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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous Deception in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Im obsessed with true crime novels. There, I said it. I just find them so fascinating, especially when you find a book about a crime / criminal youve never heard of before
Introducing Jean-Claude Romand. A narcissistic liar and cheater who swindled his family out of all their money, lied to them about who he really was for 18 years and then murdered them. This sounds like something out of a fictional novel, but ladies & gents, this is all 100% real.
Maybe my 5 star rating is a little bias because I love true crime so much, but this book ticked all the boxes for me. Firstly, it was about such a bizarre and extraordinary crime, I was enthralled by every part of it, and secondly Carrère writes in such a simple and beautiful way that you forget youre reading fact.
What astounds me so much about this novel is its subject. Jean-Claude Romand lived 18 years of his life (thats only 2 years younger than I am right now) living a lie. How does a person get away with lying about everything for 18 years without getting caught? I cant go into much detail in this review, otherwise Im just going to spoil the whole thing, and once I get talking about it, Ill never stop. But I mean really, how his friends & family trusted this man so much as to believe everything he said amazes me. However, its also made me very aware that you dont question the people you trust, Im sure people could get away with so much before anyone noticed!
This book is incredible, shocking and mind-boggling. It reads like poetry but it packs a very real punch. I loved it! If youre a true crime fan, like myself, pick this one up quick!
<i>Thank you to Penguin Random House UK & Vintage for sending me an arc copy for review.</i>
Maybe my 5 star rating is a little bias because I love true crime so much, but this book ticked all the boxes for me. Firstly, it was about such a bizarre and extraordinary crime, I was enthralled by every part of it, and secondly Carrère writes in such a simple and beautiful way that you forget youre reading fact.
What astounds me so much about this novel is its subject. Jean-Claude Romand lived 18 years of his life (thats only 2 years younger than I am right now) living a lie. How does a person get away with lying about everything for 18 years without getting caught? I cant go into much detail in this review, otherwise Im just going to spoil the whole thing, and once I get talking about it, Ill never stop. But I mean really, how his friends & family trusted this man so much as to believe everything he said amazes me. However, its also made me very aware that you dont question the people you trust, Im sure people could get away with so much before anyone noticed!
This book is incredible, shocking and mind-boggling. It reads like poetry but it packs a very real punch. I loved it! If youre a true crime fan, like myself, pick this one up quick!
<i>Thank you to Penguin Random House UK & Vintage for sending me an arc copy for review.</i>
Forensic Science: A Very Short Introduction
Book
Forensic science is a subject of wide fascination. What happens at a crime scene? How does DNA...
The Fact of A Body
8.0
Rate It
Book
A young law student, an unspeakable crime, and a past that refuses to stay buried. Before...
Biography memoir true crime
Ross (3284 KP) rated Perfect Prey in Books
Sep 14, 2018
The second in the DI Callanach series, Perfect Prey starts off with a murder in broad daylight in the middle of a music festival crowd. The investigation into this struggles along with next to no information arising, as more and more murders are committed.
This is a definite step up from the somewhat "crime-by-number" first book, with a very clever, intricate plot that simply cannot truly be guessed at until quite late on.
One of my main gripes about the first book (that the main character has to be present for every single discovery and crime scene for it to be included) is not present here. Action is told from a number of different viewpoints to enable the reader to appreciate the whole story in the best way possible.
The character development here is good too, with main characters growing in personality and side characters that were barely mentioned in the first book now given a backstory.
A few crime clichés still present here (the old "knocked on the back of the head, everything went black", and the "this is clearly an important plot point, please sound the klaxon, even though we're going to ignore it as a minor detail for now") but they don't stand out anywhere near as much as in other books, and are somewhat necessary to create that tension where the omnipresent reader knows more than the characters.
All in all, an excellent crime story and a very intriguing plot that keeps the reader gripped well into the night.
This is a definite step up from the somewhat "crime-by-number" first book, with a very clever, intricate plot that simply cannot truly be guessed at until quite late on.
One of my main gripes about the first book (that the main character has to be present for every single discovery and crime scene for it to be included) is not present here. Action is told from a number of different viewpoints to enable the reader to appreciate the whole story in the best way possible.
The character development here is good too, with main characters growing in personality and side characters that were barely mentioned in the first book now given a backstory.
A few crime clichés still present here (the old "knocked on the back of the head, everything went black", and the "this is clearly an important plot point, please sound the klaxon, even though we're going to ignore it as a minor detail for now") but they don't stand out anywhere near as much as in other books, and are somewhat necessary to create that tension where the omnipresent reader knows more than the characters.
All in all, an excellent crime story and a very intriguing plot that keeps the reader gripped well into the night.
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated The Sliver Shadow (True Colors #11) in Books
Apr 19, 2021
Do you enjoy crime stories? Maybe a bit of true crime but with some fiction. This book "The Silver Shadow" is book eleven in the True Colors series. What a plot this is. There seems to be a mysterious person that keeps hitting women on the head.
We mean you introduced the main two characters—some of the crime that is going on. We meet a mysterious male that wants to teach women their place in the time of the 1900s. The woman is a reporter for the Denver Post. Edwin is the other main character; He works at the Denver Police department.
The more we get into the story or plot. It is more interesting. Polly gets another dressing down from her boss. She still wants this story and to solve these crimes. The detective has to get the runaround, and these bosses seem to think it nothing to be concerned about these crimes. The story is getting more twists and turns. The man shows up once more and remains described as the Silver shadow. Will he be caught?
This book has quite a few twists and turns. Who could be the mysterious Silver Shadow? When will they stop? It is a good book for adults if they want a little history and some crime and a mystery to go along with it. I hope to be able to read more of these True Color series books. I have read a few of them and enjoy them.
