THE DEATH WATCHER By Chris Carter Review

The Death Watcher is the latest entry in Chris Carter's Robert Hunter series, being book number thirteen. Where this might prove unlucky for some, the author looks to at least contain any ill fate to the characters within his tale, attempting to give readers an intense thriller that is full of mystery. This along with a crimson cover that sports a rorschach like design and the tagline “First he takes you. Then he breaks you,” makes for a potentially enticing read.

Whilst performing a routine autopsy on an apparent hit-and-run victim, LA Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Carolyn Hove uncovers various inconsistencies in the body. Calling on the aid of Detective Robert Hunter from the LAPD Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, Dr. Hove discovers that not only was there never a hit-and-run, but that the victim was severely tortured prior to death. What neither realises though, is that they've only just scratched the surface, with Hunter and his partner, Carlos Garcia, now on the hunt for a serial killer that no one knew even existed.

What instantly appeals about this book is its accessibility. Whether you've been invested in the series since day one or jumping into it for the first time, Chris Carter crafts a tale that is easy to pick up and understand. He achieves this primarily through the way he introduces us to the various characters, with the subtle descriptions giving new readers a vivid picture, whilst not feeling oversaturated for long term readers. The writer also avoids delving into prior work, with the absence of references allowing the narrative to stand out on its own and feel self contained.

Being my personal introduction to the series, I had high expectations for its protagonist, Robert Hunter. What we get is a much more sombre character than is typical from these kinds of stories, lacking in personality and proving rather unimposing. What he lacks in those departments, he more than makes up for elsewhere, with his experience, intelligence and overall organised demeanour shining throughout. Where this works best is alongside his partner, Garcia, with the chemistry between the two detectives not only highlighting their tenure as colleagues, but their close friendship. The bold, gung-ho attitude of Garcia also bounces off Hunter’s calm mannerisms, with the latter more often than not providing the voice of reason.

Another aspect of Carter's writing that makes him stand out next to his contemporaries is his lack of over-dramatisation. Now that isn't to say that this narrative isn't dramatic, more so that it doesn't do so in a way that's detrimental to the plot or that feels over the top. In doing so the writer gives us a product that flows smoothly and feels realistic, having an American detective show vibe to it. This is most noticeable in the dialogue, with Carter's word choice allowing each sequence to have its own unique dynamic. Whether it's the banter between our seasoned detectives or the sophisticated way in which our forensics examiners break down their findings, the writer manages to craft engaging interactions, allowing for tremendous depth.

Having a background in criminal psychological, Chris Carter seems to find it eerilly simple to create the perfect killer. Being quite possibly the most fascinating aspect of this tale, the author fashions a complex character that shows no mercy to his victims, being terrifyingly intelligent and meticulous. As is the case with any character, be it protagonist or antagonists, it is their background and overall development that makes them entice. This is no different with our story's killer, with the writer expertly delving into his past little by little to divulge what brought him to this point. What's most disturbing about all this is the horrific detail in which Carter describes his actions, with the psychotic mannerisms making the killer all the more frightening.

The only major gripe I had with this book, especially as it marched towards its conclusion, was its pacing. Despite being a gripping read for the most part, there are several points where it feels just a little draw out. This is most perceivable in the final third, with our detectives’ investigation lasting longer than it probably should. This unfortunately results in some of the more critical twists becoming slightly predictable, with it being likely that readers will uncover certain aspects of our killer before Hunter or Garcia do. Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent the story from culminating in dramatic fashion, with Carter delivering an intense conclusion to this suspenseful thriller.

Verdict 

The Death Watcher is a chilling tale that, for the most part, will leave readers clinging to every page. Utilising his criminal psychology background to its finest, Chris Carter fashions a killer that’s not only sinister, but bone-chillingly meticulous. The disturbing way in which the writer describes our antagonist's actions, along with intelligent detective work results in a thrilling narrative that, despite its flaws, pushes Robert Hunter to his limits.

7.5/10

THE BOOK CLUB By C.J. Cooper Review

"Everyone is hiding a secret. One of them is murder." These are the words emblazoned on the front cover of The Book Club by C. J. Cooper, all in an attempt to entice potential readers. Instantly this gives promise of an intriguing mystery, uncovering what the members of this unfortunate book club are hiding from one another.

Set in a small Cotswold village, the story centres around Lucy, a young woman who has moved from London following an affair with her boss. Having made new friends, and settled into village life, things look to be getting better for Lucy. That is until the arrival of the villages latest resident, Alice, and the formation of the titular "book club." What follows is a series of events that sees the group's secrets come to the surface, with Alice's need for revenge turning them all against one another.

