The Various Haunts of Men Audiobook

" This may topple right off my "currently reading" onto my "gave up" shelf. It is making me think that my "gave up" shelf probably needs fine tuning. There are many reasons to give up and for me, sheer boredom and indifference would be what ended this one. I read a lot of murder-mystery. A lot. And a lot of it is bad. I think I might even prefer a bad book to a book that makes no impact on me at all: at least then I could rail on a bit about what makes it bad. I had to give two stars because the author can write a sentence. I have read books where that seemingly basic skill has been lacking. Also because the author tries to populate the book with characters and that is encouraging. What the author has failed to do is make me care. I don't care what happens to the main character or the bad guy. I can't even remember the detective/police person and it has only been a couple of weeks since I started this!!! That just about says it all, eh? "

" Excellent book! Didn't realize Susan Hill also wrote "The Woman in Black" which I saw as the stage play in London several years ago. Anyway, as always the setting being England is a huge draw, but this first book in the Simon Serrailler series added to the enjoyment by being a great plot. People disappearing in a small town, relationships within the police force and in the town all well-drawn, make for a great read. "

" I just couldn't get into this book. I had to stop reading it. "

" Just finished this, excellent mystery. The characters are well developed, great writing and an interesting plot that keeps you guessing until the end. This is the first book I've read by Susan Hill and I can't wait to read more. "

" The first Simon Serrailler book and probably my fave one. Susan Hill doesn't really focus on action in her crime novels, but I like the way she goes deep inside the psychology of her characters. "

" Great book. Veddy English. LOTS of character threads to keep up with, but she winds them to and fro and really moves the story along. I'll be looking for more of these. "

" I'll try the next one in the series. I liked the book, but Simon Serrailler was such a minor character that I felt like this was a prologue, not first in the actual series. We'll see. I enjoy British mysteries, so I'm predisposed to like the series. "

" I had high hopes for this one because it came with a blurb by Ruth Rendell - but instead it's rather formulaic, characterizations are minimal, and the detective is, frankly, a bit of a twit. "

" Thoroughly enjoyed this title although I wouldn't have called it a "Simon Serrailler" book since he was hardly in it. The ending was a bit of a shocker but reasonable. Look forward to the rest of the series. "

" A good read. Lots of character development. Somewhat stunned by late developments in the plot, and a rather hurried wrap-up, or It would have had 5 stars instead of 4. "

" A perfectly creepy intriguing modern British suspense mystery. "

" Ho hum. Predictable mystery - I would read the next one if I didn't have anything else to read but was not overwhelmed with this formula murder story. "

" Interesting...but I hated the ending! It felt unresolved. "

" Hill doesn't write your typical mystery--this is more like a novel with a mystery in it. "

" Brilliantly written, very atmospheric and a stunning ending. Can't wait to read the next one. "

" was ok, i'd read another, not much of a who-dun-it, more of a theres been murders, oh this is suddely the suspect, trips up - ah its him "

" It was a very, very good book. I liked meeting all of the characters and was saddened to lose some. Well done! "

" I'm not sure what rating to give this book 1 for the very poor ending or 4 stars for a book that kept me turning the pages. "

" Interesting that the main character of the series is not in the starring role.<br/>A good, interesting read.<br/>I cried at the end. Sigh... "

" British psychological mystery along the lines of PD James and Elizabeth George. Well written with complex characters. "

" Excellent police procedural. I've found a new author and can't wait to read the next one. "

" This was very slow to develop, probably because there is a relatively large cast of characters to set up. I did get more interested about half way through the novel. Big surprise for me at the end. I'm going to read another. "

" Two stars are quite right. I would not read another in the series. "

" Gripping. I'm definitely going to read the next one in the series. I'm not a fan of serial-killer mysteries, but the various characters and the high quality of writing kept me hooked, even though I guessed the killer half-way through. I want to meet these characters again. "

" So close to meriting 4 stars, but there must be a penalty for the plot turn! I liked the writing, the story was good and long in the right way; leaving me looking forward to picking it up again as soon as possible. Can't wait to read the next one. "

" Trying to find more mysteries in the manner of Elizabeth George, P.D. James, Peter Robinson--even Martha Grimes. This one was okay and I'll probably read another--but more of a 2 1/2 star book. "

" First in a series of books featuring DCI Simon Serrailler. "

" Good start to an interesting series. Thriller. Maker you want to read her next book in her Simon Serailler mysteries. "

" I read the second in the series before this one, and even though I knew what was going to happen, it was still a good read. I really like the characters in this series. The personal interactions and family dynamics are interesting and the story lines are good. "

" Good fleshed-out characters, nice twists to the the plot. Well-written, and I'll look for more by this author. "