We mean you introduced the main two characters—some of the crime that is going on. We meet a mysterious male that wants to teach women their place in the time of the 1900s. The woman is a reporter for the Denver Post. Edwin is the other main character; He works at the Denver Police department.
The more we get into the story or plot. It is more interesting. Polly gets another dressing down from her boss. She still wants this story and to solve these crimes. The detective has to get the runaround, and these bosses seem to think it nothing to be concerned about these crimes. The story is getting more twists and turns. The man shows up once more and remains described as the Silver shadow. Will he be caught?
This book has quite a few twists and turns. Who could be the mysterious Silver Shadow? When will they stop? It is a good book for adults if they want a little history and some crime and a mystery to go along with it. I hope to be able to read more of these True Color series books. I have read a few of them and enjoy them.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Cold As The Grave in Books
Sep 1, 2019
A treat for crime fiction lovers
This is a treat for crime fiction lovers with a bit of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. Mr Oswald knows how to write a great story and he has done it once again with "Cold as the Grave".
DCI Tony McLean finds himself, quite unexpectedly, in the midst of a strange and disturbing investigation following his discovery of the mummified remains of a young girl. Being a DCI, Tony is not supposed to get into the day to day investigation of crime however, Tony being Tony just can't help himself and he quickly becomes in the thick of it.
This is a dark and sinister case to investigate and includes themes on refugees, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, trafficking, modern slavery, the murder of children and violence towards women as well as introducing a less than "normal" slant on the perpetrator of the crime and the method used for committing murder.
With fantastic characters throughout and written in a sympathetic rather than sensationalist way with the back drop of a winter in Edinburgh, this is a great read.
I admit to not having read all the previous books in this series and although I have probably missed out massively on back story, character development, etc., it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
On to the next .... when it comes out!
My thanks must go to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
DCI Tony McLean finds himself, quite unexpectedly, in the midst of a strange and disturbing investigation following his discovery of the mummified remains of a young girl. Being a DCI, Tony is not supposed to get into the day to day investigation of crime however, Tony being Tony just can't help himself and he quickly becomes in the thick of it.
This is a dark and sinister case to investigate and includes themes on refugees, asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, trafficking, modern slavery, the murder of children and violence towards women as well as introducing a less than "normal" slant on the perpetrator of the crime and the method used for committing murder.
With fantastic characters throughout and written in a sympathetic rather than sensationalist way with the back drop of a winter in Edinburgh, this is a great read.
I admit to not having read all the previous books in this series and although I have probably missed out massively on back story, character development, etc., it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
On to the next .... when it comes out!
My thanks must go to the Publisher and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Shadow of Truth in TV
Nov 23, 2017 (Updated Nov 23, 2017)
Another incredible true crime docu-series
This true crime docu-series has already been well-received in Israel as one of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows in the country's history, and it's clear to see why.
Following in the footsteps of other documentaries such as @Making A Murderer - Season 1 and @The Keepers - Season 1, Shadow of Truth focuses on the murder of a teenage girl and the man, a Ukrainian immigrant, who confessed to the murder. Except his confession was questionable as we follow the short series. In this case, it does feel similar to @The Confession Tapes - Season 1 - but there is twist after twist in each episode, all focusing on the case from a different point of view.
What's astonishing is the aftermath of this documentary, in which high-ranking government officials like Israel State Attorney Shai Nitzan even went so far as to call the series "a serious threat to democracy." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the show and thought any attempt to suppress it violated freedom of speech. It's worth a watch if you love true crime, and more so just for the intense reaction.
Following in the footsteps of other documentaries such as @Making A Murderer - Season 1 and @The Keepers - Season 1, Shadow of Truth focuses on the murder of a teenage girl and the man, a Ukrainian immigrant, who confessed to the murder. Except his confession was questionable as we follow the short series. In this case, it does feel similar to @The Confession Tapes - Season 1 - but there is twist after twist in each episode, all focusing on the case from a different point of view.
What's astonishing is the aftermath of this documentary, in which high-ranking government officials like Israel State Attorney Shai Nitzan even went so far as to call the series "a serious threat to democracy." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the show and thought any attempt to suppress it violated freedom of speech. It's worth a watch if you love true crime, and more so just for the intense reaction.
Kate (493 KP) rated The Forgotten Girls in Books
Mar 21, 2020
I enjoyed this book as it was about the lives of the people as well as the solving of the crime.
It is definitely a book I would normally read. I love crime books.
I couldn't put the book down. I was hooked although it did take me a few chapters to get into it.
When the characters were 'speaking' especially the girls I could hear that voice. This is down to how the author described them.
Once the detectives started putting some of the pieces it place they quickly fell into place in my mind so I figured it out before it was fully revealed.
The characters and location of the book reminded me of Big Little Lies - the TV show. The story was different but the characters and location were definitely similar.
The book would be best for people who like a crime book - but I would say females in their late 20's to 40's.
It definitely exceeded my expectations from the blurb.
I would 100% read the next book if there was one.
It is definitely a book I would normally read. I love crime books.
I couldn't put the book down. I was hooked although it did take me a few chapters to get into it.
When the characters were 'speaking' especially the girls I could hear that voice. This is down to how the author described them.
Once the detectives started putting some of the pieces it place they quickly fell into place in my mind so I figured it out before it was fully revealed.
The characters and location of the book reminded me of Big Little Lies - the TV show. The story was different but the characters and location were definitely similar.
The book would be best for people who like a crime book - but I would say females in their late 20's to 40's.
It definitely exceeded my expectations from the blurb.
I would 100% read the next book if there was one.
The Shadow District
Arnaldur Indridason and Victoria Cribb
Book
OLD CRIMES, NEW CONSEQUENCES THE PAST In wartime Reykjavik, a young woman is found strangled...
mystery crime