Scott Turow Suspect Swift Press 2022.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
It is a long time since I read Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent for the first time, and not so long ago that I re-read what I still believe is a very smart novel with an excellent twist. I hesitate to refer to the twist, as that phrase has become so trite with so many novels claimed to have such a feature – or even several – that it is no longer something I find particularly enthralling. Of course, when there really is a twist, when it is placed there for a purpose (as in Presumed Innocent) other than a headline in a review, I am as impressed as anyone. Perhaps my admiration for the smartness of Presumed Innocent spoiled me for Suspect, although thankfully it does not have a confected twist! Rather, this is a straightforward investigation of the possible set up of the Chief Inspector, Lucia Gomez-Barrerra, during mayoral election year in an American community of around 120,000 people. See Books: Reviews for complete review.
Following the Covid update: Cindy Lou eats out in Paddington; Train trip to Deal; Bob McMullan – US Senate election update; visit to Wallingford; feminist sign on Regents Canal.
Covid update Canberra
Cindy Lou eats out in London, with Paddington as her base
Paddington is alive with eating places, with its pubs, chains, and the excellent Pear Liang which is the star of the lower concourse of eating places in Sheldon Square – perhaps of all !
Pearl Liang Sheldon Square
The Pearl Liang is lively, but the level of noise is easy to manage as the tables are placed at a distance, and there is no music. There are three areas of seating so a less busy section could be requested. The dishes are generous, so it is easy to over order.
With starters of prawns, and sate chicken, vegetables, and two chicken dishes with rice, this is exactly what happened on this occasion. The prawns were succulent, with light pastry casings -and six of them! It was interesting to see the difference between the sate chicken served here, with its light sauce, and the somewhat heavier version served in Amsterdam’s sate chicken. The sweet and sour chicken was also deliciously lightly sauced, with the sesame chicken being generously coated with sesame seeds. The garlic sauce with this dish was a little disappointing. However, everything else was delicious, and this restaurant remains a favorite.
Service is efficient and friendly and seating is comfortable. The restaurant has been well patronised each time we have visited, some patrons ordering the more exotic dishes such as razor clams, which is a fascinating sight for those of us who are not so well versed in Chinese cuisine.
Massis Sheldon Square
Massis serves fresh delicious food that can be easily shared. The menu is extensive, and includes salads, chicken, beef and lamb dishes, a range of dips, warm Lebanese bread, and traditional desserts. There is inside and outside seating, the wait staff are friendly, and the seating is comfortable. This is an excellent venue for groups, but as pleasant for couples. The table settings are bright and attractive.
The food below is a tabouli – thick with crisp, fresh parsley and served with a lemon wedge; a Fattoush salad with a generous amount of pomegranate seeds; tender chicken pieces with coleslaw and bread; and succulent haloumi.
Pizza Express is a pizza chain which offers more than pizza. I recall it being referred to as an upmarket pizza restaurant by the Barbara Pym Society, when years ago we all gathered at the Oxford location for a pre-conference meal. On that occasion Pizza Express managed a multitude of orders with panache. When two of us visited the venue in Merchant Square, a lovely partially cobbled walk from Paddington Station it offered the same service.
It was great to sit outside across from the water feature in Merchant Square. Tower blocks of apartments jostle with shopping, making this a vibrant place to eat and contemplate being in London.
We order the slow roasted tomatoes with garlic and oregano (67 calories) and a Leggero Pomodoro pizza, with the hole in the middle resplendent with a green salad (573 calories). This was an excellent sharing menu for a fasting day on the 5:2 diet.
Note the roof gardens on the apartments.
A train trip to Deal
Deal is a town in Kent, England, which lies where the North Sea and the English Channel meet, 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Dover and 8 miles (13 km) south of Ramsgate. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town whose history is closely linked to the anchorage in the Downs. (Wikipedia)
We were interested in seeing the French coast from the town – possibly the smudge on the horizon was France. The following references to Deal in fiction are possible more likely to be able to be seen. references to Deal
References to Deal in Fiction (edited version from Wikipedia)
Dickens, garrisons Richard Carstone in Deal in Bleak House. Deal is the setting for local novelist George Chittenden’s smuggling saga, which is set in the late 18th century when the town was a haven for criminal gangs smuggling contraband across the English Channel. In Chittenden’s debut The Boy Who Led Them a child rises through the ranks to control the biggest smuggling gang on the Kent coast, fighting wars with rival gangs and revenue men at every turn. Jane Austen refers to Deal in Persuasion. Deal is the setting for Moonraker (Ian Fleming, 1955). Horatio Hornblower , The Commodore by C.S. Forester, departs from Deal on his voyage to the Baltic.
The Timeball Tower was a particularly attractive part of our visit as it reminded us of the great time we had in Greenwich with one of our daughter’s family several years ago. From recall, that was a very cold occasion, while this trip took place on a very hot summers day.
The architecture was another interesting feature, with the decorative tiles adorning the older buildings.
Of no cultural or historical relevance what so ever, but irresistible to me when we stopped for a drink.
Pebbly the beach might be, but the seawater is just as good for washing hands after an encounter with a very generous two scoops of ice-cream – which was the best ice-cream I have tasted.
