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abishek_specter's review against another edition
2.0
Had this book in my shelf for more than a year. Now I feel bad for taking it from there. Not that it's a bad thriller. But definitely not a gripping/chilling thriller, as it says.
.
You have no idea where the story goes till the 400th page (out of 464). Yes, it does have twisted plots but not that tempting.
Spent two full weeks expecting the end might cheer me up, at least. I felt distracted at many chapters and it didn't have that grab on me. It gets interesting at some point and immediately it goes somewhere, leaving you to sleep. Story's protagonist is a detective (coz the book says) but he never made me feel that he is one. Just a build up, you call it so. The antagonist, who is a serial killer is portrayed well and good. All other characters in the story (way more better than protagonist), the island (where the story takes place... it's heaven)...all good.
.
You have no idea where the story goes till the 400th page (out of 464). Yes, it does have twisted plots but not that tempting.
Spent two full weeks expecting the end might cheer me up, at least. I felt distracted at many chapters and it didn't have that grab on me. It gets interesting at some point and immediately it goes somewhere, leaving you to sleep. Story's protagonist is a detective (coz the book says) but he never made me feel that he is one. Just a build up, you call it so. The antagonist, who is a serial killer is portrayed well and good. All other characters in the story (way more better than protagonist), the island (where the story takes place... it's heaven)...all good.
anna_saskia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
soodleth's review against another edition
4.0
This turned out to be slightly more than I thought it was going to be by page 434.
I was blown away by Mark Billingham’s skill in crafting a mystery in the last 30 pages. Genuinely made me speechless. An assumption I’d been holding since the beginning was tossed on its head - I had to put the book down for a moment and just stare at the wall in shock when I figured it out.
The vast majority of the book is not too unexpected, especially being familiar both with Billingham’s other writing and the character of Stuart Nicklin. Not that it was predictable as such but more inevitable; like you’re constantly waiting something you know is coming and when it does, it’s what you expected because a leopard doesn’t change his spots.
And then everything took off in the last 30 pages catching me quite by surprise I must say.
Being set on a rural island this book has a different feel to most of the other Thorne novels, but it worked.
This novel in particular is strongly connected to Thorne’s previous dealings with Nicklin so I wouldn’t recommend starting with it. I also think that it’s less likely to appeal to people who aren’t a fan of Thorne - the novel meanders along for a while and I’m not sure I’d’ve been as invested if it wasn’t a Thorne book.
I was blown away by Mark Billingham’s skill in crafting a mystery in the last 30 pages. Genuinely made me speechless. An assumption I’d been holding since the beginning was tossed on its head - I had to put the book down for a moment and just stare at the wall in shock when I figured it out.
The vast majority of the book is not too unexpected, especially being familiar both with Billingham’s other writing and the character of Stuart Nicklin. Not that it was predictable as such but more inevitable; like you’re constantly waiting something you know is coming and when it does, it’s what you expected because a leopard doesn’t change his spots.
And then everything took off in the last 30 pages catching me quite by surprise I must say.
Being set on a rural island this book has a different feel to most of the other Thorne novels, but it worked.
This novel in particular is strongly connected to Thorne’s previous dealings with Nicklin so I wouldn’t recommend starting with it. I also think that it’s less likely to appeal to people who aren’t a fan of Thorne - the novel meanders along for a while and I’m not sure I’d’ve been as invested if it wasn’t a Thorne book.
nikkid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mariasmusings's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favourite of the Tom Thorne series - the action really kick-starts in the final 4 chapters or so.
jodiehanley's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anne_lbatch's review against another edition
1.0
It was a struggle to get through this. Not sure if reading the other books in the series would have made it easier, but this wasn’t enjoyable. Which was almost more painful because it had to do with a serial killer.
scottish_kat's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best Thorne books so far.
I loved everything about it - the setting, the pacing, the plot - everything.
The characters journeys are fantastic and all of their decisions are fitting.
It's twisty in just the right ways.
Really looking forward to seeing how this develops in future books!
I loved everything about it - the setting, the pacing, the plot - everything.
The characters journeys are fantastic and all of their decisions are fitting.
It's twisty in just the right ways.
Really looking forward to seeing how this develops in future books!
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