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d34nn3_29's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
Detective Sergeant Michael McCabe is trying to get settled with his new life in Portland, Maine with his daughter. Detective McCabe has barely been in town and already he is on a hot case. There is a serial killer on the loose. Two women have already gone missing. One has been found with her heart cut out. This is not just any serial killer. This killer kills with precision of a surgical hand.
It is up to Detective McCabe and his partner, Maggie Savage to bring down the killer before the body count gets too high.
The Cutting is author, James Hayman’s first novel. The first few pages of this book really grabbed my attention. Detective McCabe seemed like a pretty straight arrow. It was nice to see that he was human and had to deal with family issues amongst trying to stop a serial killer. For me the wished the serial killer was more prominent in this story. When the story line would flash to the serial killer the parts were too short. I wanted more. Also, there were a few times in the middle where I would lose some interest but than the story line would pick up speed again and I would jump right back into this book. Overall, this book did leave me willing to check out his next novel.
It is up to Detective McCabe and his partner, Maggie Savage to bring down the killer before the body count gets too high.
The Cutting is author, James Hayman’s first novel. The first few pages of this book really grabbed my attention. Detective McCabe seemed like a pretty straight arrow. It was nice to see that he was human and had to deal with family issues amongst trying to stop a serial killer. For me the wished the serial killer was more prominent in this story. When the story line would flash to the serial killer the parts were too short. I wanted more. Also, there were a few times in the middle where I would lose some interest but than the story line would pick up speed again and I would jump right back into this book. Overall, this book did leave me willing to check out his next novel.
radh's review against another edition
it felt unnecessarily violent. I may just not have been in the right headspace for it, but I wasn't enjoying it at all and was forcing myself to continue, so figured it was best to put my energy towards more positive content. I also was not invested in the characters, etc. yet
bkdrgn303's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first in a series featuring Mike McCabe and the city of Portland, Maine. While the book starts out a little slow, it really finishes with a heartpounding bang. Lots of blood, sex and violence and NO harping about the quaint Maine accent, thank God. I look forward to watching McCabe and his partner Maggie Savage evolve in future books.
squambles's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
scknitter's review against another edition
4.0
I read and loved a galley of Hayman's new book Girl on the Bridge and since I had never read him before I decided to go back and read/listen to the early books. I am glad I did as I love his writing and his characters and there was a great hunt for a serial killer also.
mlenre's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
muddypuddle's review against another edition
4.0
I love intense murder mysteries (does that make me ghoulish?) but this one had a few "grizzly" factors that almost took it too far for me. This always happens when it involves any cutting of the skin with a knife or scalpel. I have a difficult time with this. The title should certainly tip one off...... That said, I greatly enjoyed this mystery. I love the setting - Portland, Maine and upwards to Blue Hill (home!), and I really like the very human protagonist, Mike McCabe. He's a police detective who has relocated from NYC with his 13-year-old daughter, Casey. He made a few assumptions -- perhaps you could call them gut feelings - that seemed a bit over the top, but without which he could not have followed the clues to catching the bad guy. And this one one bad-ass bad guy.....