Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

Hi Everyone!

This month we are reading and discussing The Long Call by Ann Cleeves!

Please feel free to start discussing the book whenever you are ready. Just be aware of spoilers in this thread.

I read this some time ago but I will join in the discussion. I am looking forward to hearing what other people think about the book.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I read this some time ago but I will join in the discussion. I am looking forward to hearing what other people think about the book."

I read this awhile ago too, but I will reread it because I don't remember most of it.

I saw the TV show, it was really good.

A week or so ago I read book 2 in this series The Heron's Cry, since I ran across it in the local library and remembered folks here liking the author's work. I was reminded of why I quit reading police procedurals years ago--they are just so dry. The book had a bit more personal stuff than old-time procedurals, and I could see where she's trying to show the personalities of the cops as well as the suspects. But it just dragged for me. It's the same reason I've never watched more than a few episodes of Law & Order.

If I had all the time in the world to read, and no TBR list a mile long, I might take the time. It was not a BAD book by any means. I just kept thinking I'd rather be reading or re-reading so many better books. I guess I want feeling and relationships to make up a larger portion of my reading.

Has anyone else dived into this one yet?

I’m not sure I’ll have time for a reread, but I’ll try.

I just finished listening to the audiobook; it's a "reread" for me too, but the first time I actually read it.

I’m going to get to this one very late this month. One more print book to read first. I’ll get there, I promise! But it will likely turn into April before I’m done. Sigh.... such a crazy month for book groups for me!

Just finished Mexican Gothic for another book group one week late. Now I'll finally get started on my reread of The Long Call tonight! yay!

I hope others are enjoying this one.

It's really funny, because I've reread many mysteries in my time and I only tend to remember whodunit after I've reread a particular book many times, like the Adrien English series. But this book, I do remember whodunit after one read several years ago. No, I don't remember the name of the character, but I do remember their job and I'm sure the moment the person appears on page, I'll go "Oh yeah, that's the one!" lol. So odd. I wonder what makes it so memorable in this book compared to others? Or will I get to the end and go, welp, I was wrong! I guess we'll find out. lol.

Jordan wrote: "Or will I get to the end and go, welp, I was wrong! I guess we'll find out. "

That reminds me of my reread this year of A Case of Christmas (I'm not sure why it wasn't in the running for "Winter" but we already had enough nominated, so I didn't mention it). I totally misremembered the culprit. That is, I had the right culprit, but my memory of the "crime" was completely, comically off-base.

I remembered the ending as (view spoiler)[ the papers Hupert was trying to steal contained evidence that he had murdered someone — his wife or maybe Ed Lacey. He couldn't let Shane discover them and let them come to light, so he had drugged Shane's whiskey (which is why he slept for so long) and then when that failed to dispose of him, purposely hit Shane with the golf cart (hide spoiler)].

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Or will I get to the end and go, welp, I was wrong! I guess we'll find out. "

That reminds me of my reread this year of A Case of Christmas (I'm not sure why it wasn..."

I don't remember that ending either. It's been a long time since I read that one too.

I haven't read a proper mystery in a long time, it feels like. I needed to take a break from mystery tv shows for awhile, but right now, with so much reading going on this month, it feels really good to get into a genre I know and enjoy a lot. Especially a book I've already read once and really liked.

I added the second book to my toread list for the year, so hopefully I'll get to that one at some point.

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Or will I get to the end and go, welp, I was wrong! I guess we'll find out. "

That reminds me of my reread this year of A Case of Christmas (I'm not sure why it wasn..."

I wonder if that's what you were thinking the first time you read it, and now your memory is supplying your supposition instead of the actual book. I have done that a time or two. I've been reading about studies which are showing our memories are very incorrect in many ways. They're now saying that eyewitness testimony can be some of the worst statements for a trial.

Marge wrote: "I wonder if that's what you were thinking the first time you read it, and now your memory is supplying your supposition instead of the actual book. "

This must be what happened. Although for me, it's far more typically that I forget I've read the book at all, and just get really good at solving the murders! (view spoiler)["I bet the murderer is only pretending to be a serial killer bent on murdering people with alliterative initials, to cover up for the murder of someone with alliterative initials that he has a motive for" (hide spoiler)]

Imagine having to solve a murder in your own neighborhood where your family lives...

It's been very interesting listening to the audiobook. It breaks down the procedural aspects in detail in a way that I never fully get from film/television. Actually, in a way I also don't so often get from reading, because I tend to read quickly and not pause much to contemplate, but listening makes me slow down and think a bit more.

So now I've read the book, watched the television series, and am only about midway through the audiobook... may finish in the next two nights if I don't get distracted by my other reading. (I just finished the first book of a space opera trilogy, but the third book doesn't come out until May so maybe I'll back-burner the second.)

P.S. I'm not sure I'd remember whodunnit if I hadn't watched the TV series. :)

Ooohhh, I’ve not seen the show or done the audiobook. I only switched from eBook to hardcover. Lol

How’s the show?

The further I get into this the more I remember how much more complicated it actually is. I certainly don’t remember all of the moving parts.

Jordan wrote: "Ooohhh, I’ve not seen the show or done the audiobook. I only switched from eBook to hardcover. Lol

How’s the show?

The further I get into this the more I remember how much more complicated it act..."

I thought the TV drama was ok but I preferred the book. I think the book allows you to experience the thoughts of the characters and the tv drama changed some of the characters. The drama was very atmospheric though and quite haunting. I think they did that well. I am glad I read the book first.

I have to say the best TV adapted dramas that I have seen are the Inspector Montalbano books. The TV dramas are first class and they really bring the books to life and the actors are brilliant.

I have also noticed that sometimes tv dramas can be far better than the book. I really liked watching the Witcher series on Netflix but the first book in the series is just so boring for me. I think the drama has really raised my expectations and the books don’t deliver in the same way.

Interesting!

With Vera, I watched the show first, so I actually do prefer it to the books. I like getting more of Vera on screen than on page and Brenda Does such a great job with the character.

Otherwise, I rarely watch things that are also books. Lol

I finished the audiobook tonight. I agree with a lot of Ije's comments about television adaptations. I liked the television version of The Long Call. As Ije says it's very atmospheric. The tv version places much more emphasis on Venn's relationship with his mother than the book does.

I may have enjoyed the audiobook best of all. The reader has a lovely voice, even though his character voices aren't always as strongly differentiated as those of some narrators I follow.

I suspect that we may have delayed our group read of this book too long. :) If I remember correctly it was in the running or suggested as a BOM a few times. By the time we finally got to it, it was a re-read for most of us participating. I find our most successful (participation-wise) rereads to be Josh's books.

I will read the next book and short story/novella in this Two Rivers series. I enjoyed the Shetland tv series and have one of the Shetland series books on audio. I have the sense that the tv version of that series diverges even more from the books.

Yeah, we have had this one in the polls several times and each time it was voted down. We had one group member who really wanted to talk about it, especially about the fact that it's not stated Venn is autistic, but he seems like he is.

I do think you're right in that Josh's rereads are the most popular thing we do here!

I've not finished the book. I'm barely into it, but I'll try to keep plugging away at it.

Jordan wrote: "Yeah, we have had this one in the polls several times and each time it was voted down. We had one group member who really wanted to talk about it, especially about the fact that it's not stated Ven..."

I like the way the author writes police procedurals. They include such fleshed-out characters. I started the second book.

I don't read Venn as autistic, rather as someone who is imprinted by his experiences as a child and youth while part of his family's strict religious group. I see him as someone who spent his formative years as a member of this small group, but as an outsider to the wider world. So he still examines his thoughts and actions in comparison to others in that wider world. In his later adolescence he was astute and self-aware enough recognize that he couldn't accept the group's beliefs. But prior to that he missed out on "normal" social interactions, and as an adult he struggles with these. It's interesting how he compares himself to Jonathan, and is mostly critical of himself.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I have to say the best TV adapted dramas that I have seen are the Inspector Montalbano books. The TV dramas are first class and they really bring the books to life and the actors are brilliant."

The series became ''cult'' in Italy.

Okay, that makes sense. I’ll have to pay attention as I read!