Scan barcode
johnthebiker300's review against another edition
3.0
OK.
Kept re-hashing book 1 in the series.
I had lost a bit of interest in his gung-ho heroics.
Will start book 3 and see how it goes
Kept re-hashing book 1 in the series.
I had lost a bit of interest in his gung-ho heroics.
Will start book 3 and see how it goes
chacha4869's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alyceparry's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
Over the last couple of years I've been reading fewer and fewer thrillers. Mainly because they generally fail to thrill, which you might think would be a basic requirement of the genre, but no. There are only a few authors whom I still find fairly reliable: Lee Child is one, Simon Kernick is another. Although some of their books are definitely better than others, even at their worst they still deliver a fairly reliable reading experience.
One of the things I love about Kernick's writing is the way his books start - bam! - by the end of the first paragraph, the movie has begin and you're hooked. Another great thing is the way that his books aren't predictable. He's not afraid to kill off key characters, most notably in one book when he killed off the narrator halfway through - a move I most certainly did not see coming, and which startled me so much that I can still remember exactly where I was when I read it.
The Hanged Man is not my favourite Kernick book by a long shot, but it still contains many trademark elements of his writing which make it a good read. Why didn't I like it more? Partly because it relies so much on the reader having read The Bone Field (which I have read, and only 9 months ago, but let's face it, these books aren't hugely memorable). If you read the two in quick succession it wouldn't be an issue for you, but otherwise you may share my irritation. Also, the villains are truly unpleasant people. It came out in the first book that devil worship and human sacrifice are some of their hobbies. I didn't like reading about this (thankfully it's not too graphic) and I prefer other Kernick plots. And my final gripe is that it feels a little repetitive - sometimes two characters will say or think very similar things in rapid succession. Possibly this is because I read an advance review copy.
So I hope the ending means we won't see any more of DI Ray Mason (though I'm not entirely optimistic about that), and the next Simon Kernick book will take us in a slightly different direction.
Thanks to Net Galley for supplying me with an ARC.
One of the things I love about Kernick's writing is the way his books start - bam! - by the end of the first paragraph, the movie has begin and you're hooked. Another great thing is the way that his books aren't predictable. He's not afraid to kill off key characters, most notably in one book when he killed off the narrator halfway through - a move I most certainly did not see coming, and which startled me so much that I can still remember exactly where I was when I read it.
The Hanged Man is not my favourite Kernick book by a long shot, but it still contains many trademark elements of his writing which make it a good read. Why didn't I like it more? Partly because it relies so much on the reader having read The Bone Field (which I have read, and only 9 months ago, but let's face it, these books aren't hugely memorable). If you read the two in quick succession it wouldn't be an issue for you, but otherwise you may share my irritation. Also, the villains are truly unpleasant people. It came out in the first book that devil worship and human sacrifice are some of their hobbies. I didn't like reading about this (thankfully it's not too graphic) and I prefer other Kernick plots. And my final gripe is that it feels a little repetitive - sometimes two characters will say or think very similar things in rapid succession. Possibly this is because I read an advance review copy.
So I hope the ending means we won't see any more of DI Ray Mason (though I'm not entirely optimistic about that), and the next Simon Kernick book will take us in a slightly different direction.
Thanks to Net Galley for supplying me with an ARC.
windy_witch's review against another edition
5.0
The Hanged Man
I had not read the first in this series, however I really enjoyed this novel. Maverick detective Ray Mason is given recruited for the NCA after being dismissed from his previous job in the police force following some unprofessional behavior in the Bone Field. Following the discovery of several women’s remains in a remote farm house the hunt is on to catch the killers and the man to help with this is Ray Mason.
Ray’s team are put to test and have to stop a criminal gang from continuing with their fifty year reign of sadistic and brutal murders of young women once and for all. Ray is a troubled man with a dark past that affects his behavior in the way he handles aspects of his job. An insight to his problems are picked up on in the story and you have to feel for him and understand why he acts the way he does.
This gritty and gruesome novel had me page turning quicker than ever, I even held my breath on several occasions and what a cliff hanger of an ending. I am sure there will be a follow up to this series and it will be on my to read list for sure.
I had not read the first in this series, however I really enjoyed this novel. Maverick detective Ray Mason is given recruited for the NCA after being dismissed from his previous job in the police force following some unprofessional behavior in the Bone Field. Following the discovery of several women’s remains in a remote farm house the hunt is on to catch the killers and the man to help with this is Ray Mason.
Ray’s team are put to test and have to stop a criminal gang from continuing with their fifty year reign of sadistic and brutal murders of young women once and for all. Ray is a troubled man with a dark past that affects his behavior in the way he handles aspects of his job. An insight to his problems are picked up on in the story and you have to feel for him and understand why he acts the way he does.
This gritty and gruesome novel had me page turning quicker than ever, I even held my breath on several occasions and what a cliff hanger of an ending. I am sure there will be a follow up to this series and it will be on my to read list for sure.
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
2.0
I have read quite a few Simon Kernick books in the past. I like them, they tend to be fast paced and action packed while still focusing on the crime aspects. And that is somewhat still true with The Hanged Man. However, this book just did very little for me. An enjoyable enough read I suppose, but it felt very male led. I get it. Crime books are supposed to be sexy. You can do that without it being so male view dominated. Nearly all the women were objectified in some way, and even Tina who is a good detective and the main character loves, gets objectified by him. Though she does at least get her own agenda and she is pretty awesome at times. I mean honestly, I maybe wouldn’t have noticed without the crime being so sexually focused, so that may be swaying opinion, but it felt just off somehow. And the same goes for Dan, and his characterisation, and comments on his religion/faith. They felt jarring and didn’t really add to the story.
I will say that I hadn’t read the first one, so there were times were I felt that would have helped, but that it isn’t totally necessary. And that the action / crime bits are pretty well done and relatively enjoyable. There was just something about the book in total that didn’t work for me.
I will say that I hadn’t read the first one, so there were times were I felt that would have helped, but that it isn’t totally necessary. And that the action / crime bits are pretty well done and relatively enjoyable. There was just something about the book in total that didn’t work for me.
london1955's review
5.0
WOW is all I can say Simon Kernick you never let me down and your books just get better and better.
If anyone wants a real rollercoaster of a book you must read this and also all his other books. There is just one warning expect sleepless nights as you will not be able to put his books down.
Simon Kernick thank you , you are a brilliant writer. I await with eager anticipation your next book
If anyone wants a real rollercoaster of a book you must read this and also all his other books. There is just one warning expect sleepless nights as you will not be able to put his books down.
Simon Kernick thank you , you are a brilliant writer. I await with eager anticipation your next book
snoakes7001's review
4.0
Typical Simon Kernick fare - a tightly plotted, well executed thriller. Ray Mason & Tina Boyd are back continuing their investigations into the evil lowlifes responsible for The Bone Field. It's all completely over the top and the bodies pile up at a terrifying rate and all in all it's a wildly entertaining rollercoaster ride.