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ayan1909's review against another edition
3.0
It was a nice read. I was so invested in the world and the characters Mo Hayder had created in this book that I couldn’t drop it. Only bad thing in my opinion, I find the last bunch of chapters a bit too long, too much new informations that weren’t necessary for the storyline.
bluechew's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.75
kittyhollow's review against another edition
5.0
Five stars to a book I feel slightly guilty to have read the entire way through.
This book, while disgustingly vile, was exactly what a crime story should be. It is a gripping, horrific, and personal; I would not recommend it to someone with a weak constitution though.
This book, while disgustingly vile, was exactly what a crime story should be. It is a gripping, horrific, and personal; I would not recommend it to someone with a weak constitution though.
ripxw's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Torture, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Pedophilia
mishka_espey's review against another edition
4.0
That? That’s a body? He’d thought it was a piece of expanding foam, the type fired from an aerosol, so distended and yellow and shiny it was. Then he saw hair and teeth, and recognized an arm. And at last, by tilting his head on one side, he understood what he was looking at.
This novel materialized out of nowhere and swept the breath clean out of me. It was only on a whim that I downloaded this audiobook to my phone. I’d never heard of Mo Hayder or any of her books. Normally on my hour-plus commutes to work, I split the drive-time fairly evenly between music and an audiobook. After the first few chapters of Birdman, I knew I wouldn’t be able to listen to much of anything else until I finished it.
I tend to be extremely skeptical about modern crime novels. The amount of overused tropes, twists, and tired writing that pollutes popular fiction nowadays is a source of great disappointment to me. See, I believe that crime fiction at its best is more than a chase, a twist, or a chill; it’s meant to be a reminder of just how broken and helpless we humans are. Crime fiction has the advantage of exploring themes of justice and redemption with more poignancy than any other genre. As terrifying and blood-curdling as Birdman is, what makes it stand out to me is the way in which Hayder explores these dark complexities of the human condition, to include discussions on racism, prostitution, and drugs.
The backdrop. Detective Inspector Jack Caffery steps up to investigate his first case as lead investigator with London’s murder squad, and it’s a doozy: the body of a young woman found in Greenwich, so mutilated she is barely recognizable as human. Four more corpses soon follow, all with same ritualistic mutilation, including one particularly bone-chilling signature discovered in the post-mortem examination. Caffery knows he’s dealing with a serial killer. The problem is that the rest of his squad quickly becomes preoccupied with the wrong suspect, a local black drug dealer—and for all the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, Caffery is haunted by his own demons and struggles to keep his personal life from interfering with the investigation.
There are so many subplots running through the story, and Hayder weaves them together expertly so that I was never bored or impatient. The characters are dynamic and vivid, particularly DI Caffery, who is very much the Nordic antihero but lovable nonetheless. There are characters I hated, characters I pitied, and characters I couldn’t get enough of. It’s also difficult to create a unique serial killer when it seems everything’s been done before, but this one is quite unlike any I’ve ever encountered. Damien Goodwin did an exceptional job narrating the text, and his scope of voices—all so different while sharing that same distinct south London accent—was just delicious.
It’s been a long time since I read a mystery that completely duped me. Birdman did, and not just once. This was by far the most spellbinding audiobook I’ve ever heard; Mo Hayder and Damien Goodwin had me in turns gripping the steering wheel, grimacing, chuckling, shivering, and yes, even gasping. Fair warning: if you can’t tell by the opening quote, this one’s not for the faint of heart. There were passages even I had trouble getting through (and this from someone who loved Silence of the Lambs). But boy was it worth it. I can’t remember the last time I was so excited for a series.
a_literary_streak's review against another edition
Found the last few chapters increasingly disturbing and valued my sleep more than finding out what happens at the very end.
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
4.0
This book has everything I could have wanted in a police procedural mystery: a likeable and flawed detective with a family mystery in his past, a good partner, and a nemesis in the department as well as a terrifying and creepy killer. In fact, Hayder goes above and beyond in the killer department. Way above and beyond.
There were many a point in this book that I was cringing, but each gruesome detail is totally worth it and, although it's grotesque and horrifying, the violence never feels gratuitous. The mystery is solid and just perfectly twisty enough, and Hayder's writing style is descriptive without being flowery and straight to the point without being too clipped. I'm really excited to read more of her work.
There were many a point in this book that I was cringing, but each gruesome detail is totally worth it and, although it's grotesque and horrifying, the violence never feels gratuitous. The mystery is solid and just perfectly twisty enough, and Hayder's writing style is descriptive without being flowery and straight to the point without being too clipped. I'm really excited to read more of her work.
johnthebiker300's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this first novel from MomHayder.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series
rainbow_bookish_owl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Blood, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Torture
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Cancer