bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
Can't quite make up my mind about this one. I liked Hand's previous novel with photographer Cass Neary as the messed-up heroine. In "Available dark", she's barely getting by, popping pills,downing booze. On the bright side, she gets to go a freezing Finland to look at some really creepy and artistic photos of dead bodies. Surprisingly, this doesn't end well, so she hops on a plane to Iceland. Iceland, in case you didn't know, is a pretty depressing place these days. Not even the menacingly growling, tremolo-picking, norse mythology-loving death metal musicians she meets seem to enjoy their ritual killings anymore.
It's all very bleak, is what I'm saying. I don't mind though. I like Cass. There aren't many female characters like her in fiction. She's a badass fifty-something (?) former punk rocker with a drug habit and no career, no kids, no partner. I love how Hand doesn't make her into some cool chick with an attitude. Yeah, Cass is tough but also vulnerable, and although she behaves badly (and criminally) she's still a decent person.
The Finnish and Icelandic settings were well described, but it annoyed me a lot that everyone Cass met spoke flawless English, never at a loss for a word, using expressions only native English-speakers are likely to use. The bad guys, at a critical moment, even spoke English with each other rather than Icelandic. Really killed the mood.
Anyway, it's not a great book but I liked it. More or less. I think.
It's all very bleak, is what I'm saying. I don't mind though. I like Cass. There aren't many female characters like her in fiction. She's a badass fifty-something (?) former punk rocker with a drug habit and no career, no kids, no partner. I love how Hand doesn't make her into some cool chick with an attitude. Yeah, Cass is tough but also vulnerable, and although she behaves badly (and criminally) she's still a decent person.
The Finnish and Icelandic settings were well described, but it annoyed me a lot that everyone Cass met spoke flawless English, never at a loss for a word, using expressions only native English-speakers are likely to use. The bad guys, at a critical moment, even spoke English with each other rather than Icelandic. Really killed the mood.
Anyway, it's not a great book but I liked it. More or less. I think.
fleurhoplof's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The character development is amazing, as always with this series. However, I do find the story uninteresting each time. I will certainly read the third book as the character is one of a kind but I find the mystery very dull.
joshgauthier's review against another edition
5.0
Dark and disturbing, beautiful and thrilling and told with great skill.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by Susie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Savailable+dark+hand__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Savailable+dark+hand__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
unboxedjack's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Drug abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug use, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, and Kidnapping
booklvrkat's review against another edition
2.0
*audio
DNF @37%. Disappointed. This was not as good, or as thrilling as, the first story.
DNF @37%. Disappointed. This was not as good, or as thrilling as, the first story.
mattnixon's review against another edition
3.0
If you've been looking for a contemporary mystery/thriller set in the world of the 1990's Nordic death metal scene, set in Iceland featuring a middle-aged alcoholic protagonist, this book is for you! Solid, but semi-disturbing read.
faustian_bargain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
superdilettante's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this author before this month. These books are well-written, chewy, crime novels. More!