Every Friday Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Gillion at Rose City
Reader where you can share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
I’ve recently finished reading Gallows View by Peter Robinson, the first Inspector Banks book and have decided to read the series in the order they were written. The second Inspector Banks book is A Dedicated Man.
When the sun rose high enough to clear the slate roofs on the other side of the street, it crept through a chink in Sally Lumb’s curtain and lit on a strand of gold blonde hair that curled over her cheek. She was dreaming.
This opening doesn’t tell me much about the book. If I didn’t know it’s an Inspector Banks book I’d probably not bother reading much further. But reading the blurb encourages me to read on:
Blurb:
Near the village of Helmthorpe, Swainsdale, the body of a well-liked local historian is found half-buried under a dry stone wall. Harry Steadman has been brutally murdered. But who would want to kill such a thoughtful, dedicated man?
Chief Inspector Alan Banks is called in to investigate and soon discovers that disturbing secrets lie behind the apparently bucolic facade. It is clear that young Sally Lumb, locked in her lover’s arms on the night of the murder, knows more than she is letting on. And her knowledge could lead to danger . . .
Also every Friday Freda at Freda’s Voice hosts The Friday 56
These are the rules:
- Grab a book, any book.
- Turn to page 56, or 56% on your eReader. (If you have to improvise, that’s ok.)
- Find any sentence (or a few, just don’t spoil it) that grabs you.
- Post it.
- Add the URL to your post in the link on Freda’s most recent Friday 56 post.
From Page 56:
‘He was a fine man, good-tempered, even-natured. He had a sharp mind – and a tongue to match when it came to it – but he was a good man; he never hurt a soul, and I can’t think why anyone would want to kill him.’
‘Somebody obviously felt differently,’ Banks said. ‘I hear he inherited a lot of money.’
I’m pleased that page 56 provides information about the man in the title and provides an answer to the question of why anyone would want to kill such a good man. I haven’t read much more of the book so I’m still in the dark about the motive – was the man really killed for his money?
What do you think? Would you continue reading?
Hi there!
This is my sort of book. Love the black/white and orange colours of the cover.
Please, check out my #Friday56 and #BookBeginnings here: http://bit.ly/2vjOfbT
#TGIF!
Luv, Sassy x
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That cover sure is striking! Happy reading!
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Sounds good. I like to start at the beginning and read a series in order too. This week I have an urban fantasy – Midnight Curse by Melissa F. Olson. Happy reading!
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Peter Robinson…no problem. I would grab one of his books any time.
sherry @ fundinmental Friday Memes
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The Inspector Banks books are new to me, but I like the little bit I see here. Yes, I’d like to read more.
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It seems like I am the only one not reading a mystery this week. Ha! Hope you enjoy it. My Friday Quotes
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Sounds like a gripping read! Happy weekend!
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This is a good ‘un, in my opinion. It is a little slow to start, but the case is a really interesting one. And I like the way Robinson develops the characters. I hope you’ll enjoy it, Margaret; I know I did.
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I have read one book by him and enjoyed it.
This one looks good too.
Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
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I sure like the crisp writing and enjoy a new mystery series. Don’t you love it when you can start one knowing the other books are published and you don’t have to wait!
My Friday 56 from A School For Unusual Girls
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