Merissa (11654 KP) created a post
Apr 26, 2024
Rache (174 KP) rated The Angel of Vine in Podcasts
Jan 12, 2019
The Angel of Vine is a sublime fictional podcast, written to sound like true crime in the Noir tradition being retold in the modern podcast format. The podcast begins with the discovery of some old cassette tapes by the family of a deceased ex-cop turned private detective, and their choice to involve a podcaster/reporter to help them investigate the story enshrined in those cassettes.
Following the investigation into the murder of a young actress in Hollywood, the podcaster makes use of the recordings to tell Harry's story.
Voiced by some amazing talent (including the gorgeous growl of Joe Manganiello, the incomparable Alan Tudzyk, and the delightful Mischa Collins) the story is gripping, compelling, and extremely difficult to not binge.
For fans of true crime, crime drama, and any sort of Noir (Sam Spade eat your heart out), this is a podcast to listen to, save, and listen to again later.
David McK (3188 KP) rated The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Indeed, I think that if he had read this book he would have changed his own tune: this is needlessly graphic, uncomfortable and plodding, with crime scene forensics being the main 'draw' (if I can even use such a word about this) to any potential reader.
In short: one to avoid.
Merissa (11654 KP) created a post
Apr 2, 2020
Erika (17788 KP) rated Eva's Eye (Inspector Konrad Sejer #1) in Books
Mar 16, 2018
Overall, it was a good read. It wasn't necessarily easy to figure out, but maybe it was just me being slow. It was a quick read, and a good introduction to Sejer.
Books Editor (673 KP) shared own list
Sep 26, 2017
Camino Island
Book
A gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a secure vault deep below Princeton University’s...
Want You Gone
Book
Want You Gone is the superb new psychological thriller from million-plus award-winning bestseller...
Thriller
Say Nothing
Book
Judge Scott Sampson doesn’t brag about having a perfect life, but the evidence is clear: A...
Thriller
The Girl Before
Book
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER THE SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH THE SIMON MAYO RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB...
Jericho's War
Book
Jericho's War is a relentlessly powerful novel of our times from 'the best thriller writer in the...
and 5 other items
Mayhawke (97 KP) rated Elevator Pitch in Books
Jun 28, 2019
Over a decade ago I stopped reading crime fiction from the U.S. because I found what seemed to be a an unpleasant dwelling on the suffering of victims; a voyeurism which I found uncomfortable, and highly unpleasant. It was as though American crime writers were incapable of exploring the darkness of humanity, or giving clarity to events without relishing the pain and terror that must have been experienced by those on the receiving end of them.
Of course this was never true of all U.S. crime fiction, but I couldn't be asked to keep searching for the other kind. It was easier to just stay away from it all.
So, this is the first American crime novel I have read in nearly fifteen years.
What a joy it was. Barclay sets out a gripping thriller, an excellently plotted story which will educate you just a bit more than is comfortable on the ease of hacking lift controls in the technical age, whilst carefully leading you up and down the garden path a couple of times. The reading style is comfortable, the exposition is well paced. Eventually you arrive at a satisfying, and prompt conclusion. Barclay avoids the temptation to draw out the end like a cheerleader pulling gum, something that only works in Golden Era crime, and I always feel is out of place in otherwise fast-paced books of a more recent age.
Against this the characters have a slightly superficial feel, as though they have only been given the complexity they need for the book, and the denouement was not a huge surprise, though it was batted back and forth between two potential subjects nicely. But these really are minor complaints I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be going back and reading some more of Linwood's books on the basis of this one.