July book club - The Deaths by Mark Lawson

I really enjoyed this book although I did have trouble to start with remembering who was married to who. I don't think I've read another book where you didn't know who was actually killed until quite near the end - never mind who did it.

I would like to ask Mark whether he had decided at the start of the book, which family had been killed or whether it evolved as he wrote the story.

Although I enjoyed reading this book,I did find it difficult to keep the couples matched up as I read.It seemed as though I was just getting into into one character,then another was focused upon and I lost the thread.As a result it was hard to develop sympathy with any of them.
A little too complex for my tastes,the plot was well written but easy to lose concentration.Perhaps it is just my memory getting worse with age!
It does seem to true to the "keeping up with the Jones's" set and highlights the pretentious way of life of the "new" aristocracy.Mark Lawson is an excellent writer and there are people I would recommend him to but just not for me.

What a fantastic book. Its a page-turner and I have not been able to put it down so far, I am so involved with the plot and characters. Thank you!

I have been rereading most of the salient parts of the book, just to make sure I had got the story right in my mind.

I'm so glad I have given up my Nespresso machine, I don't think I could have carried on using it with a straight face! The trouble is we've gone over to roasting and grinding our own coffee and I suspect this may be even more middle class

Just finished reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found it a bit hard to get into the characters at the start but it got better as it went on. I didn't guess who it was in advance - found that part very moving.
Having done cleaning work some years ago for a nice couple who were very much middle class 'keeping up with the Jones's' types I can see that some of that is how it seemed to me the characters are very true to life of some people.
I felt the ending a bit of a let down - we are led in one direction but did he?

I would like to ask Mark if he intended it to be slightly tongue in cheek moralising - Money doesn't make you happy and certainly trying to keep up appearances is not a good idea - as that is how I felt but maybe I am reading too much into it and being too deep.

I too am finding it hard to 'understand' the individual characters as I cannot picture them in anyway so far. The nearest I have got too are our political leaders and their wives!
Before I give up I will follow Nonnanna's lead and create a chart of who fits where.
My question at this stage would be 'who would be your target audience whilst writing this book?'

I was delighted to receive a copy of The Deaths by Mark Lawson and have made good inroads into it already. I have found it very readable and certainly keeps you turning the pages. The blurb gave some indication of what to expect but even so I have been quite surprised at the depth of observation shown in the opening chapters so my question to Mark Lawson is

"You have a number of main characters with the four couples yet each is very different and readily identifiable which is great for the reader. Are you a conscious people-watcher or does your characterisation come from the people you meet or see on the media for example?"

I have not yet found time to read the book since it arrived as we have our family staying from Dubai so will read Mark's comments and am following all your threads and will look forward to getting 'stuck in ' soon!

Thank you for the copy of The Deaths, what a lovely surprise. I've read it and absolutely loved it. I felt I was actually "in there" with the characers. I'd love to ask other people what they thought about the end, as in "Did he?" but don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't yet read it. Brilliant read and totally absorbing, loved it.

Finally finished 'The Deaths', I found it difficult to find my rhythm in reading this book with the erractic lengths of the chapters - some relating the narrative of 'The eight' being up to a hundred pages and those relating to the conduct of the investigation of the event being only 6 pages long.

I would like to ask Mark if this was a deliberate device and if so to what purpose. I could not relate to or like any of the characters and this made it difficult for me to maintain interest in their shallow lives.

On a lighter note does Mark have any connection to Bolton (Wanderers) or was that town randomly selected as a sharp contrast to Middlebury?

Same here. Very good read.

What can I read now!

Finished it sitting in the garden all afternoon. This book's like an onion consisting of layer upon layer. And it packs a kick! If I have a major criticism, it's the juvenile attitudes of one (maybe two) of the main characters and the obsession with sex and seeing innuendos where none is intended - shared with his unappealing wife.

In common with many other readers, I haven't finished this yet. It is my "book to read in the garden" but it so wonderfully hot (the weather, not the book) that I have to lie down indoors occasionally and contemplate the fate of Mark's characters, rather than read another chapter. Simon has a chip on his shoulder about class. Is this you, Mark? So he does stand out as a character. As does saintly Dr Emily, though only for appearances' sake I suspect. As for the other characters I, too, am confused at times. They seem to be living parallel lives in parallel communities, although I suppose that's the point. Unfortunately the protagonists are also interchangeable. So far I have very little sympathy for any of these people. Not because they are rich, middle class, smug etc. etc. But because Mark doesn't seem to dare dig deep into their souls or their psyches. There are, however, some LOL (yes, Mark, we all got that one) moments and this is a good debut novel, despite its irritating flaws. I haven't finished it yet but will send another message (if I'm allowed to) when I have.

shysal luckily there is no spoiler!

