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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this a little more than the Gage's first.
What really distinguishes this series, of course, is the setting. Gage's Brazil is a place where corruption is a fact of life, and random violence is a constant threat. The line between good guy and bad guy is much fuzzier than in typical American police novels, and that tension is the driving force of the novel.
Like Blood of the Wicked, Buried Strangers is a little more violent and disturbing than my usual fare. To me, the excellent writing makes up for it, but if you're particularly sensitive you might want to avoid.
What really distinguishes this series, of course, is the setting. Gage's Brazil is a place where corruption is a fact of life, and random violence is a constant threat. The line between good guy and bad guy is much fuzzier than in typical American police novels, and that tension is the driving force of the novel.
Like Blood of the Wicked, Buried Strangers is a little more violent and disturbing than my usual fare. To me, the excellent writing makes up for it, but if you're particularly sensitive you might want to avoid.
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the second book in the Chief Inspector Mario Silva series set in Brazil. This book is a page-turner for sure. This is a series not for the faint of heart. There's lots of violence and propulsive action, and nothing is really sacred in Leighton's delivery. The book is a compelling story about the difference between the haves and have-nots in modern-day Brazil where the politicians and the police officers seem to have their fingers in every pot. But not Mario Silva and his team. Silva will go as far as he needs to get to the bottom of a mystery. When a plot of land is discovered deep in the Amazonian forest that holds approximately thirty graves, Silva knows that this is not a case that will be easily solved. The fact that the bodies are unidentifiable, and had been there for seven years and didn't match with any missing persons listed, make him realize that this was a graveyard for the forgotten poor. As they dig, Silva is horrified to uncover what has been actually going on for decades right under police noses. While trying to find the guilty parties, and doing this while keeping his superior completely in the dark, Mario is shocked to the core as the appalling details come out. The book moves along very quickly, and left me wanting to quickly read the next in the series. The scope of the police corruption in Mario's police force was as frightening as the degradation of the killers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Kidnapping
Just as disturbing but fascinating as his first novel with the good Inspector Mario Silva investigating a secret cemetery with buried families.
This series is growing on me (I'm reading it out of order for some reason). This is a character driven crime series. I love the setting of Brazil, it really gives you a good look at what it's like to live there - everything from national/regional character to geography to history, weather, politics, traffic, corruption, etc. Even though it's a Mario Silva headed series, all of the characters in it together make it work. Silva is a chief inspector in the Brazilian Federal Police, he has an incompetent but attention loving boss. It's a good thing he has an efficient and hard working supporting cast of detectives and agents.
The crime part is only so-so. We often see the crimes from the criminals' POV, which somewhat takes away the suspense part of it but when the crooks are incompetent it's also somewhat entertaining. The writing is also easy to read and follow which helps a lot with the slow parts. The slow part to me is the build-up where characters, even small ones, can get a long build up. I don't think it's necessary if they don't play a major role.
Spoiler/synopsis: This book deals with the transplant situation in medicine where in common with all over the world, patients have to wait for organs which officially cannot be bought. But it's Brazil, so you know what happens. A graveyard of many people are found. In parallel, a family of 4 is missing. The investigations proceeds in parallel, but eventually they find that the family of 4 has been murdered for organs.
The crime part is only so-so. We often see the crimes from the criminals' POV, which somewhat takes away the suspense part of it but when the crooks are incompetent it's also somewhat entertaining. The writing is also easy to read and follow which helps a lot with the slow parts. The slow part to me is the build-up where characters, even small ones, can get a long build up. I don't think it's necessary if they don't play a major role.
Spoiler/synopsis: This book deals with the transplant situation in medicine where in common with all over the world, patients have to wait for organs which officially cannot be bought. But it's Brazil, so you know what happens. A graveyard of many people are found. In parallel, a family of 4 is missing. The investigations proceeds in parallel, but eventually they find that the family of 4 has been murdered for organs.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting book. Although the storyline was very predictable towards the middle. Thoroughly enjoyed how the author developed the storyline in the book. I also enjoyed learning more about the politics of Brazil, and it didn’t feel like the author was ‘shoving facts down my throat’ - it was to the point and actually made sense to the storyline.
Some parts of the plot felt more ‘convenient’ and ‘coincidental’ than realistic, and there were points where it was difficult to keep track of all the characters in the story.
Some parts of the plot felt more ‘convenient’ and ‘coincidental’ than realistic, and there were points where it was difficult to keep track of all the characters in the story.