Unnatural Death - Patricia Cornwell

Out from Little, Brown; the latest DI Scarpetta novel by prolific author Patricia Cornwell

Set in and around the old abandoned goldmines of Virginia, Scarpetta is called to the scene of two bodies left for dead to the naked eye they have been mauled and it is declared unnatural to begin with upon first inspection. But then the refined coroner begins her work and uncovers there is more than what appears on the surface.

There seems to be a lot of political back-baiting occurring due to funding of government departments as her team has been whittled down along with the unwelcome return of an old fiend which will test Scarpetta's loyalty to her loved ones.

This was my first Cornwell novel, and I won the opportunity to review this new release by way of a competition on X garnering a review copy. The experience has left me gratified and appreciative, Cornwell has created a character that is appealing and forthright. Someone who you would go into battle with and a female character who is intelligent and respected in her field. There is to be a television series soon starring Nicole Kidman in the Scarpetta role - that mix of icy distance and experience coming together.

The mark of any long running series of novels featuring recurring characters such as Lee Child's Jack Reacher, is the ability of the author to welcome in new readers (such as myself in this instance) and not feel lost due to the concise plotting and expert characterisation.

This story goes at a clip and covers a lot of narrative content, yet it is done with such surgical precision, it will leave readers old and new to the Scarpetta universe very much satisfied.

My thanks to Georgina Moore and all at Midas PR for the opportunity to read this latest novel.

Please follow all the bloggers on the #UnnaturalDeath blog tour.

About the Author:

In 1990, Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Growing into an international phenomenon, the Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.

Today, Cornwell’s novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper’s identity, cookbooks, a children’s book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and two other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano and Andy Brazil. While writing Quantum, Cornwell spent two years researching space, technology, and robotics at Captain Calli Chase’s home base, NASA’s Langley Research Center, and studied cutting-edge law enforcement and security techniques with the Secret Service, the US Air Force, NASA Protective Services, Scotland Yard, and Interpol.

Observations on Celebrities watching Themselves

 

Two honest documentaries tell the tale of two global superstars on Netflix 

The insatiable need for celebrity news has come to a head over recent years, the need to know every living detail of the famed and fabulous from what time they wake up to what they eat in their perfect lives. Now as myself and my generation get older, we are always looking back at periods of our lives and also aware that the famous never totally recede from the spotlight. 

Two documentaries have recently appeared on Netflix and both offer opportunities for the subjects to tell their own story of their careers, both stratospheric and both everlasting in many people's eyes. One about a footballer who transcended his sport to the point of becoming a brand in his own right, and the other a pop star who has had two phoenix like returns from the flames.

The first to drop for our binge-worthy tastebuds was Beckham, about the eponymous footballer who came to prominence when still a teenager at Manchester United in 1996, won the treble in 1999 and then left for Madrid in the early 2000s when his name was so big that everybody could name him or recognise the player without even seeing him play live. 

The four-part documentary directed by Fisher Stevens (Los Angeles neighbour), is produced by Beckham and so tellingly, this is the brand making sure the narrative is the one he wants to be told. Now this is not an accusation of manipulation, but the funniest bit when he confronts wife, Victoria, about the type of car her Dad would ferry her to school in and then promptly closes the door on her was reminiscent of another clip from 1996 post-Wimbledon halfway goal when his father, Ted, is being interviewed and the camera whips to a young David poking his head round a door making sure Dad is singing from the song sheet. 

This paints a picture of a man who is reluctant about sharing too much information with a media industry that would attempt to tear him down following the red card he obtained in a crucial World Cup knockout match for England in 1998 as well as mocking him for his fashion style and the relationship with Posh Spice, which many thought would derail his potential but actually his unwavering commitment to being the best player on his team set him apart from others. 

The Beckham documentary, should have served as more of a celebratory piece to a playing career that was better than people remember but a document that is not critical and still used the adage of what goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room ethos.

