Date: 16.09.2009
From: Dani
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Subject: Fever of the bone
Hello there peeps. I read Fever of the bone the other day and im going to give my honest opinion. Compared to other authors and other books it was, as usual fantastic. Compared to the other Tony/Carol books im gonna say it is not my fav.
Although I get the point that this book was a deep and meaningful one (wont go into details, dont want to spoil it), I just missed the genius that is Tony.. and the tension that C&T have. The book just wasn't such a page turner..usually I am excited with a Wire book and can't wait to see how it ends. A bit of a shame.. But all that said, I still declare Val as being the best crime writer of all time :)
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Date: 16.09.2009
From: Carbooncle
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Ah, finally a comment on the book ! I was beginning to wonder if maybe the discussion had been moved somewhere else. I'm probably going to make myself really unpopular with my comment but I can't resist stating my utter disappoinment with Fever of the Bone.
For the first time I didn't enjoy reading a Tony/Carol novel. Mostly due to the fact that our beloved platonic couple is not communicating. They talk to each other for only about 15% of the book!!! This can't be right. As much as I enjoy readin more about Tony's background, I wish there would have been a bit more profiling the killer besides looking for daddy. The truth about Tony's father is a clever means to healing Tony and making him more confident regarding his feelings for Carol. But that's about the only development I can detect since Beneath the Bleeding. Apart from that nothing makes sense to me anymore. The first four books had Tony&Carol go through different stages in their relationship but for two books now nothing is happening. Tony& Carol's behaviour made perfect sense up until BtB, now it's all falling apart. Am I the only one who thinks so? Maybe MY logic is wrong... here's my understanding:
boy meets girl on a murder investigation, girl likes boy but boy has a secret (impotence) which keeps him from responding to girl's attraction. They part. They meet again on yet another murder investigation. Carol is still attracted to Tony and confused about Tony's behaviour. She wonders what he actually thinks about her, sensing a mutual attraction. They develop a friendship. They don't see each other for two years, though. Meanwhile Tony has found a way to deal with his impotence and is in a relationship (impotence obstacle resolved). Carol contacts Tony for help on an assignment. Being with that other woman makes Tony realize how much he actually wants to be with Carol. He breaks up with his girlfriend. He goes to Berlin with Carol. They are finally about to become lovers. But Carol is raped (new huge obstacle). Tony keeps his distance, feeling guilt for what has happened. But they get closer again during the latest case. Carol tries to cope with the rape trauma by sleeping with a guy helping the investigation (physical aspect of rape obstacle resolved).
Next logical step would be to give a romantic relationship a second try. Because the two big obstacles have been dealt with, at least to an extend that allows them to consider the next step. And TTOO makes clear that they still want to take that step.
But what happens? Tony is back to thinking Carol will never love him! Why?? They were rather openly talking about their feelings the last two books. They know each others feelings! Despite that fact they now act as if they'll be stuck on the friendship level forever. Then the epilogue of BtB suggests that Tony is considering surrender again. Which is about damn time! But Val obviously chose to ignore this. Life goes on as if this last conversation never took place. Tony&Carol are still so very afraid of acting on their feelings. Val delivers virtually the same ending as the previous book: Tony decides he wants to be with Carol after all. Fine! Are we getting anywhere with this or not?! Both endings feel like a tease, something to keep the readers longing for more. But the stalling strategy only works for so long. Thing's are starting to get unrealistic and it affects the whole story. Tony and Carol don't talk anymore because if they did, they'd talk about their relationship and then something would have to be done about it. And apparently that's not supposed to happen. But I prefer a good last book and a happy ending for Tony&Carol over this artificially prolonged state of being scared.
I don't like reading only about what Carol's team is doing and what the people from the other police station are doing. I want to read about Tony and Carol cracking a case together. I want Tony's fascinating insights into the killer's mind. There's none of this here. Only on the last few pages do we get Tony's profile of the killer. That case was quite weak, too. Part of the motive was obvious halfway through. The killer's M.O. was not interesting at all. It felt a bit like reading a mixture of two episodes of Wire in the Blood season three... FotB is the second book now that didn't have a gripping case. The truth about the attack of Tony's father was easy to guess as well.
