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A Year To Learn a Woman
Die Journalistin Claire lebt alleine mit ihrer Tochter Annie in Dunedin, Neuseeland. Eines Tages nimmt Claire das Angebot an, eine Biographie über den Serienvergewaltiger Travis Crill zu schreiben. Als sie ihn zum ersten Mal im Gefängnis interviewt, trifft sie auf einen charmanten, äußerst intelligenten Mann. Doch als sie von Travis in ein persönliches Gespräch verwickelt wird, beschleicht Claire ein unheimliches Gefü Hat der Täter gerade ihr Sommerhaus und ihren Vogelbrunnen beschrieben? Obwohl sie weiß, dass der Mann hinter Gittern sitzt, fühlt sie sich von ihm bedroht. Und dann passiert das Travis bricht aus, und ihre Tochter Annie verschwindet spurlos …
353 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 18, 2017
With her second foray into full-length fiction, Dunedin creative writing teacher and experienced short story author Paddy Richardson delves into darkness. Avoiding the murder-centric plots of many in the genre, she spins a tale based on a freelance journalist hired to write the biography of a notorious serial rapist.
Struggling solo mother Claire Wright is approached by a dodgy lawyer to pen the story of Travis Crill, a reviled sex offender. Wright’s need for money combines with growing curiosity to overwhelm her many qualms. She finds herself delving into Crill’s mysterious past, his victim’s anguish, and her own fears as she tries to complete a book even she doesn’t know why she’s writing. Increasingly, Wright wonders why Crill struck only once a year, how he knows so much about her, and why even from behind bars, he seems in control.
Unfortunately, the promise of Richardson’s intriguing set-up is left unfulfilled, undone somewhat by occasional plot holes, wooden supporting characters, an unsatisfying ending that barely avoids deus ex machina, and a protagonist that doesn’t really pull the reader along. While the book is readable, and there are some shining moments involving the character of Wright’s daughter, overall I was left disappointed, especially with what might have been.
Struggling solo mother Claire Wright is approached by a dodgy lawyer to pen the story of Travis Crill, a reviled sex offender. Wright’s need for money combines with growing curiosity to overwhelm her many qualms. She finds herself delving into Crill’s mysterious past, his victim’s anguish, and her own fears as she tries to complete a book even she doesn’t know why she’s writing. Increasingly, Wright wonders why Crill struck only once a year, how he knows so much about her, and why even from behind bars, he seems in control.
Unfortunately, the promise of Richardson’s intriguing set-up is left unfulfilled, undone somewhat by occasional plot holes, wooden supporting characters, an unsatisfying ending that barely avoids deus ex machina, and a protagonist that doesn’t really pull the reader along. While the book is readable, and there are some shining moments involving the character of Wright’s daughter, overall I was left disappointed, especially with what might have been.
January 17, 2019
Not a bad NZ read. The characters were engaging enough to keep turning the pages. Did start getting impatient for something to happen towards the end and even though I was pleased the ending wasn’t far fetched and unbelievable there wasn’t much wow factor.
June 16, 2018
🐁🐁🐁
Paddy Richardson
Der Frauenfänger
(auch unter dem Titel "Der Vogelbrunnen" erschienen)
448 Seiten
Zuerst einmal finde ich die Bezeichnung, es sei ein Thriller, etwas irreführend.
Von Beginn an ist es eher ein Roman über die Beziehung einer Mutter zu ihrer Tochter. Der "Frauenfänger" und seine Geschichte laufen eher nebenher als dass sie Hauptbestandteil des Romans sind.
Erst auf den letzten entwickelt sich eine Spannung, die an einen Krimi reicht.
Es lässt sich gut und leicht weglesen und wer es unblutig mag, ist hier genau richtig.
Paddy Richardson
Der Frauenfänger
(auch unter dem Titel "Der Vogelbrunnen" erschienen)
448 Seiten
Zuerst einmal finde ich die Bezeichnung, es sei ein Thriller, etwas irreführend.
Von Beginn an ist es eher ein Roman über die Beziehung einer Mutter zu ihrer Tochter. Der "Frauenfänger" und seine Geschichte laufen eher nebenher als dass sie Hauptbestandteil des Romans sind.
Erst auf den letzten entwickelt sich eine Spannung, die an einen Krimi reicht.
Es lässt sich gut und leicht weglesen und wer es unblutig mag, ist hier genau richtig.
May 27, 2018
Eigentlich kein Thriller, sondern ein Roman über Mutter und Tochter. Nebenbei werden die Taten eines Serienvergewaltigers aufgerollt.
Kein schlechtes Buch, auf den letzten 30 Seiten dann doch etwas "Thrill", aber kein must read.
Kein schlechtes Buch, auf den letzten 30 Seiten dann doch etwas "Thrill", aber kein must read.
May 20, 2009
A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN is the second novel and first crime fiction offering from New Zealand writer Paddy Richardson. Travis Crill is a serial rapist - convicted and jailed for a series of bizarre attacks. Claire Wright is a freelance journalist, living alone with her young daughter after the sudden death of her older husband. When Claire is first contacted to see if she would be interested in writing the story of Crill for a very much needed large sum of money, she finds she can quickly overcome her initial reluctance to look closely at a man like him. But understanding Crill's story means that Claire must also look closely at the impact of his crimes on his victims and she gradually comes to realise that, despite being in jail and not in regular contact with Claire, Crill seems strangely to be in control.
A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN is broken down into a series of chapters from various characters viewpoints - Claire, her daughter Annie and many of Crill's victims. There are also scattered chapters written from Crill's own viewpoint. It seemed that this styling is what makes this a very disquieting book. Being inside the heads of the victim's is a sobering experience. Interspersing that with the normal daily life of Claire and Annie, moving backwards in time to when Annie was a baby, and into the current with Annie a teenager, and Claire - firstly trying to decide if she is willing to take the commission to write Crill's story, and then working through the research required to start the book.
