I’ll admit I had high expectations for The Mayfly as I’d seen nothing but good things about this book from my fellow book bloggers. However, even then, this surpassed my expectations….this is an excellent, well-researched, complex plot that hooks the reader from the very first page.
The Mayfly opens with the discovery of a particularly gruesome murder scene which sets the tone for the rest of the book! We are then taken back to Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945 – interestingly this is the second book I have read recently that touches upon the torture within this concentration camp. I don’t actively seek out books with the Holocaust as a subject but it’s fascinating how different authors use this, in very different ways, as a backdrop to their present day plots.
The Mayfly is an interesting take on a criminal investigation as Charlie Priest is no longer in the police force, he has turned his back on his detective inspector days and is now a lawyer specialising in commercial law. However, Charlie becomes involved within the investigation when an entrepreneur hires him to investigate his son’s murder as he does not trust the policeman who is in charge.
This book is frankly stunning, I cannot believe that this is a debut as it is a chunky book with a complex plot that is based, in part, on fact therefore needed substantial research to ensure its credibility. The author’s background in corporate and criminal litigation shines through in Priest’s character.
This is one of those books whereby I slowed my reading down towards the end as I really did not want it to end, Hazel’s writing style is fantastic, keeping the reader engaged throughout with his fast-paced and gritty narrative. I enjoyed the time shift between the late 1940’s and the present day, this added an extra dimension to the investigation.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from James Hazel.
The Mayfly opens with the discovery of a particularly gruesome murder scene which sets the tone for the rest of the book! We are then taken back to Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945 – interestingly this is the second book I have read recently that touches upon the torture within this concentration camp. I don’t actively seek out books with the Holocaust as a subject but it’s fascinating how different authors use this, in very different ways, as a backdrop to their present day plots.
The Mayfly is an interesting take on a criminal investigation as Charlie Priest is no longer in the police force, he has turned his back on his detective inspector days and is now a lawyer specialising in commercial law. However, Charlie becomes involved within the investigation when an entrepreneur hires him to investigate his son’s murder as he does not trust the policeman who is in charge.
This book is frankly stunning, I cannot believe that this is a debut as it is a chunky book with a complex plot that is based, in part, on fact therefore needed substantial research to ensure its credibility. The author’s background in corporate and criminal litigation shines through in Priest’s character.
This is one of those books whereby I slowed my reading down towards the end as I really did not want it to end, Hazel’s writing style is fantastic, keeping the reader engaged throughout with his fast-paced and gritty narrative. I enjoyed the time shift between the late 1940’s and the present day, this added an extra dimension to the investigation.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from James Hazel.