Deal Castle – a formidable building, indeed. We walked to the castle from the station, and around it, but did not venture inside. I now understand that it has a floor of some note. This trip, after three years away, has been one of hits and misses, and encouragement to return with a more well researched agenda.
Bob McMullan
US Senate Elections – Further Thoughts
Further thoughts on the 2022 mid-term Senate election
People whose views I respect have queried why I am writing about the US Senate elections.
I agree that Australian media is too concerned with US and UK politics when other countries deserve more attention than they receive. However, the consequences of Donald Trump’s attempts to undermine
or overthrow US democracy are globally important and some lessons can be learned for Australia and other democracies.
US elections also provide a data rich environment which assists with the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of polling in the digital world. The 2022 mid-term election should also provide a better understanding of the political consequences of attempts to ban abortion or to undermine confidence in elections.
To update my previous contributions about the 2022 US Senate elections it is important first to note that the Democrats have been doing unexpectedly well in all the by-elections since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade.
Most recently the Democrats won the special election in Alaska
which followed the death of a Republican incumbent. A countervailing thought is that there are more than two months until the US elections in November and the normal pattern of electoral behaviour in the US would suggest that the Republican position should improve as the elections
approach.
On the senate seats in doubt in November, there have been some interesting developments. The preferential, or ranked choice, voting system suggests Lisa Murkowski should win the Alaska Senate contest. Whether she wins as a Republican or an Independent is not clear at this stage, but I assume
she will caucus with the Republicans. Missouri, Utah and Iowa look out of reach for the Democrats unless something dramatic happens to change the shape of the election. I will continue to monitor them but only comment if something changes.
With regard to the other hotly contested Senate seats the developments have been mixed.
In Arizona the Democrat incumbent, Mark Kelly, retains a strong lead across most of the polls. However, the averages in both RCP polls and 538 have narrowed, driven by a Trafalgar poll which has him only ahead by3%. Trafalgar is renowned for delivering results more favorable to Republicans, but this does not mean their results can be ignored. It seems to me that if even
Trafalgar has Kelly ahead, he looks strong at this stage.
In Colorado, which has been strong for the Democrats recently the Republicans have just announced funding for a major campaign against incumbent Democrat, Michael Bennett. He is not invulnerable, his current lead is around 5%, but the Republican campaign effort there, where they have a mainstream Republican candidate, suggests that they are concerned about the situation in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Pennsylvania has been the focus of attention recently with major speeches by Biden and Trump. This focus is undoubtedly driven by a growing realisation on both sides of the aisle that an upset is possible. The retiring Senator is a Republican and in this electoral climate it should be a comfortable
win for the Republicans, but all polling suggests that the Democrat, John Fetterman, is ahead of his Trump imposed Republican opponent by from 7-9%. If this doesn’t change soon the Republican strategy of focussing on overturning Democrat incumbents in Colorado, New Hampshire and even
Washington state will be reinforced.
Among the other states in serious contest in November the situation is most complex in Ohio. 538 polling average has the Democrat, Ryan, ahead while RCP has the Republican, Vance, ahead.
What is clear is that the Trump imposed candidate is causing problems for the Republicans in a state they would expect to win.
In the other key states the picture is mixed. Democrats are holding a small but steady lead in Nevada, and appear to be doing so in New Hampshire, although the candidates have not been finally chosen yet, In Florida the Democrat challenger, Deemings appears to be closing the gap on the
Republican incumbent, Rubio, while the reverse is happening in Georgia with the Republican candidate, Walker, closing the gap on the Democrat incumbent, Warnock.
The interesting new developments are in North Carolina and Wisconsin. In North Carolina the race seems to be a dead-heat after a long period in which the Republican had a small but steady lead. In Wisconsin, now that the candidates have been chosen a range of early polling suggest a 4-6% lead
for the Democrat, Mandela Barnes, over the Republican incumbent, Ron Johnson.
This interesting situation, together with recent Democrat successes has led some commentators to forecast a probable Democrat majority in the Senate. I think this is too big a call at the moment, but it appears clear that the continuing prominence and influence of Donald Trump is significantly
improving the Democrats chances of success in November.
Trip to Wallingford
This was a pleasant trip, recalling many happy months I spent staying with Australian, and then English friends while I researched Barbara Pym’s papers in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Wallingford is the site of a ruined castle of archeological interest, the locale for many episodes of Midsommer Murders, renowned for the annual Bunkfest, and the source of pleasant walks from bridge to bridge along the Thames. It is a rattly bus ride from Oxford or Reading.
A garden fit for hedgehogs, and a spreading oak on St John’s Green for picnic shade.
Set up is over, now the Bunkfest paraphernalia is being dismantled – but another festive treat is in store!
Wallingford Castle has some remains – the moats are apparent, as are the ramparts, and there are some parts of the buildings are intact. However, cows chewing in the fields are more abundant than the building remains.
The Corn Exchange features regularly in Midsomer Murders, the Thames is a place for wandering and pontificating by the detectives, and the buildings are bound to be seen somewhere in the series. The Town Hall is worth a visit.
Walking along Regents Canal is always worthwhile. Sighted this morning on our short walk…
Robin's Room 