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julie7's review
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Brilliant! Ist in the series.
☑️Fast paced
☑️Full of tension
☑️Would make a great film
☑️Believable...in a funny kind of way
☑️Intricate but easy to follow plot
☑️Appropriate ending
☑️Fast paced
☑️Full of tension
☑️Would make a great film
☑️Believable...in a funny kind of way
☑️Intricate but easy to follow plot
☑️Appropriate ending
rhexis's review against another edition
1.0
Plotting great, characters great, description great, depiction of sexual violence against women was a bit too much for me.
carla_t's review
1.0
In Stalkers we join Detective Mark Heckenberg as he tries to uncover the truth about 38 women who have all vanished without a trace. And while the premise of the story sounds promising, it ultimately falls flat.
There are two main reasons why I didn't like this book. Spoilers may follow.
Sexism
Now, I'm not talking about 'The Nice Guys'. Obviously this is a sexist group, but that's okay in context because we as readers know that we're fighting against them and what they stand for.
I'm talking about the underlying sexism that comes from most of the other men in the novel and even from our protagonist. At one point, Heckenberg is in a bar and a women approaches him, after talking for a while he accuses her of being a whore because she's 'acting like one'. Oh yeah, my bad, she was wearing a skirt. What a slut.
And I'm supposed to be routing for this jerk? Please.
Even the women who behave properly and I'm guessing are supposed to be strong characters are not free from condescension, all of them get refered to as 'darling' and 'love' and they're also all sexualised at some point.
Oh, and there's also bithching about 'positive discrimination'.
Cliches and Predictability
Male detective working on important case? Check
Righteous to the point of self-destruction? Check
Loner with ex-wife/girlfriend troubles? Check
Drinking problem? Check
Suspended for no discernable reason? Check
Still dedicated to the case? Check
Female Sidekick? Check
Romance with said sidekick? Check
Get framed? Check
Bunch of leads that end up dead? Check
Damsel in distress plot device for denouement? Check
Seriously, there was nothing in this book that I couldn't call. So predictable, even if you've only read one other book in this genre, you will know what's going to happen and when.
If you want a good crime book, I suggest
[b:The Big Over Easy|828409|The Big Over Easy (Nursery Crime, #1)|Jasper Fforde|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355116670s/828409.jpg|2504943]
It is much better.
There are two main reasons why I didn't like this book. Spoilers may follow.
Sexism
Now, I'm not talking about 'The Nice Guys'. Obviously this is a sexist group, but that's okay in context because we as readers know that we're fighting against them and what they stand for.
I'm talking about the underlying sexism that comes from most of the other men in the novel and even from our protagonist. At one point, Heckenberg is in a bar and a women approaches him, after talking for a while he accuses her of being a whore because she's 'acting like one'. Oh yeah, my bad, she was wearing a skirt. What a slut.
And I'm supposed to be routing for this jerk? Please.
Even the women who behave properly and I'm guessing are supposed to be strong characters are not free from condescension, all of them get refered to as 'darling' and 'love' and they're also all sexualised at some point.
Oh, and there's also bithching about 'positive discrimination'.
Cliches and Predictability
Male detective working on important case? Check
Righteous to the point of self-destruction? Check
Loner with ex-wife/girlfriend troubles? Check
Drinking problem? Check
Suspended for no discernable reason? Check
Still dedicated to the case? Check
Female Sidekick? Check
Romance with said sidekick? Check
Get framed? Check
Bunch of leads that end up dead? Check
Damsel in distress plot device for denouement? Check
Seriously, there was nothing in this book that I couldn't call. So predictable, even if you've only read one other book in this genre, you will know what's going to happen and when.
If you want a good crime book, I suggest
[b:The Big Over Easy|828409|The Big Over Easy (Nursery Crime, #1)|Jasper Fforde|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355116670s/828409.jpg|2504943]
It is much better.
myrdyr's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5 stars. I'm on the fence with this one.
Pros:
Lots of action.
Fast paced.
Cons:
Lots of sexism in the writing.
Predictable.
I hated the nickname "Heck".
I will try the next one and hope he does a better job of writing when it comes to his female characters. If the sexism is as rampant in it, then Finch and I will part ways.
Pros:
Lots of action.
Fast paced.
Cons:
Lots of sexism in the writing.
Predictable.
I hated the nickname "Heck".
I will try the next one and hope he does a better job of writing when it comes to his female characters. If the sexism is as rampant in it, then Finch and I will part ways.
crystal6's review against another edition
4.0
cracking story, fast paced although some parts a bit far fetched, I will definitely be reading more of the series.
sarahrobins11's review against another edition
3.0
DS Heck has been working on a case of missing women for over 2 years. Just as he feels he’s getting somewhere the case if pulled from him and he’s forced to take some leave. But he doesn’t give up that easily. But at what risk!
This is very well written and descriptive, I got super excited when my small hometown in Manchester is mentioned!
Gory at times, maybe a little far fetched. Stalled a little in the middle but once I got 70% of the way through it then sped up and was non stop till the end.
This is very well written and descriptive, I got super excited when my small hometown in Manchester is mentioned!
Gory at times, maybe a little far fetched. Stalled a little in the middle but once I got 70% of the way through it then sped up and was non stop till the end.
sarahs_bookish_life's review
5.0
This was the sixth and last book of my holiday reads.
I recently read a short story by this author which I loved and ended up buying this one which is the first in a crime series.
This author certainly doesn't sugar coat the crimes in his books. I love how gritty the whole storyline is and how in parts it shocked and horrified me, yet I loved every minute of it.
Loved Heck and Lauren as you are drawn to both characters who are both strong in their roles.
Can't wait to read more!
I recently read a short story by this author which I loved and ended up buying this one which is the first in a crime series.
This author certainly doesn't sugar coat the crimes in his books. I love how gritty the whole storyline is and how in parts it shocked and horrified me, yet I loved every minute of it.
Loved Heck and Lauren as you are drawn to both characters who are both strong in their roles.
Can't wait to read more!
mistrum_crowe's review against another edition
2.0
While technically a good thriller, it portrays the victim as "encouraging" her attacker, and for me that just isn't acceptable. Maybe you might be able to overlook that, but it just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth that ruins what would have been an otherwise tense thriller.
maga82's review against another edition
2.0
"Może być" i niestety tylko tyle... Historia zdaje mi się być mało wiarygodna i jakaś taka przerysowana. Nie wciągnęła mnie za bardzo. Doczytałam ją raczej dlatego, że nie była aż tak zła, żeby porzucić ją już na samym początku. Jednak nie powodowała, że w każdej wolnej chwili do niej sięgałam - jak to ma miejsce w przypadku naprawdę dobrych książek.