readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
I love thrillers, but I'm kind of a snob about it. I don't have much patience for poorly-written, brightly-colored paperbacks like you find in the grocery store. I like a good police procedural, a salacious murder mystery, but for the love of Pete, put some effort into the writing! I want to be entertained, but somewhere in my brain lives an air horn that sounds every time I come across a tired cliché or stilted dialog. The air horn...it's loud. And I can't turn it off.
So I'm absolutely delighted to report that Belinda Bauer's Rubbernecker passes the air horn test. It's relentlessly fast-paced and whip-smart—and the “detective” on the case is an anatomy student with Asperger's. Sounds like a winning formula to me!
Patrick has been fascinated with death ever since his father was killed by a hit-and-run driver when Patrick was a child. His penchant for collecting animal carcasses and examining them in his bedroom was only one of many reasons he was difficult for his mother to raise on her own. Now he's an adult and an anatomy student at a medical school. He's hoping that by studying cadavers, he can find some insight into where exactly his father went after being struck by the car.
As Patrick and his lab partners begin their dissection, however, they make a strange discovery that leads him to believe their cadaver didn't die from the cause listed in the chart. Due to his Asperger's, Patrick isn't the kind of person who is able to let things go easily. What follows is his dogged pursuit of the truth—what really happened to Cadaver #19, and who is responsible.
Bauer captures well the quirks of Patrick's psyche. Even as his actions are bizarrely inappropriate to the people around him, they are perfectly logical to us, if still inadvisable. He gets himself into very real danger, and there are a few heart-pounding, grisly scenes—though they're always tempered with humor, given Patrick's personality. He's quite adept at evasion, possibly because he's spent most of his life avoiding being touched by others, and contains an instinct for self-preservation that surprises even himself.
Rubbernecker is a thoroughly entertaining thriller. I'll definitely be reading more of Belinda Bauer's books in the future.
With regards to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale in the US August 14.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
So I'm absolutely delighted to report that Belinda Bauer's Rubbernecker passes the air horn test. It's relentlessly fast-paced and whip-smart—and the “detective” on the case is an anatomy student with Asperger's. Sounds like a winning formula to me!
Patrick has been fascinated with death ever since his father was killed by a hit-and-run driver when Patrick was a child. His penchant for collecting animal carcasses and examining them in his bedroom was only one of many reasons he was difficult for his mother to raise on her own. Now he's an adult and an anatomy student at a medical school. He's hoping that by studying cadavers, he can find some insight into where exactly his father went after being struck by the car.
As Patrick and his lab partners begin their dissection, however, they make a strange discovery that leads him to believe their cadaver didn't die from the cause listed in the chart. Due to his Asperger's, Patrick isn't the kind of person who is able to let things go easily. What follows is his dogged pursuit of the truth—what really happened to Cadaver #19, and who is responsible.
Bauer captures well the quirks of Patrick's psyche. Even as his actions are bizarrely inappropriate to the people around him, they are perfectly logical to us, if still inadvisable. He gets himself into very real danger, and there are a few heart-pounding, grisly scenes—though they're always tempered with humor, given Patrick's personality. He's quite adept at evasion, possibly because he's spent most of his life avoiding being touched by others, and contains an instinct for self-preservation that surprises even himself.
Rubbernecker is a thoroughly entertaining thriller. I'll definitely be reading more of Belinda Bauer's books in the future.
With regards to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale in the US August 14.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
eleganthedgehogs's review against another edition
All enjoyed and felt it did what it set out to do. Very well constructed with many levels. 1@7 1@8 7@9 1@10
tessa_vnl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
laurag73's review against another edition
4.0
This was a slow starter for me, but about 1/2 way through it picked up and I couldn't put it down!! Stayed up until 1:30 am to finish it!
damopedro's review against another edition
3.0
A fun fast paced whodunnit about a boy with Asperger's. Smashed it in like 3 days or so.
tufftuft's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
My first Belinda Bauer novel and certainly won't be my last. The supporting characters veered towards the distasteful, but I suspect this was done in purpose to highlight how the world doesn't deserve Patrick. I enjoyed how Bauer didn't pad her prose or throw in red herrings willy nilly. Every aspect of this double whodunit, including how I didn't even realise it was a double mystery until the end, is so carefully and skilfully crafted it had me on tenterhooks the whole way through. Tongue in cheek descriptions and Patrick's observations add a touch of humour that lightened the otherwise dark nature of a murder mystery.
barnsey45's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
lydia_95's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot packed into this book and quite a few twists that I didn’t predict!
I really enjoyed the story and it kept me gripped all the way through. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I didn’t connect with any of the characters and I didn’t really care what happened to them if that makes any sense.
I did enjoy the character development of Patrick and I feel like it was a good look into the mind of someone with autism/aspergers.
Overall I thought it was a really good crime novel, with a different aspect that I haven’t seen before.
I really enjoyed the story and it kept me gripped all the way through. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I didn’t connect with any of the characters and I didn’t really care what happened to them if that makes any sense.
I did enjoy the character development of Patrick and I feel like it was a good look into the mind of someone with autism/aspergers.
Overall I thought it was a really good crime novel, with a different aspect that I haven’t seen before.
louandlife's review against another edition
3.0
I bought the ebook and audiobook on a whim as it was on sale and I'm always looking at ways to expand my audiobook collection as it does help me read more books, especially after starting to play animal crossing as I need something to listen to when I play. I ended up picking up this book as it was going to be quite quick for me to go through.
I think if I wasn't playing animal crossing whilst reading this book then I would have been disappointed. I didn't mind the story, but I don't think I would recommend it as a thriller/mystery. The good things about this book is that I liked Patrick who was the main character, he also has Asperger's syndrome so is on the autistic spectrum. Whether or not it is good representation is not something that I can judge. I also liked the overall mystery which Patrick is trying to solve and the twists at the end were gripping. The reasons why I wouldn't recommend this book is that is I found it hard to connect to. I felt like I wasn't that invested until the very end. I felt like the mystery wasn't high stakes enough to be worried and that is the central part of the plot. In addition, I didn't connect, relate, or like any of the characters apart from Patrick. I also felt like the ending came about very fast and I would have liked for there to have been more fallout with the revelations.
I would recommend this book if it was on sale and you like to read thriller/mystery books, or if it is in your library. For me it felt like an average to below-average thriller/mystery book.
I think if I wasn't playing animal crossing whilst reading this book then I would have been disappointed. I didn't mind the story, but I don't think I would recommend it as a thriller/mystery. The good things about this book is that I liked Patrick who was the main character, he also has Asperger's syndrome so is on the autistic spectrum. Whether or not it is good representation is not something that I can judge. I also liked the overall mystery which Patrick is trying to solve and the twists at the end were gripping. The reasons why I wouldn't recommend this book is that is I found it hard to connect to. I felt like I wasn't that invested until the very end. I felt like the mystery wasn't high stakes enough to be worried and that is the central part of the plot. In addition, I didn't connect, relate, or like any of the characters apart from Patrick. I also felt like the ending came about very fast and I would have liked for there to have been more fallout with the revelations.
I would recommend this book if it was on sale and you like to read thriller/mystery books, or if it is in your library. For me it felt like an average to below-average thriller/mystery book.