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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Started well, very intriguing and mysterious. Unfortunately, it didn't end as well and the violence felt unnecessarily extreme
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Stalking, Murder
I've enjoyed John Niven's other novels, and thrillers are a dirty little joy of mine. How would someone who basks in dark humor and vulgarity handle this genre? The answer: surprisingly well. The narrator sets about retelling his grisly past via frame story, with occasional flashbacks to his childhood explaining his dark past. You don't spend the entire book wondering who the killer is, but that's not what this is about anyway. This is a tale of survival, endurance, and what it means to live through the unspeakable. Niven is a visceral, haunting writer, and I hope to read more from him soon.
This is the fourth John Niven book I read. When I bought it I didn't even check what it is about. To be honest, I was expecting something like "Kill Your Friends". I was quite surprised to find out that the book is actually a thriller.
However, John Niven did solid work on this one. Although I consider his other works as better, his first attempt on this genre is pretty good. Niven has a talent for describing the scenery. While reading the book I felt like I really am in Canada.
The story itself also seems well thought out. It does show a little bit that crime is not Niven's usual genre but there are definitely far worse crime books out there.
Although I missed Niven's black humor in this one, it's still a very good book. It very interesting how there are almost two separate stories. One taking place here and now and the second one informing the reader about the main character's past.
It's easy to see that John Niven put a lot of effort and thought into this book and it really paid off!
However, John Niven did solid work on this one. Although I consider his other works as better, his first attempt on this genre is pretty good. Niven has a talent for describing the scenery. While reading the book I felt like I really am in Canada.
The story itself also seems well thought out. It does show a little bit that crime is not Niven's usual genre but there are definitely far worse crime books out there.
Although I missed Niven's black humor in this one, it's still a very good book. It very interesting how there are almost two separate stories. One taking place here and now and the second one informing the reader about the main character's past.
It's easy to see that John Niven put a lot of effort and thought into this book and it really paid off!
John Niven is perhaps better known for darkly witty satires, ‘Kill Your Friends’, ‘The Amateurs’ and ‘The Second Coming’ so I was interested to read this, his first foray into the world of crime writing with the skilful insertion of a ‘J’ to differentiate this from his normal fare. And what a completely gripping, criminal smorgasbord of brilliant and blood-soaked delights it is as you find yourself, in the words of Irvine Welsh, “trampling through a moral minefield.”
Donnie Miller leads an unassuming life in a remote area of Canada in an absolutely beautiful house, with his upwardly mobile and loaded wife, his young son and whiles away his time as a film reviewer for the local newspaper, fortuitously part of the empire of his father-in -law. The only signs of strain in Donnie’s life is fitting into the influential circles his wife moves in but this is a minor problem as Donnie’s past will come back to haunt him with devastating consequences for himself and his family. By carefully interweaving the events of Donnie’s youth growing up in the relative poverty and social deprivation of Scotland, the story is punctuated throughout by positively Irvine Welsh-esque interludes depicting his cruel actions as a member of a gang intent on bullying and victimising a boy who epitomises everything they are not. Written in vernacular and in a blunt, brutal but ultimately quite affecting style, these interludes put the character of Donnie at odds with his portrayal now as a family man and this, for me, works perfectly within the structure of the book. There is also a very poignant portrayal of his would-be attacker as their world has been shattered by the event s of this childhood and we bear witness to them rebuilding their life, plotting and scheming to avenge the crimes of the past. It becomes obvious to the reader that Donnie’s peace will be shattered and yes, you do have to suspend your disbelief somewhat at this point, as the past violently catches up with him in an explosion of revenge and hatred from a very unlikely aggressor and you find your whole perception of Donnie as a good guy challenged at every turn. I liked the way that by depicting Donnie as a film reviewer, Niven then sets out to make the denouement of the novel descend into the most brilliant and unbelievable violence mirroring the ‘schlock horror’ of some of the best straight to DVD films, so that as a reader you are metaphorically looking through your fingers as the violence is ramped up further but remains as compulsive as it is unbelievable.
Therein lies my warning to the more sensitive reader that this is not one for the faint-hearted and if Danny Boyle is looking for a new film project after his Olympic shennanigans I think that he and Niven could have a great collaborative effort bringing this to the big-screen. Despite its slight faults this was a totally enjoyable although blood-soaked read and with the promise of another thriller or two appearing in the next couple of years I can’t wait to see what Niven comes up with next...
Donnie Miller leads an unassuming life in a remote area of Canada in an absolutely beautiful house, with his upwardly mobile and loaded wife, his young son and whiles away his time as a film reviewer for the local newspaper, fortuitously part of the empire of his father-in -law. The only signs of strain in Donnie’s life is fitting into the influential circles his wife moves in but this is a minor problem as Donnie’s past will come back to haunt him with devastating consequences for himself and his family. By carefully interweaving the events of Donnie’s youth growing up in the relative poverty and social deprivation of Scotland, the story is punctuated throughout by positively Irvine Welsh-esque interludes depicting his cruel actions as a member of a gang intent on bullying and victimising a boy who epitomises everything they are not. Written in vernacular and in a blunt, brutal but ultimately quite affecting style, these interludes put the character of Donnie at odds with his portrayal now as a family man and this, for me, works perfectly within the structure of the book. There is also a very poignant portrayal of his would-be attacker as their world has been shattered by the event s of this childhood and we bear witness to them rebuilding their life, plotting and scheming to avenge the crimes of the past. It becomes obvious to the reader that Donnie’s peace will be shattered and yes, you do have to suspend your disbelief somewhat at this point, as the past violently catches up with him in an explosion of revenge and hatred from a very unlikely aggressor and you find your whole perception of Donnie as a good guy challenged at every turn. I liked the way that by depicting Donnie as a film reviewer, Niven then sets out to make the denouement of the novel descend into the most brilliant and unbelievable violence mirroring the ‘schlock horror’ of some of the best straight to DVD films, so that as a reader you are metaphorically looking through your fingers as the violence is ramped up further but remains as compulsive as it is unbelievable.
