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tonyfrobisher's review
5.0
Superb - from start to finish
After reading The Scribe, the first book in this series, I was looking forward to AA Chaudhuri's next book featuring Maddy Kramer and DCI Jake Carver. And I was not disappointed at all.
A fantastic story with a very clever plot, that moves with pace and momentum, building to a great conclusion. But the sign of a good book is how involved you become in the storyline and how you empathise or dislike, understand the characters. The characters are all superbly depicted. You can visualise them, as well as imagining every scene, situation and interchange.
If you a fan of well written thrillers, look no further that A.A. Chaudhuri. Highly recommended. One of my favourite books of 2020.
After reading The Scribe, the first book in this series, I was looking forward to AA Chaudhuri's next book featuring Maddy Kramer and DCI Jake Carver. And I was not disappointed at all.
A fantastic story with a very clever plot, that moves with pace and momentum, building to a great conclusion. But the sign of a good book is how involved you become in the storyline and how you empathise or dislike, understand the characters. The characters are all superbly depicted. You can visualise them, as well as imagining every scene, situation and interchange.
If you a fan of well written thrillers, look no further that A.A. Chaudhuri. Highly recommended. One of my favourite books of 2020.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
3.0
The Abduction is the second book in the Kramer and Carver series and I recommend you read them in order. There are a few references to the previous investigation throughout this book.
When colleagues are abducted from the firm Maddy now works for, everybody is shocked and they are relieved that the most of the ransom demand is swiftly agreed to. But there is a reason for the abduction, a secret from university that some are determined will stay that way. They are unprepared though, for how determined the group of kidnappers are to have all of their demands met.
However, not everything is as it initially appears and the author does a good job of bringing all the threads together into a gripping storyline with a tale of revenge, guilt, trauma and some throughly obnoxious characters.
Kramer and Carver didn’t feature heavily, instead most of story is revealed by the other characters. Whilst there were a handful I had sympathy for, one in particular who shall remember nameless, the overwhelming feeling was how easy it was to manipulate others into doing what was wanted.
A clever novel that I hope isn’t a true reflection of those who work in law.
When colleagues are abducted from the firm Maddy now works for, everybody is shocked and they are relieved that the most of the ransom demand is swiftly agreed to. But there is a reason for the abduction, a secret from university that some are determined will stay that way. They are unprepared though, for how determined the group of kidnappers are to have all of their demands met.
However, not everything is as it initially appears and the author does a good job of bringing all the threads together into a gripping storyline with a tale of revenge, guilt, trauma and some throughly obnoxious characters.
Kramer and Carver didn’t feature heavily, instead most of story is revealed by the other characters. Whilst there were a handful I had sympathy for, one in particular who shall remember nameless, the overwhelming feeling was how easy it was to manipulate others into doing what was wanted.
A clever novel that I hope isn’t a true reflection of those who work in law.
bookoholic's review
5.0
„The Abduction” is a second book in the Kramer & Carver series by A. A. Chaudhuri. I loved “The Scribe” and I was very excited about this instalment, it definitely exceeded my expectations!
Maddy and Carver are brilliant together. She, a lawyer, and an amateur detective. He, a police officer who didn’t stop thinking about her. Their relationship was so tense in the previous book that I couldn’t wait to see how it will develop and I was over the moon about what happened in the book. It was interesting to see how they think about their age difference of 17 years which I can completely relate to because my partner is 19 years older than me. It’s really rare to see such a couple in the books and it was very special to me.
The crime is horrific. Four people have been abducted during the day and they disappeared without a trace. A girl has been beaten up to make sure that the kidnappers are not joking. The demands are clear - a million dollars to the fund that takes care of the rape victims, a resignation of a partner of the law firm and six million dollars from the firm itself.
Everything goes according to plan, until Maddy and Carver realise who is behind this.
The plotting was perfect and I loved the idea behind the abduction. So smart!
But the story has also its dark and painful side. The rape, so commonly hidden by universities. The suicides and domestic violence. Sometimes it was so hard to read that I had to pause.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions - from being happy and smiling about Maddy, curious about the case, relieved when everything was going well and worried when it wasn’t... to being anxious and upset about the crimes against women. And of course, when one of the characters died I couldn’t stop my tears that were flowing.
