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Jackdaw #1
Jackdaw
Rechercheur Scarlett Delaney arriveert op de plaats delict van een onmogelijke de onthoofding van een beroemde socialite tijdens een drukbezocht feest, gruwelijke foto's die op haar eigen sociale media werden geüpload en haar lichaam dat vervolgens op onverklaarbare wijze verdween. De derde moord in korte tijd, met dezelfde handelswijze... ongetwijfeld het werk van de door de media genaamde Jackdaw killer.
Scarlett moet samenwerken met Henry Devlin, de knappe en charmante ‘privédetective’ die is ingehuurd om te doen wat de politie niet lijkt te kunnen. De eerste misstap van de Jackdaw biedt hen een onverwachte kans om daadwerkelijk een leven te redden. Maar zal de aantrekkingskracht van hun eigenbelang en hun tikkende tijdbom van een relatie lang genoeg standhouden om hen beiden veilig tot het bittere einde te helpen?
Scarlett moet samenwerken met Henry Devlin, de knappe en charmante ‘privédetective’ die is ingehuurd om te doen wat de politie niet lijkt te kunnen. De eerste misstap van de Jackdaw biedt hen een onverwachte kans om daadwerkelijk een leven te redden. Maar zal de aantrekkingskracht van hun eigenbelang en hun tikkende tijdbom van een relatie lang genoeg standhouden om hen beiden veilig tot het bittere einde te helpen?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
88 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Cole
43 books962 followersAt 33 years old, Daniel Cole has worked as a paramedic, an RSPCA officer and most recently for the RNLI, driven by an intrinsic need to save people or perhaps just a guilty conscience about the number of characters he kills off in his writing.
He has received a three-book publishing and television deal for his debut crime series which publishers and producers describe as “pulse-racing” and “exceptional”.
Daniel currently lives in sunny Bournemouth and can usually be found down the beach when he ought to be writing book two in the Nathan Wolfe series instead.
Ragdoll is his first novel.
He has received a three-book publishing and television deal for his debut crime series which publishers and producers describe as “pulse-racing” and “exceptional”.
Daniel currently lives in sunny Bournemouth and can usually be found down the beach when he ought to be writing book two in the Nathan Wolfe series instead.
Ragdoll is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
October 10, 2023
Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
Writing: above avg for the most part | Plot: Blacklist meets The Gray Man meets The Man From Toronto | Ending: NEEEEDDD MOOOOOREEEEEE
SYNOPSIS
Detective Scarlette Delaney teams up with a sketchy guy allegedly named Henry Devlin to find the Jackdaw killer.
MY OPINION
I'm gonna keep it 100—I had no idea what a jackdaw is. I just thought it was a funky name for a serial killer. Thankfully, Google is free so I learned something new. Anyways. If you decide to pick this up, remember two things: 1) suspension of disbelief? nah YEETAGE of disbelief is required. 2) Daniel Cole himself said he writes 'cinematically' and goes beyond the confines of fiction. You can really see that in his Hangman series and that vibe is large and in charge in Jackdaw as well.
If you can yeet your disbelief and buckle in for a cinematic plot, this is super fun. Although the writing quality was a lil inconsistent (at times very closed captiony), his trademark satire and wit shines through. He has a way of crafting unique characters and biting dialogue. I was scared Scarlette was going to be Baxter 2.0 (one of my most-hated FMCs), but she looked like an angel in comparison. Plus her backstory??? JUIIICCYYYYYYYY!!! I hope he explores this more at length in the following novels because it's one of my FAVE 'tropes' for lack of better word.
I may be repeating myself here, but I want to make it clear that this book is NOT for everyone. It's a spy/assassin thriller that leans more toward John Wick than Gone Girl. If you liked What Have We Done, you may vibe with this. If you're a Freida/Feeney/domestic thriller girlie, you will not. As I said above, this is a mash up of The Blacklist + The Gray Man + The Man From Toronto. Not one speck of realism can be located here.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fast-paced, fun, entertaining, witty, great intro to a series (I can't wait for more!)
Cons: many people will find this too implausible
Writing: above avg for the most part | Plot: Blacklist meets The Gray Man meets The Man From Toronto | Ending: NEEEEDDD MOOOOOREEEEEE
SYNOPSIS
Detective Scarlette Delaney teams up with a sketchy guy allegedly named Henry Devlin to find the Jackdaw killer.
MY OPINION
I'm gonna keep it 100—I had no idea what a jackdaw is. I just thought it was a funky name for a serial killer. Thankfully, Google is free so I learned something new. Anyways. If you decide to pick this up, remember two things: 1) suspension of disbelief? nah YEETAGE of disbelief is required. 2) Daniel Cole himself said he writes 'cinematically' and goes beyond the confines of fiction. You can really see that in his Hangman series and that vibe is large and in charge in Jackdaw as well.
If you can yeet your disbelief and buckle in for a cinematic plot, this is super fun. Although the writing quality was a lil inconsistent (at times very closed captiony), his trademark satire and wit shines through. He has a way of crafting unique characters and biting dialogue. I was scared Scarlette was going to be Baxter 2.0 (one of my most-hated FMCs), but she looked like an angel in comparison. Plus her backstory??? JUIIICCYYYYYYYY!!! I hope he explores this more at length in the following novels because it's one of my FAVE 'tropes' for lack of better word.
I may be repeating myself here, but I want to make it clear that this book is NOT for everyone. It's a spy/assassin thriller that leans more toward John Wick than Gone Girl. If you liked What Have We Done, you may vibe with this. If you're a Freida/Feeney/domestic thriller girlie, you will not. As I said above, this is a mash up of The Blacklist + The Gray Man + The Man From Toronto. Not one speck of realism can be located here.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fast-paced, fun, entertaining, witty, great intro to a series (I can't wait for more!)
Cons: many people will find this too implausible
September 8, 2023
4.5 stars
Matthew Lewis’ job is to monitor and remove offensive social media (he’s a job and a half there) when he finds some horrifying images which sadly, are not the first. This is the infamous Jackdaw Killer and gruesome doesn’t quite cover it. Three murders, a unique signature and an aptly chosen moniker, is this killer untouchable?
DC Scarlett Delaney, who has a difficult background, and though a relative newbie to the force is drawn into the case alongside her mentor and father figure, DS Frank Ash. Scarlett’s first meeting with Henry Devlin is humorously inauspicious. Who is Devlin? Think Ray Donovan but way better dressed and much funnier, which isn’t hard. Scarlett reluctantly teams up with Devlin, it’s an uneasy alliance and will it prove to be her undoing?
It’s been a while since I read a Daniel Cole novel and I’m now asking myself why as I love this book! I thoroughly enjoy the way he writes this mystery thriller as I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time. There’s dark humour, witty dialogue, droll and clever chapter headings and exceptionally ‘colourful’ events usually occur when Henry is on the page. His humour could be described as deadpan.
The characterisation is outstanding in my opinion, they are all so well crafted that they are easy to visualise. I love Scarlett who has to be so much smarter than her fellow officers so she can be taken seriously and I enjoy the way she achieves results as you certainly have ‘fun’ along the route. Frank is wonderful and I really like the relationship between him and Scarlett which is complex but fascinating. I even like Henry, which if you read this may be hard to believe, but that man has the charm of the devil. The dialogue between all of them is high-quality and authentic.
There are some scenes that are totally bonkers, completely mad, but they are vivid, creative and so horribly entertaining, almost Hollywood worthy, that I relish every minute. It’s a fast paced, constantly changing plot, it’s gritty and dark, there is never a dull moment, and I don’t see some things coming. There are definitely some shocks and things that pull on the emotional heartstrings. As for the settings, they are all so well chosen especially for the grand finale and what an enticing end.
Overall, this is a mad caper which is peppered with humour and is a genuine page turner. I hope there’s a sequel as Scarlett is too good a character for a one off.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Matthew Lewis’ job is to monitor and remove offensive social media (he’s a job and a half there) when he finds some horrifying images which sadly, are not the first. This is the infamous Jackdaw Killer and gruesome doesn’t quite cover it. Three murders, a unique signature and an aptly chosen moniker, is this killer untouchable?
DC Scarlett Delaney, who has a difficult background, and though a relative newbie to the force is drawn into the case alongside her mentor and father figure, DS Frank Ash. Scarlett’s first meeting with Henry Devlin is humorously inauspicious. Who is Devlin? Think Ray Donovan but way better dressed and much funnier, which isn’t hard. Scarlett reluctantly teams up with Devlin, it’s an uneasy alliance and will it prove to be her undoing?
It’s been a while since I read a Daniel Cole novel and I’m now asking myself why as I love this book! I thoroughly enjoy the way he writes this mystery thriller as I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time. There’s dark humour, witty dialogue, droll and clever chapter headings and exceptionally ‘colourful’ events usually occur when Henry is on the page. His humour could be described as deadpan.
The characterisation is outstanding in my opinion, they are all so well crafted that they are easy to visualise. I love Scarlett who has to be so much smarter than her fellow officers so she can be taken seriously and I enjoy the way she achieves results as you certainly have ‘fun’ along the route. Frank is wonderful and I really like the relationship between him and Scarlett which is complex but fascinating. I even like Henry, which if you read this may be hard to believe, but that man has the charm of the devil. The dialogue between all of them is high-quality and authentic.
There are some scenes that are totally bonkers, completely mad, but they are vivid, creative and so horribly entertaining, almost Hollywood worthy, that I relish every minute. It’s a fast paced, constantly changing plot, it’s gritty and dark, there is never a dull moment, and I don’t see some things coming. There are definitely some shocks and things that pull on the emotional heartstrings. As for the settings, they are all so well chosen especially for the grand finale and what an enticing end.
