senkahawke's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaisu's review against another edition
4.0
Ein guter 4ter Band, leider mit ein paar Schwächen.
Bin auf den Nachfolger gespannt!
Ein nettes Goodie ist die Kurzgeschichte. Passend zu Halloween.
Bin auf den Nachfolger gespannt!
Ein nettes Goodie ist die Kurzgeschichte. Passend zu Halloween.
barbtrek's review
5.0
Another great Matthew Corbett book. Sadly, I have now caught up to the author and have to wait for the next book to come out. I hope the wait is not too long. I have really fallen in love with these characters and will miss them while waiting for the next installment.
veronica87's review
3.0
This series is definitely heading away from being a historical mystery series to having more of a focus on historical adventure. Given the author's own declaration that when he decided to return to the character of Matthew Corbett after [b:Speaks the Nightbird|1525997|Speaks the Nightbird (Matthew Corbett, #1)|Robert R. McCammon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442931227s/1525997.jpg|16692325], the first book in the series, he wanted to write him as a Colonial era James Bond, this tonal shift makes sense. I, however, find myself missing the more purely mystery aspect.
This installment picks up several weeks after Matthew's dealings with Tyranthus Slaughter. Those events have left Matthew feeling sorely changed and subdued. This change actually worked for me as Matthew no longer presents himself as a "cock of the walk" but instead as a young man who has been made older than his years due to the horrors he's witnessed. [b:The Queen of Bedlam|437627|The Queen of Bedlam (Matthew Corbett, #2)|Robert R. McCammon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390530867s/437627.jpg|16695860], the second book of the series, set into motion the series' long arc through the vast shadow cast by Professor Fell, the bogeyman of the criminal underworld in England whose reach is now stretching to the New World. He has turned his attentions to Matthew but, whereas before he wanted Matthew's death, now he wants to hire him! Which...makes no sense to me but, whatever. The dastardly Professor ups the stakes and presents Matthew an offer in such a way that he can't possibly refuse...or else others will pay the price.
So off Matthew goes (along with some unexpected companions) , whisked by Professor Fell's minions to a summit meeting of Fell's generals on a remote island. It seems Fell has a traitor in his organization and he wants Matthew, under a false identity, to identify this person. Because, for some inexplicable reason, even though readers have been told since book two that Professor Fell is one super scary, murderous dude who rules his criminal empire with a merciless and brutal hand, he can't ferret out the traitor himself. This bit of nonsense logic is one reason this story lost a full star rating. The second reason also deals with Professor Fell who, again for no reason at all, deems it necessary to spill out his entire origin story to Matthew.
The third reason for the deduction of a full star rating is...sex. I have nothing against it at all but Matthew basically being raped again for the second time in four books...and having it presented as a humorous sexual misadventure that a young man should take pride in...is getting annoying and offensive. Sex without properly informed consent is a sexual assault, plain and simple. The fact that it happens to a man doesn't alter that. And that entire scene was COMPLETELY and TOTALLY UNNECESSARY!! It's to the point that every time a young, beautiful female character is introduced - and those seem to be the only types of women Matthew ever meets - I roll my eyes and wonder if she's going to be the one (in that particular book) who aggressively pursues him into the bedroom.
The final reason this book gets only three stars from me involves Matthew's investigation into discovering Professor Fell's traitor. Turns out that any efforts on his part are superfluous because the traitor just ups and confesses to Matthew one fine, sunny day for...reasons. Super convenient, right? Really, Matthew could've just stayed in his room eating scones until that most helpful revelation. It sure would've been easier on his wardrobe.
In addition to all the aforementioned silliness, there are brutal murders, death defying escapes, and various acts of skullduggery. Matthew also manages to make further mess of any potential growth in his romantic life by alienating Berry, his main love interest. At this point in the series, though, Matthew has spent so much time waxing poetical about every other attractive female he meets that the author has only succeeded in convincing me that Matthew's feelings toward Berry aren't really all that substantial anyway. She's just the one who stays.
