In any serial killer thriller, the motive of the serial killer has to be strong and compelling enough for the killer to commit a crime over and over aIn any serial killer thriller, the motive of the serial killer has to be strong and compelling enough for the killer to commit a crime over and over again, but here the author hasn't established any motive for the killer to commit the crime. Secondly, the lead Jack MacKinnon's character was not established at all and he was thrown into a case right away (which he wasn't dealing with at the first place). This kind of storytelling works well for action thrillers but for serial killer thrillers, the reader must feel for both the protagonist and the antagonist. The author here seems to be just worried about finishing the story rather than make it character driven. I doubt if I give subsequent books in the series a try....more
Girl in Cabin 13 surprised me so much that I'd put all other books in my tbr on back burner for Girl that vanished. Sadly, this book doesn't turn out Girl in Cabin 13 surprised me so much that I'd put all other books in my tbr on back burner for Girl that vanished. Sadly, this book doesn't turn out to be a worthy successor. There was more thrill than slow burn. The story surely would keep you on the edge of the seat but the dark and twisting storytelling was missing. Kids are missing from Emma Griffin's , their initials following alphabets. In addition to this, the killer is also leaving clues for the cops to find the missing kids. The motives behind the kidnappings isn't strong enough, the killer doesn't look convincing either. I'll try the third book though as I still have faith in the author's storytelling skills....more
Emma Griffin is an FBI officer who's had a troubled past and recently a troubled career. As a shot of redemption she's sent to a sleepy little villageEmma Griffin is an FBI officer who's had a troubled past and recently a troubled career. As a shot of redemption she's sent to a sleepy little village as undercover in order to find a serial killer who's killed as much as 10 residents. She lives in cabin no 13, hence the title. The villagers look innocent and goofy at first but later she realises everyone holds a secret. The story is narrated in first person. Therefore, you don't get to see much about anyone else apart from the protagonist and a bit about the villian. However, the storytelling is such that you don't feel the need to know about anyone else. Also, the writing keeps you glued to the story and will suck you deep into the protagonist's mind. Recommended!...more
A strictly okay action thriller. Carl Logan is a killing machine, an operative of a joint US and UK covert agency. His new job brings him face to faceA strictly okay action thriller. Carl Logan is a killing machine, an operative of a joint US and UK covert agency. His new job brings him face to face with an enemy who had tortured and almost killed him in the past. Logan is suffering from PTSD, the memories of the torture. He's to fight through the trauma and save US Attorney General, who's kidnapped for apparently some secret information. There were high octane action sequences, high body count, lots of bloodshed and twists at every turn. Yet I feel something was amiss. A good storytelling perhaps. A lot of fluff could've been trimmed away....more
I started reading this book, found it interesting in the beginning. Then it started getting clumsy with a lot of players being introduced. Halfway dowI started reading this book, found it interesting in the beginning. Then it started getting clumsy with a lot of players being introduced. Halfway down, it becomes so confusing that I left reading it. I picked it again only for the sake of finishing it and ended up liking it. I wish the author had better storytelling skills. In any book, there are a few characters the author picks who are pivotal to the story and we see the story from their eyes. Feel for them. But here the author has invested least in developing the characters. Even the protagonist Scott Stiletto wasn't developed well. The story is good. Shows the reality of the protests going on around the world and the real conspiracy behind these so called "revolutions". I'll give this author another chance for the plot alone....more
When I picked this book with a private investigator as the protagonist, I expected to see a lot of investigation, evidence collection, interviewing suWhen I picked this book with a private investigator as the protagonist, I expected to see a lot of investigation, evidence collection, interviewing suspects, connecting the dots. But for a major portion of the book what I saw was unfolding of a courtroom drama. The prosecution, defence, and accused taking the centre stage and the protagonist, Atticus Priest, twiddling thumbs most of the time. There was occasional PI job in between but largely it was the trial proceedings which filled the pages. It was only in the last 100 pages or so the real Investigation began and the PI got into action. Still I feel the evidence collection and connecting the dots was not that great. The PI just feels something is off and he starts investigating it. Sounds too convenient. Having said that, I'll still read the next book in the series but before that I would like try Dawson's Milton series....more
