On ... Funeral in Blue by Anne Perry

To be honest I can't remember how I ever heard about this book or why I even put it on my list.

Obviously I approached the book wary of what I would find, especially after I read what was on the dust jacket cover. I was so afraid that it would delve into the seemier side of things that I never want to expose myself to. I think what I'm trying to say is understandable.

I told myself that I would put the book away if I ever encountered anything like that. I finished the book.

Now, I realized as I delved into the book that I picked up a book that occurs after several other books in the development of a character by this author...the private detective. Because of that I found myself at a disadvantage trying to figure out the relationships between the characters.

Ms. Perry didn't (thankfully) explicitly state the relationships between the characters with the exception of the relationship between the accussed and the deceased (husband/wife). Perhaps a little more of that could be stated and Ms. Perry would still be miles away from the cliche mill that is Gilber Morris. (I'm afraid that Mr. Morris...nice man he may be... will end up being the bottom standard of my comparisons for the near future).

Although I cringed a few times...I remember only two specific examples...in general Ms. Perry's writing tells a murder story with the hint of a CSI show (without all the modern crime scene forensic analysis).

Unfortunately, even though the writing was technically proficient, she never drew me into the story. I honestly did not care whether the accused was found guilty or not...or even if he was actually guilty. Ms. Perry even failed to create a sense of sympathy or empathy within me for the main character.

I probably won't be reading any more Anne Perry books--not because the writing was bad but because I would rather read books where I connect with the characters...at least one.