the killer's identity. I haven't been so surprised over learning whodunnit in a long time, although hindsight proved that I should not have been. From time to time Archer gets bogged down in the details and it slows down the story, but it's still an enthralling read.
If you're the type of reader who prefers police procedurals that focus on the investigation and have little to do with the private lives of the detectives, you may want to give Five a miss. Kaspary's background is integral to the story, and it's revealed slowly. The subplot involving her abusive ex-husband-- although crucial in showing us Beatice's character and what she has to deal with-- was the least palatable of them all, and it should be dealt with swiftly so it won't become detrimental to the health of the series. (Yes, I'm hoping to read more.)
Of the two main characters, I preferred Wenninger and would have loved to learn more about him, but Five is Beatrice's show, and we rightfully get to learn about her first. There's an attraction between the two that will be very interesting to follow in any future books.
Ursula Archer is a science journalist and an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Five is her first adult mystery, and I am definitely looking forward to more.
Yes, I did like this investigation. A lot. Not just the geocaching, but watching how Kaspary and Wenninger work to find the killer-- all the way to the final reveal of the killer's identity. I haven't been so surprised over learning whodunnit in a long time, although hindsight proved that I should not have been. From time to time Archer gets bogged down in the details and it slows down the story, but it's still an enthralling read.
If you're the type of reader who prefers police procedurals that focus on the investigation and have little to do with the private lives of the detectives, you may want to give Five a miss. Kaspary's background is integral to the story, and it's revealed slowly. The subplot involving her abusive ex-husband-- although crucial in showing us Beatice's character and what she has to deal with-- was the least palatable of them all, and it should be dealt with swiftly so it won't become detrimental to the health of the series. (Yes, I'm hoping to read more.)
Of the two main characters, I preferred Wenninger and would have loved to learn more about him, but Five is Beatrice's show, and we rightfully get to learn about her first. There's an attraction between the two that will be very interesting to follow in any future books.
Ursula Archer is a science journalist and an award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Five is her first adult mystery, and I am definitely looking forward to more.
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