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Dominic Grey #3
The Diabolist
In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerous.
Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.
The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.
“Part international thriller, part philosophic treatise on good and evil, part intricate, unforgettable nightmare-inducing fever dream, THE DIABOLIST has everything you want from a thriller. Layton Green is a master of intellectual suspense. This one’s a killer.”
— JT Ellison, bestselling author of EDGE OF BLACK
“[A] story that will move you to the edge of your seat.”
-- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“The confines of a page are not enough for Layton Green’s writing. His work begs to be translated into 100-foot high IMAX images, rendered in 3D, and given a score by Hanz Zimmer”
-- Biblioteca
Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.
The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.
“Part international thriller, part philosophic treatise on good and evil, part intricate, unforgettable nightmare-inducing fever dream, THE DIABOLIST has everything you want from a thriller. Layton Green is a master of intellectual suspense. This one’s a killer.”
— JT Ellison, bestselling author of EDGE OF BLACK
“[A] story that will move you to the edge of your seat.”
-- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“The confines of a page are not enough for Layton Green’s writing. His work begs to be translated into 100-foot high IMAX images, rendered in 3D, and given a score by Hanz Zimmer”
-- Biblioteca
375 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
150 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
About the author
Layton Green
21 books428 followersLayton Green is a bestselling author who loves to tell powerful, edge-of-your-seat stories across a range of genres, including mystery & thriller, suspense, horror, and fantasy (and often blending them together). He is the author of the Dominic Grey series, the Blackwood Saga, the Genesis Trilogy, and other works of fiction. Layton's work has been nominated for numerous awards (including a rare three-time finalist for an International Thriller Writers award), optioned for film, published in multiple languages, and has reached #1 on many genre lists.
In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for ten very long years. He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door to door phone book deliverer in Florida, and the list goes downhill from there.
Layton lives with his family in Southern California. You can visit him on Facebook, Goodreads, or on his website (www.laytongreen.com).
In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for ten very long years. He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door to door phone book deliverer in Florida, and the list goes downhill from there.
Layton lives with his family in Southern California. You can visit him on Facebook, Goodreads, or on his website (www.laytongreen.com).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 25, 2018
‘Religious phenomenology is simply anthropology of the mind’
For me personally, as well as being the very current Layton Green, this is an author who is surely destined to rival legendary writer of the occult thriller, Dennis Wheatley and his more recent contemporary, Dan Brown.
With his in-depth knowledge and meticulous research into his chosen genre; together with his well defined, complex and multi faceted characters; all so ably supported by some excellent visually descriptive and intense dialogue, a unique and unconventional approach to storytelling and a mature, skilled and frankly mind blowingly scary plot building ability, Layton has to be one of my ‘best read’ authors for some considerable time.
Layton has surely taken ritualistic description to a whole new level of intensity, in this his third Dominic Grey adventure, with his detailed, graphic narrative and seemingly non-stop, blood curdling action, which sets the pulse racing and the heart beating out of control.
When I wasn’t being scared witless, I was being treated to a truly complex and detailed insight into the world of the occult and Satanism, together with some well informed, meticulously researched and sympathetically articulated information of an almost theological nature ……., which had me reaching for the ‘Google’ search button, again and again. The reader needs to be prepared to digest and absorb this cornucopia of information, as a well informed and expansive window onto the world in which Layton’s characters of Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek live, breathe and sleep! Although a still slightly opaque window, where I didn’t feel that perhaps all the questions had been answered, I was left to examine several of my own thoughts and beliefs and to draw many of my own conclusions.
I constantly found my views and opinions challenged and not all my questions answered, as I was drawn into Dominic and Victor’s arcane and introspective world. The partnership between the two men, is a relatively new one, which to me, cannot yet be described as a friendship, as the level of trust and open dialogue are not quite transparent enough and not all thoughts and ideas are shared. Both men are loners, used to keeping well buried secrets, carrying deeply entrenched beliefs and having emotions still raw and sometimes barely controlled.
As this, the third case on which the two companions embark together, unfolds, the communication between them is still sporadic and very much incomplete, which this time, places both their own lives and those of others in danger. As Layton peels back the layers of their introspection, he begins the process of uniting them, building on their tenuous trust and has them sharing personal and private information ….
This case is special and by far their most dangerous to date, as Viktor’s own life is threatened explicitly when his nemesis decides to make things very personal. A long ago, but never to be forgotten love triangle, is laid bare, with unhealed wounds and old grudges brought very much to the forefront of a plan to rewrite religion on a global scale!
A challenge to all you Dan Brown fans out there …. Try this book and you’ll be hooked …. There’ll be no going back!!
For me personally, as well as being the very current Layton Green, this is an author who is surely destined to rival legendary writer of the occult thriller, Dennis Wheatley and his more recent contemporary, Dan Brown.
With his in-depth knowledge and meticulous research into his chosen genre; together with his well defined, complex and multi faceted characters; all so ably supported by some excellent visually descriptive and intense dialogue, a unique and unconventional approach to storytelling and a mature, skilled and frankly mind blowingly scary plot building ability, Layton has to be one of my ‘best read’ authors for some considerable time.
Layton has surely taken ritualistic description to a whole new level of intensity, in this his third Dominic Grey adventure, with his detailed, graphic narrative and seemingly non-stop, blood curdling action, which sets the pulse racing and the heart beating out of control.
When I wasn’t being scared witless, I was being treated to a truly complex and detailed insight into the world of the occult and Satanism, together with some well informed, meticulously researched and sympathetically articulated information of an almost theological nature ……., which had me reaching for the ‘Google’ search button, again and again. The reader needs to be prepared to digest and absorb this cornucopia of information, as a well informed and expansive window onto the world in which Layton’s characters of Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek live, breathe and sleep! Although a still slightly opaque window, where I didn’t feel that perhaps all the questions had been answered, I was left to examine several of my own thoughts and beliefs and to draw many of my own conclusions.
I constantly found my views and opinions challenged and not all my questions answered, as I was drawn into Dominic and Victor’s arcane and introspective world. The partnership between the two men, is a relatively new one, which to me, cannot yet be described as a friendship, as the level of trust and open dialogue are not quite transparent enough and not all thoughts and ideas are shared. Both men are loners, used to keeping well buried secrets, carrying deeply entrenched beliefs and having emotions still raw and sometimes barely controlled.
As this, the third case on which the two companions embark together, unfolds, the communication between them is still sporadic and very much incomplete, which this time, places both their own lives and those of others in danger. As Layton peels back the layers of their introspection, he begins the process of uniting them, building on their tenuous trust and has them sharing personal and private information ….
This case is special and by far their most dangerous to date, as Viktor’s own life is threatened explicitly when his nemesis decides to make things very personal. A long ago, but never to be forgotten love triangle, is laid bare, with unhealed wounds and old grudges brought very much to the forefront of a plan to rewrite religion on a global scale!
A challenge to all you Dan Brown fans out there …. Try this book and you’ll be hooked …. There’ll be no going back!!
May 9, 2013
I could not put this book down! First, the compelling, multidimensional characters immediately drew me into their world. I felt their emotions and saw things through their eyes. I wanted them to succeed, and this connection, for me, is the basis for a brilliant story.
The plot is complex, yet easy to follow. Layton Green's grasp of his subject matter is obvious throughout. While his research is vital here, the story never feels saturated with facts. Green doesn't feel the need to impress us with his knowledge. Instead, he allows the story to unfold naturally, giving us the background we need while moving the story forward.
The subject matter is provocative in that it makes you look at things differently. It's also terrifying in its realism.
This is the third book in a series, which I didn't know when I chose it to read. I had absolutely no problem following the story or connecting with the characters. The Diabolist works well as a stand-alone read, though, having loved this one so much, I now have to go back and read the first two.
The plot is complex, yet easy to follow. Layton Green's grasp of his subject matter is obvious throughout. While his research is vital here, the story never feels saturated with facts. Green doesn't feel the need to impress us with his knowledge. Instead, he allows the story to unfold naturally, giving us the background we need while moving the story forward.
The subject matter is provocative in that it makes you look at things differently. It's also terrifying in its realism.
This is the third book in a series, which I didn't know when I chose it to read. I had absolutely no problem following the story or connecting with the characters. The Diabolist works well as a stand-alone read, though, having loved this one so much, I now have to go back and read the first two.
April 27, 2013
I love the characters, just love them. For me ,"The Diabolist" was the best read of this series to date.I did not want to put this down.Multi-layered, complex characters,great back story elements,one cannot ask for more in a read.Hhhmm, now do you think I suggest you read it...
June 16, 2013
I'm not at all surprised that Green has been picked up by Amazon's publishing imprint, Thomas and Mercer. I regarded both The Summoner and The Egyptian as unique and exciting thrillers and I am glad the author has gained recognition for his work.
The Diabolist is the third cleverly crafted novel in the series featuring Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek. In this installment, the investigator and the renowned phenomenologist are convinced that a series of bizarre murders of the worlds religious leaders are the work of a charismatic prophet preaching for a new age. As Dominic attempts to infiltrate the upper echelons of the international cult, Viktor works to unravel the chilling end game planned by the ghost from his past.
Fast paced and action packed The Diabolist is an intelligent psychological thriller. Moving from San Francisco, to the catacombs of Paris, and between the streets of London and a hidden monastery in Sicily, Radek and Grey need to sort fact from fiction, truth from illusion in order to prevent further murders and expose the mastermind of a plot to destabilise organised religion.
A larger question in the novel addresses the nature of faith and how the concept of good and evil is defined within it. The focus on darker occult practices might disturb some readers but it is where faith, science and the inexplicable intersect that interests the author and his protagonists.
Though you could read The Diabolist as a stand alone, familiarity with Radek and Grey strengthen the appeal of this novel. Central to the character development of both men is the way in which their beliefs are challenged by the events that take place.
I liked having the opportunity to learn more about the enigmatic Radek in this installment. Radek's cool, academic persona is rattled by the confrontation with an old friend, now enemy, triggering a personal and professional crisis. The troubled past of the absinthe-drinking professor reveals his motivation for his study of the world's belief systems, and his particular interest in unexplained phenomena.
As with the earlier books in the series, this novel is characterised by an original, complex, and meticulously researched plot and intriguingly flawed characters. The Diabolist is a provocative thriller that challenges a simple world view and I am looking forward to the next installment.
June 4, 2013
In the Diabolist, the third novel in the Dominic Grey series, Layton Green has forged a well-crafted, thinking person's occult thriller. From New York to San Fran, from Paris to London, Layton takes us with his characters on a heart-pounding race to defeat the forces of an ancient religion, which may not have the best intentions for its followers.
I was introduced to the Dominic Grey series by a friend when the first book in the series, the Summoner, came out. While an excellent first novel, Layton Green is now really hitting his stride with this most recent novel, the Diabolist.
The Diabolist, which is not for the faint of heart, is a fast paced occult thriller. The Diabolist is more than just an airplane novel, a thrilling page turner that makes you think. Layton's intense narration keeps you on your toes and wondering what's around the next bend. Layton is an excellent storyteller with the ability to provide a strong story line, and you can see from this novel that Layton has really worked hard to develop the characters. The main characters of this story aren't superheroes, they are flawed just as we are as readers. Layton shows their flaws in a way that, ultimately, we as readers can relate to.
It is clear that Layton does a great amount of research in both the story topics and locations. Layton picks us up and puts us in the setting. In London we can feel the chill in the air, in Paris we can see the macabre setting in the catacoms. And like most readers, I know little about Satanism and related cults, but Layton quickly brings us up to speed without sounding like he is lecturing. For better or worse, he brings this eerie subject to life.
The Diabolist is a fun novel that you will want to read during the day. On the beach. So you know that you are safe! I look forward to great things to come with this series.
I was introduced to the Dominic Grey series by a friend when the first book in the series, the Summoner, came out. While an excellent first novel, Layton Green is now really hitting his stride with this most recent novel, the Diabolist.
The Diabolist, which is not for the faint of heart, is a fast paced occult thriller. The Diabolist is more than just an airplane novel, a thrilling page turner that makes you think. Layton's intense narration keeps you on your toes and wondering what's around the next bend. Layton is an excellent storyteller with the ability to provide a strong story line, and you can see from this novel that Layton has really worked hard to develop the characters. The main characters of this story aren't superheroes, they are flawed just as we are as readers. Layton shows their flaws in a way that, ultimately, we as readers can relate to.
It is clear that Layton does a great amount of research in both the story topics and locations. Layton picks us up and puts us in the setting. In London we can feel the chill in the air, in Paris we can see the macabre setting in the catacoms. And like most readers, I know little about Satanism and related cults, but Layton quickly brings us up to speed without sounding like he is lecturing. For better or worse, he brings this eerie subject to life.
The Diabolist is a fun novel that you will want to read during the day. On the beach. So you know that you are safe! I look forward to great things to come with this series.
May 24, 2013
The third in the Dominic Grey series is another hit, with some great background on Viktor which was great. The good thing is that you can read each book as a standalone. The other two books are reviewed on my blog, The Summoner and The Egyptian.
Another dark novel, with plenty of travel between San Francisco, Paris, New York, London and Sicily.
There are no grammatical or spelling mistakes.
There is plenty of background on the subject and the author, Layton Green has done plenty of research on his subject and on the places visited. This book is almost is very hard to put down, you might find your real life gets in the way and could even be ignored.
If you liked Dan Brown´s books, well this is better.
Another dark novel, with plenty of travel between San Francisco, Paris, New York, London and Sicily.
There are no grammatical or spelling mistakes.
There is plenty of background on the subject and the author, Layton Green has done plenty of research on his subject and on the places visited. This book is almost is very hard to put down, you might find your real life gets in the way and could even be ignored.
If you liked Dan Brown´s books, well this is better.
June 14, 2013
It is my third review of a Dominic Grey book and, although the novel is a perfect standalone, I do recommed reading the previous installments.
All of them feature the Czech religious phenomenologist Viktor Radek and his resourceful colleague, Dominic Grey. Think Sherlock Holmes and Watson, but in the Grey series, Sherlock prefers absinthe to cocaine, and Watson is an expert in jujitsu and lock picking. First two novels were self-published and very well-received. Personally I concidered them one of my best indie finds when it comes to paranormal thrillers. Now the author got a publishing deal with Thomas & Mercer - I admit I was curious whether it made the next installment better or worse, with the author enjoying (hopefully) a professional editorial help.
The Diabologist is a novel about two things - the nature of belief, and the dichotomy of good versus evil. Yes, it's a rip-roaring, pulse-pounding adventure, but actually I loved the most parts dealing with philosophical divagations about the concept of evil, and how it's defined (or justified) within the bounds of faith and belief in our society. It all begins with the mysterious deaths of two prominent religious figures but do not let the adjective 'religious' fool you - one is the head of the House of Lucifer and the other of the Church of the Beast. Both are condemned as heretics by an unknown magus and burnt. It turns out the public perception of a 'Satanist' is just as troubled and diverse as that of a 'Christian' faith and our two protagonists must navigate that maze in order to find the culprit because a murder is still a murder even if the victim had a rather unsavoury (and fully deserved) reputation.
The best, absolutely best parts of this novels are closely connected to professor Victor Radek, a 60-year-old Czech gentleman who loves absinthe a bit too much for his own good and is a religious phenomenologist. Every time he entered the scene, either reminiscing about his past or dealing with the ugly present, the whole book got more intelligent and interesting. He had so many awesome things to say about so many topics: Zoroastrianism, the cults of Satan and/or Lucifer, definition of good and evil, theodicy (so divagations how come evil exists in a world created by a God who is an epitome of goodness and fairness) and whether real magic, black or white, exists.
The parts narrated from the pov of Dominic Grey were not bad either (he is the kick-ass guy who used to live in Japan so small wonder) but here I can repeat practically everything I wrote before: time and again I caught myself wishing our sweet hero had a bit more sense of humour, that healthy irony and distance which make people, real or fictional, so likeable. Unfortunately in this novel Dominic sounded as dour and boring as in the previous ones; sometimes simply boring, from time to time even stupid but never ever funny. There wasn't any other character provided for the balance and I wonder why. Would it be so difficult to make our Dominic fall for a moderately cheeky, funny girl, full of ironic wit? And as I've already mentioned falling in love...Anka, the Romanian beauty by his side, was my biggest disappointment and, in my opinion, the weakest character of this installment. In fact I think she is the weakest female character written by Mr. Green so far - mind you the previous two were hardly great. My main complaint? Apart from other things Anka sounded simply artificial. I felt as if the author, not knowing what to do, gathered several incongruous traits, threw them in together, shaked a bit and hoped they would result in an interesting female. Unfortunately they didn't want to glue together.
Ok, so we have a girl from Romania, a homeless orphan to boot, who feels in the UK at home and speaks fluent, idiomatic English. She says it's because she was raised by English-speaking nuns in an orphanage until her super-powers kicked in and she was proclaimed a devil worshipper and thrown out. Oooo-kay. Still it was just an orphanage…and she never mentioned how many years she spent there.