On the surface this book had the potential to be a gripping psychological thriller. Unfortunately it was anything but this. Focusing more on the psychological and less on the thrills, the author makes little to no attempt at hiding who our potential killer is. The only real mystery in this supposed thriller is Alice's motives, and why she is adamant to destroy Lucy's life, along with the friendships she's built since moving to this quiet village.

There are, however, some redeeming factors within this tale. One example is the writing, with the story for the most part being well structured, with good grammar. The overall character development also proves to be a strong point throughout, with the different personalities of our main characters adding some level of depth to the story. The way these personalities bounce off one another also entices, having a somewhat soap opera feel at times.

Alice in particular proves to be an intriguing, albeit flawed character. Being besotted with ruining Lucy and everyone around her's lifes, the character's odd and extremely weird personality is surprisingly quite infatuating. The way she plots, calculating every move with the utmost precision is eerie to say the least, with the character seeming to have an answer for any situation. Where all this crumbles is in the motives behind Alice's actions, with the revelation regarding her intentions being rather ludicrous and far fetched.

Where the book struggles most, however, is in its plot. On the whole the premise seemed quite intriguing, and did have potential, but where it falters is in its layout and overall progression. At times it feels as if the author doesn't know exactly where to take this story, with it jumping between the past and present on a whim and with very little context. The author also awkwardly switches between character perspectives, with it sometimes taking several paragraphs to realise exactly who the narrative is focusing on at a specific point.

Another detracting factor of this narrative is the intellectual capacity of our characters, with Lucy in particular being rather dimwitted at times. Given the lengths in which our characters have went to keep their personal secrets safe, it is hard to grasp the simplicity in which Alice's schemes go over their heads. This is all the more relevant as we approach the story's conclusion, with Lucy's actions almost certain to end in fatality.

Verdict

The Book Club is a psychological thriller that boasts tons of potential, yet fails to deliver any real thrills. Having a convoluted plot and questionable twists, C.J. Cooper gives us a revenge story that more often than not doesn't seem to know where it wants to go. This coupled with some extremely unintelligent character traits and poor trasitions makes any redeeming factors within this narrative very easy to overlook.

3.5/10

Stephen King: Joyland Review

Writer: Stephen King

Stephen King is one of the first writers I tried as a teenager/adult, and have loved his stories ever since with him been one of my favourite writers. So when I noticed he had a new book out I had to get it, and having the tagline, "Who dares enter the Funhouse of Fear?" made it sound very interesting.

Plot

Devin Jones is a 21 year old college student, who decides to go and work at Joyland over the summer. Whilst there he discovers the story of a murder victim, befriends a dying child, as well as his first heartbreak.

Review

This was a great book, and although it's not one of Stephen King's best, it was a fun read. King does a great job, shaping the character's perfectly, as although he doesn't describe them in vast detail like some writers, he adds so much depth to them, making them feel very real. The narration from King in this book was also perfect, giving a real gritty, and realistic tone, whilst also having ton's of drama, as although there wasn't a great deal of suspense, the story was very interesting, making me want to continue reading on and on, which is a very good thing. King did however have some suspense in this novel, especially near the end, but the best thing about King's writing in this novel besides the depth of character had to be the emotion he put in, as there were a lot of very emotional moments that made me go, "what?" The book wasn't however quite the mystery/horror that I hoped for, and more of a coming-of-age story, reminding me of King's novella The Body, which was made into the film, Stand by Me.

One of the main focus points of the start of the novel is Devin discovering heartache for the first time, which would continue throughout the story, shaping Devin's characteristics. I feel that King did a good job of this, as although there was a part of me that feels he's went a little over the top, that's probably a good thing, as pain of that magnitude won't go away that easy. I also loved how it was built-up, as although it made the story drag slightly, it gave a more realistic tone. I did however find it a little predictable at times, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, as part of me feels it's too obvious, but at the same time it once again adds to the realism.

The main setting for most of the book was naturally Joyland, and although I was hopping for a very spooky, ghost town vibe to this theme park, it was still amazing for other reasons. The detail that King went into describing all the rides, as well as how he went into the carny talk, making the place come to life. I also liked how King thought ahead adding a note at the end of the novel stating that although some of the talk may not actually be correct, that it's fiction, and that some of it is. Joyland was also written in a very fun way, which was very fitting, and appropriate. I also found Devin's experience to be very interesting, going from one of the new guys, to loving the place.