I loved the first book but this one is on a new level. I really can’t wait to see what Alex creates next and I’m sure I’m pre-ordering it the moment it’s available.
I know it’s just 7th of January but I feel that this book will be in my top of the year.
Maddy and Carver are brilliant together. She, a lawyer, and an amateur detective. He, a police officer who didn’t stop thinking about her. Their relationship was so tense in the previous book that I couldn’t wait to see how it will develop and I was over the moon about what happened in the book. It was interesting to see how they think about their age difference of 17 years which I can completely relate to because my partner is 19 years older than me. It’s really rare to see such a couple in the books and it was very special to me.
The crime is horrific. Four people have been abducted during the day and they disappeared without a trace. A girl has been beaten up to make sure that the kidnappers are not joking. The demands are clear - a million dollars to the fund that takes care of the rape victims, a resignation of a partner of the law firm and six million dollars from the firm itself.
Everything goes according to plan, until Maddy and Carver realise who is behind this.
The plotting was perfect and I loved the idea behind the abduction. So smart!
But the story has also its dark and painful side. The rape, so commonly hidden by universities. The suicides and domestic violence. Sometimes it was so hard to read that I had to pause.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions - from being happy and smiling about Maddy, curious about the case, relieved when everything was going well and worried when it wasn’t... to being anxious and upset about the crimes against women. And of course, when one of the characters died I couldn’t stop my tears that were flowing.
I loved the first book but this one is on a new level. I really can’t wait to see what Alex creates next and I’m sure I’m pre-ordering it the moment it’s available.
I know it’s just 7th of January but I feel that this book will be in my top of the year.
canada_matt's review
4.0
Easily 4.5 stars!!
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, A.A. Chaudhuri, and Endeavour Media for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Returning with a thrilling follow-up to her explosive debut novel, A.A. Chaudhuri takes readers back into a world where the criminal element are highly deceptive and calculating at the same time. When a group of masked men storm into a London law firm, they choose a handful of hostages, including one partner, before disappearing. Amongst those huddled under the tables is Maddy Kramer, still trying to come to grips with crimes committed at her last law firm. DCI Jake Carver arrives to take control of the situation and begins his investigation, which includes who these men might have been and why the hostages were chosen. When the hostage takers reach out to Nigel Davenport, one of the firm’s senior partners, he learns that he must pay the ante or face ruin. A timetable is offered and Davenport is eager to do what he can, fearing his secrets will be revealed to the world. No one seems the wiser, as deadlines arrive and demands are met. When the hostages are released, one would assume that this is the end of it, but Carver and Kramer have other plans, looking into a rape allegation against Nigel Davenport, back from his days at Cambridge. Why would the hostage takers want this old crime brought to the surface and how deep does the devastation run? As Carver and Kramer seek to dig a little deeper, they realise that the hostages themselves, as well as the entire situation at the law firm, seems a tad off kilter. Working as best they can under strict deadlines, these two discover an errant thread that might unravel everything, or lead them nowhere. Well-paced and full of excitement, A.A. Chaudhuri knows how to pen a great thriller. Recommended to those who love British police procedurals that hold little back, as well as the reader who likes to see a case from both sides of the coin.
I was so very impressed with Chaudhuri’s debut novel that I kept my eyes peeled for this second piece, sure that it would pack just as much punch. I was not wrong, as some of the returning characters create a strong narrative and help shape what turns out to be quite the unique set of facts. Maddy Kramer is back as a legal associate, having taken some time off from her last firm and just getting herself situated amongst a new set of names and faces. It would seem she cannot shake the cloud of trouble that follows her, but she is just as willing to be in the middle of any adventure, as long as DCI Carver is there for the ride. Balancing her sleuthing abilities with a new spark romance, Maddy is able to find new and interesting aspects to the overall story that helps shed some light onto what is going on. DCI Jake Carver does well as he investigates, but remains baffled about the hostages and the rape angle. He won’t let that stand in his way, but is fighting his internal demons about this new connection he and Maddy Kramer seem to possess. Together, they are able to dig a little deeper and reveal truths that some might have wanted hidden for as long as possible. Others make their presence known on the page and help to shape this story, which is almost two in one. The hostage taking and the motives of those in charge offer one line of inquiry, but this rape allegation from decades before does not dissipate and might be an especially important part to the larger abduction. Chaudhuri offers readers some great plot lines while pushing a strong narrative and unique characters. Seeing the story from both angles—that of the investigation and the hostages—helps to create a full-circle experience and allows the reader to discover just what is going on at all times. While the romance between Kramer and Carver was to be expected, it is not overdone and does not distract from the overall experience. I would gladly read more novels with these two at the helm and can only hope that A. A. Chaudhuri has something in mind for the coming months, with fans eager to learn more.
