The Thirteenth Coffin

by Nigel McCrery | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 1784298816 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingPlum-crazywing of Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on 12/11/2017
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Journal Entry 1 by wingPlum-crazywing from Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 11, 2017
Stretching along the shelf, standing upright, were twelve wooden coffins. Nine were closed, and three open . . . with little dolls standing inside them . . .

It was supposed to be the most special day of her life - until the unthinkable happened. Leslie Petersen is shot dead on her wedding day. With the bride's killer vanished without a trace, the investigation into the murder grinds to a halt before it's even begun.
But then, the decomposing body of an unidentified homeless man is found in an old Cold War bunker, and DCI Mark Lapslie makes a bizarre discovery. Hidden near the body is a shrine full of miniature wooden coffins. Each coffin contains a little doll, all dressed differently. One of the dolls is dressed as a bride - could this be a link to Leslie's murder? And if so, who do the other dolls represent? Can Lapslie and his team stop the countdown of the 'dying dolls' before it's too late?

Journal Entry 2 by wingPlum-crazywing at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 8, 2018
Earmarked for taking on my jollies, & if it does go with me, it won't be coming back! It will be released somewhere in Florida, so if you're reading this PLEASE let me know where you found it or how it got to you - it would be much appreciated :o)

Will up-date with review & actual release details on my return


Review
The idea of this book came from an actual event (Scotlands Minature Coffins) & the premise is that twelve wooden coffins are found in a cold war bunker, 9 closed & 3 open, the open ones with dolls at their side. One doll is dressed as a bride, &, coincidentally a bride has just been murdered, shot on her wedding day. DCI Lapslie believes the dolls are linked to the bride's murder....especially when the the doll is defaced with blood in a way to resemble the victim. So who do the other dolls represent? The race is on to workout who the remaining potential victims might be so they can be saved - & who were the ones in the closed coffins? I soon picked up (or guessed?) the connection between the victims & after another hint I was practically shouting the solution out - it seemed blatantly obvious!

This was a good storyline, a sort of hybrid of James Patterson & Richard Montanari. It had the easy reading pace of Patterson & the doll idea reminded me of Montanari without the grittiness or gripping quality of that author. Some parts were a little unoriginal or stereotypical, I'm thinking in particular of the conflict between Lapslie & his boss, Rouse...but I guess that often happens in life!

I liked the way the story was told with flashbacks to the death of one of the "dolls", with the death being in keeping with the profession of the victim being a nice touch (something else Montanari would do!) The making of the dolls clothes from the victims actual garments was a creative but maybe not too credible touch, however it worked well within the context of the tale.

This is the third book I've read in this series & I'm still not really seeing the point of having Lapslie suffering from Synaesthesia. The frequent descriptions of the tastes of people do get a bit repetitive, after all theres only a limited way to describe somethings flavour eg: Colonel Parr invoked.."a taste if strong peaty whisky", "his voice tasted of a very peaty whisky" etc etc but at least it wasn't every time for every character. Surely there is another way to feature his affliction - could it not enhance his powers of deduction in someway?)

I'd also forgotten about Bradbury's relationship with an "ex" (really?) criminal but as she's breaking it off, I'll be interested to see how that goes. With his violent side already showing in their sex life, will this push him too far? I'll be happy to find out by reading more in the series.

Journal Entry 3 by wingPlum-crazywing at Rosen Inn (6327 International Drive) in Orlando, Florida USA on Saturday, March 31, 2018

Released 6 yrs ago (3/13/2018 UTC) at Rosen Inn (6327 International Drive) in Orlando, Florida USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Added to the bookshelf in reception


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