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alex2691's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
halzie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wusswoo's review against another edition
4.0
More like three and a half stars (but I always round up). Didn't enjoy this one as much as the Treatment.
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sorry to say that Ritual was a disappointment for me.
Mo Hayder hit two grand slams with [b:Birdman|130260|Birdman|Mo Hayder|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171992216s/130260.jpg|925576] and [b:The Treatment|647954|The Treatment|Mo Hayder|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176733048s/647954.jpg|2263530]. These were two crime thrillers that stood out from such a thickly saturated genre. Quite the feat for a new writer on the scene.
My gushing reviews on these:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/122259554
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/174453879
What made these great was how successful she was at engaging the reader
in not only the storyline of the crimes at hand, but the personal struggles of the main protagonist, Jack Caffrey. Running in parallel, these aspects of those novels had me glued to the pages. My care meter was running into the red for the poor victims, for Caffrey, and for what happened to Caffrey's brother.
My expectations with Ritual ran as high as they did with The Treatment.
But what I got was not so much progression with Caffrey, but an introduction to a couple of new characters, which I guess now will continue for further novels. And the case? Well, nowhere near as shocking as what had happened in the previous two novels.
So I went from two novels that equally hooked me with two running storylines to one that struggled to hold my interest on both fronts.
I'm rating this one two stars, because that indicates "it was ok".
If the first two books hadn't been so outstanding, I would stop the series here. But Caffrey's character was the most interesting inspector I'd come across, so I'm giving Mo a mulligan here. But I'll be giving [b:Skin|6116751|Skin|Mo Hayder|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328656282s/6116751.jpg|6294851] the 50 page rule when I get to it.
Mo Hayder hit two grand slams with [b:Birdman|130260|Birdman|Mo Hayder|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171992216s/130260.jpg|925576] and [b:The Treatment|647954|The Treatment|Mo Hayder|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176733048s/647954.jpg|2263530]. These were two crime thrillers that stood out from such a thickly saturated genre. Quite the feat for a new writer on the scene.
My gushing reviews on these:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/122259554
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/174453879
What made these great was how successful she was at engaging the reader
in not only the storyline of the crimes at hand, but the personal struggles of the main protagonist, Jack Caffrey. Running in parallel, these aspects of those novels had me glued to the pages. My care meter was running into the red for the poor victims, for Caffrey, and for what happened to Caffrey's brother.
My expectations with Ritual ran as high as they did with The Treatment.
But what I got was not so much progression with Caffrey, but an introduction to a couple of new characters, which I guess now will continue for further novels. And the case? Well, nowhere near as shocking as what had happened in the previous two novels.
So I went from two novels that equally hooked me with two running storylines to one that struggled to hold my interest on both fronts.
I'm rating this one two stars, because that indicates "it was ok".
If the first two books hadn't been so outstanding, I would stop the series here. But Caffrey's character was the most interesting inspector I'd come across, so I'm giving Mo a mulligan here. But I'll be giving [b:Skin|6116751|Skin|Mo Hayder|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328656282s/6116751.jpg|6294851] the 50 page rule when I get to it.
sandygx260's review against another edition
3.0
Not a bad way to spend a few lazy weekend hours between stints of weeding the garden. I'd rate the book higher but I still have a problem liking Jack Caffery. I think I need to check out Hayder's novels where Caffery isn't one of the MC's.
khosch's review against another edition
I need to restart this book; had to return it to the library before I could read it!
acacia_happy_hour's review against another edition
3.0
I hate to admit that this Jack Caffery installment was remarkably weak, especially when compared to its brilliant predecessors. The plot is solid enough; the connection of Flea and Caffery's storylines seems a bit contrived though, as everything seems to fit a little too conveniently together. My biggest disappointment with this book was the lack of attention given to the mystery of Ewan, which left off so suspensefully in The Treatment!
In a postword by Hayder at the end of my version of the book, she claims she had tired of Caffery after The Treatment and had no intention of writing him any longer The spark between protagonist and author had died, the book was forced, and it shows.
In a postword by Hayder at the end of my version of the book, she claims she had tired of Caffery after The Treatment and had no intention of writing him any longer The spark between protagonist and author had died, the book was forced, and it shows.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
2.0
This was not for me, didn't find the book very thrilling and was a bit bored through out, cant really say I was invested in the story and didn't care how it ended. Might give Mo Hayder another go, her premise on books sounds good and maybe I picked up the wrong book of hers to start with
darrenstj's review against another edition
4.0
not what I had expected. quite the double twist on kaiser. I adore the relationship the jack has with Marilyn. she has such a matronly way about her, and all she wants to do is ensure jack doesn't fall on his face. I also enjoyed the introduction of Sargent marley, she really became a character that I enjoyed reading about.
I liked the ibogain on kaiser's couch, and the life and death dilemma for her in the bathroom. not quite what I had expected, but Hayder pulled off reviving that hatred inside of caffery, after his pedophile neighbour committed suicide.
I liked the ibogain on kaiser's couch, and the life and death dilemma for her in the bathroom. not quite what I had expected, but Hayder pulled off reviving that hatred inside of caffery, after his pedophile neighbour committed suicide.
wyrmdog's review against another edition
2.0
Coming after Birdman and The Treatment, Ritual is a bit bland, a bit unfocused, a bit...well...uninspired.
Drawing from across the world for its plot doesn't help nearly as much as the diving bits, which are genuinely interesting. But Flea herself is a bit of a cipher even by the end of the book, and I'm not sure if I like her or not. The whole book is like that...almost interesting but ultimately unmoored.
If this had been the first of Hayder's books, I probably wouldn't keep on. But I have faith in her so this will not be the last. If it wasn't for Flea's introduction here, I'd say most readers could skip it, but I understand that she's in the rest of the Caffery books.
Caffery...wow...he's regressed. I didn't think he could, but he did. You'll see it long before he does, and by the end of the book he still hasn't figured out a way to push forward and so, Jack will continue forward as a walking emotional vault.
Finally there is still some of Hayder's characteristic horror elements suffused throughout the story, but it isn't distilled to excellence the way it has been previously. In all, a passable crime thriller in a vacuum, but a disappointment for the Caffery series.
Drawing from across the world for its plot doesn't help nearly as much as the diving bits, which are genuinely interesting. But Flea herself is a bit of a cipher even by the end of the book, and I'm not sure if I like her or not. The whole book is like that...almost interesting but ultimately unmoored.
If this had been the first of Hayder's books, I probably wouldn't keep on. But I have faith in her so this will not be the last. If it wasn't for Flea's introduction here, I'd say most readers could skip it, but I understand that she's in the rest of the Caffery books.
Caffery...wow...he's regressed. I didn't think he could, but he did. You'll see it long before he does, and by the end of the book he still hasn't figured out a way to push forward and so, Jack will continue forward as a walking emotional vault.
Finally there is still some of Hayder's characteristic horror elements suffused throughout the story, but it isn't distilled to excellence the way it has been previously. In all, a passable crime thriller in a vacuum, but a disappointment for the Caffery series.