You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A suspenseful pursuit of a cold-blooded killer through colonial America sounds like a setup for a book that couldn't possibly work, but it does. In fairness, this entire series sounds implausible at first glance, but Robert McCammon's clear affection for this time period coupled with his ability to consistently write a darned good novel makes it work time and time again. This one (as its name implies) is a tad more gruesome in its subject matter than the previous entries, but it serves this particular story well.
I was a little disappointed that after setting up a great cast of supporting characters in the previous book, we mostly don't interact much with them this time around. If you're looking forward to Matthew spending a lot of time in New York with his colorful cast of characters in this one, you're likely to be disappointed. Still, a solid read and a great entry in this series.
I was a little disappointed that after setting up a great cast of supporting characters in the previous book, we mostly don't interact much with them this time around. If you're looking forward to Matthew spending a lot of time in New York with his colorful cast of characters in this one, you're likely to be disappointed. Still, a solid read and a great entry in this series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
A fine addition to the series. I liked it very much much.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I adored the first two books. I love the characters. I loved the stories. I loved the evocation of the time period. This is saying a lot for me because historical fiction usually leaves me cold--even genre mashing historical fiction. I was excited that Slaughter was going to play a central role. I was excited when the cover art was revealed. I ordered this the moment it was announced. Since it arrived at my door, I have been champing at the bit to read it...and perhaps that's the problem.
I was underwhelmed. If I'd read this first, I would not have gone on to the rest of the series. Here's a short list of my problems with it (don't read them if you haven't read the book and plan to--or do so at your own risk):
1) There is no mystery. Both previous novels had history, horror, fine writing, great characters, AND compelling mysteries. Though there are several ongoing mysterious elements, there is no central mystery and the hunt for Slaughter isn't enough to carry the book.
2) I don't mind a few flash backs...but every single major event in the novel is narrated up to a point and then SPANG! It's hours or days in the future & the events between then and now are told in flashback. It got quite old by the end of the novel. I didn't mind the cliffhangers that others have mentioned finding annoying...but I did not like being jerked around in time. It only served to put me out of the flow of the narrative.
3) Slaughter's single scene in "Queen of Bedlam" was one hundred times more interesting than his every appearance in this book. Mrs. Such was more menacing and interesting in her few scenes at the end than Slaughter. I had been advertising him in my anticipatory booktalks (at the library) as a Hannibal Lecter of the 1700's...but he was more of a violent Rip Taylor of the 1700's and a little whiney.
4) Perhaps my largest problem with the novel is than I just did not believe that Hudson and Matthew would believe anything Slaughter said. They simply would not have left the trail on the promise of a little extra scratch...especially if it's Slaughter telling them how to get it. Neither of them is that dumb. Most of the inmates of the asylum aren't that dumb.
5) In general the writing here was also not up to the previous two. Still love ya RM, but the pages just weren't turning this time. And I have to say I was glad to shut the book.
6) And my final criticism: the illustrations looked like they were done by a high school art class. If you're not gonna pop for something along the lines of Michael Whelan's illustrations in the original edition of King's "The Gunslinger," don't bother. These were sad and distracting.
So, I give it three stars instead of two on the strength of the other two books in the series and the set-up and the denouement which, of course, sets up the next volume in the series (to come after a modern fiction novel about a rock band). Let's hope volume four is back to the strength of the previous volumes.
I was underwhelmed. If I'd read this first, I would not have gone on to the rest of the series. Here's a short list of my problems with it (don't read them if you haven't read the book and plan to--or do so at your own risk):
1) There is no mystery. Both previous novels had history, horror, fine writing, great characters, AND compelling mysteries. Though there are several ongoing mysterious elements, there is no central mystery and the hunt for Slaughter isn't enough to carry the book.
2) I don't mind a few flash backs...but every single major event in the novel is narrated up to a point and then SPANG! It's hours or days in the future & the events between then and now are told in flashback. It got quite old by the end of the novel. I didn't mind the cliffhangers that others have mentioned finding annoying...but I did not like being jerked around in time. It only served to put me out of the flow of the narrative.
3) Slaughter's single scene in "Queen of Bedlam" was one hundred times more interesting than his every appearance in this book. Mrs. Such was more menacing and interesting in her few scenes at the end than Slaughter. I had been advertising him in my anticipatory booktalks (at the library) as a Hannibal Lecter of the 1700's...but he was more of a violent Rip Taylor of the 1700's and a little whiney.
4) Perhaps my largest problem with the novel is than I just did not believe that Hudson and Matthew would believe anything Slaughter said. They simply would not have left the trail on the promise of a little extra scratch...especially if it's Slaughter telling them how to get it. Neither of them is that dumb. Most of the inmates of the asylum aren't that dumb.
5) In general the writing here was also not up to the previous two. Still love ya RM, but the pages just weren't turning this time. And I have to say I was glad to shut the book.
6) And my final criticism: the illustrations looked like they were done by a high school art class. If you're not gonna pop for something along the lines of Michael Whelan's illustrations in the original edition of King's "The Gunslinger," don't bother. These were sad and distracting.
So, I give it three stars instead of two on the strength of the other two books in the series and the set-up and the denouement which, of course, sets up the next volume in the series (to come after a modern fiction novel about a rock band). Let's hope volume four is back to the strength of the previous volumes.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes