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suggsygirl's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of this type of crime book and I'm a fan of Mark Billingham so it's no surprise that I liked this. I got into the story straight away and only had a tentative feeling on who the killer was which is quite unusual for me as I usually guess straight away. Sure, you don't have to be in Mensa to enjoy this book but that's part of the fun; mindless escapism. It gets a thumbs up from me.
joreasonable's review against another edition
2.0
A very well written enjoyable book, that kept me guessing until the very end, but I didn’t find it as thrilling as others, especially those who recommended it to me, but I finished all the same. It is a simple and fast read, I finished it in a couple of hours.
You have some great social moments, chatting within the three couples, it got a little samey at times too much everyday stuff that wasn’t necessary and could have been left out.
I didn’t enjoy any of the characters, they seemed very superficial. The details of a classic whodunit was great, that I enjoyed, it just lacked thrills and suspense, I prefered the Florida sections rather than the UK side of the story.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I don´t think I will be reading any others.
You have some great social moments, chatting within the three couples, it got a little samey at times too much everyday stuff that wasn’t necessary and could have been left out.
I didn’t enjoy any of the characters, they seemed very superficial. The details of a classic whodunit was great, that I enjoyed, it just lacked thrills and suspense, I prefered the Florida sections rather than the UK side of the story.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I don´t think I will be reading any others.
coffeecurls's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars from me!
Rush of Blood is a welcome departure from the standard crime thriller format.
It still contains a crime and has an over riding theme of 'whodunnit' but it incorporates a story line that has more basis in the analysis of personalities, traits, emotions and relationships.
From the very first few pages you are drawn into the lives of three couples and their differing idiosyncrasies; do you like any of them, dislike them, empathise with them, believe them? All this remains to be seen and as more is revealed about each character and each couple, be prepared to change your mind!
In reality, a sad tale about a mother's grief runs through this book but the star of the show is without doubt the quest to find the killer.
I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable book and I constantly changed my mind on who I thought was the killer. Great stuff.
Rush of Blood is a welcome departure from the standard crime thriller format.
It still contains a crime and has an over riding theme of 'whodunnit' but it incorporates a story line that has more basis in the analysis of personalities, traits, emotions and relationships.
From the very first few pages you are drawn into the lives of three couples and their differing idiosyncrasies; do you like any of them, dislike them, empathise with them, believe them? All this remains to be seen and as more is revealed about each character and each couple, be prepared to change your mind!
In reality, a sad tale about a mother's grief runs through this book but the star of the show is without doubt the quest to find the killer.
I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable book and I constantly changed my mind on who I thought was the killer. Great stuff.
jess_m_currie's review against another edition
4.0
What a ripping read! Billingham plays this perfectly, dropping hints here and there, leaving the reader suspecting everyone. As always, his dialogue is tight and insightful, and what he does best is explore the darkness that underlies ordinary relationships. Highly recommend this for a read you just can't put down.
gadrake's review against another edition
4.0
This stand-alone novel is my first Mark Billingham read and was all set to be absorbed by it, but struggled at first. Couldn't quite figure out why a reader I respect was all aglow.
Fortunately, things turned around...amazingly. The problem is that there are too many main characters. Six for sure and two more if you count law enforcement. Each section featured a different person, and each time that person was featured, new background info was included. For once, I wish I had taken notes as the story progressed because it was hard to keep track.
Billingham is a master at dropping in clues that shift perspective. Don't skip to the end. While I felt there was one clue that tipped the scales to much in one direction, this is all very subtle. Also, as a social statement, it shows that everyone is dealing with something and that others will have opinions about it and how you are handling it.
These characters are rather unlikable, but ultimately they 'fit' together along with a horrendous crime. Well done.
Fortunately, things turned around...amazingly. The problem is that there are too many main characters. Six for sure and two more if you count law enforcement. Each section featured a different person, and each time that person was featured, new background info was included. For once, I wish I had taken notes as the story progressed because it was hard to keep track.
Billingham is a master at dropping in clues that shift perspective. Don't skip to the end. While I felt there was one clue that tipped the scales to much in one direction, this is all very subtle. Also, as a social statement, it shows that everyone is dealing with something and that others will have opinions about it and how you are handling it.
These characters are rather unlikable, but ultimately they 'fit' together along with a horrendous crime. Well done.
estherscholes's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first read of a Mark Billingham book and I chose this one because is a stand alone book instead of part of a series.
It’s a good crime novel, about a group of people who meet on a foreign holiday (where a girl goes missing), and then decide to meet up again back in England to get to know each other better. It’s well-paced and fairly formulaic in its unfolding of the events, including great moments of tension in the reveal. Where it didn’t grab me was the unlikability of the main characters - I didn’t really want to know more about any of them or understand what was drawing them to each other at all - and that I could see pretty early what the twist was going to be. Often at the end of a mystery novel, I want to go back and read it all again to spot the clues and patterns afresh, but this one felt like a relief to get to the end of.
It’s a good crime novel, about a group of people who meet on a foreign holiday (where a girl goes missing), and then decide to meet up again back in England to get to know each other better. It’s well-paced and fairly formulaic in its unfolding of the events, including great moments of tension in the reveal. Where it didn’t grab me was the unlikability of the main characters - I didn’t really want to know more about any of them or understand what was drawing them to each other at all - and that I could see pretty early what the twist was going to be. Often at the end of a mystery novel, I want to go back and read it all again to spot the clues and patterns afresh, but this one felt like a relief to get to the end of.
sfoster2309's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
hpnyknits's review against another edition
4.0
This book reminded me of Ruth Rendell mysteries. The ordinary lives that hide the abnormal criminal. As much as the mystery being solved, it’s the story of the people.
biblioclaire's review against another edition
4.0
Rush of Blood by Mark Billingham is a thrilling read that I highly recommend. When 3 different couple meet for the first time in Florida, they share more than just a new friendship and a week in the sun. When a young girl goes missing, the Police commence a media campaign to find her while the 3 couples fly home. But who knows the secret of what really happened to her? This was a fantastic read that I couldn't put down. 4 stars