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2.89 AVERAGE
2.89 AVERAGE
McKinty has a way of drawing you into a story that makes a book fly by, like time when you're having fun.
The Colorado setting is both lovely and a bit creepy, perfect for a psychotic cat killer mystery.
Danny Lopez is a cool kid, everyone else is odd in their own way. Naturally, the murderer is strange, but even the other kids, from religious Tony's family to Tom's techno focus.
Most likeable to me were Bob and Walt. Bob was interesting as a convict of a white collar crime, who provided insight into a serial killer's mind. Walt was just a caring stepdad, imperfect but consistently there for Danny.
I even liked the "mean" kids, Charley and Hector, and the crew of geeks who were the adversaries of these religious boys.
Last, the ending was cool because it leads to sequel, hopefully, or at least explains some of the pieces missing about how the cat killer did things.
Good read for sure.
The Colorado setting is both lovely and a bit creepy, perfect for a psychotic cat killer mystery.
Danny Lopez is a cool kid, everyone else is odd in their own way. Naturally, the murderer is strange, but even the other kids, from religious Tony's family to Tom's techno focus.
Most likeable to me were Bob and Walt. Bob was interesting as a convict of a white collar crime, who provided insight into a serial killer's mind. Walt was just a caring stepdad, imperfect but consistently there for Danny.
I even liked the "mean" kids, Charley and Hector, and the crew of geeks who were the adversaries of these religious boys.
Last, the ending was cool because it leads to sequel, hopefully, or at least explains some of the pieces missing about how the cat killer did things.
Good read for sure.
First I have to tell you how big of a sucker I am for books like this one. I love everything about these types of books. I love the mystery to them, the hardship between the characters, and the suspense in the story! Your classic page turner.
Danny Lopez is the kid in town. But he is not moving to New York City, Seattle, or L.A. He is moving to a very little town just outside Denver, Colorado. And what is in this small town....nothing. Well not nothing, because he is moving there with his mom and step-dad because they are building a new casino and his mom is going to be the manager there. Some think that this is wrong but really don't do anything about it. Well while Danny is here he should make the best of it. He becomes friends with the girl next door and a couple guys down the road. They all go to the same school. This school is not like other schools though. This school has a very strict policy. There rules are: they can not talk while school is in session, they have to where white gloves so they know if you have been doing something that you are not supposed to do, and they learn from scripts providing from the state. But during this time a series of events start to happen. Cats start coming up missing and then come up murdered. What is happening in this small town?
At first when if first started to read this book I thought to myself what is going on? The book started off with a really neat story. The main character goes to a school that is very strict and meets a group of friends that become some of his best friends. Hey it could happen. It does in most books. While at the school Danny befriends the principle by accident. I think he just felt somewhat comfortable with the principle. But things change and this is going to be one of them. Later on in the book the real twist happens....the start killing off cats. Now come on, what did the cats ever do to you. They are cute and cuddly and are great snuggle partners. It was really disturbing to read about a serial cat killer. Yes there were more then one. In the book they talk about the cats being a offering to the demon so that evil can enter the world. This book was going every which way. But the sad part is that the book was very well written and really good.
I know what you are saying....that I just went on and on about things I complained about in the book and you are still saying that they book was good?!?!?!?!? Yes. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a read the keeps you on your toes. I think that this this book was a really awesome read. It was intriguing and kept you going inside the story. In my opinion that is what every book should have.
Danny Lopez is the kid in town. But he is not moving to New York City, Seattle, or L.A. He is moving to a very little town just outside Denver, Colorado. And what is in this small town....nothing. Well not nothing, because he is moving there with his mom and step-dad because they are building a new casino and his mom is going to be the manager there. Some think that this is wrong but really don't do anything about it. Well while Danny is here he should make the best of it. He becomes friends with the girl next door and a couple guys down the road. They all go to the same school. This school is not like other schools though. This school has a very strict policy. There rules are: they can not talk while school is in session, they have to where white gloves so they know if you have been doing something that you are not supposed to do, and they learn from scripts providing from the state. But during this time a series of events start to happen. Cats start coming up missing and then come up murdered. What is happening in this small town?
At first when if first started to read this book I thought to myself what is going on? The book started off with a really neat story. The main character goes to a school that is very strict and meets a group of friends that become some of his best friends. Hey it could happen. It does in most books. While at the school Danny befriends the principle by accident. I think he just felt somewhat comfortable with the principle. But things change and this is going to be one of them. Later on in the book the real twist happens....the start killing off cats. Now come on, what did the cats ever do to you. They are cute and cuddly and are great snuggle partners. It was really disturbing to read about a serial cat killer. Yes there were more then one. In the book they talk about the cats being a offering to the demon so that evil can enter the world. This book was going every which way. But the sad part is that the book was very well written and really good.
