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leenkejense's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
severinas39's review against another edition
4.0
Ein Krimi, der mehr bietet
Wer es schlussendlich war, scheint in diesem Roman eher nebensächlich zu sein. Interessanter und spannender ist es, wie die einzelnen Charaktere zu diesem einen, schicksalshaften Abend, an dem Professor Wieder ermordet wurde, beigetragen haben. Lügen, Unwahrheiten, Verheimlichungen, Täuschungen und Intrigen verstricken sich immer weiter in der Narrative und bilden ein komplexes und fast schon undurchschaubares Bild, dessen Aufklärung die Lösung eines Mordfalles verspricht.
Der Stil ist simpel gehalten und hält den Leser in seinem Bann gefangen, leidet aber leicht unter ein paar zu vielen Fehlern. Teilweise wurden auch Charaktere zu schnell eingeführt, sodass ein Überblick und eine klare Unterscheidung der verschiedenen Personen kaum möglich war.
Der Klappentext ist leicht irreführend, da der Charakter Peter Katz eine deutlich kleinere Rolle spielt als es der erste Eindruck vermittelt. Statt aus einer kontinuierlichen Perspektive zu erzählen, wechselt der Roman insgesamt vier Mal den Hauptcharakter, meiner Meinung nach etwas zu oft. Es wird zwar versucht, die einzelnen Charaktere als eigenen Persönlichkeiten darzustellen, aber da sie nie wirklich lange im Vordergrund der Erzählung stehen, scheiterte dieser Versuch. Die persönlichen Hintergründe, die wir über die Charaktere erfahren, lenken hierbei leider eher von der eigentlichen Geschichte ab, der Geschichte Robert Flynns und Professor Wieders.
Diesen Charakteren wiederrum steht man als Leser sehr nahe, vor allem da man sie ‚persönlich‘ in Flynns Manuskript kennen gelernt hat. Hier schafft es der Roman sehr gut, eine Verbindung zwischen wer diese Leute damals waren und wer sie heute zu sein scheinen herzustellen, ein Vergleich der vor allem in Hinblick auf den vorgefallenen Mord interessant ist.
Ein wunderbarer Roman über Erinnerungen, Vergangenheit und deren Bedeutung in der Gegenwart, spannend, teilweise philosophisch angehaucht und eine durchaus unterhaltsame Lektüre zum mitraten, mitgrübeln und mitdenken, auch noch lange nach dem Lesen.
Wer es schlussendlich war, scheint in diesem Roman eher nebensächlich zu sein. Interessanter und spannender ist es, wie die einzelnen Charaktere zu diesem einen, schicksalshaften Abend, an dem Professor Wieder ermordet wurde, beigetragen haben. Lügen, Unwahrheiten, Verheimlichungen, Täuschungen und Intrigen verstricken sich immer weiter in der Narrative und bilden ein komplexes und fast schon undurchschaubares Bild, dessen Aufklärung die Lösung eines Mordfalles verspricht.
Der Stil ist simpel gehalten und hält den Leser in seinem Bann gefangen, leidet aber leicht unter ein paar zu vielen Fehlern. Teilweise wurden auch Charaktere zu schnell eingeführt, sodass ein Überblick und eine klare Unterscheidung der verschiedenen Personen kaum möglich war.
Der Klappentext ist leicht irreführend, da der Charakter Peter Katz eine deutlich kleinere Rolle spielt als es der erste Eindruck vermittelt. Statt aus einer kontinuierlichen Perspektive zu erzählen, wechselt der Roman insgesamt vier Mal den Hauptcharakter, meiner Meinung nach etwas zu oft. Es wird zwar versucht, die einzelnen Charaktere als eigenen Persönlichkeiten darzustellen, aber da sie nie wirklich lange im Vordergrund der Erzählung stehen, scheiterte dieser Versuch. Die persönlichen Hintergründe, die wir über die Charaktere erfahren, lenken hierbei leider eher von der eigentlichen Geschichte ab, der Geschichte Robert Flynns und Professor Wieders.
Diesen Charakteren wiederrum steht man als Leser sehr nahe, vor allem da man sie ‚persönlich‘ in Flynns Manuskript kennen gelernt hat. Hier schafft es der Roman sehr gut, eine Verbindung zwischen wer diese Leute damals waren und wer sie heute zu sein scheinen herzustellen, ein Vergleich der vor allem in Hinblick auf den vorgefallenen Mord interessant ist.
Ein wunderbarer Roman über Erinnerungen, Vergangenheit und deren Bedeutung in der Gegenwart, spannend, teilweise philosophisch angehaucht und eine durchaus unterhaltsame Lektüre zum mitraten, mitgrübeln und mitdenken, auch noch lange nach dem Lesen.
fijumanka0311's review against another edition
2.0
"Psihološki triler koji ostavlja bez daha..." - baš lijepo izgleda ovako napisana najava, natjera vas da kupite knjigu a onda da ju i pročitate. Srećom, samo sam čitala. Ne smijem reći da sam upala u zamku, nitko me nije natjerao. Što mogu, kad čujem i pročitam "psihološki triler", odmah pomislim na Nestalu (Gillian Flynn) a dala sam joj "samo" četiri zvjezdice. Ipak me pošteno prodrmala. Ali, odlutala ja predaleko...
Uglavnom, ova knjiga nit' mi je triler a još manje psihološki. Sasvim obična drama u kojoj imamo malo krimi radnje, vrlo mlake. Kao u mojoj knjizi iz kaznenog prava. A počelo je solidno, do kraja prvog dijela, iako me cijelo vrijeme nervirao suviše jednostavan, dokumentaran način pripovijedanja. Nakon toga me jednostavno prestala zanimati. Saznat ćemo mi na kraju i tko je ubio i zašto (stručnjaci kažu da je bitnije ovo zašto) ali mene se nije dalo uvjeriti. Bez daha bih možda ostala jedino da sam čitala trčeći. U ovom žanru uvijek puno očekujem, mislim da kao čitatelj imam na to pravo. I ne zamjeram si to. Autoru pak želim puno sreće u budućem radu, možda napiše nešto poput "Nestale". Šteta što neću provjeravati.
Uglavnom, ova knjiga nit' mi je triler a još manje psihološki. Sasvim obična drama u kojoj imamo malo krimi radnje, vrlo mlake. Kao u mojoj knjizi iz kaznenog prava. A počelo je solidno, do kraja prvog dijela, iako me cijelo vrijeme nervirao suviše jednostavan, dokumentaran način pripovijedanja. Nakon toga me jednostavno prestala zanimati. Saznat ćemo mi na kraju i tko je ubio i zašto (stručnjaci kažu da je bitnije ovo zašto) ali mene se nije dalo uvjeriti. Bez daha bih možda ostala jedino da sam čitala trčeći. U ovom žanru uvijek puno očekujem, mislim da kao čitatelj imam na to pravo. I ne zamjeram si to. Autoru pak želim puno sreće u budućem radu, možda napiše nešto poput "Nestale". Šteta što neću provjeravati.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
When Peter Katz receives a manuscript, he initally put it to one side. He eventually gets a chance to read it and is fascinated by the writing and discovering who murdered Joseph Weider twenty-five years earlier. All evidence points to it being the author but only part of the manuscript is available. Unfortunately, the author has died, the manuscript is missing and he hires a journalist to investigate and talk to people who might have answers. The journalist manages to make contact but in trying to find answers he becomes obsessed and this has consequences on his own life. The remainder of the story deals with the police officer who dealt with the murder at the time. By his own admission, he has made many mistakes. Both in the investigation and his marriage. He isn’t a likeable person, like many in the novel and has spent most of his life alone and full of regret.
The strongest character by a long way was Laura Baines. Cold and manipulative but unlike the detective she had no remorse or regret. It is a strange novel and the ending was a little unexpected. I thought I knew what had happened but I was completely wrong. There was also something hinted at but never revealed, this was left for the reader to consider and was a little chilling. I think the main theme of the novel was obsession. All the characters were obsessed with either an individual, success and fame within a career or the past. But it also showed that there could be a chance for redemption.
I was surprised that the author was based in the U.K. The American setting was very convincing.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy via NetGalley.
The strongest character by a long way was Laura Baines. Cold and manipulative but unlike the detective she had no remorse or regret. It is a strange novel and the ending was a little unexpected. I thought I knew what had happened but I was completely wrong. There was also something hinted at but never revealed, this was left for the reader to consider and was a little chilling. I think the main theme of the novel was obsession. All the characters were obsessed with either an individual, success and fame within a career or the past. But it also showed that there could be a chance for redemption.
I was surprised that the author was based in the U.K. The American setting was very convincing.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy via NetGalley.
wandas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
susysstories's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Started out quite boring, got more interesting halfway and now that I’ve finished, I feel like I should read it again, preferably not in audio cause I always miss some important details and get confused with all the characters. Interesting set up of the book and POVs.
adrian_sss's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
flan16_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
autumnxdays's review against another edition
2.0
[b:The Book of Mirrors|29905588|The Book of Mirrors|E.O. Chirovici|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1473247066s/29905588.jpg|47192843] had a lot of potential. Peter Katz is a literacy agent who receives an unfinished manuscript. This manuscript is a memoir written by Richard Flynn detailing his time at Princeton in the late 80's and his relationship with Professor Joseph Wieder who happened to be brutally murdered in his home. The case was never solved. Peter Katz wants to get to the bottom of what happened that night twenty five years before and goes after the finished manuscript. It sounds really interesting, doesn't it? Unfortunately it wasn't as interesting as it should have been.
This book is split into three parts. The first narrated by Peter, the second by John, a journalist, and the third by Roy, a retired policeman who worked the original case and wants to finally solve the case. I liked the idea of it being narrated by three different characters who have three different perspectives and different motivations but they all sounded exactly the same. I often found myself forgetting who the narrator was and getting a bit lost. There was no variation to the narration at all. It made it quite difficult to get into and stick with too. It also didn't help that the formatting wasn't great. Capital letters were hardly ever used.
I feel there was an attempt to flesh out background characters but unfortunately this came in the form of a fact dump. Often when characters were introduced, even if they didn't stick around long, it came with a list of facts for example that the character was married, had worked as a certain thing and liked to do a certain hobby. The only point of these facts, I felt, was to say 'hey, my characters are well-rounded! I know everything about them. They're real characters!
The idea of memories and how they can't be trusted, how people can remember things one way when an event happened differently and all that is interesting in theory but the rest of the book made me lose interest.
I can see this book appealing to other people but it just wasn't for me I'm afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free digital copy.
This book is split into three parts. The first narrated by Peter, the second by John, a journalist, and the third by Roy, a retired policeman who worked the original case and wants to finally solve the case. I liked the idea of it being narrated by three different characters who have three different perspectives and different motivations but they all sounded exactly the same. I often found myself forgetting who the narrator was and getting a bit lost. There was no variation to the narration at all. It made it quite difficult to get into and stick with too. It also didn't help that the formatting wasn't great. Capital letters were hardly ever used.
I feel there was an attempt to flesh out background characters but unfortunately this came in the form of a fact dump. Often when characters were introduced, even if they didn't stick around long, it came with a list of facts for example that the character was married, had worked as a certain thing and liked to do a certain hobby. The only point of these facts, I felt, was to say 'hey, my characters are well-rounded! I know everything about them. They're real characters!
The idea of memories and how they can't be trusted, how people can remember things one way when an event happened differently and all that is interesting in theory but the rest of the book made me lose interest.
I can see this book appealing to other people but it just wasn't for me I'm afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free digital copy.