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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Very dark story, but a page-turner. Richard Armitage does a fantastic job narrating!
Sinister, creepy and told with impressive skill, C.J Tudor has done it yet again in her second book, following on from the cult favourite The Chalk Man released earlier this year. Combining "old school" horror (there's dolls, there's beetles, there's graveyards, there's witchery) with the twistiest twists, macabre backdrop and many, many secrets. Again, there are elements of Stephen King's horror/supernatural, and the kind of ghost stories you'd tell your friends at sleepovers, but told in a way that, apart from a few paragraphs, is actually not as graphic as her previous novel in it's gruesome nature, but more psychological; the fear and terror leaks out of the chapters and fills you with an overwhelming sense of dread. Just magnificent.
If you have read The Chalk Man (and if not then you definitely should, immediately!) you'll spot some excellent "easter eggs" in this book which I loved and instantly wanted to tweet about them but then couldn't because spoilers, so that was frustratingly brilliant. Actually, just like The Chalk Man, you want to talk about SO MUCH of this book, your brain frantically left trying to figure out the mysteries and how you feel about the characters (most of whom are pretty unlikeable).
Read my full review at http://beereaderbooks.wordpress.com
Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance, my review is entirely my own thoughts and written in my own words.
Actually more 3.5 star but I was always told to round up when it’s midway. Not what I expected. A touch of science fiction. The protagonist was not exactly likeable but he is real. We all have probably been through periods of our time when we were desperate to be accepted by a group that we turned a blind eye on unacceptable things they do. We all wish we could rewrite parts of our history.
Podobný dojem jako z Kříďáka. Dobře se to četlo, ale pointa a celkový dojem nic moc.
Celé je to vlastně variace na Kingův Pet Sematary. Atmosféra důlních Middle England byla ale fajn. Temníčko a sem tam nějaké překvápko, které člověk nečeká.
Autorka se drží nesympatických hrdinů, ožralů ve středním věku bez přátel a rodiny, které nemá nikdo rád.
Sáhla jsem po ní náhodně v knihkupectví, protože byla zrovna ve slevě.
Zdá se, že jsem hodně kritická, ale vlastně bych si od C.J. Tudor přečetla klidně i další knížky. Čte se to rychle, člověk chce honem vědět co bude dál a nakonec je to trochu zklamání. Ale na druhou stranu je pochopitelně těžké vymyslet nějakou opravdu ryze originální zápletku, I guess.
Celé je to vlastně variace na Kingův Pet Sematary. Atmosféra důlních Middle England byla ale fajn. Temníčko a sem tam nějaké překvápko, které člověk nečeká.
Autorka se drží nesympatických hrdinů, ožralů ve středním věku bez přátel a rodiny, které nemá nikdo rád.
Sáhla jsem po ní náhodně v knihkupectví, protože byla zrovna ve slevě.
Zdá se, že jsem hodně kritická, ale vlastně bych si od C.J. Tudor přečetla klidně i další knížky. Čte se to rychle, člověk chce honem vědět co bude dál a nakonec je to trochu zklamání. Ale na druhou stranu je pochopitelně těžké vymyslet nějakou opravdu ryze originální zápletku, I guess.
Naja wohlwollend 2,5 weil mir der Stil der Autorin echt gut gefällt.
Ansonsten war die Handlung leider viel zu vorhersehbar. Ich wusste die ganze Zeit worauf es hinauslaufen würde. Das kann unter Umständen trotzdem nicht entscheidend sein für mich, ich kann ein Buch dennoch mögen. Allerdings hatte ich die ganze Zeit das Gefühl die Handlung schon zigmal in andren Romanen gelesen zu haben. Es gab einfach nichts Neues. Keine der Figuren hat überrascht. Die Handlung lief genauso ab, wie man es aus hundertausend anderen Thrillern kennt, die ein bisschen Mystery sein wollen. Echt schade, "Der Kreidemann" war wirklich richtig richtig gut. Hier hatte ich ehrlich gesagt das Gefühl, die Autorin wollte unbedingt nachlegen und hat sich daher wenig Zeit genommen für eine ausgefeilte Handlung. Wäre das ihr Debütroman gewesen... ich hätte mir wohl ehrlich gesagt ihren Namen nicht gemerkt...
