JUNE 2024 BOOK CHOICE
Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante
Twelve Members of the Book Club were welcomed by Pam with apologies received from several others who were unable to attend but had sent in their thoughts and comment. It was very apparent from the beginning that everyone enjoyed reading this book with many saying it was quite a page turner for them. It was thought to be well-written, succinct with good characterisation. A few were able to remember the TV series starring Helen Mirren in the Jane Tennison role back in the 1980s with one member saying that she felt it had “pressed her button” but was for her difficult to judge because of the TV series.
Members agreed that because as a woman of that time she had a real battle on her hands trying to make headway in a totally man’s world which made her a strong character, ruthless and totally dedicated to her profession – but at the expense of her private life, destroying her relationships with all members of her family and of course her “boyfriend”, Peter, who had his own struggles after his divorce trying to be a part-time father and saving his business. A few did not warm to her character until later in the book even quite disliking her even with all her challenges. She, as a woman, suffered both sexism and abuse from the male colleagues more so when she questioned the actions of her “much loved” predecessor. Jane was someone who paid great attention to detail and found mistakes in the identification of a dead body, revealing a shady dark side to her predecessor’s character. But at the same time she could not show any weakness in front of them and often ran to the loo to cry alone – her secret.
A few Members found it difficult to imagine what she actually looked like as throughout the book there was not a description of her, and knowing that Helen Mirren played the part on TV could only imagine it as her. But then it was pointed out possibly because the book came after the TV series, albeit both written by Lynda la Plante. This came as a bit of a surprise to many who had not realised this.
One member’s comments referred to Page 57 and the second paragraph, which on re-reading together had everyone agreeing was a “perfect fit description” of the whole book with the paragraph finishing on the line “Maybe it was simply the fact that she was a woman”.
To summarise absolutely everyone thoroughly enjoyed this page turner and agreed it was well written with good characterisation and a need to want to read it to the end to see if they got their man George Marlow and did he go to prison!!!?? All gave it a huge thumbs up and would definitely recommend it to a friend!!