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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a very slow plodding rad for most of
the novel. There is some science information
that makes it a little worthwhile and clever,
but really not much else going on. Then
the protagonist ridiculously turns into some
kind of superhuman who knows how to
fight and anticipate a psychopath killer's
every move. And don't get me started on
needing to "fake your own suicide" to
satisfy a killer.
Not very good. The author's Jessica
Blackwood series is much better.
the novel. There is some science information
that makes it a little worthwhile and clever,
but really not much else going on. Then
the protagonist ridiculously turns into some
kind of superhuman who knows how to
fight and anticipate a psychopath killer's
every move. And don't get me started on
needing to "fake your own suicide" to
satisfy a killer.
Not very good. The author's Jessica
Blackwood series is much better.
4.579
Oh wow! I really enjoyed this. I loved the science and the main character’s thoughts were easy to understand. He was smart. For a while I was like ok, you are pushing your luck!!!
But he was intelligent and I just loved the science in this and how he used what he DID KNOW to find out what he DID NOT.
Can’t wait to read the next.
Oh wow! I really enjoyed this. I loved the science and the main character’s thoughts were easy to understand. He was smart. For a while I was like ok, you are pushing your luck!!!
But he was intelligent and I just loved the science in this and how he used what he DID KNOW to find out what he DID NOT.
Can’t wait to read the next.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have to say I was incredibly disappointed. I love a good mystery novel, but I cannot stand a main character so unlikable, socially awkward and condescending but also apparently extremely humble? Theo Cray was made out to be such an understanding, sensitive guy, who was creepily upset about this victim he barely knew years ago! And of course he was NEVER wrong and somehow got an entire room applauding him which got him emotional, which was completely unbelievable given his condescending nature toward anyone who thought he'd found one of the bodies because of a plant growing on top of it. I'm sorry, I'm not a biologist, so I must be an idiot because that's how it sounded like he found that body!
The strange, random sex scene thrown in made zero sense to me, given that Cray was so socially awkward, but because they found some bodies in the water they better have sex in a car because that's just too hot to handle! Speaking of, the word 'bulge' should really only be used in saucy novels with a man with flowing hair and a white shirt blowing in the wind on the cover.
There were redeeming qualities, however. I thought the science of it was very interesting, although I see some people commenting that it wasn't all entirely accurate. Like I said, I wouldn't know the difference, so I liked that aspect. It was an exciting, fast paced novel with an interesting, albeit slightly unbelievable, murder plot. I do love a good serial killer.
One last thing, though: What happened to the boyfriend? The boyfriend, from the beginning of the novel who apparently ran away... I find it doubtful that someone as incredibly brilliant and so absolutely fantastic as Cray wouldn't have figured out someone else was with her in the woods. Seems like Mayne just thought we would forget about that detail. Sorry, I did not.
The strange, random sex scene thrown in made zero sense to me, given that Cray was so socially awkward, but because they found some bodies in the water they better have sex in a car because that's just too hot to handle! Speaking of, the word 'bulge' should really only be used in saucy novels with a man with flowing hair and a white shirt blowing in the wind on the cover.
There were redeeming qualities, however. I thought the science of it was very interesting, although I see some people commenting that it wasn't all entirely accurate. Like I said, I wouldn't know the difference, so I liked that aspect. It was an exciting, fast paced novel with an interesting, albeit slightly unbelievable, murder plot. I do love a good serial killer.
One last thing, though: What happened to the boyfriend? The boyfriend, from the beginning of the novel who apparently ran away... I find it doubtful that someone as incredibly brilliant and so absolutely fantastic as Cray wouldn't have figured out someone else was with her in the woods. Seems like Mayne just thought we would forget about that detail. Sorry, I did not.
Most of the book consists of the inner monologue of a "scientist" who does sciency things, but we never really get a lot of insight into the actual science. The protagonist tells us about the things he does and we're expected to trust that he knows how and why they work, and that's about it.
If there were any more indepth explanations for the science, I must have been completely spaced out because of how boring it was to listen to the protagonist drone on about how he's socially awkward and how nobody understands what he understands.
He's also supposed to be some kind of a genius, but he's remarkably stupid about many things throughout the book.
The book started out nice and interesting, but the ridiculousness of the plot where the main character steals evidence (and even a whole ass corpse, then proceeds to desecrate said corpse), butchers crime scene after a crime scene, eventually gets shot at by the serial killer he's chasing, and then injects himself with a rather lethal sounding cocktail of drugs to keep himself going and somehow goes from a blustering, socially inept idiot to real life Hulk in berserker rage mode, and then just goes and kills the villain and becomes a hero.
The dialogue was flat and boring, the characters were flat and boring, the romantic fling was flat and boring (absolutely NO chemistry to be detected there), and everything was far too easy for the protagonist despite him being so mind-numbingly stupid.
The book starts with the "misunderstood genius professor" trope and ends with a ridiculously implausible, laughable ending. Everything in between was just the protagonist making a revelation after a revelation, it was just a road from point A to point B to point C, with no stumbling blocks beyond "whoops now they think *I* am the killer" on the way.
Yawn.
If there were any more indepth explanations for the science, I must have been completely spaced out because of how boring it was to listen to the protagonist drone on about how he's socially awkward and how nobody understands what he understands.
He's also supposed to be some kind of a genius, but he's remarkably stupid about many things throughout the book.
The book started out nice and interesting, but the ridiculousness of the plot where the main character steals evidence (and even a whole ass corpse, then proceeds to desecrate said corpse), butchers crime scene after a crime scene, eventually gets shot at by the serial killer he's chasing, and then injects himself with a rather lethal sounding cocktail of drugs to keep himself going and somehow goes from a blustering, socially inept idiot to real life Hulk in berserker rage mode, and then just goes and kills the villain and becomes a hero.
The dialogue was flat and boring, the characters were flat and boring, the romantic fling was flat and boring (absolutely NO chemistry to be detected there), and everything was far too easy for the protagonist despite him being so mind-numbingly stupid.
The book starts with the "misunderstood genius professor" trope and ends with a ridiculously implausible, laughable ending. Everything in between was just the protagonist making a revelation after a revelation, it was just a road from point A to point B to point C, with no stumbling blocks beyond "whoops now they think *I* am the killer" on the way.
Yawn.
dark
tense
Wow!!! I haven't had that much fun reading a book in a long, long time! Don't get me wrong this serial killer thriller....thrills. It has it's seriously creepy, tense and edge of your seat moments but it was also extremely fun to read (yeah, I'm a little wacked), perfectly paced and balanced.
This book follows Theo, the quintessential, socially awkward, and common sense lacking scientist, as he gets caught up in the hunt for the serial killer responsible for the death of his former student. And when I say caught up, I really mean he is the only one hunting. Law enforcement cannot see what is so blatantly obvious to Theo. His scientific mind demands the answers and the man within can't walk away. To my surprise, I was completely endeared with Theo. His mind was completely beyond my comprehension but the man well, he brought out the fixer in me. I wanted to be his life coach, instill some much needed guidance and maybe a slap or two upside the head. ;)
I'll be honest, I didn't always understand the science but the cool thing is I didn't have to to enjoy the story. Plus, I managed to learn a thing or two. This story, I imagine, pushes science to its edge and maybe over it some too and there are scenes that are over the top a smidgen. But isn't that what a good story teller does? They take the believable and give it and edge, embellish the truth, intensify the climax, and in the end, the story is better and more enjoyable for everyone. If you're science minded and are going to split hairs over every theory, walk away but if you want to enjoy and excellently written story with one of the best endings ever, read on!
This is my first book by Andrew Mayne but I am chomping at the bit to move on to the next one. Angel Killer here I come.
This book follows Theo, the quintessential, socially awkward, and common sense lacking scientist, as he gets caught up in the hunt for the serial killer responsible for the death of his former student. And when I say caught up, I really mean he is the only one hunting. Law enforcement cannot see what is so blatantly obvious to Theo. His scientific mind demands the answers and the man within can't walk away. To my surprise, I was completely endeared with Theo. His mind was completely beyond my comprehension but the man well, he brought out the fixer in me. I wanted to be his life coach, instill some much needed guidance and maybe a slap or two upside the head. ;)
I'll be honest, I didn't always understand the science but the cool thing is I didn't have to to enjoy the story. Plus, I managed to learn a thing or two. This story, I imagine, pushes science to its edge and maybe over it some too and there are scenes that are over the top a smidgen. But isn't that what a good story teller does? They take the believable and give it and edge, embellish the truth, intensify the climax, and in the end, the story is better and more enjoyable for everyone. If you're science minded and are going to split hairs over every theory, walk away but if you want to enjoy and excellently written story with one of the best endings ever, read on!
This is my first book by Andrew Mayne but I am chomping at the bit to move on to the next one. Angel Killer here I come.