I hope Val finds a way to retrieve fascinating cases and believable Tony/Carol drama. If not maybe it's time to consider ending the series. Let prince Tony live in his new castle with his princess.
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Date: 16.09.2009
From: J
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I've got to agree with the first two posters. I will preface by saying I think Val is an amazing writer and I feel a bit bad about writing this post - but I just didnt connect with this book and Tony and Carol in the same way I did the others. Their interactions just felt really flat and they didnt go anywhere. I normally get to the end of the book and can't wait to find out what happens next. But at the end of this one - when they are talking about going to Worcester together I didnt get that feeling of elation that I would have gotten 2 years ago. I feel like their angst at not being together has gone as far as it can go. There's only so many times we can hear how disfunctional they are and how they want to be together but they are too messed up. They need to take that next step and step into the boat loads of angst that is inevitably going to be their relationship or, and I hate to say it, but their arc seems to have come to an end. Because whilst the crime aspect of this book was spot on as always. The relationships between the characters was missing. To me this book showed that Carol and Tony need to move on. Either together or apart. Because to me this book didnt work for them. And as a result it didnt work for me. Just my opinion though. I still think Val is a great writer.
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Date: 16.09.2009
From: Dani
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Thank god you guys agree with me! I do feel bad about posting my opinions when they are slightly negative, but i think Val would prefer honesty! I didn't even get excited about the crime either, i agree with you guys when you say it was missing the Tony Hill 'inside the killers mind' aspect. and i cant believe that Tony would even ask Carol to step away from her team to come with him.. sorry, just didn't feel it.
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Date: 16.09.2009
From: Carbooncle
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Hm, I can see Tony asking Carol that. It does make sense to me with the new boss waiting for Carol to screw up and and get rid of her team. Given that prospect I could imagine Carol actually going with Tony. I have more of a problem with Tony's decision to live in that house! He wants a fresh start, ok. Leave the demons behind. I get that. But cutting all ties to his former life? Risking that Carol will NOT come with him? Bit extreme for him. Not the kind of scenario I would have pictured for them as a starting point into a future as a real couple... I can't shake that fairytale castle image *g* That does not fit at all. But let's see what Val does with it.
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Date: 17.09.2009
From: Maria
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I live in Australia and was really pleased to be able to buy Fever of the bone the same day it was released in Britain, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as all the other wire in the blood series. It took a different direction not spending so much time in Tony's head but I'm excited as to where Val might be taking us, after all it's her party and I'm happy to be going along for the ride. I trust her vision with the ongoing tension interlaced with raw honesty of Carol and Tony's relationship.
I'm really looking forward to the next book.
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Date: 17.09.2009
From: Dani
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Please don't get me wrong, I thought it was a good book. Just not the best.
On the crime side I was dissapointed because there was no.. connection with the crime, I didn't feel the psychological thrilling that i normally get from a wire book.
and with the C and T relationship, i didn't feel the electricity or just below the surface emotion/sexual tension that you have in all the others. I can say for certain that I will buy the next book in the series and I look forward to it. Does anyone know vals opinions on where the story is headed or the direction she was seeking for this book? has she done any interviews on it yet?
P.S Maria, Im an Aussie too! living in UK now though! WEST COAST EAGLES ALL THE WAY!
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Date: 19.09.2009
From: Jo Adams
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Wow, I'm surprised at all the negative comments here. I loved this book and I personally think that Val is really starting to develop both characters lives, leading the way to an open ended future!
I won't spoil the ending either but suffice to say I hope Val is at this very moment typing the next instalment!
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Date: 19.09.2009
From: Marieke
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I haven't read the last book, but I think the relationship between Carol en Tony will never have a happy ending. That's part of the charme about it. The many things that came between them makes them very good friends, but that's as far as it will go. PS as much I would them to get it over with and get together...
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Date: 19.09.2009
From: Carbooncle
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Perhaps not a happy ending in the usual sense. Tony would always be paranoid about screwing the relationship up and losing Carol and she'd have to find a way to deal with this. But they're not hopeless. A romantic relationship would probably not be easier than their current situation but I'd still like to see that happening for them. I really hope there will NOT be an open ending for the last book!! That would be the most disappointing scenery imaginable for me. I'd rather have one of them die than another epilogue that suggests they might work it out now but it's up for the reader to imagine their future.
