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emckeon1002's review against another edition
5.0
Stuart Neville can write, plain and simple. His characters breathe real life, and he walks us through the grit and despair of crime in a city complicated by religious divisions, cultural restraints and political ambitions. Jack Lennon is a mess, and he knows it, driven by past miscalculations, lost love and the desire to rehabilitate his reputation and integrity. Neville has an eye for detail that drops the reader squarely into every scene. That he's a master of plot and suspense only means the reader is tearing at the pages to get to the end, and regretting the end when one gets there.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
While this series overall is great, this was not quite up to par. The plot had a couple of my least favorite elements and the main character was even harder to like than usual. However, in the end, everything seemed to come together and the audio narration by Gerard Doyle was excellent as usual.
mariesreads's review against another edition
1.0
The set-up was solid, but I just wasn't connecting with the writing style. The characters, their paths, and the mystery were shaping up well, too. Definitely a case of personal preference rather than a judgment of the novel.
mehitabels's review against another edition
3.0
Really not what I expected at all. Starts off strong, serial killer surprise, and a used-up cop who seems unrelated to the crime. Then all these women get involved, children disappear, Irish gangsters start rumpassing, and despite the disappointing villain and the slap-in-the-face ending, I quite liked it.
librarytech4's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting murder mystery with lots of plot turns and interesting twists I was never expecting. After finishing this book I want to read more stories with Jack Lennon and see him solve more murder cases. Nevillle does a great job with this book and I can see why this book is a national best seller. I definitely recommend this book.
eowyns_helmet's review against another edition
4.0
Neville is brisk, tough and always surprising -- you think you know what will happen about 25 percent in, then you revise and revise -- and are still surprised by a twist in an always thrilling conclusion. Neville isn't the most "writer'y" writer, but that's fine for his books. I'd describe him as more muscular, with a fine sense of the inner lives of his characters, much more interesting than the mystery itself. As someone who's come to know Belfast a little over the years, I love the way he introduces us to the fascinating, contradictory, troubled city -- spit-polished now, but still fractured and complex just a millimeter beneath. DCI Lennon's a great character -- but so is a new one (for Neville), DCI Serena Flanagan, so human and also a strong, smart woman. No spoiler here, but when she gives another officer his come-uppance (this involves a secret file from a previous mystery, a slammed drawer and a very bloody hand), I wanted to jump up and shout, "Shove it again!" A wonderful stay-up-late read.
storybookvisitor's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
nvdm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kazgilbody's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
This thriller featuring Jack Lennon is the 4th. It's fast-moving and we see Lennon struggling to get back on his feet after a shooting incident that left another officer dead. Lennon also is fighting for his daughter's custody with the family of her deceased mother. A young woman discovers a shocking secret involving her father and contacts Lennon, someone she dated years back, as he's the only person she can look to for help. Things quickly spiral out of control when people in power conspire to keep these secrets hidden. Lennon isn't a character the reader immediately warms to, but he is more than just another dysfunctional cop. The book gives a lot of details about Belfast that readers who love a good sense of place appreciate. I was very happy to learn (at last) the history of the Jaffe Fountain outside of Victoria Square shopping centre. http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/2008/02/victoria-square-jaffe-fountain-returns.html