yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading: July 22nd 2017
"But I learned something that night. When everything else is slipping away, pride is one thing you cling on to."
Spoiler
I know, I know, I'm exceptionally late when it comes to the whole Sharon Bolton party, especially since her books belong to one of my favorite genres. It took me long enough, but I can now finally say I've read at least one of her books. At least, because I will definitely be picking up more of her work even though I expected to be giving Now You See Me a higher rating than I did. Because before I continue with my review, I have to make clear that this first book of the Lacey Flint series has probably suffered from the fact that I'm currently in some sort of a slump and can't seem to love any book right now. Should I have posponed my first experience with her work? Maybe. But Now You See Me has still given me a very good idea of the sheer quality of her work and there is definitely a lot to love in this first book of a series I will continue (hopefully) some time soon. This book had me at serial killer and once I saw Jack The Ripper mentioned I started jumping up and down out of excitement. I just love how this old case plays such a big role in the story! And it surely shows just how well Sharon Bolton has investigated the original crimes and many theories about the identity of the killer. Now You See Me is a well written crime thriller in general with a lot of twists that will keep you guessing... Although I do have to say I was never able to warm up to Lacey and the whole bantering between Joesbury and her started to get annoying. Also, the whole mystery around Lacey's character and the twists and misformation in the final part of the story sort of had the opposite effect on me and I mostly felt confused and frustrated instead of on the edge of my seat. Does something like a 'plot twist overkill' exist? Part of the problem was most likely me though and I'm definitely planning on reading the sequel some time soon.
As young detective Lacey Flint is exiting the apartment complex after interviewing a reluctant witness, she stumbles onto a women who has just been brutally stabbed moments before on the parking lot. Lacey suddenly finds herself involved in a murder case, and her role as witness will soon turn into something a whole lot more complicated... Because not even twenty-four hours later, a reporter receives an anonymous letter pointing out the similarities between the case and Jack The Ripper's first murder... And the letter mentions Lacey by name. Why is her name mentioned? Is she a suspect? And is there really a new Jack The Ripper out there determined to recreate the original murders?
Like I said before, I'm probably partly to blame for the slightly lower rating than expected. But there is no doubt that Now You See Me is the start of what is promising to be a very interesting crime thriller series and I will be looking forward to pick up the next book even though I haven't been able to warm up to Lacey yet. Sharon Bolton's writing style makes it very enjoyable to read her story and I can't wait to pick up more of her books.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
fictionfan's review against another edition
4.0
Ripping Yarn!
A serial killer is on the loose and copying the crimes of Jack the Ripper. This well-written story is told in the first person, through the eyes of young policewoman Lacey Flint, who has had a life-long fascination with the Ripper story. At first, it seems accidental that Lacey should have been the one to find the first body, but when the killer starts sending letters to the press, it becomes clear that she is being targeted in some way.
The plot twists and turns cleverly throughout the book. At least twice I thought I had it all worked out, but wrongly each time. However, I didn’t warm to many of the characters and found it difficult to empathise with Lacey in particular. I felt the first-person narrative became a problem in the second half of the book when it was obvious that Lacey knew far more than she was telling. Though this was necessary to maintain the suspense, I felt it created a distance between Lacey and the reader. Ultimately, I also found the plot to be stretching the bounds of plausibility.
But despite these criticisms, what could have been a standard serial killer novel was raised above the average by the quality of the writing and the author’s ability to misdirect. The suspense was maintained to the very end. Well worth reading and I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
A serial killer is on the loose and copying the crimes of Jack the Ripper. This well-written story is told in the first person, through the eyes of young policewoman Lacey Flint, who has had a life-long fascination with the Ripper story. At first, it seems accidental that Lacey should have been the one to find the first body, but when the killer starts sending letters to the press, it becomes clear that she is being targeted in some way.
The plot twists and turns cleverly throughout the book. At least twice I thought I had it all worked out, but wrongly each time. However, I didn’t warm to many of the characters and found it difficult to empathise with Lacey in particular. I felt the first-person narrative became a problem in the second half of the book when it was obvious that Lacey knew far more than she was telling. Though this was necessary to maintain the suspense, I felt it created a distance between Lacey and the reader. Ultimately, I also found the plot to be stretching the bounds of plausibility.
But despite these criticisms, what could have been a standard serial killer novel was raised above the average by the quality of the writing and the author’s ability to misdirect. The suspense was maintained to the very end. Well worth reading and I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
A second new-to-me mystery series! I'd read an earlier Bolton Sacrifice) and wasn't that impressed but this was much better.
Better how? The writing is tauter, and the Big Twist really was one. There are times when readers will think "oh, I know what Lacey's hiding" but, well... not really. That's always a good thing, when you're fooled until the end.