Please, don't do that, Val!
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Date: 20.09.2009
From: Dani
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Hope Val will share her thoughts and reasons for the book.
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Date: 21.09.2009
From: Plum Jam
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Re Carol and Tony's developing relationship the moment I finished this book I was wondering where their relationship will go and anticipating the next installment. So for me this book was more about a transitional phase in a continuing story rather than a completely compelling end in itself if that makes sense?
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Date: 22.09.2009
From: Dani
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I hear you Plum Jam. It just wasn't (unlike the other books)a book I would read twice you know..I felt like I was waiting for something exciting to happen and before I knew it I had finnished the book .. and I was like 'is that it?'
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Date: 22.09.2009
From: Carbooncle
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I've read all the Tony/Carol books several times. Ok, Beneath the Bleeding only once more a couple of days ago. But Fever really dragged... not one I'd enjoy reading again since reading it for the first time wasn't fun, either :0(
I usually don't read books twice. Val's novels and "American Gods" from Neil Gaiman (love him!) are an exception.
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Date: 24.09.2009
From: Giorgia
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I agree with some of what's been said. I found that it was definitely a page-turner (I was still up till four-thirty in the morning so I could read it in one go), but not quite as much as the others. I'm anxious to see where Tony's new-found self-confidence will take him, though. And how far. As to Carol and Tony, there could have been a bit more, I agree. There could have been a bit more in volume, but I found that what was there was... apt to the story. The scenes between those two which take place in pubs and the Indian restaurant (etc.) have, for some reason, always been my favourite scenes. If anything, I wished that there had been more of the profiling. I can understand that as Tony made all his revelations, his ability to profile was... muted, but the darkness that makes this series so gripping and emotional wasn't as obvious as usual. It seemed a much lighter book than the rest of the series. As to the last post by Plum Jam, I agree with that: It definitely reads more like a "transitional" book than the others. Vanessa, though. Man, she makes me angry. I was smarting for half the book because she was so horrible. You can always rely on Carol to get the one-up on her, though. Not to mention the junior profiler - I disliked him almost as much. And I was so happy for Paula! I'm still missing Don's cynicism, though. But as sick as this sounds, I'm sort of hoping that the darkness will be back soon. It's what makes Tony who he is, and it's the main reason that his insight and relationships so interesting. Still, Tony did have some good "Tony" moments, even though nothing he does will ever compare to the hilarity of accidentally handcuffing himself to that chair earlier in the series.
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Date: 29.09.2009
From: Lon Fibia
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
The title of Val's latest book is taken, as usual, from a TS Eliot poem. Fair enough, I have no problem with that - but on the cover of my copy is a large bone, which I think is a little OTT. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong but at no time in the story is a skeleton found as far as the teenage serial killings are concerned, all the bodies are found very soon after disappearance. So why the great big bone? It's a little misplaced and probably the brainwave of someone in marketing but once you've read the book it does seem rather daft. Yes I know there's another discovery from about 14 years back but that isn't really at the heart of the story.
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Date: 29.09.2009
From: Lilllypond
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I haven't read it but I'm sure I wouldn't be bothered by a Bone ! Never judge a book by it's cover as they say...........anyway, Val is cool so she can do whatever she likes as far as I'm concerned!
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Date: 06.10.2009
From: Lyne Walker
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Well, call me the odd one out, but I absolutely loved Fever of the Bone from beginning to end.
I was totally enthralled, and thought the story was both brilliantly conceived and written, and showed just what an amazing author Val is as she continues to draw out the characters of Tony, Carol, Kevin, Sam, Paula and Stacey.
My only complaint is that I finished it too quickly and can't wait for more!
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Date: 08.10.2009
From: John Felton
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Yep, i have to agree with you Lyne.
I loved the character building of all the team, and Stacey's character is coming on great and is becoming a firm favourite of mine.
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Date: 21.10.2009
From: Robert
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I agree. I found it compelling reading. It's was good to see character development not just with respect to Carol and Tony, but with others in the team. I can understand Tony's decision to live in the house and am keen to know where things go from here. It won't be easy or predicatable - that's what makes the series satsfying. Not to mention Val's delightful writing.
