Prey Dancing: 1a Dr. Clare Burtonall Mystery

by Jonathan Gash

Book Overview

This second installment in the new mystery series the critics have called cause for rejoicing (Kirkus Reviews) sends doctor-cum-detective Clare Burtonall to the streets of London's underworld. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670877646
• ISBN13: 9780670877645
• Release Date: August 1998
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Original & Powerful & Ultimately Depressing in the Extreme

Gash has created a world in PREY DANCING (and the earlier book in the series DIFFERENT WOMEN DANCING) in which everything is tainted. The only two well-meaning characters, Bonn and Clare, must live in this world of darkness, sorrow, and violence. Bonn, the fallen seminarian turned male prostitute, is pulled along through a life filled daily with beatings, murder, and fear, a life empty of any genuine feelings of affection. Clare, a dedicated doctor, is sullied, too, by being tricked by her criminal husband into being a party to his deceit. Both of them are trapped, with no possibility of escape--ever. If you are easily depressed, this is NOT the series for you. It's also about as easy to follow at times as A Clockwork Orange or Faulkner's stream of consciousness writing. The overall effect is powerful, but with the modern lifestyle most of us are forced to follow and the bad news screaming from the headlines and evening television reports, I for one would prefer something more "up" to relax with at the end of a long day.

An excellent follow-up to Different Women Dancing

Gash continues the chronicle of Dr Clare Burtonall and Bonn the "goer" - a male prostitute in an un-named city in Northern England. Very different from the Lovejoy stories. There isn't much to laugh at here. Despite the almost impenetrable vernacular, Gash's quirky handling of dialogue carries conviction. (The dialogue is hard work - this reviewer was born and raised in that corner of England and, despite these credentials, struggled to keep up with the speech flow - has Gash invented a new slang, or has this reviewer been away too long?)The characters of Clare and Bonn are developed - engaging the reader's sympathies further - as are their relationships with the other main players, although Clare's property developer husband steps back from the main action whilst posing a significant potential threat to Clare's future.Gash has successfully created a new series, totally breaking away from Lovejoy and his band of lovable rogues. The crimes in the "Dancing" series are not capers - they are violent, vicious and nasty. Bonn and Clare's world is hard, grimy and dangerous. A good read - can't wait for the next one!