Title: Mud, Muck and Dead Things
Author: Ann Granger
ISBN: 9780755349241
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group, 2009
Mass Market paperback, 346 pages
Genre: Police Procedural, #1 Campbell & Carter mystery
Rating: C
Source: Paperback Swap
First Line: "Mud, muck and dead things," muttered Lucas Burton. "I hate the country."
Lucas Burton hates the country, but as he tries not to ruin his handmade shoes in the rundown barnyard, he's mainly thinking of the business deal he wants to conduct with the person he's meeting. The deal flies out the window when Burton stumbles across the body of a young girl in a shed.
If he thought that was the end of his bad luck, it only took a matter of minutes for him to think again: the local stable owner spots his silver Mercedes leaving the scene of the crime. When the body is reported to the police, Inspector Jess Campbell is in charge of the case, but with a new superintendent, Ian Carter, keeping an eye on her, she is definitely feeling the pressure.
I enjoyed the convoluted plot where identities took some proving and no one seemed to be whom they said they were, but none of the characters came to life for me. The major case in point was Superintendent Ian Carter. He was on the scene so very little, he could've phoned in his scenes and I wouldn't have known the difference. For a character-driven reader not having even the slightest whiff of an interesting character was almost the kiss of death. Only the fast-paced plot kept me involved.
If you like plot over character, this is the book for you. As it is, Mud, Muck and Dead Things just wasn't my cuppa. I have other books by Granger on my shelves however, so all is not lost.
What a pity as the surroundings in Cotswold should be ideal for interesting characters.
ReplyDeleteCathy - Sorry you were disappointed in this one. I like characters a lot, too, so maybe I'll wait to read this one....
ReplyDeleteShoot. The title and premise are great. I'm in the middle of a ton of other series, so I'll wait to see what you think of the author's other books.
ReplyDeleteThis might be good for the beach. It's too bad the book's not that great, because the title sure is!
ReplyDeleteI'm with the others. Too bad it doesn't live up to its title!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to this before me....since we all know that I'm a cover whore who would have paid good money for this one based on the cover art alone. Dang.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to get into a book when the connection to characters just isn't there!!
ReplyDeleteThe title of this cracks me up!
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with the title so I may give it a go anyway. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteDorte-- That's what I was expecting.
ReplyDeleteMargot-- She does have two other series that I know of, so I'm not about to "stamp paid" on her writing!
Beth-- Hopefully you won't have to wait very long.
Kathy-- The title is what drew me to the book.
Nicola-- I know!
Michele-- Wow... did I just save someone money? My rep's all shot to hell now! ;)
Staci-- It is, but the plot was so convoluted from the beginning that it was enough to keep me going.
Jamie-- The title is definitely a winner!
Ryan-- You're welcome. Hope you enjoy it much more than I did!
Bummer you didn't like this one. :(
ReplyDeleteI like the title though, not sure why but I do.
Kris-- I think it appeals to our funny bones... but I'm not sure why either! LOL
ReplyDelete