Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
It seems that I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as my fellow Goodreaders, but that doesn't mean that I disliked it. This was overall an entertaining read, and while I had to suspend some belief in the plot's plausibility, it kept me reading and wanting to know "how it happened". The story did drag a bit in a few spots, and it didn't seem to hold that creepy factor that so many of his other books have, so maybe I'm just more drawn to his books with a borderline (or full on) supernatural thread to them. I would definitely recommend this to readers who are more looking for a police procedural rather than a psychological thriller. Well written, claustrophobic, and tense, I think a majority of readers will take to Koryta's latest novel.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
This excellent audio book starts off amazingly and gradually becomes more of a typical mystery but it was still well above average especially with its characters.
A traditional detective novel elevated by Koryta's remarkable creativity. No supernatural elements as in many of Koryta's novels, but the twists and turns and surprises in this story made it definitively Koryta: a very detailed world where you never know what is going to happen next.
How It Happened opens with a confession detailing the murders of Jackie Pelletier and Ian Kelley. Unfortunately, the confession came from Kimberley Crepeaux, a young woman not particularly known for honesty. More importantly, her confession implicates a respected and much-admired member of the community, Mathias Burke.
FBI investigator Rob Barrett as an expert in confessions, he is certain she is telling the truth. He also recalls a childhood incident that revealed a wickedness in Mathias Burke that is hidden to most people under his hard-working ambitious caretaker/landscaper facade. When they search for the bodies where Kimberley told them to look and they are not found, it looks as though she is the liar, but Barrett resists the obvious, setting him at odds with the rest of law enforcement and the community.
The story is fast-paced and well written, but it suffers from the villain explaining everything at the end like some Bond villain giving Bond time to escape his certain death, except of course, it’s after the villain has been caught. The sneering, look-how-clever-I-am confession was just too much and ruined the story for me. I am a show, don’t tell reader so this is kind of resolution is designed not to appeal to me. Frankly, I thought the whole solution was overwrought, reaching deep into conspiracy and far more complicated than it needed to be for some small-town murder.
How It Happened at Little, Brown and Company
Michael Koryta author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/9780316293921/
FBI investigator Rob Barrett as an expert in confessions, he is certain she is telling the truth. He also recalls a childhood incident that revealed a wickedness in Mathias Burke that is hidden to most people under his hard-working ambitious caretaker/landscaper facade. When they search for the bodies where Kimberley told them to look and they are not found, it looks as though she is the liar, but Barrett resists the obvious, setting him at odds with the rest of law enforcement and the community.
The story is fast-paced and well written, but it suffers from the villain explaining everything at the end like some Bond villain giving Bond time to escape his certain death, except of course, it’s after the villain has been caught. The sneering, look-how-clever-I-am confession was just too much and ruined the story for me. I am a show, don’t tell reader so this is kind of resolution is designed not to appeal to me. Frankly, I thought the whole solution was overwrought, reaching deep into conspiracy and far more complicated than it needed to be for some small-town murder.
How It Happened at Little, Brown and Company
Michael Koryta author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2018/07/04/9780316293921/
Michael Koryta has been one of my favorite authors since I read So Cold the Water probably eight years ago. Every book since then has completely captivated me and been one of my favorites in their respective release years. This one is no different.
What IS different is that this is based on a true story (learn more here) and while this is not at all Jill Behrman's story, it's still very much a part of How it Happened. But so are two more universal things: the importance of journalism and the absolute horror of the drug epidemic (specifically opioids).
There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but it all seems absolutely seamless and effortless. (I'm guessing that's the mark of a great author, right? It all seems easy?)
Highly recommended.
What IS different is that this is based on a true story (learn more here) and while this is not at all Jill Behrman's story, it's still very much a part of How it Happened. But so are two more universal things: the importance of journalism and the absolute horror of the drug epidemic (specifically opioids).
There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but it all seems absolutely seamless and effortless. (I'm guessing that's the mark of a great author, right? It all seems easy?)
Highly recommended.
Purplemanatees.org
How it Happened(Michael Kortya) came as a surprise in the mail! I wasn't expecting anything and had to furiously check my email for an answer. Finding my answer, I had won another giveaway on goodreads! Always join giveaways for things you like,guys. You lose 100% of the chances you don't take! This was a mystery crime novel about your typical rogue FBI agent who lays his job and life on the line for a case they believe in. It was your typical run of the mill mystery novel you would want to binge while on the beach but not for really any other time. I urgently just wanted to reach the end but was always distracted by something and not able to. To note, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and really made me look forward to reading this book. Thank you all for reading and see ya on the next page ;)
How it Happened(Michael Kortya) came as a surprise in the mail! I wasn't expecting anything and had to furiously check my email for an answer. Finding my answer, I had won another giveaway on goodreads! Always join giveaways for things you like,guys. You lose 100% of the chances you don't take! This was a mystery crime novel about your typical rogue FBI agent who lays his job and life on the line for a case they believe in. It was your typical run of the mill mystery novel you would want to binge while on the beach but not for really any other time. I urgently just wanted to reach the end but was always distracted by something and not able to. To note, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and really made me look forward to reading this book. Thank you all for reading and see ya on the next page ;)