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picky_book_b1tch's review against another edition
5.0
Yes!!!! Looking Glass lived up to it's predecessor and was everything I hoped it would be. As I reader, I always worry that a sequel will not be as good as the first. My worries were unfounded. I loved every minute of this one almost as much as the first. I say almost only because there is nothing like the first love, the first intro to a beloved character, story and author. Firsts can never really be duplicated but Looking Glass is an excellent second. The author took everything I loved about the first book and amped it up to version 2.0.
To my delight, Looking Glass has a darker, more sinister feel to it. Maybe it is that the killer targeting kids, maybe it is that a shadowy arm of the government enabling the killer, maybe it was the disturbingly twisted details of the crime scenes, or that my beloved Theo Cray actually grew a set and became more disciplined, careful and calculated. Whatever it was the combination payed off and delighted me. Yeah, dark and delightful really do go together, at least for me.
Theo Cray has grown from the likable, yet naive, un-hero to better equipped more controlled seeker of justice. Theo walked rather than stumbled into this hunt of the Toy Man, thought to be an urban myth but who turns out to be all too real, preying upon children of inner cities.
As with the first in this series, I didn't always understand every detail of the science but appreciated it none the less, after all, we are following a computation biologist who uses science to track his prey. The science and the details are as much a part of the story as the characters. The author continues to push boundaries of reality in creating this thrilling, fast paced and completely unique story that will stay with me for a long, long while. If you are a stickler for realism, details grounded in absolute fact and can't handle creative license, then move right along. This requires the reader have the ability to stretch their imagination and allow the author to work his magic.
To my delight, Looking Glass has a darker, more sinister feel to it. Maybe it is that the killer targeting kids, maybe it is that a shadowy arm of the government enabling the killer, maybe it was the disturbingly twisted details of the crime scenes, or that my beloved Theo Cray actually grew a set and became more disciplined, careful and calculated. Whatever it was the combination payed off and delighted me. Yeah, dark and delightful really do go together, at least for me.
Theo Cray has grown from the likable, yet naive, un-hero to better equipped more controlled seeker of justice. Theo walked rather than stumbled into this hunt of the Toy Man, thought to be an urban myth but who turns out to be all too real, preying upon children of inner cities.
As with the first in this series, I didn't always understand every detail of the science but appreciated it none the less, after all, we are following a computation biologist who uses science to track his prey. The science and the details are as much a part of the story as the characters. The author continues to push boundaries of reality in creating this thrilling, fast paced and completely unique story that will stay with me for a long, long while. If you are a stickler for realism, details grounded in absolute fact and can't handle creative license, then move right along. This requires the reader have the ability to stretch their imagination and allow the author to work his magic.
kirjakauris's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jallen999's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.25
cicelychau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
tomie_tome's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
mbettelheim's review against another edition
4.0
This is good mindless fun - like The DaVanci Code of science thrillers. Staking out a drainage culvert and raccoons show up in a matter of minutes? Having a rich friend on speed dial who can bail you out in a matter of hours? Seems to be a lot of deus ex machina for a book about science; I'd like to see a little more MacGyver ex machine driving these plots. And is there any field of science he hasn't dabbled in? Nevertheless, all of the above aside, I still read it cover to cover and enjoyed it for the mindless entertainment it was.
ribert's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
4.0
Voodoo Child Killer
frakalot's review against another edition
5.0
It's good. It's really good. I think the first was better but it's still very good. Theo is less of a bumbler now and to be honest I miss that innocence. He's a fair badass in this. And the story gets a lot more conspiratorial this time. But there's still a sick serial killer to find and Theo thinks he can do it.
shennlein's review against another edition
4.0
I have read a couple books from this author and love his writing style. For some reason, a lot of his books have this whole "main plot / build up" for 96% of story with a rapid wrap up of everything coming together.
Overall, I liked the book. I thought the character developement was "good", and I love following the journey of Theo!
Overall, I liked the book. I thought the character developement was "good", and I love following the journey of Theo!