An Instance of the Fingerpost [Hardcover]

 

 

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One of the other customer reviewers of this book complained that the murder was solved summarily a hundred pages before the end and wondered if critics who call this a classic had skimmed the end to meet review deadlines. Such comments make me wonder if that reviewer did not, like so many of the characters in this book, miss the fingerposts.
For this book is not primarily a story about the solving of a murder. The murder itself serves more as plot device to bring the four narrators (and others) together in a certain time and place, allowing them to interact with each other and present their widely diverging views of events, actions, and consequences. Indeed, for three of the four narrators the murder is almost incidental to their narratives, only two of them are actually concerned (or even desirous) that justice be done, and none of them is especially sorrowful about the death of the murder victim. Rather, for each of them the murder is really only significant for the part it plays in their own narrative and what they believe it indicates in terms of their interpretation of events. The driving idea behind the novel is not the solution of a murder, but how different people can see the same facts, or parts thereof, and draw differing conclusions - particularly when those conclusions serve to reinforce preconceived notions; and the more some people believe in the rightness of their preconceptions, the more willing they become to pervert truth to suit their ends.
This extraordinary novel is really a masterpiece of crafting. The use of the first-person narrative allows each narrator to present a depiction of himself (and his motives) very different from the way others see him, which has the effect of causing the reader to rethink and re-examine opinions formed along the way. In particular, the chilling, almost unwitting portrayal by two of the narrators of their own destructive, delusive obsessions is worthy of Patricia Highsmith at her best. "An Instance of the Fingerpost" is by turns amusing, infuriating, puzzling, informative, and even heartbreaking. It also goes a long way toward evoking the uncertainty, chaos and duplicity of the era (so very different from today's era of open and transparent government).
I should say that although I enjoy a good, intriguing mystery, I'm not particularly a fan of the "mystery" genre; I'm more partial to books that provoke reflection on the human condition. This is one of a very few books I've bought based on the recommendation, and I can honestly state that I was totally unprepared for the level of quality I found in it. I can think of few works of fiction that have moved me quite as much as this one.
As some schools of thought insist that every critique must perforce call attention to shortcomings, I suppose I should include a few for form's sake. I could mention a couple of niggling instances of grammatical lapse by men purportedly of education, such as the use of the objective pronoun in a comparison (i.e. "older than me"); for some reason this error always grates on my nerves (although it seems to be almost a prerequisite for translators), but the occurrences were far too few to impact my overall opinion. The only real complaints I can muster are two: first, that this book deprived me of much sleep during the time I took to read it; and second, that it left me at a loss as to what to read next.

I picked up this book on a whim from a used book store. I decided to buy it because of the unique title. Now, this is one of my favorite books of all time. I love hearing the story from 4 different perspectives, and the ending is so unexpected. After each section, I was so sure I had determined the identity of the murderer, only to discover that I was wrong every time. The history is so interesting, and all of the characters well-developed. I have to concede that the book is LONG, but I do feel that the story benefits from all of the richly descriptive text. I have loaned the book to a friend, but I'm going to read it again when she returns it. I'm sure I will love it even more the second time.

I have just read many reviews. Two people gave the book 1 star after not even finishing the book!! On just any book, this would be a crime. For this book, it is a travesty. This book patiently sets up the great finally and these people are missing it. The end puts the other parts of the book into perspective. When you read it the second time, everything makes much more sense; so please at least read the whole book before reviewing it.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but overlong and unpolished.
I must confess to some bias in regard to this book: I live in the oxford college in which much of it is set. Read more

Published on Jun 23 2004 by Samuel J. Parkinson

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but overlong and unpolished.
An enjoyable book. It is compelling - I couldn't stop reading it - and provides and intellectual murder mystery without becoming stuffy.
It is not, though, brilliant. Read more

Published on Jun 22 2004 by Samuel J. Parkinson

1.0 out of 5 stars ZZZZZZ..................
This book was extremely boring. I'm a big fan of Umberto Eco, and (to a much lesser degree) Perez-Reverte, so I thought this book was a sure thing. But WOW was I wrong! Read more

Published on May 28 2004 by uti

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Thoughtful Readers
First and foremost, this book is an excellent murder mystery. I picked it up because of the blurb on the cover by PD James and was not disappointed. Read more

Published on Mar 11 2004 by sainte-carmen

5.0 out of 5 stars Alexandria revisited
An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears relates four views of the same events taking place immediately after the restoration of Charles II in England. Read more

Published on Mar 7 2004 by Phillip I. Good

1.0 out of 5 stars Boooooooorrrring
Reduce this book by 50% and it would still be way too verbose. The first narative was able to maintain my interest from time to time, but the second two just overwhelmed me with... Read more

Published on Dec 22 2003 by Sal Asutra

5.0 out of 5 stars Thematic spoiler ahead (slightly a plot spoiler)
While asserting the value of religion in the face of science in "The Big Picture: what the religions of the world teach us about the nature of ultimate reality", Huston... Read more

Published on Dec 21 2003 by Anne

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
An Instance of the Fingerpost tells of the same event from the point of view of four different people. Each person has his own obsessions and knows only part of the truth. Read more

Published on Nov 14 2003 by Kay L. Robart

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetic Prose at its Best
Sometimes, a work of art comes along that completely captivates all who experience it. This is one of those cases. Read more

Published on Sep 22 2003 by Avid Reader

4.0 out of 5 stars Great history, strange ending.
The plot of AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST involves interesting history in an international setting, consistent with the "art history mysteries" of the same author,... Read more

Published on July 29 2003 by Random Joys

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