Kudos, Madam Chaudhuri, for another winner. I can only hope that others are an enamoured with the novel as I find myself being.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, A.A. Chaudhuri, and Endeavour Media for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Returning with a thrilling follow-up to her explosive debut novel, A.A. Chaudhuri takes readers back into a world where the criminal element are highly deceptive and calculating at the same time. When a group of masked men storm into a London law firm, they choose a handful of hostages, including one partner, before disappearing. Amongst those huddled under the tables is Maddy Kramer, still trying to come to grips with crimes committed at her last law firm. DCI Jake Carver arrives to take control of the situation and begins his investigation, which includes who these men might have been and why the hostages were chosen. When the hostage takers reach out to Nigel Davenport, one of the firm’s senior partners, he learns that he must pay the ante or face ruin. A timetable is offered and Davenport is eager to do what he can, fearing his secrets will be revealed to the world. No one seems the wiser, as deadlines arrive and demands are met. When the hostages are released, one would assume that this is the end of it, but Carver and Kramer have other plans, looking into a rape allegation against Nigel Davenport, back from his days at Cambridge. Why would the hostage takers want this old crime brought to the surface and how deep does the devastation run? As Carver and Kramer seek to dig a little deeper, they realise that the hostages themselves, as well as the entire situation at the law firm, seems a tad off kilter. Working as best they can under strict deadlines, these two discover an errant thread that might unravel everything, or lead them nowhere. Well-paced and full of excitement, A.A. Chaudhuri knows how to pen a great thriller. Recommended to those who love British police procedurals that hold little back, as well as the reader who likes to see a case from both sides of the coin.
I was so very impressed with Chaudhuri’s debut novel that I kept my eyes peeled for this second piece, sure that it would pack just as much punch. I was not wrong, as some of the returning characters create a strong narrative and help shape what turns out to be quite the unique set of facts. Maddy Kramer is back as a legal associate, having taken some time off from her last firm and just getting herself situated amongst a new set of names and faces. It would seem she cannot shake the cloud of trouble that follows her, but she is just as willing to be in the middle of any adventure, as long as DCI Carver is there for the ride. Balancing her sleuthing abilities with a new spark romance, Maddy is able to find new and interesting aspects to the overall story that helps shed some light onto what is going on. DCI Jake Carver does well as he investigates, but remains baffled about the hostages and the rape angle. He won’t let that stand in his way, but is fighting his internal demons about this new connection he and Maddy Kramer seem to possess. Together, they are able to dig a little deeper and reveal truths that some might have wanted hidden for as long as possible. Others make their presence known on the page and help to shape this story, which is almost two in one. The hostage taking and the motives of those in charge offer one line of inquiry, but this rape allegation from decades before does not dissipate and might be an especially important part to the larger abduction. Chaudhuri offers readers some great plot lines while pushing a strong narrative and unique characters. Seeing the story from both angles—that of the investigation and the hostages—helps to create a full-circle experience and allows the reader to discover just what is going on at all times. While the romance between Kramer and Carver was to be expected, it is not overdone and does not distract from the overall experience. I would gladly read more novels with these two at the helm and can only hope that A. A. Chaudhuri has something in mind for the coming months, with fans eager to learn more.
