This was a spontaneous purchase from a rummage table. I had never heard of the author or book before, but the premise caught my attention and I thought it would make a decent holiday read. And I was rewarded indeed with a great story. The complex M.O., poisoning her victims and taking on their identities one after another, was very original, while the choice of an elderly woman as serial killer was unusual but fitting. The investigating DCI also was different, as Mark Lapslie suffers from synaesthesia, which manifests in all kinds of flavors invading his taste buds upon hearing different sounds. While this condition partly benefits his job, at most times it is a great challenge he has to endure.But as if the combination of these two bizarre characters wasn't enough, the author adds a third element of surprise, which at the end explains some mysteries and connections. However, I thought it was too much and spoiled the otherwise perfectly balanced alternation between investigator and criminal, therefore "only" four stars. However, I will definitely check out the next book in the series. Still Waters is a solid murder mystery with some interesting aspects. The protagonist is a detective who has synaethesia (he tastes sounds), which prevents him from functioning normally. The murderer is an elderly woman who poisons other elderly women. This isn't a "whodunit" since we spend half the book with her, but the mystery lies in how the police will connect the initial body to her and track her down before she can do more damage. Nothing knocked me over, but I did enjoy the unusual characters. They added some flavor (no pun intended) to the typical mystery novel.
What do You think about Myrkynkeittäjä (2008)?
thus far, very creepy...ended up being creepy. Interesting copper who tastes sounds.
—L0ui5
Very good first in series have got the next one on TBR.
—kiki
a very different mystery. It held my attention.
—deni
