reasonpassion's review against another edition
4.0
A good suspenseful investigative drama with an honest and open portrayal of politics and the difficulties of Catholicism in South America. The characters are nuanced, the brutality kept just below becoming too disturbing and the dialogue very intelligent. A good read.
floorflawless's review against another edition
2.0
Dit boek viel me helaas tegen. In de eerste helft word je veel informatie toegeworpen die enige verwarring brengt. Ik had soms niet eens goed door wat het heden en wat het verleden was. Ook het taalgebruik was soms lastig te volgen. Mijn woordenschat is breed, maar toch zaten er woorden in die ik niet begreep. Dan nog maar te zwijgen over sommige Braziliaanse uitspraken waar ik al helemaal niks wijzer van werd. Gelukkig werd het in de tweede helft wel wat beter en het boek is overall wel oké, maar heb besloten de andere delen niet te gaan lezen.
usbsticky's review against another edition
2.0
Dnf'd at 39%. There are plenty of things to like about this book. I liked the characters, they were fairly well done. I thought the setting was great; I've never been to Brazil but I've read enough about it to know that the depiction was pretty realistic.
Where the book fell down was the length it took to get to the meat of the story. I understand the part about disparity of riches and the corruption but I was mainly here to read about crime. But mostly everything proceeded at a very slow rate. There was a lot of talking and most interactions were too long. At 39%, the plot still felt like it was in the exploration stage with still a lot of introductions to go.
I may read #2 in the series but at this point, I'm not really looking for books about the political, economic, social or religious situation of Brazil.
Where the book fell down was the length it took to get to the meat of the story. I understand the part about disparity of riches and the corruption but I was mainly here to read about crime. But mostly everything proceeded at a very slow rate. There was a lot of talking and most interactions were too long. At 39%, the plot still felt like it was in the exploration stage with still a lot of introductions to go.
I may read #2 in the series but at this point, I'm not really looking for books about the political, economic, social or religious situation of Brazil.
sewcialist_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
This is most definitely a crime novel and not a mystery. Parts were riveting, but most of it wasn't. I didn't feel cheated out of my time reading this, but I won't be reading any of the rest of the series.
exurbanis's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up because of its Brazilian setting - I'm trying to read more South American books.
It's an excellent mystery but I deducted one star for the violence. It may be realistic, but this series is too bloody for ME to continue.
It's an excellent mystery but I deducted one star for the violence. It may be realistic, but this series is too bloody for ME to continue.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know much about Brazil. I know a little about the land wars, in particular about the violence with the land wars. I think I heard something a few years ago about women only buses or subway cars. And Carnival. And the falevas as well as the whole thing about the building for the Olympics and World Cup. And the football team, beautiful football team.
That's it. Sad I know.
This book isn't a bad book. In fact, there is much to recommend it, in particular about the clash between very rich and very poor. So why three stars?
For the same reason, in part, I gave The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo three stars. The whole violence against women thing. Look I know that women are more likely to be the victims of violent crime. I know. But the women in this book who get killed must take stupid pills or something. I'm suppose to believe that they are really good reporters who then act like stupid idiots. Once, maybe, but the second woman after she knows the first woman was killed? Really? It isn't just the major supporting women either. Its women who have cameos. It's annoying. It's just women as victims and it annoys me.
To be fair, the heroes aren't the princes on white chargers, so it makes it easier to swallow, but still.
However, I kept reading. The plot and soical commentry are good.
That's it. Sad I know.
This book isn't a bad book. In fact, there is much to recommend it, in particular about the clash between very rich and very poor. So why three stars?
For the same reason, in part, I gave The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo three stars. The whole violence against women thing. Look I know that women are more likely to be the victims of violent crime. I know. But the women in this book who get killed must take stupid pills or something. I'm suppose to believe that they are really good reporters who then act like stupid idiots. Once, maybe, but the second woman after she knows the first woman was killed? Really? It isn't just the major supporting women either. Its women who have cameos. It's annoying. It's just women as victims and it annoys me.
To be fair, the heroes aren't the princes on white chargers, so it makes it easier to swallow, but still.
However, I kept reading. The plot and soical commentry are good.
shl1980's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
canadianbookworm's review
4.0
This mystery novel set in Brazil features Chief Inspector Mario Silva, and is the first in the series. We get introduced to Mario's past, seeing how he began with the police, the horrible event that drove him to it, and learn about his sense of justice. That was back in 1978. It is now the 21st century and Mario is now Chief Inspector for Criminal Matters of the Federal Police of Brazil. When the bishop is killed very publicly as he arrives in the remote town of Cascatas do Pontal to consecrate a new church, Mario is sent out to find the killer. Mario finds himself in a community with an ongoing and escalating situation between the landless peasants and wealthy landowners who hold uncultivated land.
The state police leader is corrupt and complicit in some of the illegal actions. As the murders begin to pile up, Mario and his team are always one step behind the killers, and he finds that he isn't the only one to take action into his own hands.
With social commentary, a sense of the role of religion in the community, and a feel of the wild west, this mystery has lots of violence and action. An interesting beginning to the series. I found myself asking about the nature of violence and revenge, about the ineffectiveness of standard police methods, and about the ongoing social unrest. Lots to think about.
The state police leader is corrupt and complicit in some of the illegal actions. As the murders begin to pile up, Mario and his team are always one step behind the killers, and he finds that he isn't the only one to take action into his own hands.
With social commentary, a sense of the role of religion in the community, and a feel of the wild west, this mystery has lots of violence and action. An interesting beginning to the series. I found myself asking about the nature of violence and revenge, about the ineffectiveness of standard police methods, and about the ongoing social unrest. Lots to think about.
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