Reviews

Hades by Candice Fox

celiapowell's review against another edition

3.0

This one was hard to enjoy - I've put it at 3 stars, but it was really a 2.5 for me at the most. Of the main characters, two are sociopaths (not my favourite crime novel thing), and one is just... a massive wanker. Every time the narrative was in his head I wanted him to have a terrible accident. I did enjoy the Sydney setting, and the backstory of the sociopaths (how they became that way, and how their adopted parent struggling with how to put their traits to good use), and it's an Australian debut novel, so I'm reluctant to be too critical about it. If you enjoy the sociopath-character thing more than me, this might be for you.

mush_99's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

stephanierachel's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lilias's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

Although a page turner, this  was a big disappointment for me. I love Fox’s Crimson Lake series. Everything I love about that series, it’s like she had done the opposite with this one. In Hades, the characters are stereotypical and unlikable. Their backstories are not particularly interesting, though much of the book focuses on them. Finally, whereas animals are a part of the Crimson Lake series, this book is filled with of animal cruelty. Hard pass. 

I’ll try the other series by Candice Fox. I wish she’d continue Crimson Lake.

lambsears's review against another edition

3.0

Candice Fox is another hugely successful Australian mystery writer that has fallen through my net - up until now.
People love her and she now has a huge gig co-writing with US bestseller James Patterson.
She certainly writes a pacy, engaging thriller, but it's a little too exciting for my tastes.
I really do prefer a murder to be little more cerebral and less gory.

lillyshearman's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

friskreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

paulvdh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

mitch1101's review against another edition

dark mysterious

4.0

gabmc's review against another edition

4.0

This new to me author won the Ned Kelly Award in 2014 for best debut novel with this book. I'm always happy to find a new Australian author that I really like. Hades Archer is almost a side character in the book, but the story starts with him. As in Greek mythology, Hades is lord of the underworld - the seedy underworld of crime in Sydney. He is known of someone who can take care of any problem for a fee. Twenty years previously Hades was left with two small bundles to take care of - it turned out that they were not the bodies of children, but living children. Hades raised them as his own and they are now police officers: Eric and Eden. Frank Bennett is a homicide detective assigned to partner with Eden Archer. They are investigating a serial killer who is leaving a trail of bodies behind him. Eden is cold and seems to be a great cop, but Frank senses there is something dark and dangerous in her. I really enjoyed this book.