I am about 1/3 way through the book. I am afraid I am another who is struggling. I have only just got to grips with the names of the couples and their children. I will stick with it though, suspect the ending will be clever. I have not dared read many posts on here in case of a 'spoiler'!

I am half way through the book and I have now sorted out the characters. How on earth did Mark remember all of the inconsequential twittering which was part of the story?

I also liked the fact that it was up to date and referred to current issues but the use of the C word I thought was unnecessary. Also the mention of condoms as a contraceptive was more late 1950's than 2014 because nowadays there are implants, IUD, coil, the pill etc. and the man after 2-3 children could opt for a vasectomy. As somebody said earlier, some of the sex talk was more 14 year old boys than late 40's professional men.

Normally it is not a book that I would complete until the end but maybe my views will be changed. There is so much detail that I cannot skim through it but I want to find out who has been murdered and why.

I loved this book & in no way did I find it confusing - haven't quite finished but can't wait to do so -would love to know why he chose to have the murders in it

I was so delighted to receive the book - many thanks - I took it to Spain to enjoy during a week's holiday!

A real treat.

The book is bang up to date and refers to current issues, fashions and way of life, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed and found very amusing. At times I too found it tricky to recall which character was which and I totally gave up where the children were concerned!

I loved the book overall and thought it was cleverly written. My only disappointment was the last "death" which in my judgment seemed out of character with the person concerned. I would love to know why it was put in? It seemed to me an incomplete scenario or perhaps its the theme for the next book in the series!?

Thank you so much for my copy of "The Deaths", As it only arrived quite recently I haven't completed it. However I have enjoyed it so far. My question would be "I am enjoying the different couples and their fascinating different personalities. Are any of them based on people you have encountered or are they simply "figments of your imagination"?

I can't wait for the time to finish this book and will be looking for more Mark Lawson books to read and recommend to my book club.

Finished this book last night - have to say I found it rather patchy almost as if it was written by two different people. Some of the writing seemed rather juvenile with pseudonyms for various body parts and actions. The characters were confusing and interchangeable and I found it hard working out who was married to who and which children belonged to which parents. Some of the language used, especially when quoting social networking sites was strong but unfortunately this is merely reflecting what does appear on those sites.

Once we found out which family had been killed the writing became stronger and was well crafted and made the last chapters the most enjoyable.

It was confusing switching from past to present, perhaps if a date had been inserted at the beginning of the chapters it may have made the book easier to follow.

Are we to assume that one of the characters was the cause of the train hold up at the end?

Are the characters based on real people (or a composite of various people)?

Did you set out to write a "whodunnit" which turned into a social commentary or was the killing always meant to be secondary.?

Like others on here I found The Deaths awkward to read at first. Sorting out the characters and their connections was difficult. I eventually hit upon the idea of making up a chart which I kept adding to as I read (I know... I'm a little obsessive!) I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience after that, finishing the book in a day and even managing to work out who had been killed. I enjoyed how different writing styles were used with different characters. It made the characters more real.

Mark - how did you keep track of everyone, their relationships, their jobs, their pets, their lifestyles, their taste in coffee? I am visualising you in front of a huge board, like those we see in detective series, with names and lines running everywhere.

It's skilfully constructed to be as intriguing as possible. Every time I think I have worked out which family is dead, I find another clue that points to another family. Although I find most of the characters distasteful it is this that has kept me reading.
I have noticed a distinct resemblance to the style of John le Carré's later novels, especially the use of the present tense. I wonder if Mark has been consciously or unconsciously influenced.

Thanks for sending me this book. I was delighted to find it waiting for me when I got home from holiday and am looking forward to starting it this week

Watched Mark Lawson interview Jo Brand last night and thoroughly enjoyed.
But his book 'the Deaths' I've given up on .Is it a joke?
Tried several times and only got to page 60 so have given up on it .