While it was good to reminisce about Beckham's career as a football fan, it was sobering to see the scrutiny his performance was under more than anybody else playing at that time. And yet the production did smack of a Country Life fluff piece with little or no blowback on the man himself 

The second documentary of note, is that of pop star Robbie Williams, who was one-fifth of Britain's biggest band, Take That in the mid-1990s, then left the band to pursue a huge solo career at the turn of the Millennium which was record setting and yet came with a heap of problems from constant media scrutiny to drug abuse and two rehabilitations. 

Produced by Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy), this documentary is not produced by the person in question, meaning that Robbie Williams is purely the subject in question and under the microscope. The device of Williams' looking at his history on a laptop while in his underwear reclining on his bed serves as a sort of duvet day therapy session for the popstar, with him stopping proceedings on a few occasions because he knows what is coming next and is reluctant to watch it any further. And yet as the film is shot at his home, his daughter Teddy interrupts on frequent occasions meaning we get a sense of past breaking into the present, a future the younger Williams could not have imagined.

Williams' life and career has been one of meteoric rises and very low lows, from the heights of being key to a boy band success it is not forgotten he was a mere 16 years old when it started and yet he was in a band with twenty years old and he notes, that age gap is vast at that time. He was a child in an adult world.

Unsurprisingly, he seeked solace in ingesting anything he could get his hands on from alcohol to cocaine and ecstasy. His first rehab comes at the age of 20, and then begins a solo stint but in partnership with Guy Chambers who wrote all the songs together with on his first four albums culminating in huge successes, based mostly upon the huge hit that was 'Angels'. 

Williams is surprisingly, quite self-effacing and funny when watching himself back and very resentful of the things he has done to people - from his bitter jealousy to Gary Barlow to his casting aside Chambers' swiftly to basically not being able to trust anybody when so prevalent in the public eye.

The third episode which focuses on a very intense European leg of a tour shows the physical and mental torture his body endures going from show to show and as a document it cleverly shows the deteoriation of a body from working to breaking down mentally with shots of steroids injected (big mistake) to looking like a zombie from day to day, yet the pressure to continue on the wheel is paramount as his stage takes up 93 trucks. And yet too much time is given to the disastrous release of  'Rudebox' and the whole series misses his swing band era which was a huge success to his career.

While Beckham's look back at his career was more celebratory, Williams' look back is a reminder that warning signs were ignored and that mental health in young men, something which has been brought to public consciousness following the pandemic. A lot more is gained from watching Williams dissect his breakdowns than Beckham breaking down a free kick routine.

There is also a social comment, as Williams admits he joined Take That unable to read or write with no qualifications from school, yet he went on to become an Ivor Novello winner for his work yet that inability to communicate properly perhaps led to his unwillingness to speak out and ask for help; whereas Beckham came from a good household, a decent education albeit entirely built around his footballing prowess - he was able to batten down the hatches due to the fraternity he had at Manchester United after the red card at France 1998 and focus solely on performing. For Williams he could only find solace in alcohol or medication due to his lack of trust of others and coming from nothing and no support network there from the start for him

All in all, two fascinating documentaries about two fascinating individuals who were on the front pages for both the right and wrong reasons. Nostalgia yes but tinged with lessons to be learnt.

Beckham and Robbie are both available on Netflix now

A Tangled Web - Ken Lussey

Brand new Contemporary novel by Ken Lussey out 15th November

Prolific Scottish based author, Ken Lussey, returns with his second contemporary set novel of the calendar year. Starring his new creation, Callum Anderson, a Metropolitan Police officer, whose life has taken a strange turn and finds himself out of familiar water in the Scottish Highlands.

Callum is investigating the mysterious death of Iain Mackay, husband to Dr. Jenny, whose disappearance was first mentioned in the first novel The High Road. Callum is getting more firmly cemented into his new surroundings and in being quite taken with Jenny as a new romantic avenue to pursue.

The first book that introduced Callum had a bit more emotional baggage to navigate as he had to overcome the end of his marriage in London and separation from his twin sons, yet we followed his navigation of finding a new lease of life and purpose in the Scottish landscapes. 

This second novel, shows our protagonist as more an investigator than a policeman, delving into the dodgy dealings of Iain before his unseemly end in a lay-by. Fans of the television series Shetland will notice and wonder how such nefarious things can follow a man around small towns.

Yet for this reader, Lussey remains a capable and prestigious talent of maintaining narrative hold of the proceedings, never wavering in terms of pace and thrust of the cut that finds our lead characters in worrying moments of peril.

Lussey again weaves in historical facts of long lost locations (Drumbeg Castle) and paints wonderful pictures of lovely landscapes Callum and Jenny encounter. At times it can feel like tourist information but Lussey writes with such a passion for the history and feel of a place it does not feel like exposition and not at all unnecessary.

Written with such a verve and intelligence that it is commendable he can write with such authority and assuredness release upon release. Another great addition to his catalogue, if not completely matching previous heights, of which he has set a very high standard though.

A Tangled Web is release from Arachnid Press on all formats from 15th November.

My thanks to them for the review opportunity.

The Rich - Rachel Lynch

 

New standalone novel by thriller writer Rachel Lynch

For fans of Doctor Foster and The Only Way is Essex; this new contemporary work by Cumbrian set author Rachel Lynch, who has previously given us the series of  DI Kelly Porter novels by Canelo Crime, is a standalone novel set in the rich and luxurious lifestyles of the well to do of Cambridge, East Anglia.

A plot revolving around the rich and wealthy who seemingly have all the same hang-ups as normal people but the unfortunate problem of money and big houses to hide behind.

Set amidst the warm summer that England is experiencing more frequently, the central thrust of the narrative is based around the disappearance and then discovery of the missing Monica, trophy wife to Tony Thorpe whose slovenly nature is unbecoming to all who encounter him. 

This is a story with quite an involving plot of details and characters, a lot of people to be introduced to in a short book length of 322 pages which is both a gift and problem for the reader. So begins this quick cutting narrative as with the use of short chapters written from the that character's viewpoint we get glimpses to the multitude of characters; for me this is where I had difficulty with the book in that there was perhaps too many people to invest in at once. 

There is Dr Alex the main female protagonist, a psychologist who is keeper of the elite's dirty secrets. Carrie lives a pristine life but is unhappy. Henry likes to sleep with wives of men he works for. Grace, perhaps the most interesting character, a fitness trainer/influencer whose perfect image hides dark secrets of her own.  As the body of Monica is revealed, Dr Alex knows that anybody is capable of murder if pushed too much. 

This is not a total criticism, as said previously the Grace part of the novel is the most delicately handled of the story, the influencer struggling with the influence she pervades and the pressure of self-image and self-esteem is so prevalent to our culture of today.

This reader could see the influence of such works as The Slap, that cross-cultural dissection of modern Australian society based around the conduct of one person and the branches of impact that causes. As here, when one person's passing can have an impact on many and the different levels of trauma and anguish each experiences.

A thrilling trashy getaway vacation read by a talented author who has written something different from the comfort of their detective serial reads. Yet, all in all, it is a shot that just misses the bullseye.

The Rich is out from Canelo in all formats from Thursday 9th November.

My thanks to Canelo for the review copy.

Parachute - Raindance Review

Debut directorial feature by Brittany Snow 

Brittany Snow, American female actress who starred in Pitch Perfect won the Audience Award at SXSW for her directorial debut, Parachute. An original film about addiction and self-abuse.

Riley (Courtney Eaton - Yellowjackets) is a well to do young woman, who we first meet when leaving rehab for her bulimia and addiction to Instagram. She does not like the woman she sees when comparing herself to every girl on social media, when to the naked eye she is a young and attractive woman. At a party shortly after her release, she meets Ethan (Thomas Mann) who is genuine and kind to her plight providing support for her.

And yet Riley's demons will not abate and she cannot stop looking at social media and comparing herself. She wards off good intentions of her remaining friends, yet finds a job in a murder-mystery dinner theatre where her aspirations of writing may come to fruition.

Riley has inherited her good fortune, the huge apartment and yet cannot shake off the entitled streak within her. She believes that she will be a great writer and will be beautiful to any bachelor, yet the film makes the comment that for all her attempts to avoid the lure of social media it is unavoidable and therefore her suffering will persist and dismissing Ethan's genuine feelings for someone she feels she is entitled to.

Halfway through the film you hope this is a nice love story between Riley and Ethan in the wonderful setting of New York, yet the demons return and we have to endure some hard watches for Eaton to depict some genuine dark moments. The script co-written by Snow with Becca Gleason about her own battles, is a personal project for her and she admits she knew how to shoot the film from storyboards to production. The interweaving of intimate shots of the two leads as their courtship grows is a nice touch, but by the end it becomes the focus of lost moments than forever love.

Helped by some great casting and support by known names, Joel McHale as Ethan's alcoholic father who he cannot help, Dave Bautista as Riley's new employer and Gina Rodriguez as Dr. Akerman, Riley's therapist.

Special mention also to the soundtrack and original score by Keegan DeWitt (check out his work on 2010 film Cold Weather) who weaves a great atmosphere here, along with Kristen Correll's cinematography.

Parachute was screened at the 2023 Raindance Film Festival. Hopefully it obtains a distribution deal in the near future.

KING AND COUNTRY

Brilliant new 4K restoration of anti-war film King and Country (1964) by Joseph Losey

This mostly unknown British film by acclaimed American director, Joseph Losey, is another collaboration with renowned British thespian Dirk Bogarde. Their partnership bore great riches together and this is there little film but the one that speaks the loudest in terms of relevancy to today's modern age. 

The film follows the famous anti-war narrative familiar in literature from Journey's End and Catch-22, the futility of war is apparent for all to see, and in the depiction of Private Hamp (Tom Courtenay), a deserter from the front-lines during the Great War, you have another anti-hero. 

Dirk Bogarde portrays Captain Hargreaves, a lawyer, sent to defend Hamp as he faces court-martial for desertion with the threat of execution by firing squad. Hamp just wants to go home as many wanted to do no doubt, and yet the stigmatism of cowardice is thrown around by those in command, those who are not on the front-line.

Hamp has his reasons, he volunteered on a dare, he is the only survivor of his group remaining and his wife back home has been unfaithful in his absence; and yet the political machine chooses to use Hamp as an example before another futile offensive manoeuvre in the quagmire of the first world war somewhere in France. 

The film is set for the most part in real-time, and shares a lot of cinematic DNA with Kubrick's Paths of Glory where Kirk Douglas defended deserters and the squalor and downtrodden mess of the trenches is clear to see as rain constantly falls on young men fighting for their lives and freedom in or near No Man's Land.

The new restoration gives the film a real shine and sheen to these sad sights and Bogarde plays Hargreaves in a fine line between right and just and true and sceptic. When a superior officer questions the defence of mental health, stating, 'Is he a lunatic?' it puts a black mark on all proceedings and how nearly a hundred years later, male mental health only came to fruition when men were battened down in their households during a global pandemic with little or not much to do.

'I just wanted to get away from the guns sir'

Courtenay is quite astounding in the role of Hamp (he won Best Actor in Venice that year) and this was in the purple patch of his run of performances in the Angry Young Man era from The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and Billy Liar to this performance. His heartfelt and honest portrayal reminded this viewer of Ed Norton's debut in Primal Fear when his role depicted a fugue like state in a post-traumatic stress event.

Bogarde holds court himself as the true star of proceedings akin to a George Clooney in those days as he cross-examines witnesses such as Leo McKern as the doctor who does not notice the effects of shell shock upon Hamp. Bogarde when facing a jury who have already made their decision in terms of Hamp's verdict shows that justice can be just as ineffective as war on occasion.

Timely and timeless, this film serves as a constant reminder that the real cost of war is the loss of innocence.

Special features include an interview with Tom Courtenay about the film; an archive interview with Dirk Bogarde from 1964 and Behind the Scenes stills

King and Country is released by Studiocanal UK on Blu-ray/DVD on 6th November