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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I thought this was not very good for evidence
gathering for over half the novel. This is an
FBI guy who just "wallowed" in the belief
that someone's confession was real and
nothing else needed to be considered.
The climax is a bit klugey too, as well as
the repetitive explanation of "How it
happened".
Just so-so at best.
gathering for over half the novel. This is an
FBI guy who just "wallowed" in the belief
that someone's confession was real and
nothing else needed to be considered.
The climax is a bit klugey too, as well as
the repetitive explanation of "How it
happened".
Just so-so at best.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Two college students are brutally murdered in a small coastal town in Maine. A woman with a history of heroin use confesses to her part in carrying out the murders - and in so doing implicates a man who the locals say is a bastion of the community. No one believes her that Matthias is a cold blooded killer. No one that is - except Agent Barrett of the FBI. Barrett spent his growing up summers in this small town - being bullied by his grandfather - and Matthias. He does believe that Matthias could murder people.
But when they follow the story that Kimmie gives them - the story that she swears is “how it happened” - it can’t be. She describes the murders using a truck - and then driving the bodies to a nearby inlet to dispose of them. She swears the bodies are there - and Matthias was the murderer. But when Barrett has the police force dredge the pond - no bodies are found. He goes ahead and arrests Matthias - so convinced is he (Barrett) of Matthias’ guilt. Yet - while Matthias is in jail - an email tip is sent to the police telling them the exact coordinates of where the bodies can be found.
Matthias is released - Kimmie maintains her story and fears that Matthias will kill her now - and Barrett maintains that Matthias is guilty. But how?
Barrett keeps digging - following up on leads - he gets run off the road and left for dead - saved by a passerby - he gets a visit from a DEA agent - who tells him to follow the drugs.
Eventually - Barrett gets to hear two more versions of “how it happened”. And - Matthias really DID do it.
I got a little bit lost as to why Ian Kelly’s dad was implicated - other than because he received video footage that could have helped solve the murders. Wasn’t clear to me why he chose to end his life.
I liked Barrett and Howard Pelletier (father of the dead girl) - did not like Matthias. Also wonder if the author owns stock in Dunkin Donuts - at least three times Bartlett goes to a Dunkin - instead of just “a donut shop”
But when they follow the story that Kimmie gives them - the story that she swears is “how it happened” - it can’t be. She describes the murders using a truck - and then driving the bodies to a nearby inlet to dispose of them. She swears the bodies are there - and Matthias was the murderer. But when Barrett has the police force dredge the pond - no bodies are found. He goes ahead and arrests Matthias - so convinced is he (Barrett) of Matthias’ guilt. Yet - while Matthias is in jail - an email tip is sent to the police telling them the exact coordinates of where the bodies can be found.
Matthias is released - Kimmie maintains her story and fears that Matthias will kill her now - and Barrett maintains that Matthias is guilty. But how?
Barrett keeps digging - following up on leads - he gets run off the road and left for dead - saved by a passerby - he gets a visit from a DEA agent - who tells him to follow the drugs.
Eventually - Barrett gets to hear two more versions of “how it happened”. And -
I got a little bit lost as to why Ian Kelly’s dad was implicated - other than because he received video footage that could have helped solve the murders. Wasn’t clear to me why he chose to end his life.
I liked Barrett and Howard Pelletier (father of the dead girl) - did not like Matthias. Also wonder if the author owns stock in Dunkin Donuts - at least three times Bartlett goes to a Dunkin - instead of just “a donut shop”
This was so good. I liked Rob Barrett, the Maine setting, the layers of lies and secrets in that small town. I thought the pacing was spot-on, and the investigation kept my interest throughout. Poor Howard about broke my heart.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
The characters in this were super relatable and I appreciated that it was a bit of a different take on the murder mystery crime novel. It's more about the detective than it is about the case which I found really interesting.
I really enjoy Mr. Koryta’s writing. This one started kind of slow for me, but it picked up and was really enjoyable. Likable main characters. Descriptive writing.
This was a good mystery once it got beyond the 30% mark. It was a bit slow before that. I think the blurb gives too much information so nothing new was revealed till after that point.
mysterious
fast-paced
I read this as part of the IU Alumni book club for the month of April. I’ve read one book by Koryta before and did enjoy it, so this was obviously my #1 pick of the three options this month. The synopsis was intriguing and I really enjoyed the structure of this book. We get a lot of details surrounding the central crime right away, which isn’t common in thrillers. Of course, we are left to question what is true and what is not, and I think this was done quite well. The pacing was excellent, and at no point did I feel that the plot was stagnant or slow.
I did have a little trouble keeping Roy and Rob straight at first when they were put together; maybe not the best name choices, but that’s a small detail.
I did have a little trouble keeping Roy and Rob straight at first when they were put together; maybe not the best name choices, but that’s a small detail.
A nice slowburn mystery. Good twists that I did not see coming. Just the way I like it.