Therein lies my warning to the more sensitive reader that this is not one for the faint-hearted and if Danny Boyle is looking for a new film project after his Olympic shennanigans I think that he and Niven could have a great collaborative effort bringing this to the big-screen. Despite its slight faults this was a totally enjoyable although blood-soaked read and with the promise of another thriller or two appearing in the next couple of years I can’t wait to see what Niven comes up with next...
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Title: "Cold Hands" by John Niven
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary:
Donnie Miller has it all: a wonderful wife, beautiful son and an amazing home. Then when their dog is found dead, Donnie starts to think of his childhood back in Scotland. To Donnie it is all in the past, but to someone else they have never moved on, and wants their pound of flesh.
⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILERS: TW⚠️
Review:
I did enjoy this book and read the majority of it in one sitting. This book made me gasp, cry and lose track of time. Although I did enjoy it, I wouldn't recommend it easily to people as the story discusses hard topics and isn't shy from showing extreme violence towards the characters.
Donnie narrates the events of the story after they have happened, which can sometimes ruin the tension of the story but this book did it well in my opinion. I did guess the twist slightly, but the book still managed to shock me.
As mentioned, the book is violent. There are use of homophobic slurs, but this plays into the story as a whole; although, it can still be hard to read. Another thing which can be hard to read is the wonderful Scottish language.
Donnie splits his life into two sections; when he was an adult and when he was a teenager. The adolescent sections is set in Scotland, and to some audiences maybe difficult to read and understand Scottish slang. This isn't a criticism, more of a heads up to anyone who may want to read this book.
Even so, I couldn't put the book down and was hooked. I liked the pace, as it helped build the family dynamic and get to know the characters, which then made the events in the book even more devastating.
I would pick up more books from this author.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary:
Donnie Miller has it all: a wonderful wife, beautiful son and an amazing home. Then when their dog is found dead, Donnie starts to think of his childhood back in Scotland. To Donnie it is all in the past, but to someone else they have never moved on, and wants their pound of flesh.
⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILERS: TW⚠️
Review:
I did enjoy this book and read the majority of it in one sitting. This book made me gasp, cry and lose track of time. Although I did enjoy it, I wouldn't recommend it easily to people as the story discusses hard topics and isn't shy from showing extreme violence towards the characters.
Donnie narrates the events of the story after they have happened, which can sometimes ruin the tension of the story but this book did it well in my opinion. I did guess the twist slightly, but the book still managed to shock me.
As mentioned, the book is violent. There are use of homophobic slurs, but this plays into the story as a whole; although, it can still be hard to read. Another thing which can be hard to read is the wonderful Scottish language.
Donnie splits his life into two sections; when he was an adult and when he was a teenager. The adolescent sections is set in Scotland, and to some audiences maybe difficult to read and understand Scottish slang. This isn't a criticism, more of a heads up to anyone who may want to read this book.
Even so, I couldn't put the book down and was hooked. I liked the pace, as it helped build the family dynamic and get to know the characters, which then made the events in the book even more devastating.
I would pick up more books from this author.
Donnie Miller lives with his family outside Regina, in central Canada. After a troubled childhood in Scotland, Donnie now leads a charmed life as a writer, with a successful and wealthy wife, a much loved son and a beautiful house. Early in the book the family dog dies in mysterious circumstances. Gradually, it becomes apparent that Donnie's past hides a very nasty secret and that perhaps that past may be coming back to haunt him.
I didn't enjoy this book. It starts well, but then the pace slows and it seems to be going nowhere. At the halfway mark I was on the point of giving up on it when suddenly it sprung into action. However it very quickly turns into a totally improbable and very unpleasant bloodfest. There's only minimal tension throughout as it's pretty obvious who will be behind what's happening and we know from the prologue that Donnie will survive. In the place of tension we get very graphic violence instead. I also didn't think the shifts between the past and present - and later between alternative perspectives - really worked. There was the makings of a good thriller here, but unfortunately the author doesn't quite pull it off.
I didn't enjoy this book. It starts well, but then the pace slows and it seems to be going nowhere. At the halfway mark I was on the point of giving up on it when suddenly it sprung into action. However it very quickly turns into a totally improbable and very unpleasant bloodfest. There's only minimal tension throughout as it's pretty obvious who will be behind what's happening and we know from the prologue that Donnie will survive. In the place of tension we get very graphic violence instead. I also didn't think the shifts between the past and present - and later between alternative perspectives - really worked. There was the makings of a good thriller here, but unfortunately the author doesn't quite pull it off.