tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post207782151363512678..comments2024-03-28T10:31:55.774-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: Sleuths Adrift: Harbour Street (2014), by Ann CleevesThe Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-89400529157217228582014-04-01T13:25:27.960-07:002014-04-01T13:25:27.960-07:00I feel dampened about the Perez series because I g...I feel dampened about the Perez series because I got the fourth book "spoiled" for me. Harbour Street is about 380 pages as I recollect, but it uses quite large print so is "only" about 100,000 words, I think. Longer than the typical classic mystery, but shorter than a lot of the modern-day behemoths.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-13826641968312322522014-04-01T13:03:33.947-07:002014-04-01T13:03:33.947-07:00I have not read this series, but I have read some ...I have not read this series, but I have read some of the Inspector Ramsay series and two of the Jimmy Perez series. I liked both. The Jimmy Perez series is really good. I plan to read the first in the Vera Stanhope series soon (The Crow Trap). It is a big think one... over 500 pages I think.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-73222506450802091222014-04-01T11:35:40.630-07:002014-04-01T11:35:40.630-07:00Well, Sergio, it's only fair to add that the r...Well, Sergio, it's only fair to add that the reviews I've seen for the book have been positive without qualification. Though these comments from a Telegraph interview with Cleeves that I just found make the same point (more harshly), even about the television series:<br /><br />colinvar • a year ago<br />"The Vera Crime Series"<br /><br />Having watched the first one, I came to the conclusion that none of her cases would have resulted in a conviction because of her modus operandi - gold dust for defence lawyers. Vera would have been carted away by the folk in white coats. <br /><br />millyb colinvar • a year ago<br />I also find Vera difficult to watch as its so utterly unbelievable re procedures <br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9912245/Ann-Cleeves-interview-for-Shetland.html<br /><br />I'm going to try to watch Season 1 and blog about it next week!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-48057654104800011852014-04-01T07:58:33.685-07:002014-04-01T07:58:33.685-07:00I've only watched the TV adaptatiosn so far, b...I've only watched the TV adaptatiosn so far, bith of which have been impressive - this is perhaps not the one to start with by the sound of it Curt ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-51181362243697368882014-03-31T23:34:27.667-07:002014-03-31T23:34:27.667-07:00I just ordered the first Vera set and will be inte...I just ordered the first Vera set and will be interested in seeing it. I must admit I found Harbour Street somewhat frustrating. Some very good parts, but I also found myself getting irritated with Vera and her snap judgments of situations and people. She judged at least two men in the book basically as contemptible characters and I just wasn't seeing it like she did.<br /><br />There's another part where she and the head of the women's shelter have a good chuckle when the latter woman wonders if some men are pricks because they were bullied in school or if they were just bullied because they were pricks. I thought, wow, Vera's empathy is coming up pretty short for socially awkward boys!<br /><br />On the other hand, I found myself quite interested in the character and wanting to read more about her. I'm anxious to see Blethyn's take on her as well.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-63116244756429244072014-03-31T15:55:17.567-07:002014-03-31T15:55:17.567-07:00I haven't read any of the Vera Stanhope novels...I haven't read any of the Vera Stanhope novels, but I've certainly been enjoying the television series. It's something quite different, focused heavily on the character of Vera herself and her interactions with her co-workers. As you note, Vera relies on intuition and "feelings", and honestly it's hard to understand how she ever got to the rank she has, but Brenda Blethyn makes her believable. You're spot on with your comment about there being less time to think about things on television and thus incredible coincidences are glossed over; I may have to pick up the novels just to see whether the lack of Blethyn's tremendous acting skill makes a difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com