When I was given the opportunity to read/review Prime Suspect and it's two sequels, I jumped at the chance. By now, anyone who reads this blog on any sort of regular (or irregular) basis should have figured out I'm a huge mystery fan. It doesn't seem to matter the style; noir, cozy, golden age, police procedural, I like them all. You can't be a mystery fan and not have heard of Prime Suspect or at least of it's television incarnation with the great Helen Mirren. They even tried it on US television this season with the gorgeous Maria Bello. Sadly that was cancelled almost right away. Now I'm going to admit right up front that I'm guilty of never watching either show, though I was familiar with them. It's for that reason, partly to resolve my guilt and curiosity, that I agreed to read the three books in the series.When I first started reading this book, I will admit to having some doubts about it. I almost put it down after the first twenty or so pages. It was reading to me more like a television script that an actual novel. The pacing seemed off and the transitions between scenes seemed more apt for a visual medium over the printed word. I stuck with it though and before I knew it, I was in love. There was something so infectious and real about what I was reading that I couldn't put the book down. I carried the book with me everywhere I went, reading every spare moment I had.Part of that appeal is with the main character, Jane Tennison. She is one of those rare characters that seem real. It doesn't feel like a character that came out of the imagination of it's author. Instead she feels more like a real life cop, who agreed to step into the footsteps of a figment of imagination. She was flawed and heroic. It's those flaws though that cemented her into my cerebellum and will probably never allow her to pack up and leave. She was a fully thought out, three dimensional character who I would want working my murder case.She is an overly insecure individual who has a driving need to prove herself as a cop and as a woman. That fact that she is of the female gender makes her job all that much harder in the overly masculine world of homicide. She steps on toes and even resorts to a bit of professional blackmail in order to get the opportunities she needs to prove herself. She is tenacious, ambitious, and wholly lovable despite her habit of destroying any personal relationship that she is in. Now, the one example given in this book makes me believe it's more her bad taste in men and their own insecurities that cause her the problems.Now as far as the mystery itself, I can't find any flaws with it. The villain that Lynda La Plante created as Tennison's foil is so Ted Bundy like in style and charm that you can't help but believe him and in his innocence. Cerebraly I knew he was guilty as sin, but my brain just didn't want to accept that such a debonair, charming man could be guilty of such brutality. As both the case and the proven ability of Tennison's mind becomes clearer with each page, the mystery solidifies and the true nature of the prime suspect fully enters into my mind. He becomes the perfect literary villain. He is someone who is truly evil, but still retains that likability and sympathy. In one word, he is perfect.I have already received the other two books in the series, and can already tell you that I will be heart broken at the end of the third one. It will be the last time I get to see Jane Tennison on a new case. Of course I have two TV shows to fill any emptiness that I may end up feeling.
I'm not sure because I can't find any info but this may a novelization of the original Prime Suspect movie. I remember like eons ago watching this on PBS and falling in love with Jane Tennison, who I thought was probably the most ballsy woman I'd ever encountered on screen or off. Now, having read the story, my opinion hasn't changed.In case you've seen it and forgotten the story, it begins with an investigation into the death of a prostitute named Della Mornay. Sadly, the lead investigator dies of a heart attack as the investigation is proceeding, and Jane Tennison is on hand to take up the case. One of the first things she realizes is that the identification of the body was botched, and from there the case takes on an entirely different light. However, that's not the main thrust of the novel. Prime Suspect lets the reader into the backrooms of the police; in this case, into a good-old-boy, chumsy whumsy type situation where women aren't really tolerated, even if they're more than qualified, in fact, BECAUSE they're more than qualified. It also peeks into Tennison's personal life, which she basically sacrifices for her career. All in all, a well-done mystery and well worth the time it takes to read the book.
What do You think about Prime Suspect (1993)?
Prime Suspect was a marvelous British (produced by Granada Television for the ITV network between 7 April 1991 and 22 October 2006. Prime Suspect 4 through 7 were co-produced by WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece Mystery anthology series.) production, which starred the amazing Helen Mirrin as Police detective Jane Tennyson, one of the first females to break into that peculiar boys club of non-uniformed police back in the day. We loved the series, making me eager to read the book which I supposed the show to have been adapted. That, however, was not meant to be.The TV show (according to the bit by the author at the beginning of this edition, or else the acknowledgments -- I don't have the book on front of me so can't check) sprang from a mention at a lunch with the author and some people in the industry. The book, while well written, is an adaptation of a screenplay. As it was an excellent screen play, the book, too, is good. It is very visual, lots of verbal dialogue though little inner introspection, and reads very much, not surprisingly, like a screen play. Very easy to visualize Mirrin speaking and portraying Tennyson. The part suits her.Though the book was well written, I'll probably give books 2 and 3 a pass. Prime Suspect still rolls around occasionally on the Telly (the American version or any other newer ones have no interest for me) and I prefer, in this case, to view my Jane on the television screen, not the viewing screen in my brain. Rounded up from 3.5 since I liked the screenplay so much. I do not, however, like this cover, which must be based on a later version of the series.
—bookczuk
It took me a while to get into this one, I couldn't quite figure out why we were following a detective that had all but solved his case, alongside a woman bitter about the sexism in her office. It was a slow start but once things came to a head and our hero Jane Tennison took over the investigation, it was far more interesting.Twists and turns galore, uncovering more and more evidence along the way, I quite liked how the angry mob nature of the rest of the force turned into support and celebration by the end. I also liked that whilst it was a story that came to a conclusion, it didn't feel as though it was the end of the tale, which gives plenty of scope for a sequel, but more importantly, for your imagination to wonder what happened next. It's a great skill to end a book with a satisfying finish as well as on something of a cliffhanger.Much enjoyed, and now I want to read more from Lynda, as well as check out the TV show.
—Christine Blachford
Fabulous read. I've seen the series with Helen Mirren, BBC series and it is also fabulous and follows the book perfectly. Jane Tennison, DCI has been waiting, patiently for her own command at Scotland Yard. They sideline her at every opportunity as the old boy's club is alive and well and truly banded against her at all levels. Then the chief investigator drops dead while investigating the newest case. Jane bulls herself into her commander's office and demands to be put in charge of the investigation. He acquiesces because he can't figure out what else to do and he knows that what they have been doing is wrong but the world they live in is wrong. She has an uphill battle both with the investigation and in her own squad room where there are officers actively working against her. She determines there's been a mistake in the identification of the deceased and that the entire investigation to date has been mishandled, partly to hide the trangressions of the previous Chief Inspector. Jane orders a further investigation of back cases, further bodies are found, The investigation takes all of her attention, day and night which spells death to the fledgling relationship with the man she loves.
—Sharon
