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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Hm ich stehe dem Ganzen irgendwie sehr gleichgültig gegenüber. Zu Beginn meines Rereads dachte ich noch, das es mir sehr viel besser gefallen könnte, als vor vielen Jahren. Da ich mich an nichts mehr erinnern konnte, las es sich tatsächlich so, als ob es das erste Mal gewesen wäre. Allerdings habe ich heute andre Kritikpunkte. Es ist nämlich eigentlich ziemlich egal das Hunter forensischer Anthropologe ist. Es spielt eine dermaßen unterheordnete Rolle, das er im Prinzip auch alle möglichen andren Berufe haben könnte. Gut, dieser Band ist auch eher eine Art Prolog für die weitere Reihe. Aber mich hat es irgendwie auch ermüdet. Die Auflösung war auch banal. Ich gebe zu das es mich eher enttäuscht hat, zu Mal die betreffende Figur auch nur extrem selten in Erscheinung tritt. Kein Wunder also, das man den Täter überall vermutet nur nicht dort. Manches ist dazu noch sehr dramatisch aufgebauscht.... Nun ja scheint, das Beckett einfach nach wie vor nichts für mich ist. Trotzdem hat es sich also in gewisser Weise gelohnt, weil ich mich nicht mehr fragen muss, ob die Reihe doch noch etwas für mich sein könnte.
Mildly predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Pretty easy read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
“The Chemistry of Death”, by Simon Beckett
Solid 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW: death of animals and birds
This book was published in 2006 and it’s the author’s first novel to feature forensic anthropologist Dr David Hunter.
It was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Duncan Lawrie Dagger for Best Novel of the Year.
This is a terrific forensic procedural novel/drama.
This was my first book by this author and I will definitely read the rest of this series.
I thought that the writing was excellent and the storytelling was gripping. The development was slow but far from boring.
The narrative alternates between first and third person.
The characters were interesting and believable, but, as I said in my first reading update, in the beginning I was a bit annoyed by the main character, who seemed to lack confidence and wits, but then I just needed to understand his state of mind.
The storyline becomes very dark and may not please everyone, as involves the killing of animals and birds, victims of cruelty. Although the author saved us from gory details, as the main character is a forensic anthropologist, during the reports is very easy to trigger the imagination.
The conclusion was riveting, although the twist was not to my satisfaction, which by the way was quite surprising.
Now I’m looking forward to watching the adaptation for the TV, which was released in 2023 (6 episodes).
I don’t remember how this title came to my attention, but I couldn’t find a copy available from Kindle or Kobo (in Canada), but luckily my library had a copy, which I had to wait too long.
If I didn’t read this book in one sitting was because of my work, which has been taken my focus out of reading.
Content Warnings
Forensic reports can be upsetting to some readers.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very engrossing and tense