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Date: 25.10.2009
From: Emma
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I'd gave to agree with what seems to be the genneral opinion around here; I didn't think this was one of McDermid's beter works. It was good and if it had been written by any other author, I might have even called it brilliant, but coming from Val, I was a little dissapointed. When I got to the end I thought to myself, as Dani said, "is this it?". It really felt like the story (both the case and Carol and Tony's story) was building up to something big and in the end it was rather anti-climatic. I also feel like the last three Tony Hill novels have very much taken on a very pradictable pattern, where the first three were so different! The Tony/Carol relationship, which ones intrigued me, is also starting to annoy me now. The lack of intimacy between them feels forced...maybe to keep us reading (will they, or won't they?) That said, there were also a lot of aspects of FOTB that I enjoyed! McDermid creates magic with words, there's no doubting that. The descriptions of the distraught families who have lost their children brought me to tears more than ones. It was an interresting case (if not maybe the *most* interresting of Tony Hill cases) and I still very much admire how she brings the characters to life. Looking forward to the next one!
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Date: 29.12.2009
From: Lindaloo
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I have loved all Val's books, most of all the Tony/Carol books. They always leave me wanting more straight away and I feel like I am right there with all the characters carried away from my own life. I really get caught up in them - I was given FOB on Christmas Day - started reading mid-afternoon then after evening meal - finally finished at 1.30am - sobbing at the emotion of it all. I also found the descriptions of the distraught families very moving and kept hoping that Seth in particular would be the one saved by the team as I found him the most appealing and likeable of the teenagers. Keep up the great writing Val, I really love Tony and Carol - Robson Green's tv portrayl of him is so spot on to my own interpreation just a pity Hermione Norris moved on.
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Date: 30.12.2009
From: amanda
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
i have to say im a huge fan of Val's writing and i think that Fever of the Bone opened up new opportunities for the Tony/Carol story. We as readers have waited so long for a connection between them and the book has entirely allowed for this connection to happen. I absolutely cant recommend this book (and all others of her books!!) enough, well done Val, looking forward to many more pages of un-put-down-able reading!!!!
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Date: 01.01.2010
From: T
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Hi there, I absolutely loved 'fever'. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really felt bad for the victims, especially Jennifer and Seth, and their parents, and Daniel's dad. And the ending really killed me; I'm really glad Tony has found some peace regarding his history but now that leaves him and Carol in a quandry. I don't want her to leave her team behind because I enjoy them; I want to see what happens with Sam and Stacey, with Paula and Dr. Blessing and I want Chris back, I really enjoy her. But it seems this is the last chance for Carol and Tony. Their relationship is killing me; I really need them to get it together now, plus they're getting old, Tony has hit forty, like seriously. I need Tony and Carol to have a relationship but I don't know how that will happen. I just think neither will be happy if distance seperates them.
Val you're killing me, don't make us wait too long for the next Tony/Carol, please.
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Date: 19.01.2010
From: Carol
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I read FOTB over my Christmas holidays from work - with some trepidation I must admit after reading some of the reviews here. But I loved it, thank goodness.
I do realise reviews are subjective and everyone has an opinion but I think I would have been so disappointed if I hadnt of liked it. Keep up this type of work Val, the writing and the character development is second to none.
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Date: 24.02.2010
From: Ali
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I just read the paperback in one sitting, Val is an amazing author and I think FOTB is her finest.
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Date: 13.03.2010
From: Schrodinger56
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
Sorry but I'm must be in the minority here because this was not one of my favourite Hill & Jordan books. I use audiobooks and it wasn't until the 9th CD that things began to get exiting and interest me. So not one I'll be listening to again I'm afraid.
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Date: 12.06.2010
From: dorisbaerbel
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Subject: Re: Fever of the bone
I just finished FOTB in one session and really liked it. I found the character development of Tony and Carol and especially the rest of the team very good. As well as most readers here I really hope T & C will get to another stage in their relationship, but I found the ending opens up a big range of possibilities for the two of them. So I do look forward for the next book in this series. It seems that will be "trick of the dark" released at the beginning of 2011, so we have to wait and see;-))
Thanks Val, your books are always a pleasure to read, Id like to read another one about Kate Brannigan, but I think I read somewhere, that there wont be a new one in that series;-(.
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