July book club - The Deaths by Mark Lawson

When folk are saying how it was hard to work out which character was which, I wondered if the author deliberately did this to show that the rich are as faceless as the sort of folk they would sneer at ie the Jeremy Kyle type. Some of them were so cruel, more concerned about appearances than anything else. Although their idea of "hard up" would not be most folk's! They all needed a good lesson in thrift and common sense. The way they spurned folk if they were no longer in their income bracket was shocking! Some really funny lines. Very cleverly written.

No - you're not the only one who thinks reading in the daytime is decadent and a terrible waste of time! We were obviously exposed to Puritan values as children . I think we need to change .

Ah - now I understand why I received a copy of The Deaths. Thank you. I'm a great fan of Mark Lawson's radio and T.V. work, but I found this book 'difficult'. For a start I found it hard to tell one couple from another - they all seemed somewhat cloned. Having eventually sorted that problem out I discovered that I didn't really like any of them and found it hard to empathise with any of them except, perhaps, Tasha and Emily, so I wasn't really sorry for any of them. Perhaps that was the point - I wasn't meant to! I also found the jumping from one scene to another so rapidly a bit irritating. I did read it to the end because I was determined to find out which family had perished and why. I know a similar scenario happened, in real life, to a family in the Midlands some years ago, but I just wasn't convinced that this character would have done what he did. Sorry Mark!

I did enjoy reading this book, an interesting story but did find it hard to follow at times.

I liked the mix of characters but would have liked more details about them, think it would have made it easier to keep track of who was who.

Sorry, I really wanted to like this book as it is obviously written with skill in characterisation and plots, but I found it hard going and often lost interest. The only set piece I found really held my interest was the funeral scene and ironically the characters came alive to me then!

Thank you for my copy of The Deaths. Been on Scottish islands and have just finished reading. It is a brilliant complex book, partly social satire and part crime mystery. I enjoyed it very much. Do not wait so long Mark for our next reading fest! Thanks again

Thanks so much for my copy of The Deaths. I am slowly working my way through the book at bed time every night and am thoroughly enjoying so far. Totally different to anything I would normally read but I'm definitely converted to this type of novel. Thank you!

Thanks a lot. Another exciting author to follow. He had me gripped to the end. I don't normally go for this sort of genre but I really enjoyed it. Interesting characters & a good puzzle to solve.

Is that the Mark Lawson who does the brilliant interviews on the Beeb?

This is the first time I have read a novel by Mark Lawson, and I have to say this was the best book I have read for a long time. The story kept me interested right till the last page, I will definitely be looking for his earlier novels.

I am half way through reading this book and am hooked,I can't read any of the other posts in case I find out the end result and spoil my enjoyment,does the author know any families such as the ones he is writing about and if he does are people really this materialistic ? I will certainly seek out other books written by Mark this is the first of his I have read,so sorry it is taking me a while to read but it is worthwhile.

Thank you for my copy. I am half way through so have decided not to read the comments made so far in case I find out what happens! I found the book quite difficult to get into to start with but am now thoroughly engrossed and look forward to bedtime so I can read some more! (Am I the only gransnetter who, although retired, still thinks reading during the day (apart from the newspaper), a decadent activity and so only relax to read in bed??)
Is the Mark Lawson author the same Mark Lawson who used to present the 7.15pm programme on Radio 4 (after the Archers)?
There is something unlikeable about all the characters, especially the lady vicar! Perhaps it is the unbridled wealth - as far as I have got, only Simon seems not to have quite so much money but I am anticipating financial storms ahead! But there really are some lol moments - the Christmas service is one example, and some pretty shameful bits too -. But I will reserve further comments until after I have finished.

Thank-you for mine, enjoyed it

I'm about halfway through.
I found it hard to get into to start and almost gave up.
But now I'm enjoying it mainly.
The question I have is:-
Do you actually know such stereotypical people? Or is it entirely fantasy?

Thank you for the copy of The Deaths, but I had no clue who sent this to me and so have not started to read it yet.

It just arrived through the post with no indication of where it came from or who it was from.

As I was reading other books I put it to one side until I could catch up with it. I must now remedy this by reading it, so I have not any thoughts or feelings that I can discuss, but I am sure it will be a good read from all the other indications I have read.

I finished my book last night and really enjoyed it. I couldn't have guessed the ending! With the heatwave we're enjoying I couldn't sleep much, so I'd pick up my book and start reading. I'd like to ask the author how he got such an insight to the rich people? Does he move in those circles?

I am about 3/4 of the way through this book and am finding it hard going
a lot of the dialogue appears to be about how the other half live and i dont
think there is any need for all the outings as they are not nessecary to
the plot and i find it hard going i just want to get on with the story,i am
enjoying the book but keep having to put it down and then pick it up again later as apposed to when i enjoy a book i find it hard to put it down.
But would not put me off trying another of his novels.

I am REALLY enjoying this book! About halfway through now and I don't know yet whose deaths the coffee-man has found (apart from the dogs) but that doesn't seem to matter because the Eight - or Ten, occasionally - are such well-drawn characters that it is an enjoyable read and I will be sorry when I finish it. Its not often that I choose to read during the day rather than be on this computer. Look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you Gransnet for my copy of the book. I have read about one third of it but have laid it aside to read two thick library books which need to be returned quickly as they are wanted by other readers. I think this shows that unfortunately I am not gripped by 'the Deaths'. I find the characters more like caricatures and don't seem able to empathise with them at all. However, I do find it intriguing that I don't know which of the families has been murdered, so I shall return to the book later. I am sure it will become more gripping as I get deeper into it so have avoided reading all the gransnetters' comments in case one of them gives the plot away.

Hi! Thank you for the "The Deaths" by Mike Lawson-I am currently reading it and enjoying it,so will comment further in a day or two,when I've finished.

Thank you for my copy, haven't finished it yet but am finding the main characters very boring and snobby. I would love to know if they were based on people you know.

I'm really enjoying this book - am about half way through and no questions at the moment, but will watch this thread eagerly

Thank you Gransnet and Mark Lawson for 'The Deaths' I enjoyed the story very much although it did take me a while to become accustomed to the characters and be able to work out who was married to who. They all seemed so similar in many ways. I am an avid reader of murder mysteries and like to see if I can work out 'whodunit' before the ending however this was not possible with this book as the author keeps the identity of the murdered family hidden until the end. I found this absolutely INFURIATING!!!!!

'The Deaths' arrived and I wondered at first where it had come from, knowing I hadn't ordered it. But then realised - and Gransnet, thank you very much indeed for sending it, it is a book I may not have bought but am thoroughly enjoying. Can really recommend it.

I think this book probably does reflect the lifestyle of a certain strata of society but it is not one with which I am familiar nor am I sorry about that. It was really hard to like these characters apart from the GP lady, who really seemed to be the odd one out. I got bored, cheated and read the end to find out who were the victims!

My question to Mark Lawson is did he aim this book at the 30-40 year old age group rather than the GN generation? Maybe that's why so many of us have struggled with it.