Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Jigsaw Man in Books

Feb 21, 2021  
The Jigsaw Man
The Jigsaw Man
Nadine Matheson | 2021 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a gruesome and dark thriller and it's great!!

I must say though that if you're a bit squeamish and don't like graphic descriptions of murder, then don't read this. If you do or don't mind a bit of gore, then crack on.

The characters are great, the plot is absorbing and complex and the ability of the author to capture the feelings of the various protagonists is excellent.

I absolutely love a good "baddie" and Nadine Matheson has created one such character in Peter Olivier; he is deliciously evil, extremely charming, highly intelligent, an excellent manipulator and everything you would want in a (fictitious) serial killer ... think Ted Bundy crossed with Jeffrey Dahmer and you have a pretty good picture.

This is a gripping read which although starts a little slow, it builds in tension and action as you turn the pages culminating in an exciting finale which definitely leaves the door open for a sequel and the intriguing backstory lends itself to a prequel ... well I would certainly read either or both!

Thank you to HQ (an imprint of HarperCollins UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
  
Straight On Till Morning (1972)
Straight On Till Morning (1972)
1972 | Drama, Horror
4
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Rather atypical Hammer psycho-horror is much stronger on dour naturalism than the usual gothic fantasy. A slightly unstable young woman moves to present-day London in search of her dreams and winds up moving in with a handsome serial killer (late-period Hammer star Shane Briant, in his first film for the company). Things eventually get a bit fraught.

It would be nice to think the change in style was the result of a decision by Hammer to experiment, but the fact the film was clearly made on a punishingly low budget suggests otherwise: the reason it's largely a two-hander, mostly taking place in a single flat, is presumably simply to keep production costs down. The atmosphere throughout is dingy and a bit grim; appalling early-70s fashion doesn't help much. There's a conceit about Peter Pan which is never really resolved (hence the title); the film's most distinctive feature is the editing, which is jarring, almost subliminal, and gets rather annoying very quickly. Good performances from the leads, I suppose, but this doesn't make up for the fact the story is implausible, uninvolving, and doesn't really go anywhere.
  
My Sister, the Serial Killer
My Sister, the Serial Killer
Oyinkan Braithwaite | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
6
7.8 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a very different novel to what I usually read.
A book about a sister who covers up her own sisters murders, before realising that her sister has hit the number of murders to make her a serial killer. And still she doesn’t report her to the police or try to do much to stop her. At one point, someone tells her she’s worse than her sister and I think that is very true. Her sister might be the murderess but she is standing by and letting it happen time and time again.
The style of the writing was very different to most books, with the short chapters and each chapter name being taken from something that happened in the chapter. It was also quite a short book, so something that can be read in an evening.
I didn’t find myself particularly sad that it was coming to an end, and that we didn’t find out if either sister ever had a happy ending or not. The book was ok, but not really one that I found myself looking forward to a bit of free time to continue reading or picking up for half an hour before bed.
  
Fallen (1998)
Fallen (1998)
1998 | Drama, Film-Noir, Thriller
Time Is On My Side
Fallen- is one of those movies from the late 90's that has to do something with the bible, evil spirits and god. You had films like "Ends of Days", "Stigmata", "Spawn", "The Devil's advocate" and more. Fallen is one of them.

The plot: After witnessing the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), whom he arrested, police detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), and his partner, Jonesy (John Goodman), are soon investigating another murderer whose mode of operation is eerily similar to Reese's. In the course of the investigation, Hobbes meets theology professor Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), who introduces him to the world of the occult and the possibility that an evil spirit is behind the killings.

I like the concept, is different and unique. Its a cat and mouse chase between a human being and a evil spirit that passing on from person to person. So you don't even know who is possessed.

The supernatural portion is very good. The suspense and thrills are good. Not enough action though. Other than that its a good supernatural film.