Sunday 12 January 2014

Compulsive Reading?


A few weeks ago, I was lent a book *The Various Haunts Of Men* by Susan Hill, an unknown to me, authoress.
It was, I suppose, a detective story and I don't normally go for this type of book. However, this was a detective thriller with a difference. By the time I'd finished it, I was completely hooked and found out that this was the first of a series of the detective, Simon Serailler, books. I had to have the next one and to read them all in sequence because each book had reference to the last and many of the characters were the same.

So what was it that made this book different from the usual detective stories that I'd avoided up until now?
I would say that I was urged to read on in a tantalising way. There were several main characters involved and different chapters told the perspective of one or other of these people who all had a communal part in the story. So I was whizzing through to find out what happened to each of these characters and the book was teasing me on all the way through.

There was something about Simon Serailler that was very human as he was a family man and was very involved with his sisters, niece and nephew and his mother but was a bit estranged from his brother and father. By reading these books, his family became very much a part of the stories and I found I could identify with a lot of the family storyline.
Apart from the huge amount of crime in the small, fictional cathedral town of Lafferton, (and there has to be an exciting story line to keep the reader happy) much of the portrayal of Simon's life style was credible and the stories, though some of them were a bit gruesome, came under the thriller title and made compelling reading, I thought.
Anyway, I'm well onto my fifth book in the series and still feel I want to read more.
Anyone else hooked?


18 comments:

Rosaria Williams said...

When each of my children went to college they brought home different books that they read in their English classes. Curious, I began to evolve my taste for literature by reading their books and hearing my children's comments on them. Yep, we need a nudge to try new things now and then.

Wisewebwoman said...

I checked it out on GoodReads, Maggie:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37040.The_Various_Haunts_of_Men where it has a high score.
On my list.
XO
WWW
PS Long time since I heard the word "authoress" :)

Hilary said...

Like you, I've never been keen on detective stories. Maybe this will be a first for me also.

Celia said...

I'll have to give it go. Thanks, blogging is a great way to get new book ideas.

dianefaith said...

Thanks for the tip, Maggie. I love to find new books, especially a series. Have you read the Inspector Gamache books by Louise Penny? Those need to be read in order, too.

mrsnesbitt said...

One of my resolutions for 2014 is to use our mobile library every Monday so I'll be making a list of these Susan Hill books tomorrow. I think I have read one of hers before.

Mimi said...

I don't like detective books as I find them too gruesome, but admire you for extending your genres.
It is great, though, when you find an author (or authoress) that you like and when several books in the series are good.
Enjoy!

Jackie said...

Thank you for the information about the book; I'm going to see if I can get it and read it, Maggie.
Love,
Jackie

Anonymous said...

It sounds really good, Maggie.

I've never been too keen on reading detective books, would much rather watch them on TV. But I bought a series of books written by Chris Longmuir - The Dundee Crime Series, and they're very good. I was hooked whilst reading the first one.

CJ x

Rose said...

This is just the kind of book I love! When I find a mystery series that I enjoy, I go back to the first one and read them all. To me, it's the characters that are most important; if they're likable, it doesn't matter what kind of mystery is involved. Deborah Crombie is my latest "find," and I'm hoping to read the rest of the series in the next couple of months so I can read the newest one that just came out. I'm not familiar with Susan Hill, but will have to check her out.

Beryl Ament said...

I've read several of her books. I love detective stories and thrillers. I go to the library and grab books on the new books shelf. If I like them, and if they are new to me, I go back and read earlier books by the same author. I also agree with Rose about Deborah Crombie. Not all detective books/thrillers are gruesome and many have interesting psychological twists.

Sally Wessely said...

I'd say you are really hooked now. I'm glad you are enjoying these books. Read on...

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

That's a new one to me Maggie, but I shall put it on the list.

Akelamalu said...

Mmmmm sounds like the type of book I would enjoy.

Secret Agent Woman said...

I've not heard of that author, but I'll look for it at the library.

Brian Miller said...

nice...sounds like a pretty cool series....i have heard the name of the author but i am unsure if i have ever read any....will check it out....

Anonymous said...

I've heard of Susan Hill - I think it's time to give her a try!

Suburbia said...

There's nothing better than having a thoroughly absorbing book on the go!