The concept of NPP was nanotechnology was good and I appreciate that the author didn't go into details of the technology just to show off that he's doThe concept of NPP was nanotechnology was good and I appreciate that the author didn't go into details of the technology just to show off that he's done the research. He explained it in the simplest of the manners. However, a book is not just about concept or an idea. The incidents, the characters, the storytelling, all these combined make into a good book. The author seems to be rushing through the story all the time. I understand that the author is running 3 series in parallel and releases a book every month. So he's to compromise with the story sometimes....more
The story, though not unique, but had potential. The protagonist, though not unique, but had potential. The incidents and actions were there, but the The story, though not unique, but had potential. The protagonist, though not unique, but had potential. The incidents and actions were there, but the execution was poor. The storytelling bland and confusing. Side characters had been thrown into and out of the story at the whims of the author without making sense. Some side characters had been only introduced after 80% of the book was over. Practically nothing was happening in the story for the first 20%. Not sure if I would try the next book....more
It's a kind of story where you'll find plenty of twists and turns but all amount to nothing in totality. The story could've been completed in half theIt's a kind of story where you'll find plenty of twists and turns but all amount to nothing in totality. The story could've been completed in half the pages if not for the inconsequential action sequences. Agent Chase is an ex operative Agent Chase gets a chance of redemption by a new assignment of protecting the governor's son. Soon Chase finds everyone has secrets to hide. There begins the game of betrayal backstabbing. Though the author has maintained the surprise element throughout the story and also keeps you at the edge of seat, but I simply can't connect to either the story or the protagonist. I won't say I'm not going to try the next in the series but just not at the moment....more
Tom Rollins was a CIA black ops, gone AWOL and is living off-grid. He finds his brother is brutally wounded and his former girlfriend and now wife of Tom Rollins was a CIA black ops, gone AWOL and is living off-grid. He finds his brother is brutally wounded and his former girlfriend and now wife of his brother killed by a gang of criminals. While taking out the perps, he stumbles upon a sinister conspiracy. Blood line is essentially a hard-edged action thriller, but the author has given equal importance to emotions as well. The relationship between brothers has been handled well. While the action scenes are good, we don't see our protagonist struggling and he achieves his goals quite easily. And that made me cut down one more star....more
What would you think of a story wherein the protagonist comes into action only after the 75% of the book is over? Ridiculous right? That's what happenWhat would you think of a story wherein the protagonist comes into action only after the 75% of the book is over? Ridiculous right? That's what happens in this book. Nathan Stone is resurrected from dead, given a plastic surgery for a hit job. To kill a senator. Major portion of the story focuses on the senator and his mistress, but absolutely nothing happens in their arc and they're killed by Stone in the end. I'm not sure why the author spends pages after pages on these two inconsequential characters. The plot largely doesn't make sense and even the climax was ordinary. A wasted opportunity....more
The thing about Loreth Anne White is that she tries new things in every new book she writes. A lot of times I've seen popular authors doing the same tThe thing about Loreth Anne White is that she tries new things in every new book she writes. A lot of times I've seen popular authors doing the same thing over and over again that had been successful for them. Beneath Devil's Bridge is a psychological thriller with layered plot. A true crime podcaster is digging up past by interviewing the convict of Leena Rai murder case that had happened more than two decades ago. The convict reveals that though he'd confessed to the crime, he wasn't the killer and the killer is still roaming free. The podcast start dredging up dirt and everyone in the town seemed to be harbouring a secret and everyone ties up with the murder in some way. The past and the present stories run in parallel, revealing the truth slowly. Shocking revelations keep slamming on us throughout the course of the story. Simply amazing....more
I read this author purely for the plot. I know there is going to be no set-up, no character development. The detectives jump onto the case right from I read this author purely for the plot. I know there is going to be no set-up, no character development. The detectives jump onto the case right from the first word. However, I do expect the author to at least establish the case. There were 6 murder victims and the author took just a few paragraphs about all of them and moved on to the investigation. During the entire course of the story it was really difficult to track who was who. The murders had been done in some ingenious way and has something to do with Buddhism. There were philosophical discourse but all amount to nothing in the end. While some books in the series are really shocking mysteries, this one is easily forgettable....more
The blurb was promising. A girl smeared with the blood of her boyfriend, her prints on the murder weapon. All evidence suggest she's the culprit, but The blurb was promising. A girl smeared with the blood of her boyfriend, her prints on the murder weapon. All evidence suggest she's the culprit, but she can't remember anything. The execution of the idea was extremely poor. Stories like these must go deep into the psyche of both victim and the investigators. The investigators in this case, Sharp, Morgan and Lance, seem too distracted with everything other than the case that sometimes the main conflict seemed like a subplot. Moreover, the resolution wasn't particularly connecting the dot but the perps himself coming out and attacking in the open. Could've been a gread thriller, failed opportunity I would say....more
It started as a mystery, but the detectives didn't have to work hard to crack the case. A hit and run case leading back to the disappearance of the twIt started as a mystery, but the detectives didn't have to work hard to crack the case. A hit and run case leading back to the disappearance of the two protagonist's lost friend, which kept on popping up in the previous three books. Halfway through the book, the author has made apparent the identity of the killer and what's left was just a rescue operation. Very simple plot and easy resolution. The authors have been building up to this case since last 3 books, but the payoff didn't turn out to be good....more
The story started well, the detectives were collecting the evidence and moving from one point to the other logically, but then it become too complicatThe story started well, the detectives were collecting the evidence and moving from one point to the other logically, but then it become too complicated at one point for my liking and the resolution was too simple. Though this book is more complicated than others in dead cold mystery and hence, author must have worked harder, the payoff wasn't seamless....more
I've been a fan of Lisa Gray since Thin Air. The prickly private investigator who had started with her own missing case when she was a kid. Each book I've been a fan of Lisa Gray since Thin Air. The prickly private investigator who had started with her own missing case when she was a kid. Each book in the series surpasses the previous one. Dark Highway was about a missing girl whose disappearance connects her to two more missing women through a highway. As Jessica Investigates further she finds there are more things in common to the girls other than the highway that leads back to several years ago. Typical to Gray's narrative style, the story jumps between past and present and the suspense is slowly revealed through different characters' pov. A brilliant read. Would suggest to every thriller junkie. Waiting for the 4th Jessica Shaw thriller....more
It was a thriller rather than a mystery. It was more of a whydunit rather than a whodunit because the perp's identity is known right from the start. BIt was a thriller rather than a mystery. It was more of a whydunit rather than a whodunit because the perp's identity is known right from the start. But even considering that, the whydunit revelation wasn't really great. So the murderer is on a killing spree, the no of people of killed in each incident following the numbers in a Fibonacci series. There were no suspects and very little Investigation, and the detectives just stumbled upon the clues which led them find the perp. While I liked the first book, this is one is an easily forgettable read....more
I love Banner's Harrry Bauer series, though I'm not a committed reader of Dead Cold Mystery. This is my second book in the series and it's not the strI love Banner's Harrry Bauer series, though I'm not a committed reader of Dead Cold Mystery. This is my second book in the series and it's not the strongest. Our protagonist duo are dealing with another cold case of a teenage girl who went missing then found washed up on the banks of river Bronx. The number of suspects are limited and you would know beforehand that they're red herrings. Halfway into the story you'll find author's trademark adrenaline pumping action and you'll forget for a moment that you're reading and murder myster. The mystery though was unexpected but the motive didn't seem convincing enough to me....more
Cobra series follows the same template in all books. Harry Bauer is tasked to take out someone and in doing so Bauer uncovers a conspiracy. This book Cobra series follows the same template in all books. Harry Bauer is tasked to take out someone and in doing so Bauer uncovers a conspiracy. This book surpasses the previous two because it's the first time we saw Harry as a human. The central theme of this book is about hard AI, which is designed by a group of billionaires to ignite war in third world countries to keep a check on rising population. The arguments from both sides make you think about the issue and you'll find yourself sometimes agreeing with the good guys and sometimes with the bad guys. The story, as always, runs at a break neck speed, full of action that keeps your adrenaline pumping throughout....more
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