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jimhanks's review against another edition
5.0
Jaded reporter Andrew and his photographer boyfriend, Carlos, are sick of telling just another story. From cartel massacres to corrupt politicians, sifting the dregs of Mexico's drug war, they think they've seen it all. But when they find a body even the police are too scared to look at, what started out as just another reportage becomes the sort of story all reporters dream of.
Tim MacGabhann's writing is terrific. It can go from genuinely frightening to funny in a second. The characters are great and the story takes the reader into the darkest parts of Mexico's drug cartels.
Tim MacGabhann's writing is terrific. It can go from genuinely frightening to funny in a second. The characters are great and the story takes the reader into the darkest parts of Mexico's drug cartels.
screamdogreads's review against another edition
4.0
In Spanish, the verb esperar means 'to hope', 'to wait', and 'to expect'. Which of these three you meant, I didn't know, but I prayed it was all three.
As a reader, something I've developed rather a soft spot for is these kinds of slower burning mystery stories, the ones that really allow you to delve deep into a character, those stories that have a quiet, charming sense of beauty to them. Call Him Mine is one such novel, acting only partly as a thriller, this fantastic little novel leans much more into the role of being a character study, and an exploration of grief. This is a novel that ever so slowly grows on you, a story that starts off gritty and yet, kind of standard, and transforms itself into a page turning thrill ride, all while the pace sits at a comfortable simmer.
Call Him Mine is a brilliantly atmospheric novel, one that so fantastically captures the vibrancy of Mexico and balances it against the gruesomeness of the stories atrocities. This really is an absolutely amazing way to debut, Tim MacGabhann clearly knows his craft, he knows how to expertly create a delicate and touching mystery. Some real peaceful moments exist within this story, despite the numerous stomach churning descriptions of death and decapitation. This book is an intense and visceral read, and while it's not as fast-paced as the thriller genre usually offers, it's a wonderful and enjoyable literary crime novel nonetheless.
Like I said, death has dozens of smells, and I only know some. This one was sallow and warmish: the carbon dioxide fug given off by bacteria feeding in a closed space.
As a reader, something I've developed rather a soft spot for is these kinds of slower burning mystery stories, the ones that really allow you to delve deep into a character, those stories that have a quiet, charming sense of beauty to them. Call Him Mine is one such novel, acting only partly as a thriller, this fantastic little novel leans much more into the role of being a character study, and an exploration of grief. This is a novel that ever so slowly grows on you, a story that starts off gritty and yet, kind of standard, and transforms itself into a page turning thrill ride, all while the pace sits at a comfortable simmer.
Call Him Mine is a brilliantly atmospheric novel, one that so fantastically captures the vibrancy of Mexico and balances it against the gruesomeness of the stories atrocities. This really is an absolutely amazing way to debut, Tim MacGabhann clearly knows his craft, he knows how to expertly create a delicate and touching mystery. Some real peaceful moments exist within this story, despite the numerous stomach churning descriptions of death and decapitation. This book is an intense and visceral read, and while it's not as fast-paced as the thriller genre usually offers, it's a wonderful and enjoyable literary crime novel nonetheless.
Like I said, death has dozens of smells, and I only know some. This one was sallow and warmish: the carbon dioxide fug given off by bacteria feeding in a closed space.
caitsidhe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
itssamu's review against another edition
1.0
Struggling to think of a worse reading experience than I had with this book :(
tommooney's review against another edition
4.0
This was excellent. A thoroughly enjoyable literary crime novel.
An Irish journalist in Mexico City gets drawn into the brutal world of drugs, oil and corruption after his boyfriend is murdered for turning over one stone too many.
There are echos of many great novelists in this very fine debut. Just a few who came to mind while reading were Don Winslow, Lawrence Osborne, Charles Portis and even, at times, Roberto Bolano.
MacGabhann writes with clear insight both into the workings of Mexican power structures and the complicated role of foreign journalists - he is himself a journalist working in the area. The prose snaps, the story goes along at a fair clip and there's a trippy, contemporary feel about the whole thing.
Really high quality novel. I'll definitely be looking out for more of his work in the future.
An Irish journalist in Mexico City gets drawn into the brutal world of drugs, oil and corruption after his boyfriend is murdered for turning over one stone too many.
There are echos of many great novelists in this very fine debut. Just a few who came to mind while reading were Don Winslow, Lawrence Osborne, Charles Portis and even, at times, Roberto Bolano.
MacGabhann writes with clear insight both into the workings of Mexican power structures and the complicated role of foreign journalists - he is himself a journalist working in the area. The prose snaps, the story goes along at a fair clip and there's a trippy, contemporary feel about the whole thing.
Really high quality novel. I'll definitely be looking out for more of his work in the future.
pgk's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chloemilyx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
whateverwalked's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
natlib91's review against another edition
5.0
plot clips along beautifully, the prose is written in a deeply embodied style that's dense with sensory detail and more than once left a fully-formed notion of an interior or particular vibe/atmosphere in my head, i almost thought of the experience of rendering the world as a subplot in itself. the extent of my knowledge of latin american politics would be limited to documentaries, a general awareness of the limitations of formal self-determination in a world dominated by USian capital, but i recognised the truth in the representation of the state and drug traffickers collaborating to displace indigenous peoples for the benefit of multinationals. great read.