Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Binding Room by Nadine Matheson

20 reviews

jwill583's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Murder

tanuandbooks's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It's a solid page-turner! We don't know who the killer is till the very last page! 

Henley quickly became a fave character and I wanna read more books from the series! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Murder, Racism, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Violence, Child death, Rape, Self harm, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders

beanjoles's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

All in all, an incredible follow-up to The Jigsaw Man! Nadine Matheson is a supremely talented author who has a remarkable knack for writing clear, descriptive prose that’s gripping from start to finish. Greatly looking forward to more Henley novels. My only regret is that I found her book series so soon, because I don’t have a backlog I can work through now that I’m done her two current novels! :’)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Torture

Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide

Schizophrenia, psychosis, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder are all mentioned by name in this book. Symptoms of psychosis, mania, and depression are discussed in detail at various points. In my opinion as a person with bipolar who’s frequently frustrated by how we’re portrayed in media—the descriptions of mental illness are factual, not overplayed for drama, and are respectful to the folks who are ill. They are not demonized for their illnesses by any of the key protagonists. Mild plot spoilers:

The victims of the serial murders have the above-named mental illnesses, so if you’re sensitive to violence against people who are mentally unwell, be aware going in.

Heavy plot spoilers for ending:

One of the perpetrators is also revealed to have bipolar disorder. The book does not go out of its way to describe them as evil or wrong *because* of their illness.

molsreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Confinement, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Rape

tabby2920's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely loved this! Nadine Matheson is becoming one of my favorite authors! Not only she writes gripping and heart-racing thrillers, she also develops realistic characters that leap off the page and make you as the reader identify with them and want to learn more about them. If you are fan of mysteries, then Matheson's books need to be on your list!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Torture, and Mental illness

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

library_dreamer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

DI Anjelica Henley is back in The Binding Room by Nadine Matheson. If you enjoyed The Jigsaw Man, you won't be disappointed by this new one.

When Henley is called to investigate the murder of a popular preacher, she gets more than she bargained for when they find an unconscious and tortured man in a secret room of the church.

Faced with multiple suspects, a possible missing child, and more bodies, Henley must unravel the tangled web to catch a sadistic killer.

Matheson is an amazing crime writer. At over 500 pages, this one was a bit chunky for a thriller, but there wasn't much that didn't add to the story, so I don't think it could have been shorter. I'm definitely excited for more from this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and @NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Miscarriage, Body horror, Murder, and Rape

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Violence

locpressedbooks_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Murder, and Confinement

Moderate: Dementia, Violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Pregnancy and Miscarriage

soobooksalot's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Crime procedural with a dark edge? Nadine Matheson is 100% your author!
 Thank you to HarperCollins Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
 The Binding Room is one of my most-anticipated books of the year, as it's the second in the series featuring DI Angelica Henley from The Jigsaw Man.
 Friends, this sequel does NOT disappoint. 
 The same gritty, fast-paced storytelling that hooked us in The Jigsaw Man is here again, and possibly even more, in The Binding Room.
 Pastor Caleb Annan has been stabbed to death in his church, which oddly isn't the most disturbing thing found in the building. A barely-alive young man is found in a hidden room in the church, with injuries chronicling torture and neglect.
 This sets off a series of finding further victims with similar abuse, and investigations of who is behind it and why.
 This is a relentlessly readable book, with not one extraneous scene. It all flows and fits and pertains.
 Henley, Ramouter, Pellacia et al are back, and even more fascinating in the second installment - these are characters I can't wait to follow the stories of through the rest of the series.
 For fans of Criminal Minds/CSI-style thrillers, highly recommended!
 Released on July 12.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Death, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture

librariangeorgia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I bloody loved this book. I enjoyed it just as much as THE JIGSAW MAN. It’s a very dark gritty detective thriller series which I am loving - it’s been a while since I’ve read one like this. 

 

The plot for this book follows a series of ritualistic murders which I found to be very interesting. The writing style of this series fits that dark storyline. A big part of this book is mental health which I found was handled really well - not just the victims/suspects but the investigating team as well. 

 

I found it very gripping, I literally couldn’t stop reading it and kept wanting to know more. The writing is fantastic and I love the character development for the investigating team. We knew a bit about them from the previous book, but this one has expanded on that a lot more for each of the characters. I am loving Henley and Ramouter’s friendship in this book. They bounced off each other really well. 

 

The only negative thing I’d have to say about this book is that it’s an absolute CHONK of a book. I honestly think it could’ve been shortened by about 100 pages and still contain all the necessary details. 

 

Overall, I loved everything about this book and I honestly can say that Matheson is one of my favourite authors, and an auto-buy author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Dementia, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Suicide, and Torture