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wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
All of the shivers I both do and don't want to find out if it's based in real magical tradition but overall it's creepy as all get out.
When the extension to a barn means that bodies are found, well skeletons, and all the bodies are dismembered and have dolls threaded through the leg bones. They date back to the early 20th Century. Then more remains are found, modern remains and they can't discount ritual.
The investigator is Detective Katie Maguire, a garda based in Cork and whose marriage is floundering and life is crumbling and things are only going to get worse.
Oh man, that was complicated and messy and I found it quite horrific, but I also found the attitude to the main female character was a bit un-modern, while I know it can be hard to be in charge while female this was set in this decade and it felt earlier.
very creepy and plausible.
When the extension to a barn means that bodies are found, well skeletons, and all the bodies are dismembered and have dolls threaded through the leg bones. They date back to the early 20th Century. Then more remains are found, modern remains and they can't discount ritual.
The investigator is Detective Katie Maguire, a garda based in Cork and whose marriage is floundering and life is crumbling and things are only going to get worse.
Oh man, that was complicated and messy and I found it quite horrific, but I also found the attitude to the main female character was a bit un-modern, while I know it can be hard to be in charge while female this was set in this decade and it felt earlier.
very creepy and plausible.
scottjp's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good police procedural involving serial murders based in Irish folklore. The main plot reveal is not as much a surprise as it should have been, due to a particular character being suspicious upon introduction. This book would probably appeal to readers of Thomas Harris or Jeffery Deaver.
evoss14's review against another edition
3.0
This is really more of a 3.5 - a nice zippy thriller. Crime thriller set in Ireland which adds a little more to the interest - not your typical mystery setting. Love the strong female protagonist and the beginning of a series featuring this character. I would definitely read more in this series. Squeamish alert - plenty of details about the murders....
jivvygee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
ieva13's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't my first Masterton book, but it's my first in the Katies Maguires series. The story is set in Cork, and I enjoyed the Irish slang throughout. The guide to Cork slang at the beginning of the book was a nice touch.
As with Masterton's other works, the action begins immediately. The discovery of eleven women's skeletons, killed in a ritualistic manner in 1915, sets the stage. Soon after, a woman is killed in a similar fashion in the present day. These chapters detailing the torture and killings are quite graphic and are definitely not for those who are squeamish. I had to put the book down and leave it for a few hours after the chapter with legs being cut off!
I admired detective Katie's character; she's remarkably strong, dealing with numerous disasters one after another. I don't know how she managed to stay sane! On the other hand, I despised her husband. I kinda think he got what he deserved.
While I felt the ending was a bit anticlimactic, overall, the book was engaging and kept me hooked. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series!
As with Masterton's other works, the action begins immediately. The discovery of eleven women's skeletons, killed in a ritualistic manner in 1915, sets the stage. Soon after, a woman is killed in a similar fashion in the present day. These chapters detailing the torture and killings are quite graphic and are definitely not for those who are squeamish. I had to put the book down and leave it for a few hours after the chapter with legs being cut off!
I admired detective Katie's character; she's remarkably strong, dealing with numerous disasters one after another. I don't know how she managed to stay sane! On the other hand, I despised her husband. I kinda think he got what he deserved.
While I felt the ending was a bit anticlimactic, overall, the book was engaging and kept me hooked. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series!
fullmooneaters's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book seven years ago and that one torture scene still sticks with me. Writing and story was good from what I remember but damn, that one scene really made me squirm.
gaijinsid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
shatton72's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? No
4.5
dimmie_d's review against another edition
2.0
While purported to be a fantastic detective, not a whole lot of actual detecting went on particularly by Katie Maguire. The case was cracked by someone else, and Katie just stumbled bleary-eyed through the story while not actually becoming a character I cared about. Her personality was one-dimensional and certainly not realistic, Unfortunately Masterton seems like a master in name only, certainly not in character building. No character, including (or especially?) Katie, felt authentically human and I certainly didn't feel emotionally attached to any of them.
The visceral gore was not specifically a turn-off, but you get the distinct impression its the opposite for the author. The violence reads like a fap story and while its not for me to judge what tickles another's pickle, it certainly felt like a fetishistic wet dream. You certainly get the feeling you wouldn't invite Graham Masterton to a munch or kink gathering... y'know, just in case.
The identity of the killer was not particularly hidden, or rather it felt badly concealed, and the "twist" at the end was absolutely an injustice to It was fetishistic and exploitative, and it left the sourest taste of all in my mouth as I finished the book.
I probably won't bother with more titles from this author.
Spoiler
going back to work immediately after her husband has an accident and after another horrific accident, it felt extremely unlikely.The visceral gore was not specifically a turn-off, but you get the distinct impression its the opposite for the author. The violence reads like a fap story and while its not for me to judge what tickles another's pickle, it certainly felt like a fetishistic wet dream. You certainly get the feeling you wouldn't invite Graham Masterton to a munch or kink gathering... y'know, just in case.
The identity of the killer was not particularly hidden, or rather it felt badly concealed, and the "twist" at the end was absolutely an injustice to
Spoiler
intersex people.I probably won't bother with more titles from this author.