I don't know about the rest of you, but I got through the novel pretty quickly. When we're all ready, we can begin discussing it, but its still really early in the month so I'll hold off on any comments just yet. Haven't read a good crime novel in a while.
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:41 am
This was a pretty quick read indeed, and quite entertaining. Obviously, it will be difficult to talk about this novel without talking about the denouement, so read this only if you have finished the book! I'm putting it under a spoiler just to be safe.
As I've already said, I enjoyed this novel. I think the thing I liked most was the multiplicity of points of view. I was kind of expecting a few chapters in the murderer's point of view and the rest all in Corrigan's, but I was pleased to delve into the minds of the other policemen, and when I figured out Hellier - who I already thought was unlikely to actually be the true culprit, unless this novel was less a detective story than just figuring out how he'd manage to catch him for good - wasn't the same point of view written differently, I got really excited. In fact, I think the narrative devices gave me more clues as to who the real culprit was than the actual hints and story. If it hadn't been for that - seeing things from the killer's point of view, knowing how he thought, that he had a nice childhood and that he really didn't seem to think the way Hellier did - I would never have guessed the outcome. In fact, the revelation kind of felt out of the blue at first, and for a large portion of the story, it slightly annoyed me that Corrigan's hunches were dismissed as "nobody would understand anyways, it's just a feeling, a way to recognize other people who think like predators" and never truly explained so that you could get some real clues. When even Gibran used this kind of argument and got it spot-on, it kinda felt like everyone was some kind of psychic. It annoyed me a little. You can get a hunch, you can see how people act, but there's only so much you can realize that way, and there's only so much an author can tell me without showing it that I can swallow. Luckily, Delaney managed to thread that line nicely enough that I just let suspension of disbelief take over and I managed to enjoy the intrigue. The characters were appealing too, which is not always the case with police novels.
A few questions now just to feed discussions: Did you guys expect the outcome? What were your theories as you read? Did you see it coming? Also, did you have a favorite character? I think mine was Sally. She has a strength and a confidence which can easily be overlooked, and I just felt like I related to her more than to other characters.
Edit: I didn't format my quote properly! gonk I hope you see this in time, Tommy. Should we put up the poll for next month's book? Do you need me to do it?
This was a pretty quick read indeed, and quite entertaining. Obviously, it will be difficult to talk about this novel without talking about the denouement, so read this only if you have finished the book! I'm putting it under a spoiler just to be safe.
As I've already said, I enjoyed this novel. I think the thing I liked most was the multiplicity of points of view. I was kind of expecting a few chapters in the murderer's point of view and the rest all in Corrigan's, but I was pleased to delve into the minds of the other policemen, and when I figured out Hellier - who I already thought was unlikely to actually be the true culprit, unless this novel was less a detective story than just figuring out how he'd manage to catch him for good - wasn't the same point of view written differently, I got really excited. In fact, I think the narrative devices gave me more clues as to who the real culprit was than the actual hints and story. If it hadn't been for that - seeing things from the killer's point of view, knowing how he thought, that he had a nice childhood and that he really didn't seem to think the way Hellier did - I would never have guessed the outcome. In fact, the revelation kind of felt out of the blue at first, and for a large portion of the story, it slightly annoyed me that Corrigan's hunches were dismissed as "nobody would understand anyways, it's just a feeling, a way to recognize other people who think like predators" and never truly explained so that you could get some real clues. When even Gibran used this kind of argument and got it spot-on, it kinda felt like everyone was some kind of psychic. It annoyed me a little. You can get a hunch, you can see how people act, but there's only so much you can realize that way, and there's only so much an author can tell me without showing it that I can swallow. Luckily, Delaney managed to thread that line nicely enough that I just let suspension of disbelief take over and I managed to enjoy the intrigue. The characters were appealing too, which is not always the case with police novels.
A few questions now just to feed discussions: Did you guys expect the outcome? What were your theories as you read? Did you see it coming? Also, did you have a favorite character? I think mine was Sally. She has a strength and a confidence which can easily be overlooked, and I just felt like I related to her more than to other characters.
Edit: I didn't format my quote properly! gonk I hope you see this in time, Tommy. Should we put up the poll for next month's book? Do you need me to do it?
Yeah if you wouldn't mind doing the poll this month.
I really liked Sally too, but I think Gibran was my favorite. He was so... Well-adjusted to the normal world that you would never think it was him until it was too late. That's terrifying, and that's a fantastic main antagonist.
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 9:31 am
Man, it's been a long a** month for me. Sorry it took so long to get in on the discussion. That said, I have to agree that it was a very enjoyable read for me.
I actually didn't see the twist coming, and seeing as I inhale crime novels like air, thats new for me. Gibran was so completely out of the blue for me that I have to say it was really refreshing to be hit upside the head with the real answer. I thought Corrigan was a brilliant protagonist, and the fact that he did get it wrong, and wasn't able to figure out exactly who it was until the last minute was just so refreshing, as so many novels have the detectives figuring everything out within minutes and fighting to prove it.
I think the character that stood out most for me was, strangely enough, Hellier himself. He had constructed his life so perfectly, and yet he couldn't stop it falling apart. He also seemed to be able to hide it so well. I think, in a different world, he and Gibran could have made a very scary team. I was also pleasantly surprised that this was a start of a series, of which I might actually continue.
Man, it's been a long a** month for me. Sorry it took so long to get in on the discussion. That said, I have to agree that it was a very enjoyable read for me.
I actually didn't see the twist coming, and seeing as I inhale crime novels like air, thats new for me. Gibran was so completely out of the blue for me that I have to say it was really refreshing to be hit upside the head with the real answer. I thought Corrigan was a brilliant protagonist, and the fact that he did get it wrong, and wasn't able to figure out exactly who it was until the last minute was just so refreshing, as so many novels have the detectives figuring everything out within minutes and fighting to prove it.
I think the character that stood out most for me was, strangely enough, Hellier himself. He had constructed his life so perfectly, and yet he couldn't stop it falling apart. He also seemed to be able to hide it so well. I think, in a different world, he and Gibran could have made a very scary team. I was also pleasantly surprised that this was a start of a series, of which I might actually continue.
Don't worry, sometimes life gets to you. I'm glad you managed to read the novel and discuss it with us anyways. smile I guess I should put what's next in a spoiler...
And I agree, seeing the inspector get it wrong was interesting. It's great to show characters that can actually make mistakes too. It makes him more human and relatable, and it's all too rare in crime stories, whether on tv or in books. Watching crime shows like Bones and Criminal Minds (my two personal favorites), or even worse CSI, I've always felt like they were primarily made to scare would-be criminals into thinking the police has some magical powers that make them able to find and convict every criminal they pay any attention to. XD
Gibran and Hellier... If they ever could truly get along and muster up what it takes to work as a team, they would indeed be very scary. And near uncatchable.
Do you know if it's a true series, or something more akin to Sherlock Holmes novels, with a main detective and a few recurring characters, but stories not related to each other? I figure it might be better to read them in the order they were published, if I ever do decide to keep reading this (I have a ton of books on my shelf sweatdrop), but if I can just pick a random one up once in a while and not be confused, I might do that...
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 11:47 am
FindingJackie
After a tiny bit of research, it seems this is a start of a series, and that he is a genuine first time author. Cold Killing is the first, then it's the Keeper, The Toy Taker and the Jackdaw. Having read the synopsis for all of them, I will be reading them...after I get through my double stacked to be read shelf. [Which I will be adding to as I know I get paid monday and there are two books that I reeaaaalllly need.]
After a tiny bit of research, it seems this is a start of a series, and that he is a genuine first time author. Cold Killing is the first, then it's the Keeper, The Toy Taker and the Jackdaw. Having read the synopsis for all of them, I will be reading them...after I get through my double stacked to be read shelf. [Which I will be adding to as I know I get paid monday and there are two books that I reeaaaalllly need.]
Ahahah, I know that feeling. Those shelves fill themselves up as fast as we can empty them, and sometimes even faster. XD
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 1:01 pm
Eva Carline
FindingJackie
I plan on putting the sequel in the next months poll. Once again, I missed it for this one.
Hellier and Gibran would be the most interesting, terrifying murderer team-up. Are they serial killers? I mean, Gibran is, but Hellier? He's more of... A Potential than anything else.
The way I could see it going is if Hellier was, in essence, the one who chose the victims and ensured that there was no paper trail at all. He seems worryingly efficient at ensuring that all his tracks are covered, to his detriment in this case but still.
Also, another fact I loved about the book is that you can almost see the author growing in confidence as he writes. At the beginning, to me, he seemed to write like it was a crime report or some such, the more he wrote the more the paragraphs and characters began to flesh out. You saw Corrigan as dedicated detective who tried to balance his home life with his work, who loved his wife and kids. You saw Donnelly as a good friend who saw no problem with blurring the lines a little if his friend needed help, who had such undying loyalty to that friend he was willing to put his faith in him to the bitter end. You saw Sally as a puzzle solver who was dogged when it came to figuring things out.
As a first time author, it was enlightening to watch him almost grown from page to page.
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 2:56 pm
Eva Carline
I could see it working out that way, if they had reason to cooperate. For sure.
Yeah, it was interesting to see the subtle change in the writing as the story progressed.
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