Robert Bruce Stewart

This is the second offering in the Harry Reese Mysteries series and, after reading and reviewing the third book in this series I decided to backtrack to the second.

Everything that made the characters so appealing and likeable in Kalorama Shakedown is here in this novel which makes this yet another enjoyable standalone read, as well as an equally well written part of a series. The characters are still portrayed as normal people, and I feel it is this trait that the Author manages to consistently instil in them that makes the reader root for them at every turn of the page. The Author gives all his characters witty dialogue, and places them in the kind of humourous situations that some readers may, in some way relate to and others wish they could be a part of.

Once again the locations are soberly descriptive and give an interesting insight to the reader of life in this era, the early 1900’s. I would not say the people living in this time were naive, as things seemed to be more simple back then, but at times the Author verges on point the point of making these people seem a little slow, before realising their error and moving on in the novel.

A lot less hectic than the third book the series, there is still a great deal going on within its pages; travelling, fun and death. This makes this book another good mystery with an unexpected ending. I feel this series of books sits firmly in the cozy mystery genre, and would highly recommend it to lovers of this genre as well as those who enjoy an entertaining read.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/11/26/review-crossings-the-harry-reese-mysteries...


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
… (plus d'informations)

I have been known to review one or two books in a series, but with this review comes my third in the Harry Reese Mysteries, and no I am not being paid to write them; they are just plain and simply a darned good read. Like the other books in the series I have reviewed this one does not need to be read as part of the series, it stands on its own very well indeed. This means that, if after reading this you have no interest in any of the others before it; it will have no adverse affect if you read those following.

Once again, the Author has painted a vivid picture of the time in which the novel is set, and transports the reader fully into the locations and events that take place in this novels pages. I learnt more about cricket ranchers than I ever realised I wanted to know, and chuckled at the shenanigans and predicaments the dynamic couple found themselves in.

Magnificently and skilfully the Author has managed to continue to keep the main protagonists in this recent instalment right on track, there is nothing added to their personalities or traits that would make a loyal reader of this series think they had missed something in previous books, or the newly initiated reader feel they have to read its predecessors. Despite the feeling sometimes given that our ‘Detective’ is ruled by his wife, in this novel the impression comes across that he enjoys her sidetracking although not encouraging it. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Emmie, and still feel as if this is one woman who I could really get along with in real life.

I would highly recommend this novels to anyone looking for a good and easy read that moves along at a fast clip but is laced with humour and mystery.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/06/30/review-a-charm-of-powerful-trouble-the-har...



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.… (plus d'informations)

Written with more than a discreet nod at Hammett and a dash of P.G. Wodehouse this novel, the third in a series, is a great and engrossing little read. It is a mystery, with more than a little satire and three murders thrown in for good measure. Also, like its two predecessors it is completely able to stand firmly on its own merits.

Our main protagonist is the man the series is named after, and with his wife, he adds body and humour to this absorbing novel. He is dry, precise and engaging and is the perfect foil to his wife who wilful, secretive and independent, worryingly so for the era in which the novel is set. The Author does an outstanding job of making his main character not only the perfect gentleman for his time, but one who is well aware of the ‘flaws’ others may like to point out his wife possesses, and he deals with them all in a gracious manner. He is very likeable and this makes the reader want to know more about him and his world as the novel progresses. His wife is also well written, to such a degree that she could almost be billed up there with her Husband, and the novel could be said to have duel main protagonists. I thoroughly enjoyed this strong Lady, and actually felt myself warming more to her than I did her Husband; maybe it is because I could visualize myself in her role if I were transplanted back to that time period.

The book is written in the first person narrative, with Mr. Reese being our narrator and, in this manner the story is told through his experiences, emotions and reactions to everything and everyone he meets, including some very humourous asides about his wife and her friends. However, rather than being a dry read as is sometimes the case with novels written in this manner, it just makes the storyline seem more realistic and interesting. I did wonder from the title of the book if the Author was giving a small nod to the Kalorama Guest House in Woodley Park D.C, as a lot of the action and events in the book do take place in Washington D.C. it is apparent that extensive research was done to ensure the descriptive portions of the book concerning the nation’s capital, were correct for the time and a great deal of care was taken to ensure no buildings appeared where there were none. Through a deft use of words and writing style, the Author transports the reader back to a time when there were still vast expanses of greenery to be see around Washington, and society was governed by strict rules and layers; he also fleshes out the storyline with wonderfully witty dialogue, a slew of literary references and some very engaging and entertaining relationships, a couple of whom I hope will make further appearances.

I would strongly recommend this novel and others in the series to lovers of the mystery genre and those who like a side order of humour and satire with their murders.


Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/10/04/review-kalorama-shakedown-the-harry-reese-...



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
… (plus d'informations)

This is the second offering in the Harry Reese Mysteries series and, after reading and reviewing the third book in this series I decided to backtrack to the second.

Everything that made the characters so appealing and likeable in Kalorama Shakedown is here in this novel which makes this yet another enjoyable standalone read, as well as an equally well written part of a series. The characters are still portrayed as normal people, and I feel it is this trait that the Author manages to consistently instil in them that makes the reader root for them at every turn of the page. The Author gives all his characters witty dialogue, and places them in the kind of humourous situations that some readers may, in some way relate to and others wish they could be a part of.

Once again the locations are soberly descriptive and give an interesting insight to the reader of life in this era, the early 1900’s. I would not say the people living in this time were naive, as things seemed to be more simple back then, but at times the Author verges on point the point of making these people seem a little slow, before realising their error and moving on in the novel.

A lot less hectic than the third book the series, there is still a great deal going on within its pages; travelling, fun and death. This makes this book another good mystery with an unexpected ending. I feel this series of books sits firmly in the cozy mystery genre, and would highly recommend it to lovers of this genre as well as those who enjoy an entertaining read.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/11/26/review-crossings-the-harry-reese-mysteries...


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
… (plus d'informations)