Scan barcode
mariasmusings's review against another edition
3.0
This is the third in Masterton's fictional crime series set in Cork, with DCI Katie Maguire as our lead character. The series is particularly grim and Masterson does not hold on the gore - reveling his past as a horror writer.
You can follow the series from the start or alternatively jump in at the 3rd story as sufficient back stroy is provided without boring the reader or wasting any time. Well worth a read for those who enjoy a gritty crime novel.
You can follow the series from the start or alternatively jump in at the 3rd story as sufficient back stroy is provided without boring the reader or wasting any time. Well worth a read for those who enjoy a gritty crime novel.
nicolet2018's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy thrillers especially those about police and mysteries. I have not heard of thid author before and picked this book up because the premise sounded interesting.
I like that the story covers not just Katie Mcguire's work life as detective superintendent but her private life as well. The struggles of maintaining a relationship and her family. It was sad that Katie had so much strain on her romantic relationship because her career is so consuming. That is portrayed in media like TV shows and books alot. The absentee partner causes the other half to feel disappointed and let down.
The pov of each chapter shifts often and while I usually do not like many changes in points of view this one was fine. I liked that it gave insight not just for the police but how it feels like for a young girl to be trafficked into a foreign country and tricked.
There are themes of sexism in the police force where the higher ups have old mindsets of how women should behave in this position and Katie struggles with it. I would say that she is very strong. Some of the scenes are very graphic and disturbing. Especially when the mystery women kills her target. I was not expecting the motive but found it to be sadly compelling.
There are other storylines that entwine with this installment in the series but I am happy that this feels like a standalone. Sometimes the Irish slang and ways of communicating was hard for me to understand. But I lile reading about a new culture. The tone of the story was realistic and gritty. Details are not spared and the sad truth that this feels real only heightens the experience. A good read if you are looking for an exciting crime thriller that looks into human trafficking.
I like that the story covers not just Katie Mcguire's work life as detective superintendent but her private life as well. The struggles of maintaining a relationship and her family. It was sad that Katie had so much strain on her romantic relationship because her career is so consuming. That is portrayed in media like TV shows and books alot. The absentee partner causes the other half to feel disappointed and let down.
The pov of each chapter shifts often and while I usually do not like many changes in points of view this one was fine. I liked that it gave insight not just for the police but how it feels like for a young girl to be trafficked into a foreign country and tricked.
There are themes of sexism in the police force where the higher ups have old mindsets of how women should behave in this position and Katie struggles with it. I would say that she is very strong. Some of the scenes are very graphic and disturbing. Especially when the mystery women kills her target. I was not expecting the motive but found it to be sadly compelling.
There are other storylines that entwine with this installment in the series but I am happy that this feels like a standalone. Sometimes the Irish slang and ways of communicating was hard for me to understand. But I lile reading about a new culture. The tone of the story was realistic and gritty. Details are not spared and the sad truth that this feels real only heightens the experience. A good read if you are looking for an exciting crime thriller that looks into human trafficking.
petra_reads's review against another edition
4.0
The third book in the Katie Maguire series, and the topic this time is sex trafficking and prostitution. While I found this installment to be less gory than the previous ones, it was far more emotional because of the poignant stories of the girls/women affected. It wasn't as suspenseful as the previous books as there was no real mystery to the whodunit, and the plot was fairly simple. Despite of that, Masterton managed to create another very engaging story that was difficult to pause once I've started listening to it. I adore Caroline Lennon's narration now that there are no American accents involved.
Things I didn't like: there's the now obligatory lesbian attraction again. That's becoming too repetitive now. The other recurring thing that became a bit boring was the mention of the ringtones.
On the positive side, Masterton stayed away from cringe worthy sex scenes involving Katie this time.
I was a bit conflicted about the ending. I think I would have preferred to see justice being served in a different way. I hope the plot about some of the characters will be picked up in the next book, as there were several things left unresolved.
Things I didn't like: there's the now obligatory lesbian attraction again. That's becoming too repetitive now. The other recurring thing that became a bit boring was the mention of the ringtones.
On the positive side, Masterton stayed away from cringe worthy sex scenes involving Katie this time.
I was a bit conflicted about the ending. I think I would have preferred to see justice being served in a different way. I hope the plot about some of the characters will be picked up in the next book, as there were several things left unresolved.
the_reading_cockatoo's review against another edition
4.0
Cuốn này thú vị hơn mình nghĩ. Có vẻ như tác giả đã đầu tư tốt hơn vào việc xây dựng hình tượng nhân vật cho một chuỗi series dài hơi, tín hiệu đáng mừng sau cuốn thứ 2 hơi thất vọng. Nói về phần này, bối cảnh là đường dây mại dâm và buôn bán người trái phép từ châu Phi sang Ireland mà Katie đang nỗ lực triệt phá. Điểm nổi bật không khí căng thẳng,hồi hộp được tái hiện tốt, kèm theo lối kể chuyện khá lôi cuốn, hấp dẫn người đọc đến trang cuối cùng. Thế giới mại dâm và buôn người được xây dựng khá hoàn chỉnh, từ những tay cò mồi, những cô gái bị lừa đảo, những cảnh sát và chính trị gia biến chất ..., và hơn hết là Chiến dịch Bật đèn xanh (Turn on the green light) của gã chủ mưu nhằm thay đổi những quy định pháp luật về mại dâm ở Ireland, rất ấn tượng. Điều đáng tiếc là yếu tố kinh dị ở phần này không bằng phần trước, và sự thiếu hụt của các chi tiết tâm linh làm câu chuyện ít kỳ bí đi nhiều. Đánh giá 4/5.
onewingedpsycho's review against another edition
Urgh, abandoned at 16% I used to love Graham Mastertons books back when I was a teenager but I guess somethings are just left as happy memories as everything about this book just irritated the hell out of me including the barely disguised racism.
terriep's review against another edition
3.0
Set in Cork, Ireland, this story of female trafficing and enforced prostitution follows a good standard formula for a mystery. There are the nasty bad guys, a beautiful vigilante killer (who is known early in the book), a dedicated cop trying to save the young girls. There aren't any surprises, but I enjoyed it none-the-less. One of the more intriguing things is the liberal use of Irish idioms and words. That added some much needed interest.
More...