Beneath the Stone: 2 (Nick Fisher novels)

I was really looking forward to reading the second Nick Fisher novel and wasn't disappointed, it's even better than the first.Absolutely gripping from page one and all the way through, with so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up at times. I loved the vivid descriptions of the people and scenery of Crete but for one unfamiliar with Greek language the frequent use of Greek required regular visits to Google for a translation. A glossary would have been a welcome addition to the list of named characters which is a feature I wish more authors included as it's so very useful, especially with a complex plot and a lot of characters with difficult to remember names.Well done Alex - hope you're working on the next installment.

This is the second Alex Dunlevy book that I have read, again featuring Nick Fisher, an expatriate UK Detective now living in Crete. One of the things that Dunlevy does well is to convey the sense of place that a story needs if it is in a setting that most of us may not know. Another is to give his characters a history – a back story, if you will. The reader needs to feel that the characters have lives of their own, and are not simply being manipulated by the author to create a plot. Thus there is a continuing story regarding the relationship between Fisher and his son, and another concerning his relations with the local police, as well as an intriguing historical perspective. All add depth to the story, as does Nick Fisher's rather barren love life! In fact, all of the main characters are properly filled out, and there is none of the sharp division between evil perpetrators and knights in shining blue police armour that one gets sometimes, even with experienced writers. The characters do what they do because of conflicting motives and family allegiances; they have their own sense of right and wrong, even if that doesn't always conform to the law. Having dealt with real-life criminals for many years, this strikes me as a realistic reflection of the complexities of human life. I shall look out with interest for the third in the series.

I enjoyed this book having read it directly after the first (you don’t need to have read the first one) but found too many characters with Greek names a little confusing as to who was who. By the end it became a bit clearer. Clever, if a little unbelievable, plot though

The intrepid Nick Fisher is asked again to help the Cretian police. He brings his humour and skills to add to a missing person case. The book takes you through a complex case whilst enthralling you with local characters, history and scenery. Keeps you guessing as to who, what and why right up until the end. If you enjoy a good Murder Mystery then this book will keep you guessing. Highly recommend.

I had read The Unforgiving Stone and could not wait for this second follow up. I was not disappointed, excellent story, extremely well written. Possibly even better than the first book! Maybe it was my thinking but it gave a slight nod to the WW2 history behind the book Who Pays the Ferryman. Now I am eagerly waiting for Alex to pen another Nick Fisher novel.