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apocalypsedaddies's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
nastja111's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
ljutavidra's review against another edition
3.0
Uh, kako oceniti uopšte ovu boleštinu od knjige? Razmišljala sam se između 3 i 4, ali je 3 ipak prevagnula. A evo i zašto.
Hejderova piše brutalno. Jednostavno, ali ulazi u srž. Takav stil je idealan za ovakve trilere. Imate utisak da gledate film jer je sve prilično detaljno i "up to the point".
Ali ipak, moglo je ovo da bude i kraće. Da je bilo kraće, utisak bi bio jači. Poslednju trećinu sam malo preletela jer mi je već svega bilo dosta.
Svideo mi se lik Džeka Kaferija. Pravi je onaj detektiv, sirovina sa dušom. Pa ipak na momente me je i on nervirao. Njegove svađe sa Veronikom, misterija oko njegovog brata, opsednutost kripi komšijom, rivalstvo sa Dajmondom, zainteresovanost za Rebeku, + rešavanje ubistava, bilo je PREVIŠE svega. Sve ovo je moglo ladno u nekoliko knjiga da se nađe.
Ceo "plot twist" mi je bio nepotreban. Misterija i ubistva su bili previše bespotrebno zakukuljeni. A pogotovo jer smo već od maltene samog početka znali ko je upleten jer smo imali poglavlja i iz njegovog ugla. Niste imali priliku da "pogađate" ko je glavni odgovorni. Sve je dato na tacni.
Sve u svemu, solidan triler koji nije pokušavao da bude nešto više od toga - što je retko danas. Svakako ću probati i "Tokio", mada mislim da se i tu previše rasplinula.
Hejderova piše brutalno. Jednostavno, ali ulazi u srž. Takav stil je idealan za ovakve trilere. Imate utisak da gledate film jer je sve prilično detaljno i "up to the point".
Ali ipak, moglo je ovo da bude i kraće. Da je bilo kraće, utisak bi bio jači. Poslednju trećinu sam malo preletela jer mi je već svega bilo dosta.
Svideo mi se lik Džeka Kaferija. Pravi je onaj detektiv, sirovina sa dušom. Pa ipak na momente me je i on nervirao. Njegove svađe sa Veronikom, misterija oko njegovog brata, opsednutost kripi komšijom, rivalstvo sa Dajmondom, zainteresovanost za Rebeku, + rešavanje ubistava, bilo je PREVIŠE svega. Sve ovo je moglo ladno u nekoliko knjiga da se nađe.
Ceo "plot twist" mi je bio nepotreban. Misterija i ubistva su bili previše bespotrebno zakukuljeni. A pogotovo jer smo već od maltene samog početka znali ko je upleten jer smo imali poglavlja i iz njegovog ugla. Niste imali priliku da "pogađate" ko je glavni odgovorni. Sve je dato na tacni.
Sve u svemu, solidan triler koji nije pokušavao da bude nešto više od toga - što je retko danas. Svakako ću probati i "Tokio", mada mislim da se i tu previše rasplinula.
alfsan's review against another edition
4.0
Although it's your typical serial killer story, it has great twists, good story, very graphic "scenes" and an interesting ending!.
microbiologist's review against another edition
4.0
It starts out light and easy enough, a decently paced standard murder mystery. It progresses standardly as well, but before you even realize it your far deeper into something much more brutal and disturbing than you'd previously thought. Clever in that respect and quite a good read.
billymac1962's review against another edition
5.0
Man, what is it about female mystery writers that makes them come up with the most heinous of crimes? From her bio and picture, Mo Hayder seems like such a nice lady. But with Birdman, her debut novel, she launches herself right into the darkest of Val McDermid's territory.
I couldn't burn through Birdman quickly enough. There is nothing not to like about this novel. Take a serial killer with a bizarre signature, an inspector with a dark past and struggling relationship, and short chapters, and you've got a formula for a novel that deserves to be read without petty distractions like work and sleep.
The serial killer genre has been so saturated over the past twenty years. That's why I'm so impressed when one comes along that stands out from the rest. In a genre that can barely help but become formulaic, the writer can still come up with unique ideas that makes the story her own.
Hayder also does a fantastic job developing her characters. I totally bought into what Jack Caffery was going through, his motivations, and hey, I really liked the guy.
What a great debut. Five stars for sure.
I couldn't burn through Birdman quickly enough. There is nothing not to like about this novel. Take a serial killer with a bizarre signature, an inspector with a dark past and struggling relationship, and short chapters, and you've got a formula for a novel that deserves to be read without petty distractions like work and sleep.
The serial killer genre has been so saturated over the past twenty years. That's why I'm so impressed when one comes along that stands out from the rest. In a genre that can barely help but become formulaic, the writer can still come up with unique ideas that makes the story her own.
Hayder also does a fantastic job developing her characters. I totally bought into what Jack Caffery was going through, his motivations, and hey, I really liked the guy.
What a great debut. Five stars for sure.
nicksenior's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abitofmoxie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sandygx260's review against another edition
3.0
I have a hard time rating this book due to the lacking main character.
Let's leave that problem for later. First off, the intriguing crime drama definitely held my interest. Hayder has a deft hand in throwing out red herrings to the reader. She uses the "look over there" school of writing while something important is happening two feet away. Unfortunately she uses a little too much telegraphing ala Stephen King; the annoying "Little did Sue know she'd never set foot in her apartment again" nonsense. Still, when writing about the crime scenes or the criminal mind, Hayder weaves a tight story.
Here comes the problem. Jack Caffery, a clever detective on the rise, is the main character. He's set up as this brooding, introspective character because he has a *gasp* PAST! The thing is I don't think his "past" should allow him to act in certain ways, such as threatening to kill his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend. What sane detective would threaten the daughter of a wealthy man? Cue one helluva huge plot hole, especially since said ex-girlfriend never comes after him for such a threat. The incident is swept under the plot rug.
A parade of characters marches along: the arty free spirit, the crusty old leader, the ambitious racist asshole detective who falsifies evidence, the tried and true blue sidekick, the trusty morgue doc... you know the drill. The thing is Hayder gives the secondary characters real personality, well, aside from the cliche racist asshole detective who is toxic from the get-go.
Too often Hayder fails to make Jack Caffery realistic enough. OK, he makes mistakes, but on the whole he's unrealistic because he is too much of an insensitive ass. Fine, he's a brilliant detective but a lousy human being. That's a bit trite.
Summation: liked the plot, liked the unusual criminal, wasn't sold on the main character and his obsession.
Sooo... let's go with a three. Sounds good to me. I'm already reading the second book in the series which means I cared enough to keep going.
Let's leave that problem for later. First off, the intriguing crime drama definitely held my interest. Hayder has a deft hand in throwing out red herrings to the reader. She uses the "look over there" school of writing while something important is happening two feet away. Unfortunately she uses a little too much telegraphing ala Stephen King; the annoying "Little did Sue know she'd never set foot in her apartment again" nonsense. Still, when writing about the crime scenes or the criminal mind, Hayder weaves a tight story.
Here comes the problem. Jack Caffery, a clever detective on the rise, is the main character. He's set up as this brooding, introspective character because he has a *gasp* PAST! The thing is I don't think his "past" should allow him to act in certain ways, such as threatening to kill his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend. What sane detective would threaten the daughter of a wealthy man? Cue one helluva huge plot hole, especially since said ex-girlfriend never comes after him for such a threat. The incident is swept under the plot rug.
A parade of characters marches along: the arty free spirit, the crusty old leader, the ambitious racist asshole detective who falsifies evidence, the tried and true blue sidekick, the trusty morgue doc... you know the drill. The thing is Hayder gives the secondary characters real personality, well, aside from the cliche racist asshole detective who is toxic from the get-go.
Too often Hayder fails to make Jack Caffery realistic enough. OK, he makes mistakes, but on the whole he's unrealistic because he is too much of an insensitive ass. Fine, he's a brilliant detective but a lousy human being. That's a bit trite.
Summation: liked the plot, liked the unusual criminal, wasn't sold on the main character and his obsession.
Sooo... let's go with a three. Sounds good to me. I'm already reading the second book in the series which means I cared enough to keep going.