Overall, this is a mad caper which is peppered with humour and is a genuine page turner. I hope there’s a sequel as Scarlett is too good a character for a one off.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 9, 2024
A series of gruesome murders with the same signature has Detective Constable Scarlett Delaney and her mentor Detective Sergeant Frank Ash searching for The Jackdaw, a brutal killer who likes to decapitate his victims leaving five scratches across their faces. Scarlett, the daughter of a serial killer herself, is determined to prove her worth to her colleagues, even if it means keeping secrets from her mentor or defying orders. In the course of her investigation, she meets an enigmatic character Henry Devlin who claims to be a private investigator hired by the latest victim’s father to find the killer. Scarlett reluctantly teams up with Devlin whom she finds to be quite resourceful and as the narrative progresses it appears that Devlin has his own agenda. As the bodies begin to pile up, Scarlett and Devlin rush to find the killer before he/she strikes again.
Well-paced and gritty with an intriguing plot and a good dose of wit and dark humor to keep you entertained Jackdaw by Daniel Cole is an engaging read! I liked DC Scarlett Delaney and found the character of Devlin to be quite interesting. This is the first in a new series by the author and I would definitely be interested to read the next book. You will need to suspend disbelief but that is to be expected in this genre. The best would be to not overthink it and enjoy the ride. This was my first time reading Daniel Cole and I am eager to explore more of his work.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Jackdaw was published on October 10, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Well-paced and gritty with an intriguing plot and a good dose of wit and dark humor to keep you entertained Jackdaw by Daniel Cole is an engaging read! I liked DC Scarlett Delaney and found the character of Devlin to be quite interesting. This is the first in a new series by the author and I would definitely be interested to read the next book. You will need to suspend disbelief but that is to be expected in this genre. The best would be to not overthink it and enjoy the ride. This was my first time reading Daniel Cole and I am eager to explore more of his work.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Jackdaw was published on October 10, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
October 9, 2023
Detective Scarlett Delaney and her partner, Detective Frank Ash were following a mystifying and brutal case, where the Jackdaw would kill, beheading the victim and removing the body, leaving the head in a prominent place. Frank was at the end of his career while Scarlett was at the beginning of hers, and Frank kept a weathered eye on his protégé, knowing he'd do anything to have her back.
When Scarlett met the enigmatic Henry Devlin, himself a criminal, she discovered Henry was also after the Jackdaw. Forming an uneasy alliance, and neglecting to mention it to Frank, Scarlett found the reasoning of the case, the systematic working out of the Jackdaw's steps as she and Henry investigated, helped her with her superiors. Were they getting closer to discovering who had the city on edge?
Jackdaw is the 1st in the Jackdaw series by Daniel Cole and is a fast paced thriller, with plenty of action. Scarlett is a fairly naive character, and I liked Frank very much. And Henry - smooth, sophisticated, charming - turned heads, especially those of the ladies! The novel was complex, with a lot of characters to keep track of, and I found myself wondering who "that" was occasionally! But all in all, it was an enjoyable read; a gripping thriller. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Scarlett met the enigmatic Henry Devlin, himself a criminal, she discovered Henry was also after the Jackdaw. Forming an uneasy alliance, and neglecting to mention it to Frank, Scarlett found the reasoning of the case, the systematic working out of the Jackdaw's steps as she and Henry investigated, helped her with her superiors. Were they getting closer to discovering who had the city on edge?
Jackdaw is the 1st in the Jackdaw series by Daniel Cole and is a fast paced thriller, with plenty of action. Scarlett is a fairly naive character, and I liked Frank very much. And Henry - smooth, sophisticated, charming - turned heads, especially those of the ladies! The novel was complex, with a lot of characters to keep track of, and I found myself wondering who "that" was occasionally! But all in all, it was an enjoyable read; a gripping thriller. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2023
JACKDAW is a standalone gripping crime thriller by British author Daniel Cole. Having loved his brilliant debut novel, RAGDOLL, that began as a rejected TV screenplay, that was later adopted to a novel, I was anxious to start his second standalone novel, Jackdaw. This novel reminded me of SE7EN but with dark humour throughout. This novel is not for the squeamish.
This novel centers around an ambitious detective and a charming assassin... and their hunt for a serial killer.
Series
Ragdoll
1. Ragdoll (2017)
2. Hangman (2018)
3. Endgame (2019)
Novels
Mimic (2021)
Jackdaw (2023)
This is my review of Jackdaw.
Daughter of a serial killer herself, Detective Scarlett Delaney hasn’t been on the force for long when she finds herself heading up a new case…a hunt for a serial killer who brutally murders his victims. With three impossible murders to date, leaving each of the victims with calling-card scratches, the killer known only as “Jackdaw” as he takes bright objects from each victim, as a keepsake. The actual meaning of “Jackdaw” is a black and grey bird of the crow family, known for taking bright objects back to its nest.
Then Scarlett meets the charismatic but dangerous criminal, Henry Devlin, who is also looking for Jackdaw. Together, they join forces, but as they get closer to their prey, the threat surrounding Scarlett becomes stronger.
Scarlett’s partner and mentor Frank Ash is concerned that she is hiding things from him and she struggles to keep her meetings with Henry a secret.
This is not Scarlett’s first encounter with a serial killer. She must start to think and get into the mindset of a serial killer.
This was a great fast-paced well written crime thriller with a constantly changing plot. It was gritty and dark packed with twists and turns. A great read!
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
This novel centers around an ambitious detective and a charming assassin... and their hunt for a serial killer.
Series
Ragdoll
1. Ragdoll (2017)
2. Hangman (2018)
3. Endgame (2019)
Novels
Mimic (2021)
Jackdaw (2023)
This is my review of Jackdaw.
Daughter of a serial killer herself, Detective Scarlett Delaney hasn’t been on the force for long when she finds herself heading up a new case…a hunt for a serial killer who brutally murders his victims. With three impossible murders to date, leaving each of the victims with calling-card scratches, the killer known only as “Jackdaw” as he takes bright objects from each victim, as a keepsake. The actual meaning of “Jackdaw” is a black and grey bird of the crow family, known for taking bright objects back to its nest.
Then Scarlett meets the charismatic but dangerous criminal, Henry Devlin, who is also looking for Jackdaw. Together, they join forces, but as they get closer to their prey, the threat surrounding Scarlett becomes stronger.
Scarlett’s partner and mentor Frank Ash is concerned that she is hiding things from him and she struggles to keep her meetings with Henry a secret.
This is not Scarlett’s first encounter with a serial killer. She must start to think and get into the mindset of a serial killer.
This was a great fast-paced well written crime thriller with a constantly changing plot. It was gritty and dark packed with twists and turns. A great read!
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
September 27, 2023
I'm probably not alone when I got quite excited to see new Daniel Cole, having loved the Ragdoll series. However Jackdaw is simply not in the same class.
At first it gives the impression of being in the same genre of thriller - quite gory with unnerving undertones of something truly sinister - but then you get the first "joke" and you think huh? After four or five of these attempts at humour you realise that Daniel Cole is trying to switch up the thriller genre to something with a bit more of a fun side. For me, this really didn't work.
I also found the characters of Henry Devlin - handsome assassin about town and Scarlett Delaney - daughter of a serial killer turned cop - to be really quite irritating.
The plot was somewhat ridiculous and the reasons for Scarlett's required demise made no sense by the end of the book.
In fact the only thing I really liked about the book was DS Frank Ash otherwise I thought it a bit silly and disappointing.
I note from the acknowledgements that there will be more to this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advance review copy.
At first it gives the impression of being in the same genre of thriller - quite gory with unnerving undertones of something truly sinister - but then you get the first "joke" and you think huh? After four or five of these attempts at humour you realise that Daniel Cole is trying to switch up the thriller genre to something with a bit more of a fun side. For me, this really didn't work.
I also found the characters of Henry Devlin - handsome assassin about town and Scarlett Delaney - daughter of a serial killer turned cop - to be really quite irritating.
The plot was somewhat ridiculous and the reasons for Scarlett's required demise made no sense by the end of the book.
In fact the only thing I really liked about the book was DS Frank Ash otherwise I thought it a bit silly and disappointing.
I note from the acknowledgements that there will be more to this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advance review copy.
December 23, 2023
Having quite enjoyed the previous work by Daniel Cole, I reached for this series debut to see if it matched up. Cole weaves a strong tale and keeps the action high, as a serial killer stalks a community. The only hope within the police is a detective who has a close connection to murder herself, though she is using it all as a means to get to the heart of the matter. As the bodies stack up, someone will have to catch this killer or there is no guarantee that anything will end peacefully. Cole adds intensity to this book that paves the way for a great series.
Detective Scarlett Delaney is new to the police force when she is thrust into the middle of an odd and mystifying murder investigation. The offspring of a serial killer herself, Detective Delaney has something that many do not have, an eye for the crime and a connection to someone who might offer her some insights. Three victims have been killed, left with an odd scratch on their bodies. The killer is deemed the Jackdaw, but has yet to manifest and allow anyone to create a sensible profile.
With various shiny baubles taken from the victims, Detective Delaney will have to work to build something out of nothing. When she encounters a criminal by the name of Henry Devlin, Detective Delaney realises that this could be her out. Devlin also has issue with the Jackdaw, which fuels the connection. Working together, Detective Delaney and Devlin form an odd alliance, geared towards capturing the Jackdaw before more bodies appear.