As for the plot, there seems to be a real rash of Ripper-itis going around. Within the past few months there was the BBC show Whitechapel, with a Ripper thread and Ripper Street is premiering tomorrow, and there are many mysteries (in print and on tv) that use him as a motif. In this case, there's DC Lacey Flint, trying to convince a victim to report a sex crime squad when a woman literally dies before her eyes, holding her hand, in a deserted car park. At once under suspicion and part of the investigation, Lacey tries to help the MIT solve the murder without giving away too many of her own secrets (or fall for the handsome-yet-snarly DI Joesbury).
Luckily there's more going on than just a copycat (another reason for the high rating) and the characters are nicely rounded. In some ways, making this Lacey's story is akin to the Lynley novels with Barbara Havers as narrator - or a Morse with Lewis as the lead storyteller. It's an interesting take, because the decisive actions that the underlings take can always be called into question by the superior officer.
While I can easily get the second in this series, I have to wait until June for the third. Sigh.
Copy provided publisher.
Better how? The writing is tauter, and the Big Twist really was one. There are times when readers will think "oh, I know what Lacey's hiding" but, well... not really. That's always a good thing, when you're fooled until the end.
As for the plot, there seems to be a real rash of Ripper-itis going around. Within the past few months there was the BBC show Whitechapel, with a Ripper thread and Ripper Street is premiering tomorrow, and there are many mysteries (in print and on tv) that use him as a motif. In this case, there's DC Lacey Flint, trying to convince a victim to report a sex crime squad when a woman literally dies before her eyes, holding her hand, in a deserted car park. At once under suspicion and part of the investigation, Lacey tries to help the MIT solve the murder without giving away too many of her own secrets (or fall for the handsome-yet-snarly DI Joesbury).
Luckily there's more going on than just a copycat (another reason for the high rating) and the characters are nicely rounded. In some ways, making this Lacey's story is akin to the Lynley novels with Barbara Havers as narrator - or a Morse with Lewis as the lead storyteller. It's an interesting take, because the decisive actions that the underlings take can always be called into question by the superior officer.
While I can easily get the second in this series, I have to wait until June for the third. Sigh.
Copy provided publisher.
skrau's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this book, and I really wanted to like it. I've heard good things about SJ Bolton, and I was looking for something British/thriller/mystery/modern/creepy since I'm waiting not so patiently for the new Tana French book. Perhaps because I had French in the back of my head, who in my opinion does the type of book I was looking for incredibly well (although the way she writes her Dublin setting has so much to do with that), this book fell flat.
The plot and storyline had a lot of potential, but for me the writing seemed clumsy at times, and personally I didn't feel that much depth to the characters. While Bolton did keep me guessing, in the end I wasn't surprised in the least, but I felt like, in trying to keep us on our toes and surprise us with the ending, Bolton's story didn't click right with the ending for me. I also didn't really feel there was an atmosphere, or not enough for the story being told.
I do want to read other Bolton books, because this one had so much potential and when the writing was good, it was good, but this book just didn't really do it for me.
The plot and storyline had a lot of potential, but for me the writing seemed clumsy at times, and personally I didn't feel that much depth to the characters. While Bolton did keep me guessing, in the end I wasn't surprised in the least, but I felt like, in trying to keep us on our toes and surprise us with the ending, Bolton's story didn't click right with the ending for me. I also didn't really feel there was an atmosphere, or not enough for the story being told.
I do want to read other Bolton books, because this one had so much potential and when the writing was good, it was good, but this book just didn't really do it for me.
raen99's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement
Minor: Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, and Drug abuse
negin22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
laul's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
marryallthepeople's review against another edition
3.0
SJ Bolton is very good at leaving easter eggs through her stories to point readers in various directions. This book is one of those, though I don't think it's done as well as [b:Before I Go To Sleep|9736930|Before I Go To Sleep|S.J. Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358353512s/9736930.jpg|14625976] did.
I read this 400 page story in a weekend as I too am fascinated with sadistic serial killers/Jack the Ripper. The story became a bit improbable for me but regardless I was hooked! I would give this a strong 3.5 stars as I waived in my enthusiasm at the end.
I read this 400 page story in a weekend as I too am fascinated with sadistic serial killers/Jack the Ripper. The story became a bit improbable for me but regardless I was hooked! I would give this a strong 3.5 stars as I waived in my enthusiasm at the end.
lattemommyreads's review against another edition
4.0
A solid, page-turning detective mystery that pulls you in from the first page when DC Lacey Flint finds a nearly-dead woman leaning on the hood of her car. There is a Jack the Ripper copycat in London, and the killer seems fixated on Lacey. Her colleagues don’t know if she is a potential victim or the perpetrator, but her expert knowledge of Jack the Ripper’s original crimes mean that they have to keep her close to the investigation, even if they don’t trust her
romanvs's review against another edition
5.0
Disturbing, but a really enjoyable thriller/crime novel. It takes a lot to scare me and this genuinely creeped me out. Also, one of the best endings I've ever read!