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The Legacy (Children's House, #1)
The Legacy (Children's House, #1)
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir | 2018 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The book began with a scene of 3 young children, parent-less, sitting on a bench, while a group of adults decided what would happen to them. Would the children be split up, or kept together? What were the pros and cons of each? The children were split up and sent to opposite sides of the country, and since they were young enough, they would never remember.

The story then completely changes pace and goes forward about 30 years to a crime being committed, and that's where the main characters, Freyja and Huldar show up. Freyja is a child trauma psychologist, and Huldar is a recently-promoted detective in charge of his first case.

The first few chapters I really struggled to follow the characters, as it switched 4 times between different perspectives, but then once I figured out who was who I started to follow better. I loved how quickly the characters were developed and built, but it didn't feel like building, it felt like a gradual discovery. I figured out "who's the bad guy" about 15 seconds before it was revealed, which is my favorite way to discover a crime thriller. Looking back, of course there were subtle hints, but there's no way I would have figured it out on my own.

I'm very happy with the ending. It was conclusive enough to feel satisfactory, but definitely open to more adventures in the future. I anxiously await the next two books in the series, and will keep my eyes out for the author. (And no, I have no clue how to pronounce her name.)

Content/Recommendation: 17+, violence, language. It goes without saying that a crime thriller is for adults only, but I'll stress that even having read many crime thrillers over the past 10 years, this one managed to shock me.
  
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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Touch in Books

Apr 9, 2019  
Touch
Touch
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage is investigating rape cases where the women were drugged and then dumped. When one of those victims, a student, who was supposed to be headed back home, is found dead, the case starts to change. When a second body turns up much like the first, DI Savage is none too happy. Now another girl has been reported as missing. Can Savage find her before it's too late.


I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.
  
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Liliannar (58 KP) rated Mr Mercedes in Books

May 29, 2018  
Mr Mercedes
Mr Mercedes
Stephen King | 2015 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
9
8.5 (28 Ratings)
Book Rating
Character development (1 more)
Extremely well narrated
Slow scenes (0 more)
Audible version
From the very earliest of pages the reader is drawn into the horrific events that kick of Mr. Mercedes. It isn't much of a spoiler to say that a deeply troubled person commits an awful crime leaving 8 dead. This happens in the first few pages of the book. From there the reader is taken on an in-depth journey into finding out who this heinous person is and what drove them to commit the act. Along the way characters are developed on both sides of the crime as the reader gets to know Detective Bill Hodges, Holly, Gerome, and of course, Mr. Mercedes. This is a great example of how King can build an extremely full world of characters while telling a compelling story.

In true King style there are bits of the story that just don't seem to add, but aren't necessarily a detraction. Bits of the story move much slower than the main story line but they are intermittent and short in nature. As a whole it doesn't detract from the engrossing nature of the book.
  
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Elizabeth Ritchie (17 KP) rated Red Plus Zone in Books

Nov 10, 2018 (Updated Nov 10, 2018)  
Red Plus Zone
Red Plus Zone
Andrew Ritchie | 2014 | Crime, Mystery
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The characters. (1 more)
The unique storyline.
Hands down, one of the best books I have ever read!
This is the first Crime book I have ever read in my entire life, and I've got to say it will also be the last. The last, due to the fact that no other crime book past, present or future, will ever come anywhere close comparing to the absolutely astounding story of Red Plus Zone.
All I wanted to do with my days was read this book. When I was at work or busy with house chores etc, all I could think of was this book, and what it would be like to live in the post apocalyptic world described by the author, what it would be like being Sam McCall as a post apocalyptic detective. The book is so well written and the story line is so captivating that I connected with all of the characters, I felt their emotions and I felt their pain, and at times I felt like I was actually living in the post-shattered world (which isn't a good thing when you ask a waitress in a cafe what time zone we are in).