Today’s shelf find is Upon a Dark Night by Peter Lovesey for Book Beginnings on Fridays.
Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!
Upon a Dark Night* by Peter Lovesey
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Summary: Detective Inspector Peter Diamond of the Bath homicide squad is working two cases: the death of a woman who fell from the roof of a local landmark, and that of an elderly farmer who shot himself. He has no time for the mystery of a young woman dumped in the hospital parking lot, injured and without a memory of who she is or what happened to her. He will leave that one to someone else. That is, until it becomes apparent that the cases may be linked in some way.
First Sentence:
A young woman opened her eyes.
The view was blank, a white-out, a snowfall that covered everything.
56
The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. The premise is simple. Turn to page 56 in the book and pick a quote.
He said, “I like chocolate chip cookies. I like chocolate chip cookies the best.”
I chose this quote because I like chocolate chip cookies, too.
Although the sentence seems like it might be filler dialogue, it turns out later in the page that it is actually a clue. A tiny clue, but a clue nonetheless. It’s great when chocolate chop cookies can be a clue.
When a friend gave me some older mystery novels a few months ago, based on the cover I thought this was one Lovesey’s historical novels. I put it away on a shelf. Last week I saw a Lovesey mystery featured on Shiela’s A Quiet Georgie blog and realized the Detective Inspector Peter Diamond series is contemporary (well, as contemporary as the 1990s can be). Another awesome shelf find!
What do you think? Would you pull out some chocolate chip cookies and read a Detective Inspector Peter Diamond mystery?
Are you finding any gems hidden on your shelves?
I do like the sound of this one. Mysteries with people linked to one another are always interesting to me. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
So far it is not what I expected. Largely from the young woman’s point of view.
I like chocolate chip cookies too! They’re my favorite cookies. I’m not familiar with this series but I like that the bit about the cookies isn’t filler, but an important detail. And that opener caught my attention. I’d keep reading.
Have a good weekend!
My Friday post.
The Phryne book you feature looks good, too. I had only watched the TV show. You have a good weekend, as well.
Sounds like a fun and interesting mystery, I hope it has a satisfying ending!
My Friday: Marie @ Pages to Explore
Thank you. Hope you enjoy yours, too. It sounds intense.
I like how one small trivial thing can be used as a clue! It’s always so enjoyable when you find the connection 🙂
It seems to indicate the author put some thought into it.
Thanks for sharing. This author is on my must-try list.
Not sure how this one compares to others in the series, but so far it hasn’t really been from the detective’s point of view much. I’m not getting a good feel of his potential yet.
Sounds like some good writing, though I don’t know where the story is gonna go based on those snippets. Happy weekend, stay safe!
Thank you for visiting. You stay safe, too.
I like chocolate chip cookies, too. The two quotes don’t really give me a feeling for the plot of the book, however. I hope you are enjoying it. My quotes and review
I want to give this series a try. 🙂
Check out my Friday spotlight and my review of Shorefall
I love the title of this! The first line makes me flash back to growing up in New York State. Yup, I know that view a little too well. xD I like chocolate chip cookies, too! Especially double chocolate chip. Pro tip: always be at least a little suspicious of people who don’t like chocolate chip cookies … unless they’re, like, allergic or something, and then okay, fine, I guess they get a pass.
Growing up in New York State? We have something else in common.