The Finisher: Peter Diamond, Book 19

This book is the latest installment in a long and very successful detective series featuring Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond. Peter Livesey has won many awards for this series, and they were well deserved. One of the charms of the series is the setting in Bath. You will feel as if you were walking along the streets again. This book would stand alone. If you have not read the earlier books, you will miss out on the characters’ backstories which add richness, but you will not be lost or confused. The story begins with the parole of a violent criminal that Peter had helped send to prison. Peter suspects that he is still a threat, so he is keeping an eye on him. Meanwhile, the department is charged with looking out for problems during a fundraising race in Bath. The pacing is steady. The plot is complex with multiple threads that seem unrelated. There are also very timely elements to the story such as issues related to human trafficking, sexual harassment, and the use of drones in modern policing. There are murders, but not a lot of gruesome details on the page. If you prefer to avoid graphic sex scenes, no worries here. And if you like a story where the plot lines are resolved, this one all comes together at the end. Which does not mean that there are not twists and turns along the way. This book is definitely a better than average detective story and the British setting is a plus.

Another good installment in the excellent Inspector Superintendent Peter Diamond series that mellows with age. Author Peter Lovesey has a great knack for creating discrete character stories and then weaving them together at closure. "The Finisher" includes a budding distance runner, an ex-con with an over-heated libido, a covey of illegal aliens, a woman gone missing in the middle of a 10K competition, various dogs and cats and the usual Peter Diamond friends and colleagues. This is all presented in the context of Greater Bath--the route around the city for race competitors and a good bit about what is under the place, where building stone was once quarried. This last bit, the usual history lesson included in the Diamond books for fans of Bath's ancient and more modern story as a fascinating urban center.Satisfying read that feels like a visit with old friends.

Setting is great, characters are delightful, and plot is excellent. I'd recommend this to anyone, runner or walker or a couch potato.

I’m a huge fan, and was eagerly awaiting this latest tale. I have to admit I found the first quarter or so a bit of a slog, but the story taken in full justified Mr. Lovesey’s plotting. A terrific tale!

I've read everything Peter Lovesey has ever written. He's one of my favorite authors. This was a very good book, but I had two problems with it: 1) It seems completely out of character for Diamond to be convinced that he was hallucinating and call off a search that had just shown major progress based on a phone call, and 2) how could he miss the fact that something had been removed from a murder victim's clothing when everyone involved had the same thing? I thought about it and I'm certainly not a brilliant detective.

Nice little British mystery in a small town. Easy reading

This was a fun read. I had several people in the frame for the dastardly deed...all of whom were innocent. The atmospherics of Peter Diamond's world are presented for your enjoyment. The characters are well drawn and the dialogue is spot on. Given that the action here revolves around a half marathon, if you know any runners who also like mysteries, this is a perfect gift for them.

I was drawn to this book first by a review in the New York Times and then by the book's setting, Bath, England. It did not disappoint. It's a very well-crafted plot that evokes Bath in all its beauty. The characters are also well-drawn with only a couple standard fiendish villains.

Totally absorbing story from start to finish, with fascinating information on Bath & its environs. This is a great series. Carry on Peter & Peter!!

I am a fan - the first Lovesey that really disappointed. Mainstream, cheap, even sadistic elements, unsympathetic.

Peter Lovesey seems to have regained his touch with the last 2 books. Otherwise I feared there was a slight tendency to go on a too much length on relatively boring side trips. This one got the balance right... A lot of additional info but mostly interesting and not so much that I zoned out. As always a bunch of interesting characters although I'm starting to miss the team as they didn't have a lot of page time here. It would be nice to have mysteries which touch on each team member in turn and show us some of their backstory and personality quirks. Thankfully Diamond himself was present a lot and that makes up for everything. I love the character!

I have now read nearly all the Peter Diamond stories and each one has given me so much enjoyment - The Finisher didn't disappoint. I would not have guessed the villain whilst reading but it all made for a good read. Living so close to Bath I know the locations and this just adds another layer of "fascination" to the novel's .Keep them coming!

It's criminal not to read one of Peter loveseys best books in the diamond series I can't wait for his most recent book they really should have been made into a series on tv