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sandygx260's review against another edition
3.0
I need to think about how I really feel about this book.
I can say this much; I do know I love Hand's stories far more when they slide between realms, between light and dark, and embrace her wonderful unreality. The first down and dirty Cassandra Neary tale didn't impress me. Neary is a burned-out drug-addicted punk who had her heyday and pretty much pissed away her talent because she's selfish and, in my mind, ultimately stupid. She makes some ridiculous choices in this story but hey, guess her addictions make the decisions for her. In a way I feel Hand is almost mocking Neary. I think Hand hates Neary as much as I do.
Of course Hand wants to try something new. She's a fantastic writer, which is why I'll read just about anything she writes. That doesn't mean I'll love it.
I can say this much; I do know I love Hand's stories far more when they slide between realms, between light and dark, and embrace her wonderful unreality. The first down and dirty Cassandra Neary tale didn't impress me. Neary is a burned-out drug-addicted punk who had her heyday and pretty much pissed away her talent because she's selfish and, in my mind, ultimately stupid. She makes some ridiculous choices in this story but hey, guess her addictions make the decisions for her. In a way I feel Hand is almost mocking Neary. I think Hand hates Neary as much as I do.
Of course Hand wants to try something new. She's a fantastic writer, which is why I'll read just about anything she writes. That doesn't mean I'll love it.
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
Cassandra Neary receives a voice message from Investigator Jonathan Wheedler. It is partly due to this voice message that Cassandra accepts an assignment from Anton Bredahl, a guy she just met over email. The other reason being that Anton wants Cassandra to travel to famed photographer Illkka Kaltunnen’s house to assess some art work of his to verify that they are real. Plus, Anton is going to pay Cassandra a lot of money. Cassandra could really use the money and this is a good way to leave town and avoid the Investigator.
Cassandra meets Illkka and views his photos. Everything seems to be going well until Cassandra sees on the news that Illkka has been murdered. Cassandra realizes than that she has been set up but by whom and why?
Ms. Hand is a new to me author. Ms. Hand has a unique style of writing. In what I mean by this is that I felt both connected and disconnected with this story and the characters in an odd, good sort of way. Connected in the fact that I could not stop reading this book as it was different and intriguing but disconnected in the way that it was like I was in the audience watching a movie but never relating to the characters and what they were going through in this story. I felt that the characters deserved what happened to them. Due to their sick and twisted obsession with death and preserving it through a photograph. I would categorize Available Dark as more on the suspense side than I would mystery. Overall, I was intrigued enough by Ms. Hand’s writing that I would try her again in the future.
Cassandra meets Illkka and views his photos. Everything seems to be going well until Cassandra sees on the news that Illkka has been murdered. Cassandra realizes than that she has been set up but by whom and why?
Ms. Hand is a new to me author. Ms. Hand has a unique style of writing. In what I mean by this is that I felt both connected and disconnected with this story and the characters in an odd, good sort of way. Connected in the fact that I could not stop reading this book as it was different and intriguing but disconnected in the way that it was like I was in the audience watching a movie but never relating to the characters and what they were going through in this story. I felt that the characters deserved what happened to them. Due to their sick and twisted obsession with death and preserving it through a photograph. I would categorize Available Dark as more on the suspense side than I would mystery. Overall, I was intrigued enough by Ms. Hand’s writing that I would try her again in the future.
john_bridges's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy Carol Monda’s performance for this series. She really sounds like I imagine Cass would narrating her story to you. This one is a strong follow up to Generation Loss, and takes Cass to the Nordic countries. It’s been said that you take yourself with you wherever you go, and in a sense you experience each place through your own personal filter, and in Cass’ case, that’s a dark one. In the words of one eclectic sage, “wherever you go, there you are.” Cass arrives in post-economic collapse Reykjavik, a city I happened to be in during and just after the crash. Her experience is a bleak one, haunted by the winter dark and cold, with depressive and hopeless locals. My own experience was one of admiration at the lack of pessimism and panic I would have expected, seeing instead a hardy group of people not easily perturbed by events, in a country with a solid sense of collective destiny. Its a country where there are far more murders in an average Icelandic Noir novel than actually happen in real life. However, Cass’ Iceland is certainly one of misery and murder tied to ancient lore and darkness, which of course makes for a much more engaging story, and it held my attention as she unraveled the truth behind the mayhem. Black metal, Ásatrú, viking sagas, and, of course, photography all drive the events of the story. As with Generation Loss, Hand uses a strong sense of place to create a great atmosphere for the story, one where you can almost smell the sulphur on the cold wind as you listen.
eamwilliams504's review against another edition
3.0
This is not as good as Generation Loss but I like the Cass Neary character and as a 90’s metal head have an Interest in Norwegian Death Metal so it was a fun read.
hmneighbors's review against another edition
4.0
"Available Dark" was the second book in the series, and while reading, I longed for the first book.
Cassandra really is that girl, and I love a girl boss moment. The description drew me in and the book kept me drawn in.
I loved the plot and story. We get some romance while reading this show stopping thriller!
I cannot believe I got this book for a dollar, because it's simply a 4 star read!
Cassandra really is that girl, and I love a girl boss moment. The description drew me in and the book kept me drawn in.
I loved the plot and story. We get some romance while reading this show stopping thriller!
I cannot believe I got this book for a dollar, because it's simply a 4 star read!
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
Can't quite make up my mind about this one. I liked Hand's previous novel with photographer Cass Neary as the messed-up heroine. In "Available dark", she's barely getting by, popping pills,downing booze. On the bright side, she gets to go a freezing Finland to look at some really creepy and artistic photos of dead bodies. Surprisingly, this doesn't end well, so she hops on a plane to Iceland. Iceland, in case you didn't know, is a pretty depressing place these days. Not even the menacingly growling, tremolo-picking, norse mythology-loving death metal musicians she meets seem to enjoy their ritual killings anymore.
It's all very bleak, is what I'm saying. I don't mind though. I like Cass. There aren't many female characters like her in fiction. She's a badass fifty-something (?) former punk rocker with a drug habit and no career, no kids, no partner. I love how Hand doesn't make her into some cool chick with an attitude. Yeah, Cass is tough but also vulnerable, and although she behaves badly (and criminally) she's still a decent person.
The Finnish and Icelandic settings were well described, but it annoyed me a lot that everyone Cass met spoke flawless English, never at a loss for a word, using expressions only native English-speakers are likely to use. The bad guys, at a critical moment, even spoke English with each other rather than Icelandic. Really killed the mood.
Anyway, it's not a great book but I liked it. More or less. I think.
It's all very bleak, is what I'm saying. I don't mind though. I like Cass. There aren't many female characters like her in fiction. She's a badass fifty-something (?) former punk rocker with a drug habit and no career, no kids, no partner. I love how Hand doesn't make her into some cool chick with an attitude. Yeah, Cass is tough but also vulnerable, and although she behaves badly (and criminally) she's still a decent person.
The Finnish and Icelandic settings were well described, but it annoyed me a lot that everyone Cass met spoke flawless English, never at a loss for a word, using expressions only native English-speakers are likely to use. The bad guys, at a critical moment, even spoke English with each other rather than Icelandic. Really killed the mood.
Anyway, it's not a great book but I liked it. More or less. I think.
fleurhoplof's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The character development is amazing, as always with this series. However, I do find the story uninteresting each time. I will certainly read the third book as the character is one of a kind but I find the mystery very dull.
joshgauthier's review against another edition
5.0
Dark and disturbing, beautiful and thrilling and told with great skill.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by Susie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Savailable+dark+hand__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Savailable+dark+hand__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
unboxedjack's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Drug abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping