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Spring Breakers (2012)
5.0
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Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While...
What Remains (2022)
9.0
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A small town pastor is forced to reckon with an act of forgiveness when the convict he forgave for...
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated The Legacy (Children's House, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
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.
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.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Perfect Remains: A Gripping Thriller That Will Leave You Breathless in Books
Aug 30, 2018 (Updated Aug 30, 2018)
Very good, gripping crime novel based in Edinburgh. Recently arrived French detective Luc Callanach finds himself at the wheel of the force's biggest crime, while still trying to find his feet in his new city.
As the reader is made aware of the "murderer"'s identity from very early on, this feels more like an early Mark Billingham book than an Ian Rankin or Ed James. Not a true whodunit, more of a case of watching the story unfold, which is thrilling and you get to see the criminal and the detective's view of the events, but may put others off.
While the story is very well crafted, the pacing is top notch and the action exciting, a few aspects irritated me at times. Luc Callanach seems to have coped very well with his change in circumstances, and at times it is almost like he (or the author) has forgotten he is French completely! And also the attitude and conclusions of what was supposed to be a very experienced psychological profiler just didn't feel plausible. And finally, as so often happens with "detective x crime series" books - if the main character didn't see it, it didn't happen. This means that Callanach has to abandon his massive case and oddly decide to go off with another detective in order to discuss something, purely as a plot device - i.e. he has to be involved in it for it to be an important part of the story. In places this worked, and got to the point, but at other times his actions just seemed so unusual as to be ludicrous, just to meet a plot point. Why the lesser characters can't have a PoV chapter is beyond me. It works perfectly well in fantasy fiction, why not in crime?!
However these were minor quibbles, an otherwise great book.
As the reader is made aware of the "murderer"'s identity from very early on, this feels more like an early Mark Billingham book than an Ian Rankin or Ed James. Not a true whodunit, more of a case of watching the story unfold, which is thrilling and you get to see the criminal and the detective's view of the events, but may put others off.
While the story is very well crafted, the pacing is top notch and the action exciting, a few aspects irritated me at times. Luc Callanach seems to have coped very well with his change in circumstances, and at times it is almost like he (or the author) has forgotten he is French completely! And also the attitude and conclusions of what was supposed to be a very experienced psychological profiler just didn't feel plausible. And finally, as so often happens with "detective x crime series" books - if the main character didn't see it, it didn't happen. This means that Callanach has to abandon his massive case and oddly decide to go off with another detective in order to discuss something, purely as a plot device - i.e. he has to be involved in it for it to be an important part of the story. In places this worked, and got to the point, but at other times his actions just seemed so unusual as to be ludicrous, just to meet a plot point. Why the lesser characters can't have a PoV chapter is beyond me. It works perfectly well in fantasy fiction, why not in crime?!
However these were minor quibbles, an otherwise great book.
Prayer for the Dead
Book
Sunday Times bestseller Prayer for the Dead is the fifth novel in the bestselling Inspector McLean...
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
Book
A rollicking true-crime adventure and a thought-provoking exploration of the human drive to possess...
History Crime
Practice to Deceive
Book
#1 New York Times bestselling author and Queen of True Crime Ann Rule delivers another gripping...
True crime murder
Kristin (149 KP) rated The Profiler: My Life Hunting Serial Killers and Psychopaths in Books
Dec 7, 2018
I really like how this was presented: Each case was described, evidence was provided as to who Brown believed was the likely suspect, and the status of the case where it sits now was noted (basically, dormant). I just received my Master's in Forensic Psychology, so reading how Brown became a profiler and how she uses her knowledge to work on "cold" cases was both intriguing and helpful for me. I especially liked her idea of creating a suspect bank through ViCAP that could be accessed across the nation, in the event that a suspect in one crime crosses jurisdictions and is interviewed in relation to another crime. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the Forensic Psychology or Criminology fields, or for those who like such TV shows as the "Law and Order," "Criminal Minds," or "CSI" franchises.
Aasiyah Sidat (34 KP) rated In Cold Blood: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences in Books
Jul 5, 2018
In cold blood is a true crime story about a family murdered in Kansas. The book shows us through the eyes of both the investigators on the case and their struggle for justice but also the criminals who justify the crime and their actions.
In cold blood opens you up to the reality of human nature. For these criminals to commit the murders of 4 people and not show any remorse is shocking. Towards the end of the book, there is a strong debate about how these criminals should be punished, life imprisonment or capital punishment which in this case was hanging. It brings up the question of morality and responsibility, of whether as humans we can play God and take a life?
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/02/read-harder-5000-miles.html
In cold blood opens you up to the reality of human nature. For these criminals to commit the murders of 4 people and not show any remorse is shocking. Towards the end of the book, there is a strong debate about how these criminals should be punished, life imprisonment or capital punishment which in this case was hanging. It brings up the question of morality and responsibility, of whether as humans we can play God and take a life?
Continue reading my review at: https://www.readsandrecipes.co.uk/2017/02/read-harder-5000-miles.html
True crime (3 more)
Intelligent conversation
A sprinkling of dark humour
Good research
These Girls Really Are Killin' It
A couple of British friends chatting about true crime, particularly murder, and discussing just how screwed up humans can be. While the podcast started out as Lux and Sam, it has since changed to Lux and Meg, and while Sam did have a very smooth voice and quick wit, the change to Meg has not made the podcast less than it was - it has simply made it different.
At the end of each episode (starting fairly recently) the girls have a segment where they say what they have been "killin'" each week, to provide a little lift at the end of the episode, and make the world appear a little less depressing.
Altogether, a cracking little podcast, definitely worth a listen.
At the end of each episode (starting fairly recently) the girls have a segment where they say what they have been "killin'" each week, to provide a little lift at the end of the episode, and make the world appear a little less depressing.
Altogether, a cracking little podcast, definitely worth a listen.