This installment picks up several weeks after Matthew's dealings with Tyranthus Slaughter. Those events have left Matthew feeling sorely changed and subdued. This change actually worked for me as Matthew no longer presents himself as a "cock of the walk" but instead as a young man who has been made older than his years due to the horrors he's witnessed. [b:The Queen of Bedlam|437627|The Queen of Bedlam (Matthew Corbett, #2)|Robert R. McCammon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390530867s/437627.jpg|16695860], the second book of the series, set into motion the series' long arc through the vast shadow cast by Professor Fell, the bogeyman of the criminal underworld in England whose reach is now stretching to the New World. He has turned his attentions to Matthew but, whereas before he wanted Matthew's death, now he wants to hire him! Which...makes no sense to me but, whatever. The dastardly Professor ups the stakes and presents Matthew an offer in such a way that he can't possibly refuse...or else others will pay the price.
So off Matthew goes (along with some unexpected companions) , whisked by Professor Fell's minions to a summit meeting of Fell's generals on a remote island. It seems Fell has a traitor in his organization and he wants Matthew, under a false identity, to identify this person. Because, for some inexplicable reason, even though readers have been told since book two that Professor Fell is one super scary, murderous dude who rules his criminal empire with a merciless and brutal hand, he can't ferret out the traitor himself. This bit of nonsense logic is one reason this story lost a full star rating. The second reason also deals with Professor Fell who, again for no reason at all, deems it necessary to spill out his entire origin story to Matthew.
The third reason for the deduction of a full star rating is...sex. I have nothing against it at all but Matthew basically being raped again for the second time in four books...and having it presented as a humorous sexual misadventure that a young man should take pride in...is getting annoying and offensive. Sex without properly informed consent is a sexual assault, plain and simple. The fact that it happens to a man doesn't alter that.
Spoiler
But as if that wasn't bad enough, the author chooses to make the woman assaulting Matthew one who has herself spent all of her adult life being used and raped by men.The final reason this book gets only three stars from me involves Matthew's investigation into discovering Professor Fell's traitor. Turns out that any efforts on his part are superfluous because the traitor just ups and confesses to Matthew one fine, sunny day for...reasons. Super convenient, right? Really, Matthew could've just stayed in his room eating scones until that most helpful revelation. It sure would've been easier on his wardrobe.
In addition to all the aforementioned silliness, there are brutal murders, death defying escapes, and various acts of skullduggery. Matthew also manages to make further mess of any potential growth in his romantic life by alienating Berry, his main love interest. At this point in the series, though, Matthew has spent so much time waxing poetical about every other attractive female he meets that the author has only succeeded in convincing me that Matthew's feelings toward Berry aren't really all that substantial anyway. She's just the one who stays.
charshorrorcorner's review
5.0
This is the latest installment in the Mathew Corbett series.
In this novel we meet Matthew's nemesis, Professor Fell.
I love how Matthew is growing throughout the series. At first in [b:Speaks the Nightbird|1525997|Speaks the Nightbird (Matthew Corbett, #1)|Robert R. McCammon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255700795s/1525997.jpg|16692325] Matthew is uncertain and a bit naive. As the series continues, he is learning and becoming more and more sure of himself. As he takes part in the scarier and darker side of life,as in [b:Mister Slaughter|6505314|Mister Slaughter (Matthew Corbett, #3)|Robert R. McCammon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1308972122s/6505314.jpg|16696203] he becomes more hardened, more worldly. Now in his latest, Matthew is reminding me of that old Nietzsche quote: "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
Will Matthew survive this look into the abyss? You will have to read it to find out!
In this novel we meet Matthew's nemesis, Professor Fell.
I love how Matthew is growing throughout the series. At first in [b:Speaks the Nightbird|1525997|Speaks the Nightbird (Matthew Corbett, #1)|Robert R. McCammon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255700795s/1525997.jpg|16692325] Matthew is uncertain and a bit naive. As the series continues, he is learning and becoming more and more sure of himself. As he takes part in the scarier and darker side of life,as in [b:Mister Slaughter|6505314|Mister Slaughter (Matthew Corbett, #3)|Robert R. McCammon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1308972122s/6505314.jpg|16696203] he becomes more hardened, more worldly. Now in his latest, Matthew is reminding me of that old Nietzsche quote: "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
Will Matthew survive this look into the abyss? You will have to read it to find out!
nigellicus's review
5.0
Too sick to write proper review. Things go boom. Stuff happens. Heads chopped off. Eaten by octopus. More boom. Yay!
More...