The Stranger Diaries – Elly Griffiths

*This review may contain spoilers*

The Stranger Diaries is the first stand alone novel I’ve read from Elly Griffiths. I admit I was hesitant at first – not because I doubted Griffiths’ skill at all, but because I was worried that my loyalty to Ruth Galloway (from the Ruth Galloway series) would spoil it for me.

I am am so pleased I shoved that feeling to one side, because The Stranger Diaries is most definitely well worth the read. I would even go as far as to say that it would make a perfect introduction to Griffiths’ work.

The Stranger Diaries is a fantastic detective thriller, with a wonderful cast of well rounded and diverse characters. I’ve read my fair share of teen fiction, and it was nice to have a thrilling plot and a teen character who didn’t radiate teen angst and nothing more.

Quite often I find that crime fiction writers can become predictable – you can see how the plot will likely develop, you recognise the characters from their other work and you have a strong idea of who the suspect will turn out to be. I had none of these problems with The Stranger Diaries.

Strong writing mixes some great plot twists and dramatic killings, with softening for the main characters in all the right places. Of course about 3/4 of the way through I had some ideas of who the killer would turn out to be, and one of them was right! But rather than being being boring or predictable, Griffiths makes possible for it to be fun for the reader to have a guess, but still not actually know who it would be, right until the very end.

One of my favorite things about this book was Griffiths’ skill at making the right characters seem aloof and dodgy, and at the same time the right characters were also relatable and just like me and you – even their quirks, dreams and habits like keeping a diary. I mean, who hasn’t kept a diary of some sort at one time or another?

The pace of this novel was spot on – it allowed for plot twists and turns as well as character development. It didn’t stop me devouring it in 2 days though! I just couldn’t put it down – I was actually worried for the safety of the main characters and needed to know what happened next, and that they would be safe. That truly proves the skill of a good writer, when they can conjure such strong emotions for characters – people who don’t exist outside those pages – and literally keep the reader awake.

Over all this novel is a knock out and I would definitely recommend not only this book, but Griffiths’ other works to anyone wanting to try or are already fans of crime fiction.

The Ghost Fields – Elly Griffiths

When the novel you pick up to read during a weekend away is set during a heatwave in Norfolk, I bet your mind conjures images of a sunny beach, romance and flirty plot twists. Until you read the title The Ghost Fields that is.

Elly Griffiths’ The Ghost Fields is a novel which would suit readers who enjoy crime thrillers, or those with an interest in World War Two history or both. Griffiths’ offsets gripping, stark, intense and engaging drama with intrigue, seeming historically sound descriptions and a romantic subplot of unrequited love. It has been a long time since I read a crime thriller which is this well written, I simply couldn’t put it down.

The Ghost Fields is well paced, fast moving in all the right places, and slows to allow the reader to take a breath exactly when needed. Some moments in our heroine’s story hit some particularly dark places deep down, which many readers will be able to relate to. Equally there are some much lighter and less tense moments, which whilst they still carry an air of awkwardness; are a reflection on the development of the main character as both the reader gets to know her, and as she makes decisions which reveal more about her inner desires to her own self.

A few crime novels I’ve read in the past have fallen into the trap of being too focused on the hard facts and not enough on the emotional state of their characters. Books which include references to real events such as World War Two can often become too engrossed in the history and do not clearly link their relevance to the present day in the novel. The Ghost Fields has neither of these problems. As a reader with more interest in the crime side of things than the World War history, Elly Griffiths does well to bring emotion to the history and keeps it relevant to the modern day. Whilst there is just enough dramatic tension to keep you reading, without exhausting the reader.

At times it felt like I was left with more questions than answers, but by the time I had finished reading it, all the secrets had come out and the answers were supplied readily. Reaching the end was as satisfying as it gets for a book lover. All the I’s were dotted and T’s crossed. Granted, I didn’t necessarily get all the happy endings I wanted, but I had answers either way.

If you’re looking for a modern twist on a crime thriller to try, I’d definitely recommend you read The Ghost Fields.

Gone, Lisa Gardner

Gone by Lisa Gardner is a complex, thrilling and extremely fast paced novel. If you are trying crime thriller for the first time this would definitely be one to recommend.

Having said that this isn’t for the faint-hearted, Gardner works hard to include as many emotions as she does plot twists. Throughout the whole novel I had a suspect in mind- I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only does that say something about my terrible detective skills, but also it says a lot about Gardner’s ability to surprise her readers, and to confine the reader’s knowledge to what is necessary- trying to read between the lines did nothing to reveal the true criminal’s identity.

Going back to the pace, it was very fast- my advice to any reader giving this a go is to take your time, don’t read it when you’re very tired as you will miss interesting revelations and small details; also pay attention to the start of each chapter- every new chapter starts with a date and time-stamp which is crucial to keep in mind, when trying to keep up with the pace of events within the novel.

Gone is such a successful and compelling novel because it is so character driven. Rather than the requirements of the plot dragging the lead and supporting characters behind it; I very much felt encompassed by the array of lively and believable characters, Gardner very much fills the novel to the brim with supporting characters. Sometimes this technique is hard to pull off quite as well as Gardner does, it can feel crowded, but Gardner is wholly successful.

Descriptively again Gone is full to the brim, the emotions run raw and believable throughout and there is a brilliant mix of past and present tense; that keeps the current story alive and also gives the reader the character background they need, to feel more akin to the victims and supporting characters alike. There were so many plot twists and interesting facts littering each chapter than I couldn’t bear to put it down.

I really couldn’t find fault with this novel and if anyone is thinking of trying Lisa Gardner’s novels I say go for it- I myself am currently reading another of her novels- proof that I truly did enjoy reading Gone.

Inferno by Dan Brown

Following a suitably short, but none-the-less intriguing if rather stark and violent prologue, in the first chapter of Dan Brown’s Inferno, readers are greeted by a very confused Dr Robert Langdon; immediately readers are thrust into this latest fast-paced, nightmarish adventure. Having read many of Brown’s previous novels, being re-acquainted with Robert Langdon felt like meeting an old friend, familiar but new at the same time because it’s been a while. It was a lovely feeling which allowed me to immediately sink into the novel and I dare say other readers would feel the same.

Characters who initially suffer from amnesia or memory loss as Langdon does are fascinating, because there are endless scenarios, multiple possibilities which could explain how they came to be in that predicament. It is always an exciting adventure finding out exactly what happened; and in doing so Brown allows readers to indulge in making up their own answers, before the secrets are revealed. But of course painstakingly revealing secrets is Langdon’s (and therefore Brown’s) forte. Combine this literary technique with a rapidly changing pace and the inclusion of both long and short chapters, and you’ve got a novel which grips and pulls at a reader’s every sense and emotion.

As is my usual thoughts on Brown, Inferno is gripping, full of suspense, eloquently detailed (although some may feel it’s overly descriptive) and educational in a fun way. Art History has never been so appealing! In comparison to The Da Vinci Code I found Inferno somewhat darker in tone. This comes from the very nature of the possible impending threat, a topic which is very much at the fore front of the global political agenda, the nature of some of the characters and some quite shocking and stark violence within the pages. Whilst you hope never to be in Robert Langdon’s shoes, as a reader you get a thrilling and adrenaline-fuelled adventure to enjoy from your sofa, bed, bath or wherever!

In particular I must praise Brown for his ability to convey to the reader everything Langdon sees, hears and feels. There is a fluidity to the novel each revelation, clue cracked and new location appears sequentially with ease, again the change in pace and length of chapters assists with this. You do not merely have to be a spectator, Brown gives his readers the opportunity (through his literary prowess) to step into the novel and become Langdon, his companions and to an extent even his adversaries.  Inferno is full of plot twists and turns, cliff-hangers and extremely detailed and intriguing back stories, for characters whose role in the novel is often not fully explained or understood; until it is revealed at the very end. The deceptions revealed in chapters 81 and 82 in particular I found truly astounding- I never saw them coming! At one point I was so stunned I closed my book and just thought about what I had just read. The level of thought put into the concoction of deceptions such as Brown’s; if they truly exist in the world well… but each reader will make of that what they will, but it makes for very gripping and very entertaining reading

There is some repetition within the novel, and at times the amount of paragraphs given to describing the numerous places and countries Inferno involves can be distracting from what is an otherwise a well-established plot. One does wonder how much of the description is for the scriptwriters of the film, and how much is for the actual readers.

Overall I think it’s a good addition to the adventures of Robert Langdon. Fans should find it enjoyable to read but also those just being introduced to Dan Brown’s novels will find they can equally enjoy the novel without needing to have read any of his previous books. Despite the numerous negative reviews out there this series will always be one of my favourites and I will continue to buy Brown’s novels, simply because of the experience I get when reading them.

© Gemma Feltham 15 June 2014