mehlnon

Fantastic Narrator and Brilliant, Entertaining and Surprising Storyline

Revisado: 02-22-24

I've been a reader/listener to the DI Callenach series of books since I first stumbled upon them, and this one absolutely does not disappoint. Robin Laing is brilliant, as always, and brings every character to life in exactly the way I always hope for when listening to an audio book -- they are each distinctive, and each has their own accent, as appropriate; but they are not simply characatures with silly voices (I will never forget fearing -- unnecessarily, thank goodness! -- upon listening to 'Perfect Remains' for the first time, that DI Callenach would come across as sounding like Savoir Faire from the 'Klondike Kat' cartoons).
I will admit that my absolute favorite takeaway from this installment is the character of Dr. Connie Woolwine, the profiler; I recall thinking after her appearance in the story,that I hoped Helen Fields would do more with Dr. Woolwine in future, as she was so wonderfully sculpted and brilliant. Needless to say, I am now off to purchase a copy of Fields' 'The Institution.'
'One for Sorrow' is brilliant, fast-paced, heart-rending, surprising, and more than worth the credit/purchase price.

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A Spiritual Follow-Up to "The Silent Patient"

Revisado: 02-01-24

As strange as it sounds, I almost hesitated to purchase this book, simply because I hadn't been completely blown away by "The Maidens" as I had by "The Silent Patient." Which is to say, I thought that (understandably), perhaps the exceedingly talented Mr. Michaelides only had one spectacular novel in him, and that any subsequent efforts would be enjoyable, but never quite as magical. And let's face it: "The Silent Patient" is a hard act to follow, for anyone.
That being said, I absolutely recommend "The Fury." It bears no immediate resemblance to "The Silent Patient," except in its narrator-character-retrospective style. But the rest is very different, and very enjoyable. The characters (for the most part) are oddly endearing, in their ways; and the narrative includes some amazing psychological insights reminiscent of IFS Therapy, which was a delightful and meaningful surprise, and was used to excellent dramatic effect.
Being Michaelides, there are twists, unreliable half-truths, and a murder. There is also at least one O. Henry-worthy moment, and a brief, passing wink to the universe of "The Silent Patient."
It is excellent and fun, if the reader/listener is not put off by a bit of the macabre (in which case, why are you thinking of purchasing a mystery / psychological thriller in the first place?) Well worth a credit, your time, and a hearty recommendation.

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A Great Start to An Intriguing Series

Revisado: 11-04-23

Initially, what sold me on this title was the narration of Angus King and the story summary. It absolutely did not disappoint (Mr. King absolutely never does, mind, so that was a given). The characters are vivid -- the protagonist is flawed, brilliant, irreverent, and clearly a good man; and the Island itself is also brought to life behind the drama and mystery. The story is not "action-packed" (it would be difficult to imagine any long-cold case unfolding in a way that leant itself to being so), but the mysteries unfold through character conversation and interactions, all pushed forward by the determined DI and the workings of his irascible DS. The resolution was well sculpted, surprising, and very satisfying in the context of the world the author builds. I am excited for the next installment.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

A Great Series (but not for the Far-Righters)

Revisado: 04-30-23

The parenthetical review title is simply meant as a warning to ultra-conservative, pro-Americana listeners...there are numerous instances in this book of the author conveying a VERY anti-Trump, anti-gun, anti-Manifest Destiny, and anti-Capitalism-as-religion set of viewpoints throughout its pages. Personally, these made me feel warm and joyous, but they will cause much upset to those fond of Fox News. No point in them wasting their credits or time.
I found the DI Westphal series while just trying to get my proverbial hands on more books read by Angus King. (The man is brilliant in his delivery, and his voice the most gloriously melodious thing imaginable. If it wouldn't bore the poor man to the edge of madness, I would ask that he read all official announcements, forever.)
I think the series itself and the author are hidden gems, and I'm so glad that more of the series after Song of the Dead is available. I'm not one for hocus-pocus or crystals and ghost hunting (e.g., I could never listen to 'Practical Magic,' even if it were read by Angus King), but the otherworldly threads of the DI Westphal stories don't come across as silly or superfluous -- they're a means of storytelling and poeticism to enrich the inner world of the main character and to give the audience detail and insights that would otherwise require contrivance or an omniscient narrator.
I adore DI Westphal -- though I will admit that at least a not-insubstantial percentage of the root of that is that he is given life by Angus King's dulcet tones. The character is clever, self-effacing, deeply flawed, but brilliant. His Sergeant and other colleagues are equally engaging, if largely peripheral to Westphal's inner musings.
My sole complaint, which only made itself known in this book of the series, is Westphal's romantic interludes (or the suggestion of the possibility thereof), which seemed to crop up every 15 minutes or so in the story, as if any woman he encountered (other than those with whom he worked on a daily basis) were absolutely hell-bent on getting into bed with him, regardless of the circumstances of their meeting or of the characters' professional bearing in all other aspects. This felt shoehorned into the story, and wholly superfluous -- a bit like a record-scratch -- and self-indulgent in a way I wouldn't normally have ascribed to this protagonist. Luckily, aside from musings, the author didn't shove Wetphal any further down those avenues.
Aside from that petty complaint, this was a lovely, wholly-enjoyable experience, and highly recommended. Plus, you know -- ANGUS KING.

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A great new find -- so glad there are more!

Revisado: 04-27-23

I'm impressed and thrilled to have found this series. Very likeable central characters, a good, darkly twisty plot, and a narrator who capably walks the reader through (and manages not to sound silly, even when characters have unusual accents) while maintaining a balance of gravitas and a blessed lack of histrionics. I will absolutely be purchasing the rest of the series.

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I just couldn't, in the end...

Revisado: 02-26-23

I did try to finish this. Parts of it, and the bones of it, were really great: a likeable, struggling protagonist, just trying to find his place amidst cruel, competing forces; a new and different twist on the secret society / unforeseen consequences of an experiment-gone-awry; the gradual reveal of the truth beneath sinister, seemingly random events; even the unlikely love story (within reason, though). But eventually, I just had to admit, I didn't care enough to make it through the final 6+ hours.

Usually, I love a twisted tale, an unreliable narrator, and a long, long book (I never once wished for a "the end" during 'The Crow Girl', for instance) -- I play audio books while I take care of life's mundane, solitary chores, so I am always thrilled for a 12+ hour-long find. But I kept glancing at the playback here, and going, "No way -- how can there be that much left???" There were at least three different places in the storyline where an ending would have been appropriate and artful (and again -- I have nearly 7 hours of book left, as of this review!), and the story could even have been continued in a second and third volume, for those with the wherewithal.

Anyway, on to the substance. Good: the protagonist is loveable, and his wish to just have a quiet, normal life is almost heroic, given his circumstances; the mysterious, edge-of-your-vision discomforting elements that slowly reveal themselves are creepy and disquieting; the villain(s) are genuinely shudder-inducing, for various reasons; and there are elements of the female lead / love interest that are truly heartbreaking. And I liked the narration performance (which is no small compliment from me, as I usually eschew anything not performed by an Irish, English, Scottish, or Scandinavian narrator, because I find it so grating when a US or Canadian actor "does the voices" of different characters) -- yes, I admit that I couldn't tell if Stella was supposed to be a British girl or not; but compared to the absolutely hideous things I've heard from other actors, this narrator did a bang-up job, and I wouldn't hesitate to listen to him again.

The bad: There was just too much going on, to put it plainly. This could have been a serial, or a multiple-season drama on a streaming channel. But I just stopped caring about what was going to happen or why or to whom. The pace wobbled, and halted dead at certain spots (particularly those many scenes meant to convince the audience that, yes, Stella IS the most beautiful, talented, enigmatic, graceful, and tragic creature in the universe, and we all better fall in love with her, TOO, or there will be CONSEQUENCES!!!!), and then jumped forward by months or years and threw all kinds of new information and questions out, without further explanation or detail. The action sequences were compelling and even chilling, but then they were over and it was back to puppy love pining. There was SO MUCH promise for an exciting, twisty, heart-wrenching and mind-bending story of some truly slick, original, human characters...but then it felt as if the story itself got distracted by the fact that the two leads really just needed to schtup so they could MOVE ON to being real people and dealing with what MATTERED.

