The Fig Eater

by Jody Shields | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0552998656 Global Overview for this book
Registered by smallbluepebble of Ilford, Greater London United Kingdom on 4/17/2008
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by smallbluepebble from Ilford, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, April 17, 2008
Vienna, 1910. On a warm August night, the body of a young girl is discovered in the city's celebrated Volksgarten. She has been strangled. Using the latest forensic methods, the Chief Inspector of Police begins his painstaking search for the killer. He is not alone, however. His wife Erzsebt- a woman steeped in the folk tales and Gypsey lore of her native Hungary- becomes obsessed with the dead girl. In secret, she conducts her own investigation of the murder, guided by intuition, instinct and superstition.

Journal Entry 2 by smallbluepebble from Ilford, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, April 20, 2008
I spotted this one on someone's wish-list, and so took it along to the London Bookcrossing Convention for them.

Journal Entry 3 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thank you so much smallbluepebble!! I know I met you on the Friday night before I got the book and then I didn't see you again to say thank you in person :o( Really appreciate your thoughtfulness and looking forward to reading the book.

Journal Entry 4 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I finished reading this a couple of hours ago and I'm not really sure what to make of it yet. I really enjoyed the historical detail of the investigation - I had no idea that forensic science was so advanced in the early 1900s - and the period detail seemed very well researched. The investigation seemed slow by today's standards, or at least by today's murder mystery books and the lack of telephones in the home, let alone mobiles, made me very aware of the differences between then and now.

I also thought the way that the two investigations were conducted was interesting. The Inspector relied on forensic science and his "Kriminalistik", an altogether more logical approach while Erszebet relied on instinct and superstition and I rather wish that logic and science had won in the end. Perhaps that is what has made me unsure about this book. I did feel the ending was a little disappointing and the superstition perhaps just a little too weird for my tastes. Nevertheless it was well-written with interesting characters and plenty going on to keep me turning the pages.

I'm going to add this to the Mystery/Thriller VBB on BCUK Extra when I next need to replace a book. Thanks very much again smallbluepebble for bringing this to the Convention!

Journal Entry 5 by garibaldisghost from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Safely arrived from good ole starry-starry - thangyerverymuch!

Released 12 yrs ago (7/26/2011 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm sending this to Canada as it has been chosen from the First Sentences bookbox.

Journal Entry 7 by starrdust at Cookstown, Ontario Canada on Sunday, September 18, 2011
I picked this book up from my local Post Office a week ago - sorry it has taken me a few days to post. What a great surprise! This was my selection in the Virtual Book Box First Sentences Challenge. I haven't read anything written by Jody Shields before so I'm happy to give this author a try.

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