Kudos, Madam Chaudhuri, for another winner. I can only hope that others are an enamoured with the novel as I find myself being.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
daniellelouis_'s review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I absolutely loved The Scribe, it was one of the few most heart racing thrillers that I read for a while, then in waltzed The Abduction and blew The Scribe so far out of the park! For me, AA has created a full on homerun of a thriller that had me gripping the book tightly, which saved my already bitten to low nails and left my heart with palpitations - the perfect state a thriller addict hopes to be left in when reading and finishing a highly anticipated read. The Abduction didn't disappoint and as you may have already been able to tell, it got all my stars and a well deserved place in my bookish heart.
The characterisation, of the good and the bad guys, are just perfectly crafted - they have a kaleidoscope of personality traits that will have you swoon, pity them, as well as want to give them a good slap in the mouth (but violence doesn't solve anything kids, and they aren't real so I became the reader who shouted at THOSE characters!). Every single person that we meet amongst the pages of The Abduction are perfectly crafted in place, and given roles, it's a literary interpretation of a very well thought out game of chess - and you, the reader just don't know how it's going to play out. That is exactly like this book, a well crafted, superbly executed thriller.
Can we just talk about one of my favourite crime fighting duos? Of course it's savvy lawyer Maddy Kramer and the sultry type DCI Carver, 2.5 years have lapsed in the book world since The Scribe and the professional chemistry is still very much there! They compliment one another like your favourite food pairing - Kramer is intelligent, delicate in her approach and strongly independent, whereas Carver is intelligent also, but more of a hardened and complex character. Together, they make the best team and even after only just finishing the second installment of the series, I'm already on tenderhooks waiting for book 3.
We all know that there's different range of thrillers out there, from the subtly creeping up on you kind, to the ones that start almost immediately and have your heart galloping from the get go - for me The Abduction was the latter. There was no 'small talk', no unnecessary building of the storyline, it dived straight in to the adrenaline depths and it absolutely worked, my heart raced, my brain was on overdrive and I was gripped from chapter one. Not only did the threads of the storyline begun to unravel in such thrilling harmony, but the who unfolding was intense, tension filled and paced brilliantly. The book reads effortlessly and develops naturally, with snippets of the past that ties the whole thing together with a gaspingly great big bow.
Every single chapter of The Abduction enthralled me, I loved it (hence the full 5 stars) and now, if you don't mind I shall wait here (im)patiently as I wait for the third book of the series. I really can't wait to see what AA Chaudhuri has up her sleeve for the next installment
The characterisation, of the good and the bad guys, are just perfectly crafted - they have a kaleidoscope of personality traits that will have you swoon, pity them, as well as want to give them a good slap in the mouth (but violence doesn't solve anything kids, and they aren't real so I became the reader who shouted at THOSE characters!). Every single person that we meet amongst the pages of The Abduction are perfectly crafted in place, and given roles, it's a literary interpretation of a very well thought out game of chess - and you, the reader just don't know how it's going to play out. That is exactly like this book, a well crafted, superbly executed thriller.
Can we just talk about one of my favourite crime fighting duos? Of course it's savvy lawyer Maddy Kramer and the sultry type DCI Carver, 2.5 years have lapsed in the book world since The Scribe and the professional chemistry is still very much there! They compliment one another like your favourite food pairing - Kramer is intelligent, delicate in her approach and strongly independent, whereas Carver is intelligent also, but more of a hardened and complex character. Together, they make the best team and even after only just finishing the second installment of the series, I'm already on tenderhooks waiting for book 3.
We all know that there's different range of thrillers out there, from the subtly creeping up on you kind, to the ones that start almost immediately and have your heart galloping from the get go - for me The Abduction was the latter. There was no 'small talk', no unnecessary building of the storyline, it dived straight in to the adrenaline depths and it absolutely worked, my heart raced, my brain was on overdrive and I was gripped from chapter one. Not only did the threads of the storyline begun to unravel in such thrilling harmony, but the who unfolding was intense, tension filled and paced brilliantly. The book reads effortlessly and develops naturally, with snippets of the past that ties the whole thing together with a gaspingly great big bow.
Every single chapter of The Abduction enthralled me, I loved it (hence the full 5 stars) and now, if you don't mind I shall wait here (im)patiently as I wait for the third book of the series. I really can't wait to see what AA Chaudhuri has up her sleeve for the next installment
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