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anna3101's review against another edition
4.0
I have really, really enjoyed this novel which came as a complete surprise. I haven't expected that. I actually started to read it just because I found nothing better in my tablet and I was far from my computer to upload something exciting.
If you told me I would love this book, I'd never believe you. Seriously? A book without a single character I can associate myself with? No love plot? The main character with a totally twisted psyche? A gay-scene setting I'm not even familiar with? No paranormal stuff?
What can I say, the author wrote an awesome mystery novel that hooked me on even though it's not at all what I usually read, and I'm really grateful to her for that. The reason why I enjoyed thisbook so much was probably exactly because of how different it is from what I usually read, how well-described and psychologically true the characters were, and how the suspense kept building on.
I'm definitely going to read more of Minette Walters in the future.
If you told me I would love this book, I'd never believe you. Seriously? A book without a single character I can associate myself with? No love plot? The main character with a totally twisted psyche? A gay-scene setting I'm not even familiar with? No paranormal stuff?
What can I say, the author wrote an awesome mystery novel that hooked me on even though it's not at all what I usually read, and I'm really grateful to her for that. The reason why I enjoyed thisbook so much was probably exactly because of how different it is from what I usually read, how well-described and psychologically true the characters were, and how the suspense kept building on.
I'm definitely going to read more of Minette Walters in the future.
carolpk's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a latecomer and new fan of Minette Walters. I don't know how I missed her many award winning crime novels, but in the short time since I discovered them, all I can say is I'm hooked. Lucky for me Walters has written thirteen novels thus far so I've got lots to choose from. The latest, Chameleon's Shadow is a winner.It all begins when Lieutenant Charles Acland is sent home from Iraq after a bombing in which two of his friends are killed in action. Prior to his tour he broke up with his girlfriend Jen, who bears a striking resemblance to Uma Thurman As if these events are not enough to alter his life, the bombing has left him horribly disfigured and he is suffering from amnesia as well. It soon becomes apparent to the hospital staff and his psychiatrist that Ackland has problems with his parents, women, is experiencing guilt over the loss of his friends and sports a violent temper to boot. To add to the misery of his life, when he is finally released from the hospital the London newspapers begin reporting the deaths of several gay men. As Acland recovers he becomes a person of interest in the deaths and the reader must decide whether he is responsible. Walter's provides lots of other well drawn suspects who could be the murderer. The dialog between the main characters is tops and the location is right on. Acland is an excellently fleshed out character and the term chameleon fits him perfectly.
Walters uses some of the same tools to tell the tale as she does in many of her other books. Diaries, letters, news clippings; all appear in their original form as part of the story. It's makes me feel more part of the whole, like I'm truly present and involved in the story as more than a spectator. Chameleon's Shadow includes sexual violence, explores the mores of social breakdown in a gritty fashion and is a full of rich detail. Some fans feel this is not her best work. I only have a couple under my belt to judge by and this one was satisfying for me.
I like that Walter's has no series character so I can choose the order in which to read the stories without losing anything, except perhaps her growth as a writer from when she was first published in 1992 to today. I'm looking forward to trying another. While visiting her website I learned that her first 5 books have been made into BBC television movies, only to be disappointed to find out they were only released in Region 2 format and not able to be played on most dvd players owned here in the US. I'm hoping the BBC will consider re-releasing them so we can enjoy them or that I'm lucky enough to catch them in reruns on TV.
Walters uses some of the same tools to tell the tale as she does in many of her other books. Diaries, letters, news clippings; all appear in their original form as part of the story. It's makes me feel more part of the whole, like I'm truly present and involved in the story as more than a spectator. Chameleon's Shadow includes sexual violence, explores the mores of social breakdown in a gritty fashion and is a full of rich detail. Some fans feel this is not her best work. I only have a couple under my belt to judge by and this one was satisfying for me.
I like that Walter's has no series character so I can choose the order in which to read the stories without losing anything, except perhaps her growth as a writer from when she was first published in 1992 to today. I'm looking forward to trying another. While visiting her website I learned that her first 5 books have been made into BBC television movies, only to be disappointed to find out they were only released in Region 2 format and not able to be played on most dvd players owned here in the US. I'm hoping the BBC will consider re-releasing them so we can enjoy them or that I'm lucky enough to catch them in reruns on TV.
moviebuffkt's review
2.0
Meh this was a fast-ish but forgettable read. I think it was of a time and doesn’t stand up well.
susannavs's review against another edition
4.0
A different Minette Walters I found. But I enjoyed it and couldn't wait to finish it. I stayed up far too late some nights trying desperately to get as far as I could before sleep took over. Unexpected ending too; did not see it coming.
pjgal22's review against another edition
4.0
It's sometimes difficult to like the protagonist of this novel, but it's still a gripping read.
fabelfuchs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
enaria's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rachelini's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up at my parents' library to read over Christmas. I usually quite like the psychological weirdness of Minette Walters, but I found the writing style of this book odd - even in the narrative part, it read like a police blotter, with all sorts of out-of-place analysis. Okay, but not great.
katymvt's review against another edition
3.0
2020 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge-the first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed.
What I liked about the book: The plot was great. There were so many elements that had to come together by the end of the book, and they did. Layer after layer was peeled back until there was a very satisfactory resolution.
What I didn't like: I didn't like most of the main characters. some of the very minor ones were fine.
So, a 5 for plot, a 2 for characters and it evens out to a 3.5.
What I liked about the book: The plot was great. There were so many elements that had to come together by the end of the book, and they did. Layer after layer was peeled back until there was a very satisfactory resolution.
What I didn't like: I didn't like most of the main characters. some of the very minor ones were fine.
So, a 5 for plot, a 2 for characters and it evens out to a 3.5.
paul_whiffin's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable crime thriller but not Minette Walters' best (I preferred Shape of Snakes). If I were being hypercritical, I would say that some of the characters didn't quite ring true to me. Overall, a good read.