Identity Crisis: Blood, Swearing … And Terribly Entertaining …

Can I ask you a question, here, folks … ?

Can I … ?

Actully, no, forget I asked … !

I’m going to, anyway … !

Ever hear the phrase, page-turner … ?

You have … ?

Me too …

And I’ve always felt that — with rare exceptions — it’s not a term I apply to every book that I read.

Terry Pratchett’s usually an exception, for example: Thud, Nightwatch and Nation, in particular.

Oh, and Dune …

I really can’t be forgetting Frank Herbert’s Dune …

The point I’m trying to make, here, is simply that it’s not often I come across a page-turner.

I think I just have …

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Do you remember, a while back, I wrote rather extensively about Brentwood Library, and how it was going to have its hours adjusted … ?

As part of that, Debbi, bless ’er — writer, recovering lawyer, and one of my regular contributors — got in touch with Essex Library’s head, Susan Carragher, and offered to donate some copies of her first novel, Identity Crisis.

I went and ordered a copy, as soon as I got word they were in …

»»•««

I’m glad I did …

Identity Crisis sees Stephanie Ann “Sam” MacRæ — Maryland lawyer at arms — finding her working day starting with something nasty at her office: her friendly local plain-clothes police officer, Detective Derry … accompanied by the somewhat obstreperousª FBI agent, Special Agent Jergins.

Seems they want to ask a few questions about a former client of hers, a certain Melanie Hayes.

Who’s gone missing.

After her ex boyfriend — Melanie had filed a Domestic Abuse complaint against him, with Sam’s help — has been fatally shot …

On top of that … ?

Sam’s found out that there’s quite a few odd things happening with bank account: which is at the same bank where Melanie works …

And on top of that … ?

There’s a bunch of seriously unfriendly Mafiosi floating around in all of this, with threatening cars that make President Obama’s Beast look lightweight …

»»•««

Now, I was saying page turner, earlier … ?

Yes, I was, wasn’t I … ?

Now, I know that one could — arguably — make the point that Identity Crisis is possibly a little much like a latter day Miss Marple.

Possibly …

One could also argue that Identity Crisis is possibly even a touch tame*: especially me, having seen various shades of gruesome horror movie and crime thriller, over the years.

That’s also possible …

On the other hand, though … ?

On the other hand, though, Debbi, bless her, has written a bit of a corker … !

I actually found meself patiently going to bed and spending a long time reading Identity Crisis, night after night and chapter by chapter, wanting to know what happens in the next chapter, and how Sam either deals with a problem, finds information, or puts another next piece of the puzzle in place.

Identity Crisis is a rock solid read, literally a page-turner.

And what’s more … ?

It’s also an entertaining one, that’s built a nicely solid introduction to Sam McRæ and her world …

That I think I’ll be heading for my local library to see if I can’t get hold of Least Wanted.

I want to know what happens next … !

Identity Crisis by Debbi Mack.

Lulu.com; July 2009

ISBN: 978-0-557-08325-1

Paul: “Identity Crisis? It’s a Keeper!” ★★★☆

* In spite of one use of the ‘C’ word: I’ve known people who have done serious time, for serious crime and are seriously nasty, and even they’ll raise an eyebrow at that one … ! (To be fair, though, Debbi DID tell me she was trying to drop the hint that these guys weren’t pleasant … )

ª I‘m almost tempted to say mildly snotty. Or even slightly tetchy …

Sherlock: Studiously Pink and Contemporary

You know, usually, whenever I’m impressed by something, and want to tell people about it, I’ll usually start off the relevant post with something along the lines of “I think I’m impressed with …” whatever the post’s about.

But why be so wishy-washy … ?

Every once in a while, it’s nice to able to say, outright, “I’m impressed”.

And usually I’m writing about a film, TV show, book, product, Mac, what-have-you.

Actually, that’s not far off what I’m planning to rave about, tonight, actually.

Because I’ve actually spent an hour and a half of my time, watching the Stephen Moffat/Mark Gatiss penned, contemporary re-working of the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Only now … ?

In the (very early) 21st Century … ?

Moffat and Gatiss have gone with calling him just plain old Sherlock.

And, whereas I’m usually a bit vague, on these things … ?

I’m going to be a bit definite.

I’m impressed!

No, seriously, I’m impressed … !

Boy, am I impressed … !

I’m in dribble territory, here, aren’t I’m … ?

Lets get a move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets.

Now, I’ve got to admit, I started hearing rumours of this, about a week or two, ago, when Dr Kevin told me someone had put together a TV version.

I’ve got to admit, I only had half an ear on what he was saying.

Bless him, he WAS having one of his more talkative days: the acupuncture he’s having for his bad back is definitely helping, and he was both pleased and excited to be getting out and about, again.

And decidedly chatty, bless him!

It wasn’t until later that day that i found out that Steven Moffat — the currant lead writer on Dr Who — was both on Twitter, AND had co-produced a reworking.

“Interesting,” I thought, “I’ll have to keep an eye out for that …”

I’m glad I did …

Now, I’ve got to admit, I’ve been catching the trailer, on and off, for the past week or so.

Including at last night’s Movie night.

Now, I’ll admit, Kevin D and Movie Night Adrian weren’t stunned by what they saw.

I’m thinking they may have missed something …

I do know neither were impressed by idea of the modern reworking idea.

Which is where I think we may all differ …

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Tonight’s episode … ?

Was called A Study In Pink, and is a modern re-telling of the first Holmes novel, A Study In Scarlet.

Which is actually a good place to start.

It sees four apparent suicides, spread across London: and our all new Sherlock — played by Benedict Cumberbatch — called in to help by a baffled Inspector Lestrade.

And, while all this is going on, it sees a baffled, war-weary but still action hungry and bored Dr Watson — nicely done by Martin Freeman at his most sympathetic — moving in with Holmes. And having, as a humorous side-issue, having to squash a few misconceptions.

And learning how — if not completely why — Holmes does what he does.

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Now, if you’ve read the original A Study In Scarlet, you’ll probably notice both the differences.

And where Moffat, Gatiss and company have worked hard to put the essentials into their version, A Study In Pink.

But, while I’m not a fan of the original novels and shorts stories, I have enjoyed them, in my time: them, and the classic Jeremy Brett incarnation of the 1980’s, as well as the more recent Robert Downey Jnr/Jude Law pairing.

In point of fact, I’m one of those who think that Brett set the standard as Holmes, which was nicely matched, in it’s way, by that recent film.

I can’t help but think that Sherlock — going on this one episode — is both a fair treatment of Sir Arthur’s original stories, and a good retelling of the tales.

And a very good match of the standard that Brett, Downey — and Sir Arthur — set.

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