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ir_sharp2's review against another edition
4.0
difficult to stick with, but intriguing enough to keep coming back to
wusswoo's review against another edition
5.0
Phew what a ride. Now I have to wait 'til next year for the next installment :(
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
Well, I think that's it for me.
The Jack Caffrey series has yet to return to the punch-in-the-gut intensity as the first two novels, Birdman and The Treatment. I may have mentioned in those reviews that the crime fiction genre has become so saturated that it takes something very special to stand out from the rest. Those two novels did that in spades. In fact, they were so disturbing that I was very selective in who I would recommend them to (yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition. Leave me alone).
Throughout the rest of the series, Jack's personal struggles have since been resolved somewhat, and we have been left with a typical crime detective series that, unfortunately, fails to stand out from the crowd. This has caused increasing disappointment for me because that aspect is what has kept me in the series. I don't think she plans on ever going back, nor do I think there is a reason to at this point. And for that reason I'm out.
Also, in this novel she seems to have taken a page from James Patterson's playbook and that is the use of maddeningly short chapters. I used to really enjoy this format (see Patterson's Kiss the Girls for a harrowing example), but in this novel it served to disrupt my reading momentum rather than fuel it.
Don't get me wrong, Mo Hayder has fine writing chops and a deviously clever mind and I wouldn't hesitate recommending her to anyone looking for a good thriller. And this is a good thriller setting a backdrop of an institution for the criminally insane that may or may not be haunted...
I'll still go back to Ms. Hayder, she has shown that she can rise above the rest and be special, but this series is getting thin, for me at least. Thanks for the first two brilliant ones though, Mo.
The Jack Caffrey series has yet to return to the punch-in-the-gut intensity as the first two novels, Birdman and The Treatment. I may have mentioned in those reviews that the crime fiction genre has become so saturated that it takes something very special to stand out from the rest. Those two novels did that in spades. In fact, they were so disturbing that I was very selective in who I would recommend them to (yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition. Leave me alone).
Throughout the rest of the series, Jack's personal struggles have since been resolved somewhat, and we have been left with a typical crime detective series that, unfortunately, fails to stand out from the crowd. This has caused increasing disappointment for me because that aspect is what has kept me in the series. I don't think she plans on ever going back, nor do I think there is a reason to at this point. And for that reason I'm out.
Also, in this novel she seems to have taken a page from James Patterson's playbook and that is the use of maddeningly short chapters. I used to really enjoy this format (see Patterson's Kiss the Girls for a harrowing example), but in this novel it served to disrupt my reading momentum rather than fuel it.
Don't get me wrong, Mo Hayder has fine writing chops and a deviously clever mind and I wouldn't hesitate recommending her to anyone looking for a good thriller. And this is a good thriller setting a backdrop of an institution for the criminally insane that may or may not be haunted...
I'll still go back to Ms. Hayder, she has shown that she can rise above the rest and be special, but this series is getting thin, for me at least. Thanks for the first two brilliant ones though, Mo.
angeluslorelei's review against another edition
5.0
I began reading "Poppet" with absolutely no expectations. I'd never heard of Mo Hayder and I hadn't read any of the other Jack Caffery novels prior to this. I saw "Poppet" on the shelf at my local Barnes and Nobel and said, "What the hell, I'll give it a shot." About half an hour later my legs were cramping because I hadn't moved from my spot I'd been so engrossed in reading.
"Poppet" is a fantastic book. It is a quick and relatively easy read as far as pacing and writing are concerned. Hayder weaves a tale of violence, fear, and dark thrills. Visceral descriptions of violence pepper the pages like drops of blood. Definitely not for the squeamish or the faint of heart.
The twists and turns of the story were masterful. I never saw the ending coming and as someone who's been reading and watching mysteries for fun since age twelve, that's saying something. "Poppet" was a fantastic, scary read and Hayder has left me wanting more. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a mystery and doesn't mind a good scare.
"Poppet" is a fantastic book. It is a quick and relatively easy read as far as pacing and writing are concerned. Hayder weaves a tale of violence, fear, and dark thrills. Visceral descriptions of violence pepper the pages like drops of blood. Definitely not for the squeamish or the faint of heart.
The twists and turns of the story were masterful. I never saw the ending coming and as someone who's been reading and watching mysteries for fun since age twelve, that's saying something. "Poppet" was a fantastic, scary read and Hayder has left me wanting more. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a mystery and doesn't mind a good scare.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
The hysteria is rising in the Beechway high security psychiatric unit. A spate of self-harming incidents and the death of a patient had stirred up stories of The Maude, a ghostly dwarf who haunts the halls. Left to cover for absent colleagues, senior nurse AJ starts to piece together some troubling facts, leading him to call the in the police… And DI Jack Caffery’s superior is looking for just the thing to pull him from the fruitless search for the missing Misty Kitson.
I’ve always known Mo Hayder could scare me senseless, but Poppet has one of the most disturbing first chapters I’ve ever read. The thought of a creepy little dwarf running round an asylum, sitting on people’s chests as they sleep, was terrifying and made me hesitant to turn off the lights after reading. Many of the scenes take place in bedrooms of sorts and there is something extra scary about being targeted in somewhere that should be safe. Once AJ and Jack start digging deeper, it loses its horror somewhat, yet remains a tense and gripping read.
The novel alternates between the current case and that of Misty Kitson, the missing model we were introduced to in Skin. I was torn between the two plot-lines, wanting the thrills of the main story but also hating to be torn away from Jack and Flea’s interactions. Jack is determined to bring up you-know-what with Flea and she is determined to keep things buried. For those who haven’t read the series, the lack of context may cause confusion and take away from the enjoyment of the central plot, which is otherwise a strong standalone story.
Without giving too much away, I love how Hayder manages to turn your feelings round, upside down and through the ringer. It started off with fear but ended with a few awwws for me. Little glimpses into characters’ lives make such an impact in her writing. Just brilliant. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next instalment…
I’ve always known Mo Hayder could scare me senseless, but Poppet has one of the most disturbing first chapters I’ve ever read. The thought of a creepy little dwarf running round an asylum, sitting on people’s chests as they sleep, was terrifying and made me hesitant to turn off the lights after reading. Many of the scenes take place in bedrooms of sorts and there is something extra scary about being targeted in somewhere that should be safe. Once AJ and Jack start digging deeper, it loses its horror somewhat, yet remains a tense and gripping read.
The novel alternates between the current case and that of Misty Kitson, the missing model we were introduced to in Skin. I was torn between the two plot-lines, wanting the thrills of the main story but also hating to be torn away from Jack and Flea’s interactions. Jack is determined to bring up you-know-what with Flea and she is determined to keep things buried. For those who haven’t read the series, the lack of context may cause confusion and take away from the enjoyment of the central plot, which is otherwise a strong standalone story.
Without giving too much away, I love how Hayder manages to turn your feelings round, upside down and through the ringer. It started off with fear but ended with a few awwws for me. Little glimpses into characters’ lives make such an impact in her writing. Just brilliant. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next instalment…
amchica's review against another edition
4.0
Mo Hayder stepped up her game in this book. The character development and slow reveal of all elements of the mystery really made for a creepy story that drew me in, rather than just relying on gore to gross out the reader. Jack is my favorite part of this series, but I didn't mind that she spent so much time in A.J.'s head. It was a nice change of pace to really get some insight from someone who was inside the crime, not just the person who was investigating it. Often I can guess quite early on who the "real" bad guy is, but I didn't see it coming in this book. Glad to have some resolution on the Flea/Jack situation.
vidalia's review against another edition
5.0
Nobody can scare a dear reader like Mo Hayder. Nope, not for the meek or squeamish - wouldn't recommend them to my bookclub. (Although it might be interesting to see if anyone gets past the first chapter.) Hayder always delivers a chilling, terrifying ride. Love her books! And this one didn't let me down. Creepy, scary and, shall we say, unsettling right from the get-go. Strange things happening in a very gothic setting - a mental institution. What's real, what's an illusion and who, or what, is the Maude? Can't wait for the next Jack Caffery instalment.
suebee135's review against another edition
5.0
A thriller set in and around a psychiatric hospital? Creepy cover? Sign me up!
Mo Hayder has outdone herself with her newest Jack Caffery thriller, Poppet. Psychiatric nurse AJ LeGrande believes that something, or someone, is causing some of the hospital’s least popular patients to cause themselves harm. When one of the survivors talks about “The Maude”, a dwarf-like creature rumored to be roaming the halls of Beechway High Secure Unit, AJ must get to the bottom of the strange goings-on before anyone else falls victim to the superstition. Detective Jack Caffery is called in to investigate and what he discovers will shock everyone.
If you’re looking for a great thriller that will keep you reading ‘til all hours of the night, you should definitely try Poppet. With twists and turns throughout, you won’t want to put it down until you finally find out what was really going on at Beechway.
Mo Hayder has outdone herself with her newest Jack Caffery thriller, Poppet. Psychiatric nurse AJ LeGrande believes that something, or someone, is causing some of the hospital’s least popular patients to cause themselves harm. When one of the survivors talks about “The Maude”, a dwarf-like creature rumored to be roaming the halls of Beechway High Secure Unit, AJ must get to the bottom of the strange goings-on before anyone else falls victim to the superstition. Detective Jack Caffery is called in to investigate and what he discovers will shock everyone.
If you’re looking for a great thriller that will keep you reading ‘til all hours of the night, you should definitely try Poppet. With twists and turns throughout, you won’t want to put it down until you finally find out what was really going on at Beechway.
mehitabels's review against another edition
3.0
Yes, it was creepy. Yes, it all came back to reality. The detective is craggy, moody, repressed, and yet desirable. Snort. The women are all strong and cold and harsh, and also manipulative. Meh. Then there is the under story, a separate mystery/conflict, that added little and annoyed much.
It was a teeter-totter of a book, the atmospheric writing marred by callous women and ridiculous heroes. I liked it, but at the end I couldn't say I wanted to read more.
It was a teeter-totter of a book, the atmospheric writing marred by callous women and ridiculous heroes. I liked it, but at the end I couldn't say I wanted to read more.