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bequietmichael's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
amyfeatonby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
mtnest's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vandermeer's review
1.0
Sid sagt alles, was ich beim Lesen gedacht habe. Musste mich mehrfach zwingen, dran zu bleiben. Bei Dreiviertel gebe ich auf.
aravis's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
beardedwhelk's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
antiopelle's review
2.0
2,5 stars
A midnight murder in a secluded and overgrown cemetery. On one of the graves you'll find the words: "this grave must never be opened". The story starts out with an atmospheric opening and I only wished it would have stayed that way, but almost immediately we are sucked in a high octane propulsion of action scenes all over Scotland.
The premise is interesting, certainly with a two-hundred years old family feud still acted out to this day, and the book is generally well written. The big letdown for me was the main character, Max. He is your prototype macho who has fought in Afghanistan and came back with PTSD. Then he went working for London police where he shot a suspect and now goes rogue after shouting at the big boss. Being put on leave, he has all the time he wants to do his own investigation, as he is so certain that no-one can be trusted within the police force because everybody is a potential rat and he is the only one who gets the clear picture. The only one he trusts is his poor little damsel-in-distress sidekick. And yes, you will get about ten police acronyms per page. It is a world apart from my favorite detective, Vera Stanhope who does her policing based on facts and intelligence and where there is a bit of mystery that you need to find out.
Highly recommended for lovers of Lee Childs' Jack Reacher - I actually pictured Max as Tom Cruise - but alas not for me.
A sincere thanks to Netgalley, HQ Digital and the author for an advance copy in exchange of an honest review.
A midnight murder in a secluded and overgrown cemetery. On one of the graves you'll find the words: "this grave must never be opened". The story starts out with an atmospheric opening and I only wished it would have stayed that way, but almost immediately we are sucked in a high octane propulsion of action scenes all over Scotland.
The premise is interesting, certainly with a two-hundred years old family feud still acted out to this day, and the book is generally well written. The big letdown for me was the main character, Max. He is your prototype macho who has fought in Afghanistan and came back with PTSD. Then he went working for London police where he shot a suspect and now goes rogue after shouting at the big boss. Being put on leave, he has all the time he wants to do his own investigation, as he is so certain that no-one can be trusted within the police force because everybody is a potential rat and he is the only one who gets the clear picture. The only one he trusts is his poor little damsel-in-distress sidekick. And yes, you will get about ten police acronyms per page. It is a world apart from my favorite detective, Vera Stanhope who does her policing based on facts and intelligence and where there is a bit of mystery that you need to find out.
Highly recommended for lovers of Lee Childs' Jack Reacher - I actually pictured Max as Tom Cruise - but alas not for me.
A sincere thanks to Netgalley, HQ Digital and the author for an advance copy in exchange of an honest review.
kristel1010's review
3.0
Some of the time reading this book I spent wondering two things - whether the author has actual police work experience (later learning that indeed he does) and whether he wrote the character of Max as an idealised version of himself (answer still pending). Decent book but a bit more procedural crime than I personally prefer.