Do I sound bitter?

Honestly, I wanted to love this. And I would have, but for the teen angst-level romance that just wouldn't take a back seat to what should have been the real plot.

As it is, I'm going to see if Audible will let me return the unheard almost-7 hours so I can try again.

(Sorry that this review was almost as long as the book.)

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Dark, Astute, and Beautifully Constructed

Revisado: 08-12-22

This book will not be for everyone. It is not a "cozy" thriller or murder mystery, and it isn't tidy. It's challenging, dark, full of sinister characters (and some with twisted, dark, and sinister sub-parts of their own), and set in a world that feels startlingly real.
And it is absolutely worth the time and attention necessary to read or listen to it...as long as you're not uncomfortable with an exploration (though thankfully, in retrospect) of the very worst things of which men and women are capable.
The two men responsible for this massive and truly amazing book have created an astounding piece of fiction. The pair of female protagonists at its core are complicated, surprising, and so vital that the fact they were created by two men is almost a surprise (but really shouldn't be).
Again, it won't be something that everyone can cope with or appreciate; but if you can, it's a journey worth taking, and one that I am incredibly grateful to have found.

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James / Kincaid series - The Sound of Broken Glass

Revisado: 07-06-22

One of the best of the series. And a great narrator, capable of giving life (but no annoying, offensive, or nasal intonations) to each of the many characters.

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Give this a listen -- it's amazing

Revisado: 12-02-21

As mentioned in several other reviews, there is some gore here. But I would absolutely encourage anyone who loves a good police procedural, a clever mystery, and a smart, quirky central character, to give this their attention. The gore isn't gratuitous...it's meant to (and does) bring home the gravitas of the underlying crimes and what galvanizes the good guys to do what they do.

If you really don't have the stomach to handle the descriptions (and even as an obsessed and decades-long crime novel enthusiast, there were at least two descriptions that made me cringe), just skip forward about 60 seconds once the post mortem(s) begins. The author is kind enough to telegraph when the bad bits are coming. And it is more than worth it to stick with this book.

The characters are almost all loveable, eventually (even if you want to kick a few of them upon first encounter). McRae is clever and imminently likable -- in his own head enough to orient the audience to follow his skill and reasoning, but blessedly NOT another tragic (or trite), brilliant detective who spends half the novel trying to get out of his own way and/or a whiskey bottle before getting on with his job. The surrounding minor characters are all excellent compliments and foils, grounding McRae in an atmosphere of realistic office life and politics, and making everything just awkward enough to cast the hero as a flawed human being. WPC Watson is herself enough of a reason to fall in love with this book.

I won't lie and say that there weren't certain things and incidents that made me want to smack everyone involved -- McRae's occasional mooning over his ex (somehow the most unlikable and inappropriate pathologist I believe I've ever come across as a character) being the blaring example. But I was, frankly, almost shocked by how well Stuart MacBride managed to conclude absolutely everything.

I was also exceedingly impressed by MacBride's ability to craft the underlying motivations and circumstances that created the troubled minds inhabiting this story. Without being conciliatory, he makes it possible to track and at least partially understand how and why things happened as they did. The good guys mostly win, but it isn't a cheap, cartoonish victory over a pantomime villain.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this series. The author is amazing, and narrator Steve Worsley does a commendable job -- the characters are distinct, but not overly theatrical -- giving the words life, but allowing the listener to still "direct" the story in his/her mind.

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Amazing insights from the brilliant man himself.

Revisado: 11-06-20

Absolutely a joy to listen to, and gave me a new perspective and appreciation of John Douglas as a human being (though I have always loved and respected him through the lens of his work). Also a perfect companion piece to Robert Ressler's 'Whoever Fights Monsters' and to the Netflix series inspired by Mr. Douglas and his (and Mr. Ressler's) pioneering work. It is equally wonderful to hear the words from the author himself -- a rare and amazing treat that only adds to the fulfilling experience of this piece. If you appreciate the art-science of profiling and the attempt by the best of humanity to understand and stop the worst of humanity, definitely buy this and listen to it in full.

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