Working a number of leads, Devlin entices Detective Delaney to dig deeper as they try to get to the core of the matter. It will take a great deal of effort and intense accusations to find a killer, though it might be worth it for the two of them. Daniel Cole offers up a sensational introduction to this series and keeps the reader guessing throughout.
Daniel Cole has a knack for adding graphic content to keep the stories going. He did so in the past and does once more here, shaping a killer an intense game of cat and mouse. A strong narrative base helps provide the needed foundation and leaves the reader begging for more. Development adds momentum and soon the reader is fully invested.
Character development is key to getting the reader to connect with the story. Detective Scarlett Delaney does a great job at luring the reader into this piece and keeping them wondering as things progress. With strong views and great crime skills, Detective Delaney helps push the story along. Other characters do well too, prodding just what is needed to keep things sharp and on edge. I am eager to see how some of these characters develop throughout the series, as this is sure to be something of great intensity.
Plot twists develop from the opening pages and keep the reader on edge. Cole is able to craft the story to his liking and does not stand down at any point. This provides a strong core set of values and leaving the reader wanting more. In a series that is sure to be based on mysterious developments, Cole has the reader begging for more and develops various ways to surprise them. I am eager to see what is to come and hoe Daniel Cole will lure the reader once more.
Kudos, Mr. Cole, for a great opening novel to this series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Detective Scarlett Delaney is new to the police force when she is thrust into the middle of an odd and mystifying murder investigation. The offspring of a serial killer herself, Detective Delaney has something that many do not have, an eye for the crime and a connection to someone who might offer her some insights. Three victims have been killed, left with an odd scratch on their bodies. The killer is deemed the Jackdaw, but has yet to manifest and allow anyone to create a sensible profile.
With various shiny baubles taken from the victims, Detective Delaney will have to work to build something out of nothing. When she encounters a criminal by the name of Henry Devlin, Detective Delaney realises that this could be her out. Devlin also has issue with the Jackdaw, which fuels the connection. Working together, Detective Delaney and Devlin form an odd alliance, geared towards capturing the Jackdaw before more bodies appear.
Working a number of leads, Devlin entices Detective Delaney to dig deeper as they try to get to the core of the matter. It will take a great deal of effort and intense accusations to find a killer, though it might be worth it for the two of them. Daniel Cole offers up a sensational introduction to this series and keeps the reader guessing throughout.
Daniel Cole has a knack for adding graphic content to keep the stories going. He did so in the past and does once more here, shaping a killer an intense game of cat and mouse. A strong narrative base helps provide the needed foundation and leaves the reader begging for more. Development adds momentum and soon the reader is fully invested.
Character development is key to getting the reader to connect with the story. Detective Scarlett Delaney does a great job at luring the reader into this piece and keeping them wondering as things progress. With strong views and great crime skills, Detective Delaney helps push the story along. Other characters do well too, prodding just what is needed to keep things sharp and on edge. I am eager to see how some of these characters develop throughout the series, as this is sure to be something of great intensity.
Plot twists develop from the opening pages and keep the reader on edge. Cole is able to craft the story to his liking and does not stand down at any point. This provides a strong core set of values and leaving the reader wanting more. In a series that is sure to be based on mysterious developments, Cole has the reader begging for more and develops various ways to surprise them. I am eager to see what is to come and hoe Daniel Cole will lure the reader once more.
Kudos, Mr. Cole, for a great opening novel to this series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 24, 2024
I powered through this crime novel. An interesting twist on the serial killer themed books. I really liked it. It’s got pace and plenty to hold your interest from start to finish. No slow boring bits (hurrah!). I finished this at 5 in the morning! I had to finish it. Daniel Cole (Author of Ragdoll amongst other bestselling books, check out ,y review of that) is a really great writer. I’m definitely reading even more by him.
Detective Scarlett Delaney is new to the force when she lands slap bang in the middle of the hunt for a serial killer who gruesomely murders his victims. Then they seem to vanish into thin air. Scarlett is the daughter of an infamous serial killer herself and that plays a part in the plot.
The serial killer she is hunting for is named “The Jackdaw” as he/she takes a shiny token from each victim. Enter Henry Devlin, a charismatic but dangerous criminal with his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw. Together, they form an uneasy alliance, but as they get closer to their prey, the threat surrounding Scarlett intensifies. Scarlett has a close bond with a fellow Detective and there is a great story behind that.
I loved both Scarlett and Henry as main characters and their relationship is complicated and it’s like watching the dance of two moths seeking out the same flame. The dynamics between a criminal (and he is a very bad boy) and a Detective is unusual indeed. Think James Bond (handsome, suave, clever and bold) meets Agent Scully. An attractive redhead with oodles of ambition.
The Author Daniel Cole has a brilliant imagination as the methods of killing and disposal of the bodies are both complex and clever. Very clever thinking to make the storyline diverse. Loved that. I was genuinely surprised by the ways this killer commits the killings. Very unique.
It barrels along with plenty of twists and surprises. So much is intertwined in the plot but in no way does it get confusing. The writing is really good. I cannot wait for the next in this series. A solid 4 stars for The Jackdaw. If you love crime you’ll really enjoy this.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing for my ARC via NetGalley. Publication date is October 10th 2023.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
Detective Scarlett Delaney is new to the force when she lands slap bang in the middle of the hunt for a serial killer who gruesomely murders his victims. Then they seem to vanish into thin air. Scarlett is the daughter of an infamous serial killer herself and that plays a part in the plot.
The serial killer she is hunting for is named “The Jackdaw” as he/she takes a shiny token from each victim. Enter Henry Devlin, a charismatic but dangerous criminal with his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw. Together, they form an uneasy alliance, but as they get closer to their prey, the threat surrounding Scarlett intensifies. Scarlett has a close bond with a fellow Detective and there is a great story behind that.
I loved both Scarlett and Henry as main characters and their relationship is complicated and it’s like watching the dance of two moths seeking out the same flame. The dynamics between a criminal (and he is a very bad boy) and a Detective is unusual indeed. Think James Bond (handsome, suave, clever and bold) meets Agent Scully. An attractive redhead with oodles of ambition.
The Author Daniel Cole has a brilliant imagination as the methods of killing and disposal of the bodies are both complex and clever. Very clever thinking to make the storyline diverse. Loved that. I was genuinely surprised by the ways this killer commits the killings. Very unique.
It barrels along with plenty of twists and surprises. So much is intertwined in the plot but in no way does it get confusing. The writing is really good. I cannot wait for the next in this series. A solid 4 stars for The Jackdaw. If you love crime you’ll really enjoy this.
Many thanks to Storm Publishing for my ARC via NetGalley. Publication date is October 10th 2023.
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
September 21, 2023
My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ fun, entertaining and a bit OTT (but it is meant to be)!!!
Goodreads Synopsis
Daughter of a notorious murderer herself, Detective Scarlett Delaney hasn’t been on the force for long when she finds herself heading up a mystifying new case.
With three seemingly impossible murders to date, leaving each of the victims with calling-card scratches, the killer known only as “Jackdaw” feels untouchable… uncatchable, always claiming a shiny keepsake before disappearing into thin air.
That is until Scarlett encounters Henry Devlin, a charismatic but dangerous criminal with his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw.
Together, they form an uneasy alliance, but as they get closer to their prey, the threat surrounding Scarlett intensifies - from growing suspicions of her partner on the force, Henry’s ruthlessly efficient employers… and, most terrifyingly, from the very monster she is so desperately chasing…
Ok so lets get started…
I love Daniel Cole’s writing style, to be clear it is way OTT, get your head way away from this being realistic… it is not… AT ALL… it is however, a lot of fun. Its like a movie and Cole says thats how he writes so you are forewarned do not go into this expecting a realistic masterpiece…
There is a lot to enjoy in this one but first I will start with what I wasn’t loving… because there is less of that…
At first I didn’t love Scarlett and she kind of annoyed me a lot of the time, but I eventually got over it and I liked her by the end so its a bit of a meh but a bit of a goodie as well… but she starts out kinda whiny and annoying - very questionable policing but I am ok with that as thats how we know her to be.
There were a lot of spin off storylines in this book… but not many of them were fully developed. That gave me a bit of an all over the place vibe… I am ok with it because I enjoyed the book but I feel like some of the storylines could have been saved for another book… I am really REALLY hoping we get to explore Scarlett’s backstory…. I enjoy something different and we do not get those POVs very often…
AND one of the characters that I really liked well… something happens that I didn’t like… and without spoilers I can’t go into it but I didn’t feel that Scarlett treated it with the anger/emotion that I would have… given the circumstances… but I shall leave that there…
Onto the good things… the writing for the most part was really good… very entertaining and engaging. It was fun and suspenseful… it gave you everything you need in an action thriller vibe. I had trouble putting it down and that’s exactly how I like my books.
Dare I say it.. I liked Henry… (mostly) he was the baddie but he was the kind of baddie you almost want to be the goodie… or was he the goodie…oooh its hard to tell… .its like those movies where you end up rooting for the one that is touted as the baddie from the start… I like something different we can’t always have the same story day after day… that gets boring … this as not boring.
I enjoyed the humour that Cole always has throughout his books… this is a dark subject matter… I mean people get decapitated… thats not a spoiler it happens straight away… thats pretty hectic… but its kind of funny as well… not everyone can pull of a decapitation and make jokes. So well done!!
Overall, if you are looking for a story that is realistic and follows the rules… move along this is not for you. If you want something outrageous and fun and full of action… then this might just be for you. I hope this is a series because I will definitely keep reading!!!
Goodreads Synopsis
Daughter of a notorious murderer herself, Detective Scarlett Delaney hasn’t been on the force for long when she finds herself heading up a mystifying new case.
With three seemingly impossible murders to date, leaving each of the victims with calling-card scratches, the killer known only as “Jackdaw” feels untouchable… uncatchable, always claiming a shiny keepsake before disappearing into thin air.
That is until Scarlett encounters Henry Devlin, a charismatic but dangerous criminal with his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw.
Together, they form an uneasy alliance, but as they get closer to their prey, the threat surrounding Scarlett intensifies - from growing suspicions of her partner on the force, Henry’s ruthlessly efficient employers… and, most terrifyingly, from the very monster she is so desperately chasing…
Ok so lets get started…
I love Daniel Cole’s writing style, to be clear it is way OTT, get your head way away from this being realistic… it is not… AT ALL… it is however, a lot of fun. Its like a movie and Cole says thats how he writes so you are forewarned do not go into this expecting a realistic masterpiece…
There is a lot to enjoy in this one but first I will start with what I wasn’t loving… because there is less of that…
At first I didn’t love Scarlett and she kind of annoyed me a lot of the time, but I eventually got over it and I liked her by the end so its a bit of a meh but a bit of a goodie as well… but she starts out kinda whiny and annoying - very questionable policing but I am ok with that as thats how we know her to be.
There were a lot of spin off storylines in this book… but not many of them were fully developed. That gave me a bit of an all over the place vibe… I am ok with it because I enjoyed the book but I feel like some of the storylines could have been saved for another book… I am really REALLY hoping we get to explore Scarlett’s backstory…. I enjoy something different and we do not get those POVs very often…
AND one of the characters that I really liked well… something happens that I didn’t like… and without spoilers I can’t go into it but I didn’t feel that Scarlett treated it with the anger/emotion that I would have… given the circumstances… but I shall leave that there…
Onto the good things… the writing for the most part was really good… very entertaining and engaging. It was fun and suspenseful… it gave you everything you need in an action thriller vibe. I had trouble putting it down and that’s exactly how I like my books.
Dare I say it.. I liked Henry… (mostly) he was the baddie but he was the kind of baddie you almost want to be the goodie… or was he the goodie…oooh its hard to tell… .its like those movies where you end up rooting for the one that is touted as the baddie from the start… I like something different we can’t always have the same story day after day… that gets boring … this as not boring.
I enjoyed the humour that Cole always has throughout his books… this is a dark subject matter… I mean people get decapitated… thats not a spoiler it happens straight away… thats pretty hectic… but its kind of funny as well… not everyone can pull of a decapitation and make jokes. So well done!!
Overall, if you are looking for a story that is realistic and follows the rules… move along this is not for you. If you want something outrageous and fun and full of action… then this might just be for you. I hope this is a series because I will definitely keep reading!!!
October 27, 2023
A cheeky police procedural full of the dark humor that characterizes Cole’s writing.
To this reader this book seemed to be written for television. Another Ragdoll series perhaps? This time Cole wanted different names, Fawkes did not worked out for obvious reasons but this time the names were a little too precious. Scarlett, her hair is, yes you guessed it..red and Henry Devlin, a take on the devil. It also seemed to me that Finlay’s character in the Fawkes and Baxter series was resurrected as Frank this time.
The pace is fast, the plot and subplots are interesting and thematically again echoes the previous series as Cole continues his critique of a police department that is full of red tape and paperwork. A police department that criticizes the journalists but want to please and use them. Since politicians control the police (like in so many Nordic Noir crime fiction books), only the work of a rogue detective can save the day and produce results, the methods he or she uses are illegal and questionable but they are the only ones that can make a difference and restore order to chaos.
I loved the book and will continue reading this series as soon as another book is released.
To this reader this book seemed to be written for television. Another Ragdoll series perhaps? This time Cole wanted different names, Fawkes did not worked out for obvious reasons but this time the names were a little too precious. Scarlett, her hair is, yes you guessed it..red and Henry Devlin, a take on the devil. It also seemed to me that Finlay’s character in the Fawkes and Baxter series was resurrected as Frank this time.
The pace is fast, the plot and subplots are interesting and thematically again echoes the previous series as Cole continues his critique of a police department that is full of red tape and paperwork. A police department that criticizes the journalists but want to please and use them. Since politicians control the police (like in so many Nordic Noir crime fiction books), only the work of a rogue detective can save the day and produce results, the methods he or she uses are illegal and questionable but they are the only ones that can make a difference and restore order to chaos.
I loved the book and will continue reading this series as soon as another book is released.
August 8, 2023
Jackdaw is het eerste deel in een nieuwe serie van Daniel Cole. Je kunt deze auteur kennen van de Ragdoll trilogie en zijn andere boek Mimic. Samen met veel andere lezers mocht ik met @ilonaslevenbijls meelezen.
Dit vond ik ervan:
Aan het begin van het boek was ik enthousiast. Per hoofdstuk was er een perspectief en de zaak werd langzaam opgebouwd. Een seriemoordenaar die alleen een hoofd achter laat na de moord, klinkt erg interessant. Helaas was het ergens in het midden dat de chaotische schrijfstijl van Cole terug kwam, wat ik in zijn eerdere boeken ook niet fijn vond. Op een pagina kunnen wel drie alinea’s staan met meerdere POV’s.
De opbouw van het verhaal was ik dus erg enthousiast over, maar hoe verder het verhaal kwam, hoe minder enthousiast ik was. Het einde vond ik teleurstellend, er waren te veel losse eindjes. Hoewel ik erg negatief klink, was het boek op zich niet slecht en ik wil je niet tegenhouden om het te gaan lezen. Misschien ben jij juist wel gecharmeerd van deze manier van schrijven. Het boek staat mooi bij zijn andere boeken.
Dit vond ik ervan:
Aan het begin van het boek was ik enthousiast. Per hoofdstuk was er een perspectief en de zaak werd langzaam opgebouwd. Een seriemoordenaar die alleen een hoofd achter laat na de moord, klinkt erg interessant. Helaas was het ergens in het midden dat de chaotische schrijfstijl van Cole terug kwam, wat ik in zijn eerdere boeken ook niet fijn vond. Op een pagina kunnen wel drie alinea’s staan met meerdere POV’s.
De opbouw van het verhaal was ik dus erg enthousiast over, maar hoe verder het verhaal kwam, hoe minder enthousiast ik was. Het einde vond ik teleurstellend, er waren te veel losse eindjes. Hoewel ik erg negatief klink, was het boek op zich niet slecht en ik wil je niet tegenhouden om het te gaan lezen. Misschien ben jij juist wel gecharmeerd van deze manier van schrijven. Het boek staat mooi bij zijn andere boeken.
July 29, 2023
Rechercheur Scarlett Delaney arriveert op de plaats delict van een onmogelijke moord: de onthoofding van een beroemde socialite tijdens een drukbezocht feest, gruwelijke foto's die op haar eigen sociale media werden geüpload en haar lichaam dat vervolgens op onverklaarbare wijze verdween. De derde moord in korte tijd, met dezelfde handelswijze... ongetwijfeld het werk van de door de media genaamde Jackdaw killer.
Scarlett moet samenwerken met Henry Devlin, de knappe en charmante ‘privédetective’ die is ingehuurd om te doen wat de politie niet lijkt te kunnen. De eerste misstap van de Jackdaw biedt hen een onverwachte kans om daadwerkelijk een leven te redden.
Maar zal de aantrekkingskracht van hun eigenbelang en hun tikkende tijdbom van een relatie lang genoeg standhouden om hen beiden veilig tot het bittere einde te helpen?
Aangezien ik 'Ragdoll' van deze auteur erg goed vond, was ik heel benieuwd naar dit nieuwste verhaal. Het is de start van een nieuwe, spannende serie en de flaptekst beloofde al veel goeds want: seriemoordenaarrrr!
Je leest over rechercheur Scarlett Delaney en de plaats delict. Er is een bekende influencer vermoord en ook nog eens op een enorm brute manier. Ze is namelijk onthoofd en haar lichaam is verdwenen. Dan volgt er nog een moord en er lijkt sprake te zijn van dezelfde dader, want ook hier wordt alleen het hoofd van een vrouw gevonden.
Ondertussen ontmoet Scarlett de knappe Henry Devlin en ik had al meteen een raar gevoel bij hem. Ik vond hem namelijk een beetje een raar personage. Henry blijkt een 'privédetective' te zijn en samen met Scarlett gaat hij op zoek naar de moordenaar, maar of dat lukt?
Ik vond 'Jackdaw' op zich een 'oké' verhaal. Er zaten wel een aantal overdreven stukken in en ik vond deze soms ook wat onrealistisch. Verder was de opbouw totaal anders dan bij 'Ragdoll' en ik miste dan ook de spanning wat meer. Het vinden van de lichamen vond ik dan wel weer interessant en op het einde zit je met nog wat vragen. Maar het is een serie, dus ik hoop dat dat in het volgende deel weer duidelijker zal worden.
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐
Scarlett moet samenwerken met Henry Devlin, de knappe en charmante ‘privédetective’ die is ingehuurd om te doen wat de politie niet lijkt te kunnen. De eerste misstap van de Jackdaw biedt hen een onverwachte kans om daadwerkelijk een leven te redden.
Maar zal de aantrekkingskracht van hun eigenbelang en hun tikkende tijdbom van een relatie lang genoeg standhouden om hen beiden veilig tot het bittere einde te helpen?
Aangezien ik 'Ragdoll' van deze auteur erg goed vond, was ik heel benieuwd naar dit nieuwste verhaal. Het is de start van een nieuwe, spannende serie en de flaptekst beloofde al veel goeds want: seriemoordenaarrrr!
Je leest over rechercheur Scarlett Delaney en de plaats delict. Er is een bekende influencer vermoord en ook nog eens op een enorm brute manier. Ze is namelijk onthoofd en haar lichaam is verdwenen. Dan volgt er nog een moord en er lijkt sprake te zijn van dezelfde dader, want ook hier wordt alleen het hoofd van een vrouw gevonden.
Ondertussen ontmoet Scarlett de knappe Henry Devlin en ik had al meteen een raar gevoel bij hem. Ik vond hem namelijk een beetje een raar personage. Henry blijkt een 'privédetective' te zijn en samen met Scarlett gaat hij op zoek naar de moordenaar, maar of dat lukt?
Ik vond 'Jackdaw' op zich een 'oké' verhaal. Er zaten wel een aantal overdreven stukken in en ik vond deze soms ook wat onrealistisch. Verder was de opbouw totaal anders dan bij 'Ragdoll' en ik miste dan ook de spanning wat meer. Het vinden van de lichamen vond ik dan wel weer interessant en op het einde zit je met nog wat vragen. Maar het is een serie, dus ik hoop dat dat in het volgende deel weer duidelijker zal worden.
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐
November 28, 2023
If you were to ask me to describe ‘Jackdaw‘ with one word, I’d probably say “fun”. Which sounds rather odd when talking about a crime fiction book, doesn’t it?
The Jackdaw is a serial killer. To date, they are responsible for at least three murders. Murders that require an amazing set of skills, and there is something to be admired about this killer. Inventive, yes. But mostly, the killings seem near impossible to pull off. Nobody ever hears anything, or sees anything. And all that’s left of the victims is the head. This killer is audacious, has a flair for the dramatic, is seemingly invincible, and possibly even uncatchable.
Detective Scarlett Delaney would love nothing more than to solve this case, for reasons you’ll have to discover for yourself. So when help comes from a man called Henry Devlin, she is more than happy to work with him in the search for the Jackdaw. Ah, Henry. Handsome, charming Henry. Maybe it’s just because I’m naturally suspicious but I couldn’t quite put my finger on his character. Henry has his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw, but it quickly becomes clear he’s working for some ruthless and efficient people who will not be thwarted in reaching their objectives.
The murders and how they are accomplished are such a big mystery. I couldn’t at all figure out how things were done, but I loved the opportunity of being able to try to piece the puzzle together before it was all revealed to me. The victims seemed to be chosen at random, with zero connections between them. And yet, it felt as if this killer was most definitely on a mission.
The bodies are coming hard and fast in this one, always perfectly staged. As if an artist is at work, which is something Daniel Cole does extremely well. Something you’d know if you’ve read his previous books. Which you should, by the way. But I digress. And throughout it all, is this delicious dash of humour, and witty remarks, and banter that made me chuckle. If you’re looking for serious, gritty crime fiction, then this isn’t it. Sure, there were a few moments when things went a little ew and icky. And sure, yes, the murders are incredibly cleverly done, making you want to applaud the killer. Or the author. But I’d say the humour prevails in this one and it’s done really, really well.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with ‘Jackdaw‘. It’s massively entertaining, maybe slightly crazy but such great fun and the perfect escapism. I was thrilled to see there will be follow-up and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
The Jackdaw is a serial killer. To date, they are responsible for at least three murders. Murders that require an amazing set of skills, and there is something to be admired about this killer. Inventive, yes. But mostly, the killings seem near impossible to pull off. Nobody ever hears anything, or sees anything. And all that’s left of the victims is the head. This killer is audacious, has a flair for the dramatic, is seemingly invincible, and possibly even uncatchable.
Detective Scarlett Delaney would love nothing more than to solve this case, for reasons you’ll have to discover for yourself. So when help comes from a man called Henry Devlin, she is more than happy to work with him in the search for the Jackdaw. Ah, Henry. Handsome, charming Henry. Maybe it’s just because I’m naturally suspicious but I couldn’t quite put my finger on his character. Henry has his own reasons for pursuing the Jackdaw, but it quickly becomes clear he’s working for some ruthless and efficient people who will not be thwarted in reaching their objectives.
The murders and how they are accomplished are such a big mystery. I couldn’t at all figure out how things were done, but I loved the opportunity of being able to try to piece the puzzle together before it was all revealed to me. The victims seemed to be chosen at random, with zero connections between them. And yet, it felt as if this killer was most definitely on a mission.
The bodies are coming hard and fast in this one, always perfectly staged. As if an artist is at work, which is something Daniel Cole does extremely well. Something you’d know if you’ve read his previous books. Which you should, by the way. But I digress. And throughout it all, is this delicious dash of humour, and witty remarks, and banter that made me chuckle. If you’re looking for serious, gritty crime fiction, then this isn’t it. Sure, there were a few moments when things went a little ew and icky. And sure, yes, the murders are incredibly cleverly done, making you want to applaud the killer. Or the author. But I’d say the humour prevails in this one and it’s done really, really well.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with ‘Jackdaw‘. It’s massively entertaining, maybe slightly crazy but such great fun and the perfect escapism. I was thrilled to see there will be follow-up and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
September 4, 2023
I’m not going to lie, I had to google what a Jackdaw was to understand the significance of the title. Daniel Cole came out strong with this serial killer thriller. We meet Detective Scarlett who is thrown into the case of whodunit with the infamous “Jackdaw Killer.” With her very own troubling past (which can I just say I would like a prequel on in its own right) you learn that this is not Scarlett’s first encounter with a serial killer. Let’s just say this case truly hits home. With the help of her new dangerous friend Henry, Scarlett learns how to open her eyes to new possibilities and starts to think like a true criminal.
This story was great from start to finish. I enjoyed the backstories of all the characters and the unique relationships that were established or already laid out by the author. I will say the ending was very predictable and I called it very early on. That being said, I still enjoyed the ending and love how there are questions that still need answering. This was absolutely set up for a series and I will 100000% be looking out for the next book in the series. I would absolutely give this a read if you enjoy a great book about the workings of an investigation.
Thank you to Daniel Cole for providing me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley for a review.
This story was great from start to finish. I enjoyed the backstories of all the characters and the unique relationships that were established or already laid out by the author. I will say the ending was very predictable and I called it very early on. That being said, I still enjoyed the ending and love how there are questions that still need answering. This was absolutely set up for a series and I will 100000% be looking out for the next book in the series. I would absolutely give this a read if you enjoy a great book about the workings of an investigation.
Thank you to Daniel Cole for providing me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley for a review.
November 6, 2023
If you liked the high-action, enemies to lovers romance aspects of this book, read Love of Kill by FE
September 24, 2023
Finished reading: September 24th 2023
" 'Please enlighten me on the nuances of your particular criminal activities. How is it, exactly, that you "fix" things?' Henry looked as though he regretted opening his mouth. 'Usually by assassinating them,' he mumbled. 'It's a... subtle difference.' "
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
August 5, 2023
3,5 ⭐
Mega benieuwd was ik naar het nieuwe boek van Daniel Cole. Het verhaal begint mijn inziens iets warrig met veel verschillende personen, maar zodra je eenmaal door hebt hoe de lijnen lopen is het boek bijna niet meer weg te leggen. Er worden bizarre moorden gepleegd en je wil zo snel mogelijk weten hoe het in elkaar zit. De gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar eerst snel op, maar toch zit er in het middenste gedeelte voor mij een heel stuk waarbij te uitgebreid werd stilgestaan bij de banden onderling, waardoor mijn aandacht verslapte. Al met al nog zeker een vermakelijk boek waar ik ontzettend van heb genoten, maar had het wat mij betreft iets bondiger gemogen. Ik kijk absoluut wel uit naar het volgende deel in deze serie.
Mega benieuwd was ik naar het nieuwe boek van Daniel Cole. Het verhaal begint mijn inziens iets warrig met veel verschillende personen, maar zodra je eenmaal door hebt hoe de lijnen lopen is het boek bijna niet meer weg te leggen. Er worden bizarre moorden gepleegd en je wil zo snel mogelijk weten hoe het in elkaar zit. De gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar eerst snel op, maar toch zit er in het middenste gedeelte voor mij een heel stuk waarbij te uitgebreid werd stilgestaan bij de banden onderling, waardoor mijn aandacht verslapte. Al met al nog zeker een vermakelijk boek waar ik ontzettend van heb genoten, maar had het wat mij betreft iets bondiger gemogen. Ik kijk absoluut wel uit naar het volgende deel in deze serie.
August 8, 2023
Na een derde moord met hetzelfde handelsmerk van de seriemoordenaar Jackdaw, gaat detective Scalett Delaney samenwerken met 'privé detective' Henry Devlin. Dit is een bijzondere samenwerking. Niet zozeer dat de politie samenwerkt met buitenstaanders, maar meer de keuzes die Scalett maakt nadat ze hem ontmoet.
Er zit wat onschuldig geflirt tussen die twee, terwijl Scarlett een vriend heeft, en ze lijkt hem snel volledig te vertrouwen.
Dit is het eerste deel van een serie en dat merk je wel. Er blijven diverse vragen onbeantwoord, zoals krijgt de vriend van Scarlett een grotere rol of is dit het? Wat gebeurt er met die meisjes die in het begin gevonden zijn? En waarom wordt eigenlijk alleen 1 meisje gered en laat hij de rest in de container achter?
Het is een leuk boek, maar je moet hier denk ik echt de andere delen van gaan lezen (welke nu geschreven worden) wil het een samenhangend geheel worden.
Er zit wat onschuldig geflirt tussen die twee, terwijl Scarlett een vriend heeft, en ze lijkt hem snel volledig te vertrouwen.
Dit is het eerste deel van een serie en dat merk je wel. Er blijven diverse vragen onbeantwoord, zoals krijgt de vriend van Scarlett een grotere rol of is dit het? Wat gebeurt er met die meisjes die in het begin gevonden zijn? En waarom wordt eigenlijk alleen 1 meisje gered en laat hij de rest in de container achter?
Het is een leuk boek, maar je moet hier denk ik echt de andere delen van gaan lezen (welke nu geschreven worden) wil het een samenhangend geheel worden.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2023
This is a good crime thriller.
Detective Scarlett Delaney is called when a woman is found decapitated in a hotel room. She has been left with scratches on her face and her earrings taken so the team know this is the work of a serial killer they are hunting - The Jackdaw.
Whilst investigating the murder Scarlett is approached by a man who says he also wants to catch The Jackdaw. Henry is intriguing to Scarlett and she wonders if she can trust him.
Her partner Frank is concerned that Scarlett is hiding things from him and she struggles to keep her meetings with Henry a secret.
This is an original crime thriller that I enjoyed.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Detective Scarlett Delaney is called when a woman is found decapitated in a hotel room. She has been left with scratches on her face and her earrings taken so the team know this is the work of a serial killer they are hunting - The Jackdaw.
Whilst investigating the murder Scarlett is approached by a man who says he also wants to catch The Jackdaw. Henry is intriguing to Scarlett and she wonders if she can trust him.
Her partner Frank is concerned that Scarlett is hiding things from him and she struggles to keep her meetings with Henry a secret.
This is an original crime thriller that I enjoyed.
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
October 11, 2025
Solid thriller from Cole about a detective hunting a serial killer who comes across an enigmatic man who wants to assist her investigation but perhaps for his own hidden agenda. It's a gripping police procedural with interesting characters and enough twists to keep the story from devolving into standard stuff. Cole can write, and it's never boring. I've enjoyed the three books I've read so far by him. Definitely one of the better authors in the genre.
September 3, 2023
3.5
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Cole.
He writes with humour, and mixes in inventive grisly murders.
There were a couple of times a twist took the plot in a direction I hadn't expected, and that's always a pleasant surprise.
I loved Frank, a dependable, loyal guy.
Unfortunately, I didn't like Scarlett, but I didn't let that get in the way of the story. 😄
A very entertaining read.
I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Cole.
He writes with humour, and mixes in inventive grisly murders.
There were a couple of times a twist took the plot in a direction I hadn't expected, and that's always a pleasant surprise.
I loved Frank, a dependable, loyal guy.
Unfortunately, I didn't like Scarlett, but I didn't let that get in the way of the story. 😄
A very entertaining read.
October 6, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Pulishing for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
I'm not sure that this book is for me. I was lost many times and just the pages without knowing where I was going. The only character that was likeable was Frank for me.
I'm not sure that this book is for me. I was lost many times and just the pages without knowing where I was going. The only character that was likeable was Frank for me.
October 20, 2023
A serial killer is on the loose, slashing faces and leaving decapitated bodies in their wake. Detective Scarlett Delaney is leading the case to try and unearth who the culprit is.
I LOVED this! Scarlett and Henry have the best chemistry I’ve read in a long time. I absolutely adored him. Full of twists and turns, I struggled to put down this gripping thriller. Peppered with humour, this had me smiling at points as well (the mugging scene was absolutely hilarious), which isn’t something I usually expect from a thriller and was so well received. A really unique experience from Cole, I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
I LOVED this! Scarlett and Henry have the best chemistry I’ve read in a long time. I absolutely adored him. Full of twists and turns, I struggled to put down this gripping thriller. Peppered with humour, this had me smiling at points as well (the mugging scene was absolutely hilarious), which isn’t something I usually expect from a thriller and was so well received. A really unique experience from Cole, I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
December 22, 2023
I absolutely love Daniel Cole’s thrillers so I was excited when this one came out - and as expected he didn’t fail to deliver. With unpredictable twists and turns and cunning characters that I couldn’t help relating to this was an action packed, tension fuelled story that packed a punch and left you wanting more! The only critique was I found the ending a tad rushed and would have liked it developed more.
July 20, 2023
De in 2017 verschenen debuutthriller Ragdoll, tevens het eerste deel van een trilogie, betekende voor Daniel Cole meteen zijn wereldwijde doorbraak. Het boek is in vierendertig landen uitgebracht en tevens als televisieserie verfilmd. Om tijdens de lockdown niet gek te worden van verveling is hij begonnen aan een nieuw boek. De titel van de in juli 2023 gepubliceerde thriller is Jackdaw en het is het eerste deel van een serie met rechercheur Scarlett Delaney.
Tijdens een feestje wordt het hoofd van een bekende socialite aangetroffen, maar haar lichaam blijkt te zijn verdwenen. Terwijl rechercheur Scarlett Delaney nog volop met het onderzoek bezig is, wordt een nieuwe vergelijkbare moord gepleegd en korte tijd later zelfs een derde. Omdat de lichamen bekrast zijn, hebben de diverse media de moordenaar Jackdaw (de kauw) genoemd. Dan ontmoet Delaney de uiterst knappe Henry Devlin, met wie ze uiteindelijk gaat samenwerken. Vanaf dat moment maakt ze vorderingen, ondanks dat ze merkt dat Devlin niet lijkt te zijn wie hij zegt dat hij is.
De melding van de vondst van een lijk aan het eind van de korte proloog is het enige uit deze inleiding dat iets met de rest van het verhaal te maken heeft. Maar omdat de setting nogal bijzonder is, word je enigszins nieuwsgierig gemaakt naar wat er exact aan de hand is en wat er precies is gebeurd. Zodra rechercheur Scarlett Delaney en haar collega annex mentor brigadier Frank Ash zich met deze zaak inlaten, wordt dit iets inzichtelijker, maar blijven de vragen zich opstapelen, zowel bij de lezer als bij beide politiemensen. Dit komt onder meer doordat het lichaam van de dode spoorloos verdwenen is, het hoofd uitgezonderd.
Ondanks een veelheid aan gebeurtenissen, leveren de talrijke bizarre scènes vooralsnog niet zo heel veel spanning op. Pas als de plot halverwege is, doet zich een kentering voor en ontstaan er enkele spannende situaties en nog wat later in het verhaal nemen die in aantal toe. De thrillerkenmerken, die tot dan zo goed als afwezig waren, worden zichtbaar en bovendien verandert de structuur. De eerste helft van het boek staat bol van schijnbaar humoristische flauwigheden – er zijn zelfs momenten die in een slechte Amerikaanse klucht niet zullen misstaan – en onwerkelijke omstandigheden. Door de al aangehaalde structuurverandering heeft de auteur blijkbaar ook ingezien dat hij hier niet mee door kon gaan, want de toonzetting verandert uiteindelijk drastisch pas daarna ontstaat er een thrillerwaardiger geheel.
De drie personages die het verhaal dragen zijn Scarlett Delaney, Frank Ash en de tamelijk zelfingenomen Henry Devlin. Ze zijn, elk op hun eigen manier, markant. Desondanks kom je niet eens zo heel erg veel over hen te weten. Ze worden plompverloren geïntroduceerd, ze doen wat ze moeten doen en aan het eind heb je hen eigenlijk niet eens zo heel goed leren kennen. Al met al zijn en blijven ze dus vrij oppervlakkig. Voor de plot geldt dit evenzeer, hierin is geen enkele diepgang te bespeuren. Aan het eind van het boek richt Cole zich dan ook nog even tot de lezer en verklaart hij dat dit precies zijn bedoeling is en dat het verhaal uitsluitend geschreven en bedoeld is om uit de werkelijkheid te ontsnappen. Hierin is hij hoe dan ook geslaagd, want alles wat zich erin afspeelt, is ver bezijden de realiteit en bij vlagen absurdistisch.
Na de zonder meer spectaculaire ontknoping sluit de auteur af met maar liefst drie epilogen en uit elk daarvan kan worden afgeleid dat de deur naar een vervolg wagenwijd openstaat. Van in ieder geval Delaney zal de lezer zo goed als zeker nog wel meer horen. Deze eerste kennismaking is er echter een met twee gezichten en daarom is Jackdaw, vertaald door Josee Koning, een aarzelende start van de nieuwe serie.
Tijdens een feestje wordt het hoofd van een bekende socialite aangetroffen, maar haar lichaam blijkt te zijn verdwenen. Terwijl rechercheur Scarlett Delaney nog volop met het onderzoek bezig is, wordt een nieuwe vergelijkbare moord gepleegd en korte tijd later zelfs een derde. Omdat de lichamen bekrast zijn, hebben de diverse media de moordenaar Jackdaw (de kauw) genoemd. Dan ontmoet Delaney de uiterst knappe Henry Devlin, met wie ze uiteindelijk gaat samenwerken. Vanaf dat moment maakt ze vorderingen, ondanks dat ze merkt dat Devlin niet lijkt te zijn wie hij zegt dat hij is.
De melding van de vondst van een lijk aan het eind van de korte proloog is het enige uit deze inleiding dat iets met de rest van het verhaal te maken heeft. Maar omdat de setting nogal bijzonder is, word je enigszins nieuwsgierig gemaakt naar wat er exact aan de hand is en wat er precies is gebeurd. Zodra rechercheur Scarlett Delaney en haar collega annex mentor brigadier Frank Ash zich met deze zaak inlaten, wordt dit iets inzichtelijker, maar blijven de vragen zich opstapelen, zowel bij de lezer als bij beide politiemensen. Dit komt onder meer doordat het lichaam van de dode spoorloos verdwenen is, het hoofd uitgezonderd.
Ondanks een veelheid aan gebeurtenissen, leveren de talrijke bizarre scènes vooralsnog niet zo heel veel spanning op. Pas als de plot halverwege is, doet zich een kentering voor en ontstaan er enkele spannende situaties en nog wat later in het verhaal nemen die in aantal toe. De thrillerkenmerken, die tot dan zo goed als afwezig waren, worden zichtbaar en bovendien verandert de structuur. De eerste helft van het boek staat bol van schijnbaar humoristische flauwigheden – er zijn zelfs momenten die in een slechte Amerikaanse klucht niet zullen misstaan – en onwerkelijke omstandigheden. Door de al aangehaalde structuurverandering heeft de auteur blijkbaar ook ingezien dat hij hier niet mee door kon gaan, want de toonzetting verandert uiteindelijk drastisch pas daarna ontstaat er een thrillerwaardiger geheel.
De drie personages die het verhaal dragen zijn Scarlett Delaney, Frank Ash en de tamelijk zelfingenomen Henry Devlin. Ze zijn, elk op hun eigen manier, markant. Desondanks kom je niet eens zo heel erg veel over hen te weten. Ze worden plompverloren geïntroduceerd, ze doen wat ze moeten doen en aan het eind heb je hen eigenlijk niet eens zo heel goed leren kennen. Al met al zijn en blijven ze dus vrij oppervlakkig. Voor de plot geldt dit evenzeer, hierin is geen enkele diepgang te bespeuren. Aan het eind van het boek richt Cole zich dan ook nog even tot de lezer en verklaart hij dat dit precies zijn bedoeling is en dat het verhaal uitsluitend geschreven en bedoeld is om uit de werkelijkheid te ontsnappen. Hierin is hij hoe dan ook geslaagd, want alles wat zich erin afspeelt, is ver bezijden de realiteit en bij vlagen absurdistisch.
Na de zonder meer spectaculaire ontknoping sluit de auteur af met maar liefst drie epilogen en uit elk daarvan kan worden afgeleid dat de deur naar een vervolg wagenwijd openstaat. Van in ieder geval Delaney zal de lezer zo goed als zeker nog wel meer horen. Deze eerste kennismaking is er echter een met twee gezichten en daarom is Jackdaw, vertaald door Josee Koning, een aarzelende start van de nieuwe serie.
August 8, 2023
3,5-4 ⭐️
Een nieuwe serie van de gevierde Ragdoll-auteur, daar was ik erg benieuwd naar!
In dit boek leer je rechercheur Delaney kennen. In haar politieteam wordt ze deugt-niet-Delaney genoemd, omdat haar vader een seriemoordenaar was en ze weddenschappen afsluiten hoe lang het duurt voordat zij zelf het slechte pad op gaat. Scarlett Delaney wil niets liever dan serieus genomen worden in het team. Ze heeft het idee dat brigadier Frank Ash, degene die haar vader heeft gestopt, de enige reden is dat ze niet compleet buitengesloten wordt. Sinds haar vader van het toneel verdween, probeert Frank haar al te beschermen.
Deze dynamiek zorgt ervoor dat Scarlett en Frank in het begin van het boek een aantal bijzondere, twijfelachtige besluiten nemen. Iets wat extra nadruk krijgt omdat er in de eerste helft weinig spanning in het boek zit. Dit maakte het voor mij ongeloofwaardig en ik kwam niet goed in het verhaal.
Bij de moord op Francesca Labelle, de derde onthoofding van de Jackdawkiller in korte tijd, krijgt Scarlett een 'privédetective' op haar dak. Hij claimt te zijn ingehuurd door de vader van Labelle om te doen wat de politie tot nog toe niet gekund heeft. Scarlett geeft hem het voordeel van de twijfel, maar hij houdt er wel heel onorthodoxe werkwijzen op na. Zal hij van dienst blijken of zijn de kaarten anders geschud dan het lijkt?
Het is een sterk geschreven en originele thriller, met de nodige plottwists. Het is wisselend scherp tot behoorlijk chaotisch, maar het past uiteindelijk naadloos in elkaar. Iets wat me met alle dubieuze beslissingen in de eerste helft niet erg waarschijnlijk leek. De tragere eerste helft maakte ergernis over de personages bij me los en hoewel de tweede helft ook een aantal ongeloofwaardige scènes bevat, komt de vaart er wel flink in. In combinatie met de nodige sarcastische grappen en korte hoofdstukken, leest het als een trein. Al worden er soms van de ene alinea naar de andere zo plotse settingswisselingen gemaakt dat je soms stukjes terug moet lezen om mee te kunnen schakelen. De uitvoering van de moorden is creatief en origineel gekozen, maar alles daaromheen wordt regelmatig chaotisch. In het dankwoord las ik dat dit het covidproject van Cole was en ergens verklaarde dat mijn gevoel van een beetje te veel van alles. De beste man had immers alle tijd met een wereld in lockdown.
Kortom, weinig band met de personages, een tikkeltje chaotisch en bij vlagen 'too much', maar het leest supervlot en zorgt voor goed vermaak! Halverwege hebben we dit boek besproken met de leesclub van LS Amsterdam o.l.v. Ilona da Costa. Een aantal van de verhaallijnen die zich ontvouwen in de tweede helft hadden we goed geraden, maar er zaten ook nog genoeg onverwachte dingen in. Bovendien zijn de epilogen een sterke opbouw en cliffhanger richting het volgende deel van de serie.
Een nieuwe serie van de gevierde Ragdoll-auteur, daar was ik erg benieuwd naar!
In dit boek leer je rechercheur Delaney kennen. In haar politieteam wordt ze deugt-niet-Delaney genoemd, omdat haar vader een seriemoordenaar was en ze weddenschappen afsluiten hoe lang het duurt voordat zij zelf het slechte pad op gaat. Scarlett Delaney wil niets liever dan serieus genomen worden in het team. Ze heeft het idee dat brigadier Frank Ash, degene die haar vader heeft gestopt, de enige reden is dat ze niet compleet buitengesloten wordt. Sinds haar vader van het toneel verdween, probeert Frank haar al te beschermen.
Deze dynamiek zorgt ervoor dat Scarlett en Frank in het begin van het boek een aantal bijzondere, twijfelachtige besluiten nemen. Iets wat extra nadruk krijgt omdat er in de eerste helft weinig spanning in het boek zit. Dit maakte het voor mij ongeloofwaardig en ik kwam niet goed in het verhaal.
Bij de moord op Francesca Labelle, de derde onthoofding van de Jackdawkiller in korte tijd, krijgt Scarlett een 'privédetective' op haar dak. Hij claimt te zijn ingehuurd door de vader van Labelle om te doen wat de politie tot nog toe niet gekund heeft. Scarlett geeft hem het voordeel van de twijfel, maar hij houdt er wel heel onorthodoxe werkwijzen op na. Zal hij van dienst blijken of zijn de kaarten anders geschud dan het lijkt?
Het is een sterk geschreven en originele thriller, met de nodige plottwists. Het is wisselend scherp tot behoorlijk chaotisch, maar het past uiteindelijk naadloos in elkaar. Iets wat me met alle dubieuze beslissingen in de eerste helft niet erg waarschijnlijk leek. De tragere eerste helft maakte ergernis over de personages bij me los en hoewel de tweede helft ook een aantal ongeloofwaardige scènes bevat, komt de vaart er wel flink in. In combinatie met de nodige sarcastische grappen en korte hoofdstukken, leest het als een trein. Al worden er soms van de ene alinea naar de andere zo plotse settingswisselingen gemaakt dat je soms stukjes terug moet lezen om mee te kunnen schakelen. De uitvoering van de moorden is creatief en origineel gekozen, maar alles daaromheen wordt regelmatig chaotisch. In het dankwoord las ik dat dit het covidproject van Cole was en ergens verklaarde dat mijn gevoel van een beetje te veel van alles. De beste man had immers alle tijd met een wereld in lockdown.
Kortom, weinig band met de personages, een tikkeltje chaotisch en bij vlagen 'too much', maar het leest supervlot en zorgt voor goed vermaak! Halverwege hebben we dit boek besproken met de leesclub van LS Amsterdam o.l.v. Ilona da Costa. Een aantal van de verhaallijnen die zich ontvouwen in de tweede helft hadden we goed geraden, maar er zaten ook nog genoeg onverwachte dingen in. Bovendien zijn de epilogen een sterke opbouw en cliffhanger richting het volgende deel van de serie.
August 8, 2023
Jackdaw is Daniel Cole's latest thriller after the Ragdoll trilogy and Mimic. It is the start of an incredibly exciting new series.
Detective Scarlett Delaney arrives at the crime scene of an impossible the beheading of a famous socialite at a well-attended party, gruesome photos uploaded to her own social media, and her body then inexplicably vanishing. The third murder in a short time, with the same course of action... no doubt the work of the media dubbed Jackdaw killer.
Scarlett must team up with Henry Devlin, the handsome and charming "private detective" hired to do what the police can't seem to do. The Jackdaw's first misstep offers them an unexpected chance to actually save a life. But will the pull of their self-interest and their ticking time bomb of a relationship last long enough to see them both safely to the bitter end?
I have not read a Daniel Cole book before, so this was my first introduction to the author.
The book is a real page turner and Daniel Cole incorporates a lot of sarcasm and jokes in his way. The writing style is fast and the book has short chapters and what I always like is the titles of the chapters (these were very nice).
The main character Scarlett Delaney was very naive and didn't think about anything, but this didn't bother me. It just suits her.
The great thing is that this book is the first book in a series and that there are so many threads hanging loose that the next parts can go in any direction, so I can't wait to read the next parts.
All in all I was very impressed. It's about a serial killer so I was really curious about how I found this. I was very excited from start to finish and I couldn't stop reading. The book was very exciting in some parts.
My only complaint is that you didn't get to know the characters very well.
Thank you so much @ilonaslevenbijls & @lsamsterdam for letting me participate in this super fun buddy read. I have a very nice experience with it!
#ikleesdanielcole #danielcole #ilonaslevenbijls #lsamsterdam
#jackdaw #buddyread
Detective Scarlett Delaney arrives at the crime scene of an impossible the beheading of a famous socialite at a well-attended party, gruesome photos uploaded to her own social media, and her body then inexplicably vanishing. The third murder in a short time, with the same course of action... no doubt the work of the media dubbed Jackdaw killer.
Scarlett must team up with Henry Devlin, the handsome and charming "private detective" hired to do what the police can't seem to do. The Jackdaw's first misstep offers them an unexpected chance to actually save a life. But will the pull of their self-interest and their ticking time bomb of a relationship last long enough to see them both safely to the bitter end?
I have not read a Daniel Cole book before, so this was my first introduction to the author.
The book is a real page turner and Daniel Cole incorporates a lot of sarcasm and jokes in his way. The writing style is fast and the book has short chapters and what I always like is the titles of the chapters (these were very nice).
The main character Scarlett Delaney was very naive and didn't think about anything, but this didn't bother me. It just suits her.
The great thing is that this book is the first book in a series and that there are so many threads hanging loose that the next parts can go in any direction, so I can't wait to read the next parts.
All in all I was very impressed. It's about a serial killer so I was really curious about how I found this. I was very excited from start to finish and I couldn't stop reading. The book was very exciting in some parts.
My only complaint is that you didn't get to know the characters very well.
Thank you so much @ilonaslevenbijls & @lsamsterdam for letting me participate in this super fun buddy read. I have a very nice experience with it!
#ikleesdanielcole #danielcole #ilonaslevenbijls #lsamsterdam
#jackdaw #buddyread
December 29, 2024
Od autora jsem četla Hadrového panáka, ale už jsou to čtyři roky, takže podrobnosti si nepamatuji, jen vím, že mě kniha bavila. Havrana jsem poslouchala jako audioknihu od @knihkupectvi_luxor, kterou perfektně namluvil Martin Stránský.
Kniha se poslouchala velmi dobře a děj dobře utíkal. Hlavní hrdinka Scarlett se stane hlavní vyšetřovatelkou sériového vraha Havrana, Frank je její nadřízený a celoživotní ochránce a nakonec Henry, který se objeví odnikud a je ochotný Scarlett pomoci.
Kniha byla zajímavě postavena a přeskakovala z jedné linky na druhou, ale vlastně hned v další části člověk pochopil proč. Hezky se postupně odhalovaly jednotlivé linky a záměry. Havrana jsem odhalila poměrně brzy, ale autor mě svým stylem psaní držel dobře v napětí, takže by mě vlastně nepřekvapilo, kdyby to nebyla nakonec pravda. I přesto, že jsem jeho identitu odhalila, nevadilo mi to.
Hlavní rozuzlení nebylo tak wow, jak by se dalo čekat, ale myslím, že mě doopravdy dostaly epilogy, protože to dává zajímavé myšlenky pro budoucí díl a vyvstalo tam hned několik otázek.
Scarlett byla doopravdy občas neřízená střela a myslím, že měl Frank občas co dělat. Vrhala se do akce bez rozmyslu a pak přišly následky. Velmi zajímavá byla i myšlenka, že ona sama je dcerou sériového vraha a teď po jednom patra. Henryho by se dalo nazvat samozvaným mužem zákona, který zabíjel špatné lidi a snažil se Scarlett otevřít oči. Jejich jiskření a konverzace jsem si doopravdy užívala.
Franka mi bylo strašně moc líto a neskonale jsem obdivovala, co pro Scarlett udělal a jak ji furt chtěl chránit. Normálně mi to vehnalo slzy do očí.
Musím říct, že mě trochu překvapily některé výrazy, které byly hojně používané v knize. Např. volky nevolky a kakofonie…
Celkově byl příběh postavený dobře a já jsem si ho užila. Mohu doporučit milovníkům krimi thrillerů.
⭐ 4/5
Kniha se poslouchala velmi dobře a děj dobře utíkal. Hlavní hrdinka Scarlett se stane hlavní vyšetřovatelkou sériového vraha Havrana, Frank je její nadřízený a celoživotní ochránce a nakonec Henry, který se objeví odnikud a je ochotný Scarlett pomoci.
Kniha byla zajímavě postavena a přeskakovala z jedné linky na druhou, ale vlastně hned v další části člověk pochopil proč. Hezky se postupně odhalovaly jednotlivé linky a záměry. Havrana jsem odhalila poměrně brzy, ale autor mě svým stylem psaní držel dobře v napětí, takže by mě vlastně nepřekvapilo, kdyby to nebyla nakonec pravda. I přesto, že jsem jeho identitu odhalila, nevadilo mi to.
Hlavní rozuzlení nebylo tak wow, jak by se dalo čekat, ale myslím, že mě doopravdy dostaly epilogy, protože to dává zajímavé myšlenky pro budoucí díl a vyvstalo tam hned několik otázek.
Scarlett byla doopravdy občas neřízená střela a myslím, že měl Frank občas co dělat. Vrhala se do akce bez rozmyslu a pak přišly následky. Velmi zajímavá byla i myšlenka, že ona sama je dcerou sériového vraha a teď po jednom patra. Henryho by se dalo nazvat samozvaným mužem zákona, který zabíjel špatné lidi a snažil se Scarlett otevřít oči. Jejich jiskření a konverzace jsem si doopravdy užívala.
Franka mi bylo strašně moc líto a neskonale jsem obdivovala, co pro Scarlett udělal a jak ji furt chtěl chránit. Normálně mi to vehnalo slzy do očí.
Musím říct, že mě trochu překvapily některé výrazy, které byly hojně používané v knize. Např. volky nevolky a kakofonie…
Celkově byl příběh postavený dobře a já jsem si ho užila. Mohu doporučit milovníkům krimi thrillerů.
⭐ 4/5
October 30, 2023
Well……. That was unusual and I think it kind of worked but I’m still slightly undecided. Detective Scarlett Delaney is called in to investigate a murder which is quite gory and very shocking. A woman has been found decapitated in her hotel room with mysterious scratches on her face and her earrings missing. Due to the details the team decide it is the work of a serial killer known as The Jackdaw that they are already searching for.
Scarlett is teamed up with her partner Frank, who found to be strangely likeable and they make good double act but then another character, indeed a criminal, comes into the mix with his own reasons for finding the killer and things start to become a bit crazier. The craziness for me is verging on twee and whimsical and is an odd mix with the guts and gore of the graphic murder, but maybe this offsets it nicely…. I love the little touches such as the diagrams and handwritten notes within the prose and I was mostly entertained by the storyline, maybe ever so slightly slapstick for me. Worth a read.
Scarlett is teamed up with her partner Frank, who found to be strangely likeable and they make good double act but then another character, indeed a criminal, comes into the mix with his own reasons for finding the killer and things start to become a bit crazier. The craziness for me is verging on twee and whimsical and is an odd mix with the guts and gore of the graphic murder, but maybe this offsets it nicely…. I love the little touches such as the diagrams and handwritten notes within the prose and I was mostly entertained by the storyline, maybe ever so slightly slapstick for me. Worth a read.
Read
November 30, 2023Een thriller waar voor mij niet de zaak de kern van dit boek is maar wel de dynamiek tussen de twee hoofdpersonages. Zowel tussen Scarlett en Frank als tussen Scarlett en Henry. Ik kan niet precies zeggen wat het nu was waarom die dynamiek me nu net zo aansprak maar dat is nu eenmaal een stuk van de kracht die de auteur heeft in zijn schrijven. Het voelt altijd wat chaotisch aan.
Boeken van Daniel Cole staan garant voor een vlotte lees en waar het vooral de onderliggende zaken zijn die de grootste aantrekkingskracht hebben tijdens het lezen, of in dit geval ook de personages. Dat dit boek een eerste deel is, is duidelijk want - ook naar goede Daniel Cole gewoonte - zijn er nog veel losse eindjes waar ik graag meer over wil weten. Enter dat chaotische weer.
Heeft dit boek mij volledig weten te overtuigen? Meteen na het kezen zou ik nee gezegd hebben maar het feit dat ik wel heel benieuwd ben naar het volgende deel wil dan weer zeggen van wel. Laat ik het houden op het is een start van wat misschien wel weer een enorm goede serie blijkt te zijn.
Boeken van Daniel Cole staan garant voor een vlotte lees en waar het vooral de onderliggende zaken zijn die de grootste aantrekkingskracht hebben tijdens het lezen, of in dit geval ook de personages. Dat dit boek een eerste deel is, is duidelijk want - ook naar goede Daniel Cole gewoonte - zijn er nog veel losse eindjes waar ik graag meer over wil weten. Enter dat chaotische weer.
Heeft dit boek mij volledig weten te overtuigen? Meteen na het kezen zou ik nee gezegd hebben maar het feit dat ik wel heel benieuwd ben naar het volgende deel wil dan weer zeggen van wel. Laat ik het houden op het is een start van wat misschien wel weer een enorm goede serie blijkt te zijn.
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