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wusswoo's review against another edition
5.0
Another stonking read, there are loads of things I should be doing on my week off work but I keep getting distracted by 'one more chapter syndrome'!
billymac1962's review against another edition
3.0
Man, I really love Mo Hayder for Birdman and The Treatment. Since then, it's been a bit of a struggle to continue the relationship.
It was almost over for me with Ritual. She had introduced a new character, Flea, who I couldn't give a toss over because I had resented her taking the storyline away from Cafferty's personal story.
Then Poppet came out to wide appeal.
So I'm two books behind Poppet and remembering the first two books, and...well I can't ignore what we had and I should really give her another chance because maybe she's back in my wheelhouse. So there it was, and I read Skin.
To much delight! It turns out that my resentment towards Flea has evaporated and I was able to enjoy her character and a very strongly told story that had me ripping through the pages.
Yes!
Now comes Gone. Mo's hitting her stride here big time. For a good 70% of the way she's got me hooked with a creepy story about child abduction.
I was into 5-star quality at this point, but as you can see, this got shaved off.
Gone is just too long.
I know Flea being trapped in the tunnel is key to the story but my brain was glazing over with the description of it, and the barge, and the seemingly never ending process of being trapped. There's nothing wrong with a lengthy predicament if it's presented in an engaging manner, but I was more than ready for it to end after a couple of chapters.
Also, once the abductor is known, the story's resolution is drawn out way too long. I'm resentful of spending an entire evening plowing through it to get to the predictable conclusion just so I could be done with it.
And I'm still tired of the Walking Man. Let's move on from him, okay?
Poppet will be next...
It was almost over for me with Ritual. She had introduced a new character, Flea, who I couldn't give a toss over because I had resented her taking the storyline away from Cafferty's personal story.
Then Poppet came out to wide appeal.
So I'm two books behind Poppet and remembering the first two books, and...well I can't ignore what we had and I should really give her another chance because maybe she's back in my wheelhouse. So there it was, and I read Skin.
To much delight! It turns out that my resentment towards Flea has evaporated and I was able to enjoy her character and a very strongly told story that had me ripping through the pages.
Yes!
Now comes Gone. Mo's hitting her stride here big time. For a good 70% of the way she's got me hooked with a creepy story about child abduction.
I was into 5-star quality at this point, but as you can see, this got shaved off.
Gone is just too long.
Spoiler
I know Flea being trapped in the tunnel is key to the story but my brain was glazing over with the description of it, and the barge, and the seemingly never ending process of being trapped. There's nothing wrong with a lengthy predicament if it's presented in an engaging manner, but I was more than ready for it to end after a couple of chapters.
Also, once the abductor is known, the story's resolution is drawn out way too long. I'm resentful of spending an entire evening plowing through it to get to the predictable conclusion just so I could be done with it.
And I'm still tired of the Walking Man. Let's move on from him, okay?
Poppet will be next...
cookiemonster1234's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Mo Hayder's books usually scare the life out of me but I think her Jack Caffrey books are starting to mellow, which isn't a bad thing. There's plenty of tension and just enough suspicion. Flea's predicament from Skin isn't forgotten and her story continues in Gone. Instead of leaving me not wanting to switch the lights off, the ending left me oddly content.
amchica's review against another edition
4.0
I knew very early in this book who the real kidnapper was, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story. I still wanted to know what his motivation was and how he chose his victims.
There are several parts where Hayder gives lengthy descriptions of air shafts and tunnels and not only did it get repetitive, I had a hard time picturing what she was describing. It didn't occur to me when I was reading, but now I'm questioning whether the kidnapper's motivation was really enough to push him to commit the crimes he did.
There are several parts where Hayder gives lengthy descriptions of air shafts and tunnels and not only did it get repetitive, I had a hard time picturing what she was describing. It didn't occur to me when I was reading, but now I'm questioning whether the kidnapper's motivation was really enough to push him to commit the crimes he did.
emenendez1's review against another edition
2.0
This was not a good book in my opinion. The ending drags, the book drags. At one point, even though I was close to finishing, I was tempted to just leave it by the side.
carolpk's review against another edition
4.0
Yesterday, I was almost finished with Gone, you know at the point where everything is coming to a head and wrapping up. I was so bummed that I had to go to work. Now, I’m really a good employee, rarely sick and hardly ever take time off, but boy was I tempted to call in, stay home and finish this edge of your seat thriller. Reason won out and I convinced myself that when I got home at nine, I could finish Gone and that anticipation would just make it better. I suppose I could have brought it to work with me but for those of you who think working in a library is great, because all we do is read, I hate to burst your bubble, but I rarely get a chance to read at work. Yesterday would have been impossible.
I arrived home a bit after nine, quickly chatted with my husband; “no, nothing new, anything with you?, fine dear, talk later”. And then I hopped into my chair, put my feet up and raced to the finish.
If you’ve been bored with a certain thriller writer, not mentioning any names, then pick up Gone by Mo Hayder. This is the fifth to feature Detective Jack Caffrey. I don’t feel deprived that I haven’t read the first in the series. This was a very satisfying read on it’s own but I wouldn’t hesitate going back to read the rest. Hayder can join the men in her capacity for gritty storytelling. Where Hayder stands out is her descriptions of the psychology of evil and the writing of some great dialogue. But there’s a softer side too, a nice blend of punch you in the gut action and when you think you can’t take anymore, Hayder will give you a bit of a reprieve from harsh reality. All might not be as bad as it seems.
Gone is about a jacker, a despicable guy, a man who comes out of nowhere, knocks you to ground, calls you some awful names, jumps in your car and speeds off. You’d lick your wounds and all would be ok, only your child happens to be in the car. Imagine the terror? This is not a one-time incident and as no bodies have been found, no ransoms sought, it’s up to Caffrey and his team to figure out this guy’s motivation. Not a small order for a flawed group of police with hearts in the right place.
Suspenseful, fast paced, with graphic violence that’s not gratuitous; put this on your list. Be certain you don’t get caught having to go to work towards the end as I can’t be responsible for your actions.
(less)
I arrived home a bit after nine, quickly chatted with my husband; “no, nothing new, anything with you?, fine dear, talk later”. And then I hopped into my chair, put my feet up and raced to the finish.
If you’ve been bored with a certain thriller writer, not mentioning any names, then pick up Gone by Mo Hayder. This is the fifth to feature Detective Jack Caffrey. I don’t feel deprived that I haven’t read the first in the series. This was a very satisfying read on it’s own but I wouldn’t hesitate going back to read the rest. Hayder can join the men in her capacity for gritty storytelling. Where Hayder stands out is her descriptions of the psychology of evil and the writing of some great dialogue. But there’s a softer side too, a nice blend of punch you in the gut action and when you think you can’t take anymore, Hayder will give you a bit of a reprieve from harsh reality. All might not be as bad as it seems.
Gone is about a jacker, a despicable guy, a man who comes out of nowhere, knocks you to ground, calls you some awful names, jumps in your car and speeds off. You’d lick your wounds and all would be ok, only your child happens to be in the car. Imagine the terror? This is not a one-time incident and as no bodies have been found, no ransoms sought, it’s up to Caffrey and his team to figure out this guy’s motivation. Not a small order for a flawed group of police with hearts in the right place.
Suspenseful, fast paced, with graphic violence that’s not gratuitous; put this on your list. Be certain you don’t get caught having to go to work towards the end as I can’t be responsible for your actions.
(less)
dozylocal's review against another edition
4.0
I'd give this 3.5 stars on my book club scale, but only because technically, in my book, it is fluff. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller-mystery and the short chapters made it fly by. It was also refreshing to only see the twist a chapter before it was revealed: usually I have things figured out way sooner than that. This is the perfect holiday or "escapism" read, IMHO.
hoserlauren's review against another edition
3.0
In book 5 of the Detective Jack Caffery/Flea Marley, there's a carjacker on the loose. In the car, there was a little girl and the girl is still missing. Was the criminal after the car or the kid?
Flea is still struggling over covering for her brother killing his girlfriend and her whole team is getting tired of her attitude. Vowing that she's going to change, this case is her first in new mind set. Flea is convinced that the kidnapped girl is in an abandoned tunnel, putting herself and her team in danger. Past books have discussed more the way that Flea's dive team works and how they find clues hidden in the depths of water. There was less of that this book. It was more about Flea's emotional state and trying to bring herself back to normality. I hope next book we get back to more of how she works, but it worked well in this book.
Caffery, on the other hand, has very little character development, which is ok. He's trying to chase down this carjacker/kidnapper and realizes that the criminal may be closer than expected.
I don't mind the Caffery series, but I think Hayder is at her best with some of the more perverse mysteries like Pig Island.
Flea is still struggling over covering for her brother killing his girlfriend and her whole team is getting tired of her attitude. Vowing that she's going to change, this case is her first in new mind set. Flea is convinced that the kidnapped girl is in an abandoned tunnel, putting herself and her team in danger. Past books have discussed more the way that Flea's dive team works and how they find clues hidden in the depths of water. There was less of that this book. It was more about Flea's emotional state and trying to bring herself back to normality. I hope next book we get back to more of how she works, but it worked well in this book.
Caffery, on the other hand, has very little character development, which is ok. He's trying to chase down this carjacker/kidnapper and realizes that the criminal may be closer than expected.
I don't mind the Caffery series, but I think Hayder is at her best with some of the more perverse mysteries like Pig Island.
ebokhyllami's review against another edition
4.0
Samme gode driven over femte boka i serien. Ble litt stressa underveis da jeg så at jeg hadde hoppet over bok fire ... så nå må jeg på biblioteket her i Whistler. Har de den ikke går det fort fra Vancouver å få den over. Like god service som hjemme :-)