All stories need it's group of side character's, and this story had it in abundance, from all the Joyland staff, to Devin's landlady, Mrs. Shoplaw, to Devin's work, and lifelong friends Tom Kennedy, and Erin Cook. I will however only talk about his work friends, Tom, and Erin. The relationship between the three character's in this novel was very well handled, feeling realistic, and natural. The differences in personality was also brilliant, and the way they changed over their time in Joyland was also interesting. It was also interesting that the three would remain friends, and King did a terrific job of showing how they cared for each other, which added yet more depth to the character's.

The part of the story where the mystery falls in is Devin's intrigue into a murder victim, who was killed at the Horror House in Joyland, wanting to see her ghost, as well as find out who killed her. This was a very interesting addition to the story, adding more excitement, as well as most of the story's suspense. It wasn't however quite the spooky mystery that I was hoping for, as although it was very dramatic, and suspenseful near the end of the story, with a few interesting points prior, it was overall slightly disappointing. It was however still very interesting, and well thought out, keeping to the realistic tone of the story.

Tom, and Erin weren't the only friends that Devin would make during his time at Joyland, as he'd also befriend a dying child named Mike Ross, and eventually his mother, Annie (as well as dog Milo). Although Devin's relationship with Tom, and Erin was interesting, this was however much more interesting. The fact that Annie wanted nothing to do with Devin, even though Mike would wave at him added drama straight away, showing that this wouldn't be an easily started relationship. It did however develop brilliantly, with some really interesting points, as well as some emotional, and was probably the most interesting part of this story.

Final Verdict

This was a fun read, with great characterisations, as well as brilliant emotion, and interesting mystery. It was however missing the wow factor that I expect from a Stephen King novel, but it was still very good for the type of story it was. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves books with great character depth, with a hint of mystery, but otherwise unless you can get this for the right price, you probably wouldn't be missing much.

Rating: 3.5/5

Dan Brown: Inferno Review

Writer: Dan Brown

After reading Da Vinci Code I've became a Dan Brown fan, having enjoyed both Da Vinci Code, and Angels and Demons (still to read The Lost Symbol), as well as the film adaptations of both books. I've also been quite interested in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, and although I've still to get a copy of the actual book, I've read up on the story, and love anything connected to the epic poem, so I was really looking forward to seeing how Brown would utilise this masterpiece.

Plot

Harvard Professor, Robert Langdon wakes up in Florence, Italy, not remembering the last two days, or the fact that he was in Florence. He soon begins to be hunted by a group of people who appear to want him dead, and with the help of a doctor, named Sienna Brooks he has to unravel a mystery that's inspired by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.

Review

This was a good book, and a very enjoyable read, but there were also things about this story that were disappointing. Dan Brown once again goes to Harvard Professor, Robert Langdon as the main character of his story, and since the hit success of Da Vinci Code it looks like his future story will revolve around the mystery solving professor. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing, as it makes his stories feel connected, even though they're stand alone. In this novel Brown does a brilliant job of putting Langdon in a new, and unique environment, which is what really grabbed my attention at the start of the book. Another thing I really like about the Langdon novels is that they are all stand alone stories, and although you can see similarities, you don't need to read any of the prior novels to enjoy the one you're reading. Brown also does a marvellous job of giving us a suspenseful, and dramatic story, that has plenty of twists, and turns making the reader question what happens next. There were however parts of the story that felt slightly dragged out, with certain things being repeated too much, which was really disappointing, even though the overall story was entertaining, and gripping, being hard to put down. 

The story starts with Langdon waking up in a hospital in Florence, not even realising that he wasn't in America any more, having lost the last two days of his memories. Now as I said, this really interested me, as with a main character that can't remember what he's done in the last couple of days makes the story as much of a mystery to him as it does to the reader. Also added the fact that he's in an hostile environment, it gives a psychological suspense to the story, as with no memory of the last two days he's obviously confused over the fact that people are after him, which I found really interesting, and entertaining. I also liked the way that Brown developed the Langdon character, using these new circumstances to take Langdon out of his comfort zone, making him adapt as a character. 

Like previous Langdon novels, Langdon has a female assistant, that helps him unravel the mysteries. This time round one of the doctors treating Langdon, named Sienna Brooks saves Langdon from death, and helps him escape captivity. I found Sienna a very interesting character, and although this book isn't Brown's best in the Langdon series, Sienna is in my opinion one of the best side character's that Brown has created. She was very unique, and different from any other character I have read, and the mysterious nature behind her made her that much more interesting. I also liked how she was a very deep character, with a lot of development throughout the story, as it is shown that she is highly intelligent, whilst also having suffered in life. The interaction, and chemistry between Sienna, and Langdon throughout this novel was also very interesting, and entertaining, and I found the pairing to be very dynamic, and exciting, making the novel that much more dramatic.

The people that were after Langdon were also very interesting, and mysterious people, and although they weren't as interesting as Sienna, nor as unique, they were still very interesting, and their involvement made the story that much more dramatic. What I loved most about them was the mystery to them, as they seemed to be very private, not wanting people to know anything about them. It was however the person who hired this group, and the main antagonist of the story that interested me the most when it came to the opposition. I won't name the character, as although he is named later in the book, it remains a mystery at the start, and I'd prefer not to spoil that for readers, but I will say what I thought of the character. Now he doesn't make many physical appearances in the story, mainly featuring in flashbacks, or recollections, but he definitely had a huge impact on the story. Again this antagonist was a very mysterious character, and not like your usual villain, which made him a bit more unique. He did however like a lot of antagonists have an agenda, and goal, believing that it was the greater good, which although not very unique, it yet again added more depth, and drama to the story.

I finally come to the key fact that interested me the most in this story, and the main reason I was looking forward to reading it, and that was the connection to Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. I mainly got interested in Dante's Divine Comedy, and mainly the Inferno part a few years ago with the release of the Dante's Inferno video game, and although I'm still to get round to reading the epic poem itself, I have read up on it, and know the main plot details. So how does this novel utilise Dante's Divine Comedy in it's story? There are plenty of references to the poem, and mainly the Inferno part, with the main antagonist being highly inspired by Dante's work, and Langdon himself also being an admirer of Dante. The puzzles, and mysteries involved in the story also heavily utilise Dante, and extracts from his epic poem, and overall I loved the references, and the way Brown has utilised Dante's work to create something dramatic, and different. It may however disappoint a lot of people who are more into Dante, and his work than I am, and I know there are people who were disappointed, but for me it was a nice addition, and although there were points that could have been better, Brown did a very good job.

As with all the Robert Langdon novels, this book also had lots of symbolism, and artwork throughout. With the novel being centred mainly in Florence I knew there would be some famous artwork mentioned during this story, and like always Dan Brown did an amazing job of describing these wonderful pieces of art, which included La Mappa dell’Inferno by Sandro Botticelli, The Battle of Marciano by Giorgio Vasari, as well as Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, and Dante's death mask, just to name a few. Brown also did a brilliant job of having the artwork fit in with the story, choosing the ones that best fitted the Dante theme. I also loved how like the previous Langdon novels, Brown had Langdon describe the symbolism in certain pieces of artwork, as well as other symbols featured in the story, showing why Langdon novels are so unique, and interesting.

This story also had Langdon moving about quite a bit, visiting some amazing locations. Again as with the artwork, Brown did a fabulous job of describing some of the phenomenal architecture that Italy has to offer, having Langdon visit some of Florence's most famous tourist attractions. I won't go into any more details about Langdon's travels in this book, as they may spoil certain parts of the story, but I will say that I think that it made the story much more unique, and suspenseful, and Brown did an amazing job in this department.

In this novel, Brown also added some dramatic, movie like action sequences. Now I wasn't too sure if I liked this or not, as although it added a lot more drama, and suspense to the story, it felt slightly forced, which wasn't nice. I also felt that Brown was trying to add some brilliant movie style sequences into his book, as to make it easier to adapt to a big blockbuster movie, like Da Vinci Code, and Angels and Demons have, which was also slightly disappointing, even though I'm sure this is just coincidence, as most writers never think about their work getting made into a film, seeing that as a respectful bonus. Overall I wasn't really too disappointed with this, as it was very suspenseful, and dramatic, and didn't take away from the overall story.

I thought I'd finish with the part of this story that irritated me the most, the twist at the end. I say it irritated me, but to be honest I wasn't sure if I loved it, or hated it, as there were things, that I liked, and things that I hated, but if I had to make an overall judgement, I'd say that I was hugely disappointed. Now I won't go into details about the twist, or what happened, but I will say my thoughts, and why I feel it was disappointing. First of all, the changes that it made to what was true was just confusing, and although I understood what was happening, it just didn't seem realistic, and was just too far over the place. In saying that there was one other twist in this story that I loved, and although I saw it coming, it was still very entertaining, and dramatic, and Brown handled it perfectly, which slightly makes up for the rest.

Final Verdict

This was a very interesting, and mysterious novel, that was also at time entertaining. It was however nowhere near the same level of quality as Da Vinci Code, and some of the twists were really disappointing. At the same time it was a very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers, or Dan Brown novels, but would also say not to have high expectations.

Rating: 3.5/5