One of the factors that most interests Claire is that Crill doesn't really have a classic rapist profile (if there is such a thing). His attacks are yearly - and he uses that year to stalk and "learn" his victims. He seems less motivated by the need for power and control and more by a need for love and acceptance. He seems to come from a very stable family background, he holds down a job, is a very attractive man. His crimes are terrifying, but odd, sad, very strange. It's possibly this dichotomy of character that interests Claire, that draws her into the story. Crill doesn't seem that threatening.
A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN is one of those deceptively creepy, sneaky, slow building tense books, that frankly is extremely discomforting to read. The story moves from the mundane, to the discomforting, from the research to the reality of dealing with a serial criminal very deftly. There is a rapid build up at the end and a resolution which, whilst there is a point at which you can start to see it coming, is still frightening and sobering. It's not often that a crime fiction book makes you want to leave the lights on. A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN did that and made me want to wait to finish it until I was sure I wasn't home alone!
A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN is broken down into a series of chapters from various characters viewpoints - Claire, her daughter Annie and many of Crill's victims. There are also scattered chapters written from Crill's own viewpoint. It seemed that this styling is what makes this a very disquieting book. Being inside the heads of the victim's is a sobering experience. Interspersing that with the normal daily life of Claire and Annie, moving backwards in time to when Annie was a baby, and into the current with Annie a teenager, and Claire - firstly trying to decide if she is willing to take the commission to write Crill's story, and then working through the research required to start the book.
One of the factors that most interests Claire is that Crill doesn't really have a classic rapist profile (if there is such a thing). His attacks are yearly - and he uses that year to stalk and "learn" his victims. He seems less motivated by the need for power and control and more by a need for love and acceptance. He seems to come from a very stable family background, he holds down a job, is a very attractive man. His crimes are terrifying, but odd, sad, very strange. It's possibly this dichotomy of character that interests Claire, that draws her into the story. Crill doesn't seem that threatening.
A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN is one of those deceptively creepy, sneaky, slow building tense books, that frankly is extremely discomforting to read. The story moves from the mundane, to the discomforting, from the research to the reality of dealing with a serial criminal very deftly. There is a rapid build up at the end and a resolution which, whilst there is a point at which you can start to see it coming, is still frightening and sobering. It's not often that a crime fiction book makes you want to leave the lights on. A YEAR TO LEARN A WOMAN did that and made me want to wait to finish it until I was sure I wasn't home alone!
August 26, 2014
What a writer! I am so pleased to have discovered this wonderful author from New Zealand. Richardson lives in Dunedin, in the South Island and this landscape features strongly in her work.
This is the second novel I've read of hers and I am out hunting down her other two novels. She is very talented and I highly recommended her work to anyone who wants a great story, very well crafted characters and stories which are absorbing and keep you turning the pages even when you should be out there doing something else.
In this story, Claire Wright is a freelance writer who became widowed at a young age. She lives with her teenage daughter and together they have a pleasant suburban life in Christchurch. Out of the blue is is asked to write the authorised biography of a serial rapist who is in prison and has specifically asked for her to ghost write the book. Although full of apprehension Claire takes on the contact due it the huge amount of money she will be paid for it, money which will alloy her and Annie to be able to travel and pay for university fees.
Doing the research leads to contact with Travis Crill, the rapist, and his six victims. There is a lot of discussion among Claire and friends about rape and the impacts on their lives as they become involved in the details of the crime.
At school Annie meets a new arrival, Savannah, from USA who is forceful and possessive and they become best friends. Savannah isn't a great influence and over the year Annie's life turns upside down.
As I read I knew we were heading for disaster, I just couldn't see from which direction it was coming or what form it was going to take...i just braced myself for it and read on! It was like bracing for a car crash and when it happened, it was dramatic, but well handled and resolved. Stunning book. Read everything she's written.
Hunting Blind is her latest.
This is the second novel I've read of hers and I am out hunting down her other two novels. She is very talented and I highly recommended her work to anyone who wants a great story, very well crafted characters and stories which are absorbing and keep you turning the pages even when you should be out there doing something else.
In this story, Claire Wright is a freelance writer who became widowed at a young age. She lives with her teenage daughter and together they have a pleasant suburban life in Christchurch. Out of the blue is is asked to write the authorised biography of a serial rapist who is in prison and has specifically asked for her to ghost write the book. Although full of apprehension Claire takes on the contact due it the huge amount of money she will be paid for it, money which will alloy her and Annie to be able to travel and pay for university fees.
Doing the research leads to contact with Travis Crill, the rapist, and his six victims. There is a lot of discussion among Claire and friends about rape and the impacts on their lives as they become involved in the details of the crime.
At school Annie meets a new arrival, Savannah, from USA who is forceful and possessive and they become best friends. Savannah isn't a great influence and over the year Annie's life turns upside down.
As I read I knew we were heading for disaster, I just couldn't see from which direction it was coming or what form it was going to take...i just braced myself for it and read on! It was like bracing for a car crash and when it happened, it was dramatic, but well handled and resolved. Stunning book. Read everything she's written.
Hunting Blind is her latest.
January 20, 2009
I have quite mixed feeling about this book. While I thought the premise was interesting I was annoyed by how naive both the mother and daughter were in terms of their respective predicaments. Without giving anything away, I was also horrified by the mother’s unethical research methodologies. What this book actual said about rape still puzzles me and frankly some aspects make me uneasy. I wish someone else could read this so we compare viewpoints! Maybe I’ll adjust this review when I think more about the book....
June 14, 2013
Absolutely spine tingling and very very addictive!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews