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ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
5.0
Trying a paid for service, which I just realized I should not yet write about and share, as it is still in Beta.
This is one of the three recommended books. Price is ok, instant ebook buy.
Fast paced page-turner, set in the UK (London mostly).
Wow, what a ride!
After a grisly find of a puzzle-like-ragdoll-staged-death consisting of body parts from several different victims, this story keeps its fast pace with a serial who leaks to the press, and sets a short timeline to stop his killings.
A lot is standard police procedure, but under very high pressure, and with several not sleeping and or not sleeping well for days on end (with the obvious problems such behaviour brings).
People and places well written, with several POV, and a few flashbacks.
Most twists I did not see coming, and a few persons are not simply black-and-white, but more a muddled morally grey, veering into being vigilant or at leas sympathetic to being vigilante.
One member of the police was doing manual data-mining during his supposed sleep or free time in going through old evidence. This felt very real, amassing lots of data, sometimes mining them with a computer, but also trying to locate and speak to every person of a large group to see wether they could offer information or simply are still alive. Although computers where used and some special programs, the large amount of work felt like a lot of old detective work, where computers only added or helped to come to some conclusions, others where simply guessworks or intuitions.
This being the first from three paid-for-recommendations, I can safely say: this one is a success, on the point for me!
Will certainly look for the sequel (this is supposed to be a series) and probably buy it soon.
Read this as an EPub and page-count was strange, so I cannot really say, how long this book is. But the short 3 days it took me to read it where mostly spent reading, with lights-out late on a few days (11:30 pm, 1 am).
A little romance thrown in, sex hinted at, but happening off-page. Very grisly murders with several scenes described en detail, not for the faint-of-heart, but not veering into SAW-material either, keeping it real and no torture.
Highly recommended, for fans of serial killers, UK-settings.
This is one of the three recommended books. Price is ok, instant ebook buy.
Fast paced page-turner, set in the UK (London mostly).
Wow, what a ride!
After a grisly find of a puzzle-like-ragdoll-staged-death consisting of body parts from several different victims, this story keeps its fast pace with a serial who leaks to the press, and sets a short timeline to stop his killings.
A lot is standard police procedure, but under very high pressure, and with several not sleeping and or not sleeping well for days on end (with the obvious problems such behaviour brings).
People and places well written, with several POV, and a few flashbacks.
Most twists I did not see coming, and a few persons are not simply black-and-white, but more a muddled morally grey, veering into being vigilant or at leas sympathetic to being vigilante.
One member of the police was doing manual data-mining during his supposed sleep or free time in going through old evidence. This felt very real, amassing lots of data, sometimes mining them with a computer, but also trying to locate and speak to every person of a large group to see wether they could offer information or simply are still alive. Although computers where used and some special programs, the large amount of work felt like a lot of old detective work, where computers only added or helped to come to some conclusions, others where simply guessworks or intuitions.
This being the first from three paid-for-recommendations, I can safely say: this one is a success, on the point for me!
Will certainly look for the sequel (this is supposed to be a series) and probably buy it soon.
Read this as an EPub and page-count was strange, so I cannot really say, how long this book is. But the short 3 days it took me to read it where mostly spent reading, with lights-out late on a few days (11:30 pm, 1 am).
A little romance thrown in, sex hinted at, but happening off-page. Very grisly murders with several scenes described en detail, not for the faint-of-heart, but not veering into SAW-material either, keeping it real and no torture.
Highly recommended, for fans of serial killers, UK-settings.
laderlappen's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
roosaleino's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
sblack0215's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
1 body. 6 victims. 4.5 stars!
I will say that had a little trouble getting used to the writing style. There's no clearcut POV and sometimes it seems to jump to different characters with no notice. However, I started thinking of it as a tv show like Criminal Minds with a large cast and it started making a whole lot more sense. We get the team working as a whole to solve the crime with snippets from individuals (including the innocent bystander who's entire purpose was just to stumble over a clue and then is never mentioned again.)
The crime itself was fascinating and I really enjoyed seeing them putting the clues together. I'll definitely be continuing on with the trilogy.
I will say that had a little trouble getting used to the writing style. There's no clearcut POV and sometimes it seems to jump to different characters with no notice. However, I started thinking of it as a tv show like Criminal Minds with a large cast and it started making a whole lot more sense. We get the team working as a whole to solve the crime with snippets from individuals (including the innocent bystander who's entire purpose was just to stumble over a clue and then is never mentioned again.)
The crime itself was fascinating and I really enjoyed seeing them putting the clues together. I'll definitely be continuing on with the trilogy.
litwithleigh's review against another edition
4.0
One sentence review: Complex, fast-paced, darkly funny
SYNOPSIS
Dismembered body parts of six victims are haphazardly sewn together and pointing into the apartment of disgraced Detective "Wolf" Fawkes. As if the plot isn't thicc enough, Fawkes' ex-wife receives a "hit list" containing the names and future date of death for six targets. Buckle in!!!
MY OPINION
After b2b 1-star stankers and the nail salon doing me INCREDIBLY dirty, I swung by Canadian Barnes & Nobles (Indigo) to drown my sorrows in more books. This was one of my purchases and I started reading as soon as I got home. Oooohhweee I loved this more than the average bear, which doesn't happen often! and I can't wait to watch the series on Amazon Prime. Hopefully it will be just as juicy.
Yeetage of disbelief is required. This is a Criminal Minds crazy crime. BUT the logic of solving a criminal case is still in tact, which is why I don't mind tossin my disbelief to the side. As long as the mechanics of detective work are still based in realism and a clear motive exists, idc how OTT the actual crime is. Fight me!!! (pls don't, I'm very prissy)
Anyways. For a debut I was very impressed. The writing was on pizzzzoint. Homie can write. Great showing, minimal telling. Dark humor woven throughout that had me chortling. Butt cheeks were clenched in suspense throughout several scenes.
On top of the great writing, he wove an intricate web that kept me guessing. Many moving parts come together in the end but there is a huge ass cliffhanger that had me scrambling online for book #2. This is told in third-person narration, BUT there is a lot of "jumping heads" in one scene without scene breaks, which some might be annoyed with.
I also felt there was a lot of distance between the reader and Wolf; homeboy was due to die but seemed nonchalant about it. I would've appreciated more exploration of how one feels when they are literally scheduled to die. There could've been some serious emotional wreckage here.
Beware for those who are anti-romance, there is an undercurrent of romantic tension throughout the book which is so subtle it's reminiscent of relationships in Nordic Noir. I'm excited to see how their relationship develops throughout the series. I think I'm becoming a romantic suspense fan?????
My main rich homie qualm (google "rich homie quan" to understand the plan on words) is several basic leads weren't investigated. ie: the baddie uses a website to hire wannabe actors for a protest, but there is no follow up by cybercrime to track down the account/IP address etc. It seemed like the author had his mind made up of what would lead to cracking the case and wouldn't consider anything else. He said basic forensics?? NAH. CLUES ONLY UNCOVERED BY METICULOUSLY REVIEWING OLD CASE FILES!!!!!!!!
Tbh I know Wolf was the head honcho, but Edmunds was the real hero let's be real. I hope he stays around for the rest of the series.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, fast paced, tres juicy case, thicc ass plot, big cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting more!, complex characters
Cons: basic leads weren't chased down in favour for a more complex reveal
SYNOPSIS
Dismembered body parts of six victims are haphazardly sewn together and pointing into the apartment of disgraced Detective "Wolf" Fawkes. As if the plot isn't thicc enough, Fawkes' ex-wife receives a "hit list" containing the names and future date of death for six targets. Buckle in!!!
MY OPINION
After b2b 1-star stankers and the nail salon doing me INCREDIBLY dirty, I swung by Canadian Barnes & Nobles (Indigo) to drown my sorrows in more books. This was one of my purchases and I started reading as soon as I got home. Oooohhweee I loved this more than the average bear, which doesn't happen often! and I can't wait to watch the series on Amazon Prime. Hopefully it will be just as juicy.
Yeetage of disbelief is required. This is a Criminal Minds crazy crime. BUT the logic of solving a criminal case is still in tact, which is why I don't mind tossin my disbelief to the side. As long as the mechanics of detective work are still based in realism and a clear motive exists, idc how OTT the actual crime is. Fight me!!! (pls don't, I'm very prissy)
Anyways. For a debut I was very impressed. The writing was on pizzzzoint. Homie can write. Great showing, minimal telling. Dark humor woven throughout that had me chortling. Butt cheeks were clenched in suspense throughout several scenes.
On top of the great writing, he wove an intricate web that kept me guessing. Many moving parts come together in the end but there is a huge ass cliffhanger that had me scrambling online for book #2. This is told in third-person narration, BUT there is a lot of "jumping heads" in one scene without scene breaks, which some might be annoyed with.
I also felt there was a lot of distance between the reader and Wolf; homeboy was due to die but seemed nonchalant about it. I would've appreciated more exploration of how one feels when they are literally scheduled to die. There could've been some serious emotional wreckage here.
Beware for those who are anti-romance, there is an undercurrent of romantic tension throughout the book which is so subtle it's reminiscent of relationships in Nordic Noir. I'm excited to see how their relationship develops throughout the series. I think I'm becoming a romantic suspense fan?????
My main rich homie qualm (google "rich homie quan" to understand the plan on words) is several basic leads weren't investigated. ie: the baddie uses a website to hire wannabe actors for a protest, but there is no follow up by cybercrime to track down the account/IP address etc. It seemed like the author had his mind made up of what would lead to cracking the case and wouldn't consider anything else. He said basic forensics?? NAH. CLUES ONLY UNCOVERED BY METICULOUSLY REVIEWING OLD CASE FILES!!!!!!!!
Tbh I know Wolf was the head honcho, but Edmunds was the real hero let's be real. I hope he stays around for the rest of the series.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, fast paced, tres juicy case, thicc ass plot, big cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting more!, complex characters
Cons: basic leads weren't chased down in favour for a more complex reveal
ricknicolai's review against another edition
2.0
Onsamenhangend en slaat nergens op maar ben geen bitch en heb hem toch uitgelezen
astrokath's review against another edition
2.0
The idea for this book was good, but the execution was lacking. Too many different POVs, poor character development, unsatisfactory denouement, but most of all, poor editing.
So many recent books from mainstream publishers (this one was HarperCollins) have needed a strong hand in the editing, to cut out the waffle and streamline the story. This book suffers from thesaurus fever, with the use of many unnecessary adjectives and adverbs that sound like they have been looked up, maybe with the thought of beefing a screenplay up to make a book. But it fell flat with me.
And the main character called Wolf because of his initials? Oh dear.
So many recent books from mainstream publishers (this one was HarperCollins) have needed a strong hand in the editing, to cut out the waffle and streamline the story. This book suffers from thesaurus fever, with the use of many unnecessary adjectives and adverbs that sound like they have been looked up, maybe with the thought of beefing a screenplay up to make a book. But it fell flat with me.
And the main character called Wolf because of his initials? Oh dear.
namitakhanna's review against another edition
5.0
Detective William “Wolf” Fawkes gets a call about a stitched up corpse made up of six victims named the 'Ragdoll'. He has recently been reinstated at his job after attacking ‘The Cremation Killer” in court. Wolf is assigned this case with his old partner Emily Baxter . Within hours of Ragdoll murder the killer releases list of names and dates that he intends to murder to Wolf’s ex wife ,a T.V . journalist with Wolf’s name being last on the list. Will Wolf and Emily catch the killer on time before he gets any more victims and claims the final prize?
I was approved for the Ragdoll sampler and had to buy it as soon as it was on sale. It is a dark book with satirical humor and great complex well developed flawed characters. A definite must read for all mystery lovers.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this sample copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
I was approved for the Ragdoll sampler and had to buy it as soon as it was on sale. It is a dark book with satirical humor and great complex well developed flawed characters. A definite must read for all mystery lovers.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this sample copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
staceyrenee10's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.25
sunflower_martha's review against another edition
1.0
Let's just say I eyerolled my way through this book.