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melsbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
FANTASTIC!!
I cannot remember enjoying a series so much! Ever!
Lacey Flint is back in London, and dealing (poorly) with the events that occurred in Cambridge only weeks earlier. And of course, despite the fact she wants to leave police work all together, she somehow manages to get herself involved with trying to find a new serial killer in old London Town...
I found this to be the best in the series so far. In the last book the chopping and changing of points of view often had me a tad confused. She seems to have dealt with that, because there is none of that here. I loved the characters. Barney!! What an awesome character! Most of the book is told through his eyes, his experiences, as a young boy struggling in London... Lacey is as dark and disturbed than ever, probably more so, and her relationship with Mark is just as frustrating. Dana's character is given a new complexity in this book. And Marks son Huck is introduced, and is cleverly weaved into the storyline.
All of her characters are so disturbed. So fragile. But Bolton manages to create such a rich, complex atmosphere through all of them, their interactions and their thoughts. Each character just blows me away.
London is as dark and depressing as the earlier books, yet she still manages to convince the reader of its timeless beauty.
The river Thames seems to be a major focus in the series. The water being cleansing, yet dark and dangerous, and has almost majestical qualities. I'm looking forward to the next book which I have heard focuses on the river even more.
Oh the twists and turns! Bolton is extremely talented. She manages to take you in one direction, get you almost certain about what is happening, and then twists you around when you are totally not expecting it, to a different focus. And then, just when you are sure now about the answer, she manages to blindfold you and lead you to a completely different path all together. I love this about her books. I'm not saying they are not somewhat predictable, but the way you get there is often difficult, and extremely satisfying.
My only criticism about this book is not about the book, but about me. I read too fast, it was over too quickly, and I was unable to savor it for long enough.
I cannot remember enjoying a series so much! Ever!
Lacey Flint is back in London, and dealing (poorly) with the events that occurred in Cambridge only weeks earlier. And of course, despite the fact she wants to leave police work all together, she somehow manages to get herself involved with trying to find a new serial killer in old London Town...
I found this to be the best in the series so far. In the last book the chopping and changing of points of view often had me a tad confused. She seems to have dealt with that, because there is none of that here. I loved the characters. Barney!! What an awesome character! Most of the book is told through his eyes, his experiences, as a young boy struggling in London... Lacey is as dark and disturbed than ever, probably more so, and her relationship with Mark is just as frustrating. Dana's character is given a new complexity in this book. And Marks son Huck is introduced, and is cleverly weaved into the storyline.
All of her characters are so disturbed. So fragile. But Bolton manages to create such a rich, complex atmosphere through all of them, their interactions and their thoughts. Each character just blows me away.
London is as dark and depressing as the earlier books, yet she still manages to convince the reader of its timeless beauty.
The river Thames seems to be a major focus in the series. The water being cleansing, yet dark and dangerous, and has almost majestical qualities. I'm looking forward to the next book which I have heard focuses on the river even more.
Oh the twists and turns! Bolton is extremely talented. She manages to take you in one direction, get you almost certain about what is happening, and then twists you around when you are totally not expecting it, to a different focus. And then, just when you are sure now about the answer, she manages to blindfold you and lead you to a completely different path all together. I love this about her books. I'm not saying they are not somewhat predictable, but the way you get there is often difficult, and extremely satisfying.
My only criticism about this book is not about the book, but about me. I read too fast, it was over too quickly, and I was unable to savor it for long enough.
sandyd's review against another edition
5.0
Another creepy mystery with weird plot twists I didn't (couldn't!) predict.
vkemp's review against another edition
3.0
Lacey Flint is on extended leave following the events detailed in Sacrifice. A serial killer is on the loose in South London, killing pre-teen boys, draining them of their blood, and 11-year old Barney is worried about his black-outs. Lacey does her best to avoid the search but gets sucked into it because Barney is her next-door neighbor. Dana Tulloch is in charge of the investigation and Mark Joesbury is assisting. Lacey and Mark are still dancing around their mutual attraction, but Lacey is too fragile to make a commitment. Bodies keep floating in the Thames and the forensic psychiatrists are baffled and cannot get a clear picture of the perpetrator. The denouncement is breath-taking, but I felt the rest of the book was flat.
stackwoodlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
AKA "LOST"....
I like this series from Bolton - character building, just enough tension btwn her & him... bringing characters back in from past books - just briefly, but it was only 6mo/12mo/2yrs ago... why not utilize that specialist again?
My bad with this was the editing! ARGH! At least six mistakes, including random spaces, stray [-mark & basic stuff that you need human eyeballs & brains to see. (There vs they're)
Editors, don't count on software please?
I like this series from Bolton - character building, just enough tension btwn her & him... bringing characters back in from past books - just briefly, but it was only 6mo/12mo/2yrs ago... why not utilize that specialist again?
My bad with this was the editing! ARGH! At least six mistakes, including random spaces, stray [-mark & basic stuff that you need human eyeballs & brains to see. (There vs they're)
Editors, don't count on software please?
stephaniesbookreviews's review against another edition
4.0
This was so good! A mix of psychological and urgent/action-y suspense. Also very character driven. While I was a little upset that we didn't get Joesbury's POV again, I liked getting Tulloch's (though it made me not like her as much) and Lacey's young neighbor, Barney. We get very little of Lacey's POV for the first half of the book which I found a little odd, but still worked. The mystery was well done. I had it all completely figured out a couple of times before being proved wrong. While I did eventually guess the murderer before the reveal, it was probably my 4th or 5th guess. This is really one of the best mystery series I've read in a long time.
encgolsen's review against another edition
4.0
The subject matter was tough for me--a serial killer is hunting young boys in London--but once I started there was no putting this book down until I knew what would happen to eleven-year-old Barney. I definitely plan to read the other books featuring detective Lacey Flint. This psychological thriller was relentless.
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