The End of the Wasp Season – The Review
Written by Nikki-ann on Sunday, 17 April , 2011 at 11:45 am
Author: Denise Mina
Publisher: Orion Books
ISBN: 978-1-4091-0095-9
From the back of the book:
“When notorious millionaire banker Lars Anderson hangs himself from the old oak tree in front of his Kent mansion his death attracts no sympathy. One less shark is little loss to a world nursing a financial hangover. But the legacy of a life time of self-serving is widespread, the carnage most acute among those he ought to be protecting: his family. He leaves behind two deeply damaged children and a broken wife.
Meanwhile, in a wealthy suburb of Glasgow, a young woman is found savagely murdered in her home. The genteel community is stunned by what appears a vicious, random attack. When DS Alex Morrow, heavily pregnant with twins, is called in to investigate, she soon discovers that behind the murder lurks a tangled web of lies. A web that will spiral through the local community, through Scotland and ultimately right back to a swinging rope hundreds of miles away.”
With great quotes on the cover from Ian Rankin and The Guardian promising an exciting read, I was looking forward to reading The End of the Wasp Season. However, I came away disappointed.
The book starts off with the thrill of moments leading up to the kill. The first chapter is tense and gripping, but I thought the story lost it’s grip from there. I couldn’t make up my mind… There were times when I thought the story was going slow and I didn’t find it engaging, but then at other times I found myself enjoying it.
This isn’t your conventional crime story, you know “whodunit” from the start and I found it lacking in twists & turns and cliffhangers. Maybe this is why I didn’t find it so exciting.
With an exception of DS Morrow and possibly Kay, I didn’t really warm to any of the characters either (although with this type of book I don’t think you’re supposed to). You don’t normally get a detective who’s pregnant with twins being the investigator in a brutal murder in crime thrillers. Morrow isn’t soft though, she doesn’t take any bull, though she does have her moments. All of the main characters are created well, you feel like you know them even if you’d prefer not to in some instances.
There are many story strands in this book which weave themselves together, but I was disappointed with the end of the book. It didn’t feel like the story was wrapped up to me. DS Morrow has featured previously in a Denise Mina book and I’m sure there’s more to come too. I’m slightly curious to read more about the DS Morrow character, but I might need some convincing to pick up another book. So, please let me know if you’ve read any of Denise Mina’s other books and what you thought of them.
Sadly, The End of the Wasp Season wasn’t one for me. Have you read it? If so, what did you think?
The End of the Wasp Season is out on 12th May 2011, published by Orion Books.
Denise Mina is a British author, born in Glasgow.
This is the 12th book I’ve read for the British Books Challenge 2011.
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Please note: I received this book free from Waterstones for review purposes. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.
Comments (5)
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Comment by Amused
Made Sunday, 17 of April , 2011 at 4:50 pm
I always hate that when you get so excited to pick up a new book and then it just doesn’t live up to expectations.
Comment by Yvonne
Made Sunday, 17 of April , 2011 at 11:33 pm
Hi Nikki-ann,
Sorry that you came away disappointed after reading this book, especially as you had such great expectations of it and to be honest, I had read nothing but good reviews about it.
To me though, reading is all about personal taste, so it would be quite boring if we all liked the same thing. You can only voice an honest, but personal opinion about a book, even if you have been asked to review it by the author, then just let other people make up their own minds.
I hope that your next book is a winner for you.
Thanks for recommending ‘The British Books Challenge’ to me. Unfortunately the registration date has long expired, so I shall have to wait and see if the challenge is repeated next year.
Comment by carol
Made Monday, 18 of April , 2011 at 9:07 pm
It’s a shame this one didn’t live up to your expectations. I had hoped to hear good things, since the premise sounded so interesting.
Comment by Becky The Bookette
Made Sunday, 24 of April , 2011 at 11:35 am
I’ll definitely pass on this one. It isn’t my kind of thing and it sounds like a disappointing read.
Comment by Lynn
Made Friday, 29 of April , 2011 at 5:11 pm
Thanks for a good honest review. It sounds interesting, pity it didn’t live up to the promise for you.
Lynn