Ein dritter Roman ist für die erste Jahreshälfte 2020 bereits angekündigt, mal sehen...
Ansonsten war die Handlung leider viel zu vorhersehbar. Ich wusste die ganze Zeit worauf es hinauslaufen würde. Das kann unter Umständen trotzdem nicht entscheidend sein für mich, ich kann ein Buch dennoch mögen. Allerdings hatte ich die ganze Zeit das Gefühl die Handlung schon zigmal in andren Romanen gelesen zu haben. Es gab einfach nichts Neues. Keine der Figuren hat überrascht. Die Handlung lief genauso ab, wie man es aus hundertausend anderen Thrillern kennt, die ein bisschen Mystery sein wollen. Echt schade, "Der Kreidemann" war wirklich richtig richtig gut. Hier hatte ich ehrlich gesagt das Gefühl, die Autorin wollte unbedingt nachlegen und hat sich daher wenig Zeit genommen für eine ausgefeilte Handlung. Wäre das ihr Debütroman gewesen... ich hätte mir wohl ehrlich gesagt ihren Namen nicht gemerkt...
Ein dritter Roman ist für die erste Jahreshälfte 2020 bereits angekündigt, mal sehen...
First I’d like to thank Penguin Random House, Crown Publishing and C.J. Tudor for this ARC.
I absolutely loved her debut ‘The Chalk Man’ and am just as pleased with this one. This book had all of the elements that really pull me in. Its very reminiscent of Stephen Kings’ Pet Sematary and packs a chilling punch. I was pleasantly surprised while reading this as I wasn’t expecting a ghost/supernatural storyline. Tudors’ writing is great especially when it comes to dialogue. I found myself chuckling during some of Brendan’s conversations with Joe.
I absolutely loved her debut ‘The Chalk Man’ and am just as pleased with this one. This book had all of the elements that really pull me in. Its very reminiscent of Stephen Kings’ Pet Sematary and packs a chilling punch. I was pleasantly surprised while reading this as I wasn’t expecting a ghost/supernatural storyline. Tudors’ writing is great especially when it comes to dialogue. I found myself chuckling during some of Brendan’s conversations with Joe.
dark
mysterious
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
There are no winners in life. Life is ultimately all about losing: your youth, your looks. But most of all, those you love. Sometimes I think it's not the passing of the years that really ages you but the passing of the people and things you care about.
Having previously read and enjoyed [b:The Chalk Man|31936826|The Chalk Man|C.J. Tudor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498903288l/31936826._SY75_.jpg|52592002] I was excited to find this novel in a local charity shop. Once again, [a:C.J. Tudor|15754327|C.J. Tudor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512059556p2/15754327.jpg] doesn't disappoint.
The story takes place across two decades which are weaved together in a style very reminiscent of the master of horror, [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg].
Missing children who suddenly return, seemingly altered, an abandoned mine with mysterious caves, secrets, and lies; the story has it all and will keep you gripped throughout.
A perfect autumnal read!
Having previously read and enjoyed [b:The Chalk Man|31936826|The Chalk Man|C.J. Tudor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498903288l/31936826._SY75_.jpg|52592002] I was excited to find this novel in a local charity shop. Once again, [a:C.J. Tudor|15754327|C.J. Tudor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512059556p2/15754327.jpg] doesn't disappoint.
The story takes place across two decades which are weaved together in a style very reminiscent of the master of horror, [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg].
Missing children who suddenly return, seemingly altered, an abandoned mine with mysterious caves, secrets, and lies; the story has it all and will keep you gripped throughout.
A perfect autumnal read!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes