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logoddess's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
2.0
Snatched this up, blurb sounded interesting, setting is UK, and it was free.
It had no DRM, so I had no trouble converting the Kindle ebook to EPub for my other Reader (a larger Tolino Epos).
Do not like the female detective (one of two female MC's), old fashioned and even according to her superior still living in the 70ies... Already I have to force myself to read this, looks like a 2star book and a possible DNF, but I want to be sure bevore abandoning it.
So far by-the-numbers-serial-killer-book. Nothing special, and the the thoughts of Walker grate on my nerves, they are uninteresting, rather dull and mostly could have been cut.
While the setting is supposed to be UK, I do not really feel it.
Unless something changes, I will beginn at some point to skim the pages and look for the end.
Certainly so far not the page-turner promised by the blurb.
Really liked George and how she handled Stephen at about just after 50% of the book.
And also, as this is the beginning of a series, I will most probably not read anything else from this author.
OK, so I did not DNF it, there where no real twists, I did guess whodunnit since the point of introduction, so no surprises there.
Would have given more stars if one of the following would have happened:
- Whitney gets fired (should have happened IRL) and will not turn up sequels or as a PI
- Killer walks free (could have happened, some evidence was obtained illegaly)
- MC's get together as lovers (would have been a good twist and stranger things have happened).
While at some points it might be ok to bend the rules, I prefer books where the police work feels more real and evidence etc. is obtained within the rules, not outside of it.
Glad they have not made other mistakes (going places alone without telling anyone, not charging their cellphones etc.). They even had support in the final scene.
As is, I will read the promised epilogue for another book, as I am more interested in what happens to the arrested than to the MC's.
End is as usual, meaning forseeable and boring "arrest made, etc. all is well".
A real good twist would have been one more victim, the detective fired because of her faults and the dealing with the fallout from all that in the next book.
Will check what the following books in the series are about, but guess more of the same, so will most probably not read them.
Some might like this, but to call this a page-turner is stretching a reality I do not live in.
So two stars for more than one reason, could have been three if Walker was more interesting and up-to-date. Also, although it is set in the UK, I did not feel it, could have easily been Germany, or US with a few different expressions.
Not recommended.
It had no DRM, so I had no trouble converting the Kindle ebook to EPub for my other Reader (a larger Tolino Epos).
Do not like the female detective (one of two female MC's), old fashioned and even according to her superior still living in the 70ies... Already I have to force myself to read this, looks like a 2star book and a possible DNF, but I want to be sure bevore abandoning it.
So far by-the-numbers-serial-killer-book. Nothing special, and the the thoughts of Walker grate on my nerves, they are uninteresting, rather dull and mostly could have been cut.
While the setting is supposed to be UK, I do not really feel it.
Unless something changes, I will beginn at some point to skim the pages and look for the end.
Certainly so far not the page-turner promised by the blurb.
Really liked George and how she handled Stephen at about just after 50% of the book.
And also, as this is the beginning of a series, I will most probably not read anything else from this author.
OK, so I did not DNF it, there where no real twists, I did guess whodunnit since the point of introduction, so no surprises there.
Would have given more stars if one of the following would have happened:
- Whitney gets fired (should have happened IRL) and will not turn up sequels or as a PI
- Killer walks free (could have happened, some evidence was obtained illegaly)
- MC's get together as lovers (would have been a good twist and stranger things have happened).
While at some points it might be ok to bend the rules, I prefer books where the police work feels more real and evidence etc. is obtained within the rules, not outside of it.
Glad they have not made other mistakes (going places alone without telling anyone, not charging their cellphones etc.). They even had support in the final scene.
As is, I will read the promised epilogue for another book, as I am more interested in what happens to the arrested than to the MC's.
End is as usual, meaning forseeable and boring "arrest made, etc. all is well".
A real good twist would have been one more victim, the detective fired because of her faults and the dealing with the fallout from all that in the next book.
Will check what the following books in the series are about, but guess more of the same, so will most probably not read them.
Some might like this, but to call this a page-turner is stretching a reality I do not live in.
So two stars for more than one reason, could have been three if Walker was more interesting and up-to-date. Also, although it is set in the UK, I did not feel it, could have easily been Germany, or US with a few different expressions.
Not recommended.
illusie's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this detective. It's a bout a serial killer. The chracters are great and show character growth. I like how George and Whitney become friends during the story. I did guess the killer and some other aspects. Despite that I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book.
The audiobook was great. I liked the voices the narrator did. She did a great job.
The audiobook was great. I liked the voices the narrator did. She did a great job.
abbygarcia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
leming's review
2.0
I'm sorry but I didn't really like this book at all. It's surprising that I finished.
I feel like the author does not really understand how the police work, how the university professors work, or what profiling really is. The plot did not make much sense and all seemed like a dulled-down television caricature of what they really should be.
The only saving grace I guess was the friendship between the two main leads. While it's always refreshing to have strong female leads and their bond, the characters are very one-dimensional. You can literally sum up each character in one simple sentence and it's never a good sign. Also, the way they became to like each other felt very unnatural, rushed.
I really hope the next book has improved, but I don't think I'll find out myself.
I feel like the author does not really understand how the police work, how the university professors work, or what profiling really is. The plot did not make much sense and all seemed like a dulled-down television caricature of what they really should be.
The only saving grace I guess was the friendship between the two main leads. While it's always refreshing to have strong female leads and their bond, the characters are very one-dimensional. You can literally sum up each character in one simple sentence and it's never a good sign. Also, the way they became to like each other felt very unnatural, rushed.