I know what you are saying....that I just went on and on about things I complained about in the book and you are still saying that they book was good?!?!?!?!? Yes. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a read the keeps you on your toes. I think that this this book was a really awesome read. It was intriguing and kept you going inside the story. In my opinion that is what every book should have.
This was neither the best nor the worst book I’ve ever read. I found parts of it very disturbing to read, particularly at the beginning. However, McKinty does an excellent job putting the reader inside the villain’s head. I was reminded of Ted Dekker several times throughout.
Overall, the book doesn’t flow very well. The point of view switches characters often, sometimes in mid-paragraph, making it somewhat difficult to keep up with. That being said, the story was an interesting read. While it does involve a killer and a school with a “supercontrolled environment,” the publisher’s summary really has nothing to do with the plot of the book. There was an anti-religion undertone to the novel that also had nothing to do with the story line itself, and I often found my questioning why it was there.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars, and believe teenage boys would probably enjoy it more than I did – as well as horror/suspense/mystery aficionados.
Overall, the book doesn’t flow very well. The point of view switches characters often, sometimes in mid-paragraph, making it somewhat difficult to keep up with. That being said, the story was an interesting read. While it does involve a killer and a school with a “supercontrolled environment,” the publisher’s summary really has nothing to do with the plot of the book. There was an anti-religion undertone to the novel that also had nothing to do with the story line itself, and I often found my questioning why it was there.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars, and believe teenage boys would probably enjoy it more than I did – as well as horror/suspense/mystery aficionados.
This was an interesting mystery that, to me, had a great ending. It was something you could kind of sense, but then they really drove it home with the last sentence.
After reading the reviews already posted before I'd really gotten into this book, I was a bit nervous about reading it. But then I got into it and really enjoyed it. The serial killer aspect to the book was very interesting. I liked how really it kept me guessing, it's that guy, no it's this kid, no wait, it's that kid. I love when it takes me a bit to figure out who the bad guy is. As a science teacher I also like how it talked about Tesla and other science topics. As a teacher, can I say that while I don't think that is the proper method for helping children learn, I would be in heaven if I had a classroom of students who sat without talking when they weren't supposed to? HEAVEN!
The main character is Danny Lopez, but he is actually part Native American. He doesn't really know his real dad, but doesn't really like his stepdad either. He's grown up in Las Vegas now moving to Colorado because of a mistake he made. Also his mother will be in charge of the new casino opening up on the reservation here. His stepdad is working at the prison, with the convicts that are really close to being let go for the end of their sentences. Danny meets some interesting prisoners, on in particular who will be a help, but could be the problem later on. The girl who lives right by him, Tony, tends to just walk into his house without knocking, even going into his bedroom when he's still sleeping! But he kind of has a crush on her. He is immediately asked to join one of the secret societies in this school with its unorthodox method of teaching students. There are cats being killed, and this seems to be the work of a serial killer in the way it is being done. Danny has issues with other students at the school of course being the new kid. All in all this was a good book, I can see many boys I've taught that would enjoy it.
The main character is Danny Lopez, but he is actually part Native American. He doesn't really know his real dad, but doesn't really like his stepdad either. He's grown up in Las Vegas now moving to Colorado because of a mistake he made. Also his mother will be in charge of the new casino opening up on the reservation here. His stepdad is working at the prison, with the convicts that are really close to being let go for the end of their sentences. Danny meets some interesting prisoners, on in particular who will be a help, but could be the problem later on. The girl who lives right by him, Tony, tends to just walk into his house without knocking, even going into his bedroom when he's still sleeping! But he kind of has a crush on her. He is immediately asked to join one of the secret societies in this school with its unorthodox method of teaching students. There are cats being killed, and this seems to be the work of a serial killer in the way it is being done. Danny has issues with other students at the school of course being the new kid. All in all this was a good book, I can see many boys I've taught that would enjoy it.
Anyway. That book was called Deviant, and I think I'd like to read more by Adrian McKinty (go read his blog and I think you'll fall in love), but I'm not going to actually review this one - just note its weird little obsession with educational theory and then mentally catalog it as something to recommend to those kids slouching around the teen section who roll their eyes at paranormal horror because they Just. Want. Murderers! I should not forget to also tell those kids to read Seita Parkkola's evil school novel The School of Possibilities. And then Janne Teller's Nothing. Dan Wells's I Am Not A Serial Killer and its sequelae.
More on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/08/123-baltimore-by-puck-review.html
More on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/08/123-baltimore-by-puck-review.html
This book is terrible. It reads like my four year old wrote it. That is, if my four year old was a cat killer.
Disturbing and terribly, horribly, badly, awfully written. Are McKinty's adult books this bad? I can't imagine teenagers sitting through this drivel.
(Only made it to page 120.)
Disturbing and terribly, horribly, badly, awfully written. Are McKinty's adult books this bad? I can't imagine teenagers sitting through this drivel.
(Only made it to page 120.)
Great book, hope I don't have to go to a similar school, because that'd be hell, and yeah. Loved the mystery!