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Not Andrew Taylor’s finest effort

Revisado: 11-06-23

Richard Thornhill plays a relatively minor role in this final Lydmouth novel. (But he is given a new backstory, which is necessary for the plot. But if you’ve read the preceding books in the series, his newfound history a bit disconcerting.) The novel lacks the well drawn secondary characters that populated earlier novels in the series. (Such as the vicar and his wife in An Air that Kills. I imagine it takes time to create engaging and believable secondary characters.) Less space dedicated to creating and fleshing out the secondary characters, while more space dedicated to dialogue. The dialogue is less engaging. For the example, Drake, Thorhill’s boss, relays to his wife the details of the case, while in bed. Their dreadfully dull conversation reminiscent of the dialogue in a 1940s movie, as is much of the other characters’ dialogue.
I assume the writer had lost his enthusiasm for the series. This being the last novel in the series, I imagine that he just wanted to be done with it. I assume that’s why there exists so much description, dull dialogue and a uninspired conclusion. I can’t blame him. But I would love to read another Lydmouth novel. At least the previous Lydmouth novel was satisfying. And Andrew Taylor’s stand-alone novels are deeply gratifying.

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One of my favorite Lydmouth novels

Revisado: 11-04-23

Perhaps Call the Dying benefits from the 3 years between it and Death’s Own Door, the previous novel in the series. In any case, I enjoyed this book. It devotes little time describing Richard’s tedious marriage or to the ups and down of his love affair. I miss some of the characters of previous novels, but that is to expected. Another local bites the dust, I will miss that cantankerous character. The crimes are believable, as is the process of solving them.
What I appreciate most is the tone of the narrator and his ability to convey the decency of the central characters. Well done

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Explains the Vietnam/American war like no other book

Revisado: 02-22-23

This review from 9 years says it all
“Worthy of the Pulitzer Prize, Great Listen”Rooster Cogburn • 9 years ago

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Enjoyed reading it more than listening

Revisado: 02-01-23

The narrator adds a sweat lilt to the story. Unfortunately that is not how imagined it sounding when I read the book years ago. I think I gave Paddy a harsher, more cynical voice. I prefer my rendition

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Well told/believable plot

Revisado: 12-26-22

Characters, plot, and motivations are believable, So like all the Andrew Taylor books I have read/listened to.

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Not the usual sympathetic characters

Revisado: 11-28-22

Enjoyable but… Usually by the end of Andrew Taylor’s novels I regret leaving the characters behind. Not the case with the characters in The Raven on the Water. Never bonded with the main character. Got to know him as a boy, but not very well as a man. I didn’t feel like I got to know any of the characters very well (with the possible exception of Barbara). For example we spend quite a bit of time with James’s sister - but by the end I’m left wondering why. What was her point?
I also didn’t love the narrator. There are a couple of instances in which someone is described as being difficult to understand, which the narrator over does to the point that it’s nearly impossible to understand what they are saying. If I was reading this book, I assume that I would have been able to read the words, while understanding that the speaker’s voice was garbled. Also his mimicry of some women’s voices tends to make them sound like little old ladies. Unfortunately I just listened to The Barred Window and loved the narration, so maybe just a tough act to follow

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Unlike any other Andrew Taylor novel

Revisado: 11-23-22

The narration is exquisite. A delicious plummy voice that convincingly embodies the character that narrates the story. I wonder if I would have enjoyed this book as much if I had read it.

I’ve read all of Andrew Taylor’s historical fiction novels, as well as the much enjoyed Bleeding Heart Square. Barred Window does not resemble those books; I wouldn’t assume it was written by Andrew Taylor. Except that I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, and did not doubt their existence. Like all the other Andrew Taylor characters I have been introduced to, I will miss the main character, Thomas. I suppose that what identifies this novel as an Andrew Taylor novel.
Most of this book does not appear to be a murder mystery, although by the end you realize that maybe it is. It is a character study of the narrator, his mother and his only friend. It lacks exciting scenes, but is so finely wrought, that I didn’t miss the lack of thrilling action. I regret that I will not hear Thomas’s voice again, especially when he recounts his wonderfully bitchy mother’s conversations. Well done.

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Characters are well developed

Revisado: 11-19-22

As usual, Andrew Taylor creates sympathetic characters that you want to succeed, or at least not get hurt. Also as usual is a believable story driven by believable characters. The story (or stories, as the 2 main character have a sub story) is compelling. Narration voices are well done

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Wonderful Narration

Revisado: 11-09-22

The erudite voice of the narrator contributed mightily to my enjoyment of this novel. I listened to this book because I’d read or listened to all the historical novels of Andrew Taylor. The more modern main character in this book quite different from Andrew Taylor’s main characters, but equally enjoyable.

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Well told story of Custer and Sitting Bull

Revisado: 02-03-22

I found this book entertaining and informative. The writer provides a nuanced view of what happened on the Little Big Horn, as well as events leading up to it. It helps to have the excellent maps from the book. I downloaded the ebook, screen captured the maps so I could refer to the maps as I listened to the book

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