I really hope the next book has improved, but I don't think I'll find out myself.
sarahfrance0_0's review
4.0
Listened on Audible - I really enjoyed this audiobook and the voice acting really immersed me into the story. Interesting plot and was very gripping!
lucy1405's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
nicovreeland's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @ 50 % — (update: I went back and finished it. Review updated below)
I just hated detective Walker. She’s very judgy about suspects, and not very good at her job. She arrests a murder suspect because he had a picture of the victim. That’s the sun total of her evidence. Obviously that’s a bad move, but the entire department gives her a standing ovation when she does it. The weakness of these false leads makes her seem stupid.
The most interesting part of the book is the interdepartmental politics when her supervisor throws her under the bud, but she’s not savvy enough to see it coming or formulate a plan to oppose it.
UPDATE: I finished it, mostly because I wanted to see whether I was right about the killer and just how stupid the investigators get. They get very very stupid. I guessed the killer by just past the halfway mark. They do not even see him as a suspect.
People continue to be incredibly obtuse. Walker can’t BELIEVE she’s kicked off the case for gross incompetence. She continues to investigate in a grossly incompetent way
SPOILERS
.
.
.
During their investigation they keep coming back to these twin students, Henry and Harriet. They are charming, rich, entitled, and bored. Obviously one of them is the killer. Probably henry, but maybe Harriet for a twist.
When the investigators read a victim’s journal, they find an entry that “Sean’s best friend” was stalking her and creeping her out just before her death. They make a note to find out who Sean’s best friend is. IN THE SAME SCENE they find a picture of Sean and Henry, and say “oh there’s Sean, and there’s Henry next to him. They ignore this.
In another scene, they talk to a victim’s roommates who say that the victim was smitten with Henry, and that Henry behaved oddly with her. They ignore this.
Then the roommates mention a strange guy at the party who was looking at the victim. That’s it, he was just looking at her. The investigators drop everything to pursue the white hot lead of the guy who was looking at another person. Walker even refers to this suspect as “the killer” in her head BEFORE SHE’S EVEN TALKED TO HIM. Shockingly, he’s not the killer. Walker is completely flummoxed that he has an alibi.
Henry continues to act weirdly and lie to the police. But Walker is charmed by him and thinks nothing of it. Just earlier, the psychologist told her that the killer is probably charming and lures the victims in instead of forcing them.
The incredibly stupid Detective Walker thinks to herself that despite all of these clues leading toward Henry, the killer couldn’t possibly be henry because he broke his arm in a football match. THEY DO NOT DOUBLE CHECK THIS, they just take his word for it.
I have NEVER been less convinced by a red herring. It’s like this scenario was dreamed up by a police trainer to show students how NOT to investigate.
ADDED AFTER FINISHING:
I’m the end, it was BOTH Henry and Harriet. Henry really did break his arm, too. Not that Walker ever checked.
Weirdly enough, I kind of feel like listening to the next book in the series. Kind of like how you watch a short B movie because it’s so bad?
I just hated detective Walker. She’s very judgy about suspects, and not very good at her job. She arrests a murder suspect because he had a picture of the victim. That’s the sun total of her evidence. Obviously that’s a bad move, but the entire department gives her a standing ovation when she does it. The weakness of these false leads makes her seem stupid.
The most interesting part of the book is the interdepartmental politics when her supervisor throws her under the bud, but she’s not savvy enough to see it coming or formulate a plan to oppose it.
UPDATE: I finished it, mostly because I wanted to see whether I was right about the killer and just how stupid the investigators get. They get very very stupid. I guessed the killer by just past the halfway mark. They do not even see him as a suspect.
People continue to be incredibly obtuse. Walker can’t BELIEVE she’s kicked off the case for gross incompetence. She continues to investigate in a grossly incompetent way
SPOILERS
.
.
.
During their investigation they keep coming back to these twin students, Henry and Harriet. They are charming, rich, entitled, and bored. Obviously one of them is the killer. Probably henry, but maybe Harriet for a twist.
When the investigators read a victim’s journal, they find an entry that “Sean’s best friend” was stalking her and creeping her out just before her death. They make a note to find out who Sean’s best friend is. IN THE SAME SCENE they find a picture of Sean and Henry, and say “oh there’s Sean, and there’s Henry next to him. They ignore this.
In another scene, they talk to a victim’s roommates who say that the victim was smitten with Henry, and that Henry behaved oddly with her. They ignore this.
Then the roommates mention a strange guy at the party who was looking at the victim. That’s it, he was just looking at her. The investigators drop everything to pursue the white hot lead of the guy who was looking at another person. Walker even refers to this suspect as “the killer” in her head BEFORE SHE’S EVEN TALKED TO HIM. Shockingly, he’s not the killer. Walker is completely flummoxed that he has an alibi.
Henry continues to act weirdly and lie to the police. But Walker is charmed by him and thinks nothing of it. Just earlier, the psychologist told her that the killer is probably charming and lures the victims in instead of forcing them.
The incredibly stupid Detective Walker thinks to herself that despite all of these clues leading toward Henry, the killer couldn’t possibly be henry because he broke his arm in a football match. THEY DO NOT DOUBLE CHECK THIS, they just take his word for it.
I have NEVER been less convinced by a red herring. It’s like this scenario was dreamed up by a police trainer to show students how NOT to investigate.
ADDED AFTER FINISHING:
I’m the end, it was BOTH Henry and Harriet. Henry really did break his arm, too. Not that Walker ever checked.
Weirdly enough, I kind of feel like listening to the next book in the series. Kind of like how you watch a short B movie because it’s so bad?
vandermeer's review against another edition
1.0
Schon die Hörprobe bei audible hat mich aufgeregt. Was für ein Mist. Die Rezensionen bestätigen es.