Then allegedly she moved to a small town and found a post of a librarian (sic! without practically any education!). During that time she self-taught herself a lot about occultism and other paranormal abilities (because small-town libraries, Romanian or otherwise, have so many occult books on their shelves, right?). And, of course she polished her English (speaking and practising with whom, I pray? A butcher? A baker? A homeless drunkard?). Mind you Anka was very beautiful, simply stunning, even compared to those elegant, pampered London ladies (and I do beg the author to show me where he found such ladies in London) but until one evil man called Simon (or Darius) Azar nobody got interested in making use of exceptionally good appearances of that girl. No goody-goody stranger, no mafia, no neighbour pimp, no model agency, not even a hopeless romantic. Were they completely blind?
Finally the ending. It was the silliest, most schematic and Dan Brown-esque part, especially with Anka being disqualified from the position of a Dominic's girlfriend because a) she lied to a complete stranger about her role in a certain cult (how dared she, this stranger being Dominic himself!) b) she killed with a knife another character (not saying who because it would be a spoiler, let me just assure you he was one manipulative jerk) looking remarkably ugly during the act c) she was manipulated, probably even coerced, by a sociopathic cult guru into having sex with certain individuals while being videotaped (how dared she!). *Le sigh*
Still I loved some of the settings - Paris catacombs! Sicily! Cambridge! London!
Final verdict:
One of best occult thrillers I've read this year. If Dan Brown was able to write such a book he would crow about it for the eternity and award himself a medal. It was fast-paced and decently researched, fully enjoyable despite its flaws.
All of them feature the Czech religious phenomenologist Viktor Radek and his resourceful colleague, Dominic Grey. Think Sherlock Holmes and Watson, but in the Grey series, Sherlock prefers absinthe to cocaine, and Watson is an expert in jujitsu and lock picking. First two novels were self-published and very well-received. Personally I concidered them one of my best indie finds when it comes to paranormal thrillers. Now the author got a publishing deal with Thomas & Mercer - I admit I was curious whether it made the next installment better or worse, with the author enjoying (hopefully) a professional editorial help.
The Diabologist is a novel about two things - the nature of belief, and the dichotomy of good versus evil. Yes, it's a rip-roaring, pulse-pounding adventure, but actually I loved the most parts dealing with philosophical divagations about the concept of evil, and how it's defined (or justified) within the bounds of faith and belief in our society. It all begins with the mysterious deaths of two prominent religious figures but do not let the adjective 'religious' fool you - one is the head of the House of Lucifer and the other of the Church of the Beast. Both are condemned as heretics by an unknown magus and burnt. It turns out the public perception of a 'Satanist' is just as troubled and diverse as that of a 'Christian' faith and our two protagonists must navigate that maze in order to find the culprit because a murder is still a murder even if the victim had a rather unsavoury (and fully deserved) reputation.
The best, absolutely best parts of this novels are closely connected to professor Victor Radek, a 60-year-old Czech gentleman who loves absinthe a bit too much for his own good and is a religious phenomenologist. Every time he entered the scene, either reminiscing about his past or dealing with the ugly present, the whole book got more intelligent and interesting. He had so many awesome things to say about so many topics: Zoroastrianism, the cults of Satan and/or Lucifer, definition of good and evil, theodicy (so divagations how come evil exists in a world created by a God who is an epitome of goodness and fairness) and whether real magic, black or white, exists.
The parts narrated from the pov of Dominic Grey were not bad either (he is the kick-ass guy who used to live in Japan so small wonder) but here I can repeat practically everything I wrote before: time and again I caught myself wishing our sweet hero had a bit more sense of humour, that healthy irony and distance which make people, real or fictional, so likeable. Unfortunately in this novel Dominic sounded as dour and boring as in the previous ones; sometimes simply boring, from time to time even stupid but never ever funny. There wasn't any other character provided for the balance and I wonder why. Would it be so difficult to make our Dominic fall for a moderately cheeky, funny girl, full of ironic wit? And as I've already mentioned falling in love...Anka, the Romanian beauty by his side, was my biggest disappointment and, in my opinion, the weakest character of this installment. In fact I think she is the weakest female character written by Mr. Green so far - mind you the previous two were hardly great. My main complaint? Apart from other things Anka sounded simply artificial. I felt as if the author, not knowing what to do, gathered several incongruous traits, threw them in together, shaked a bit and hoped they would result in an interesting female. Unfortunately they didn't want to glue together.
Ok, so we have a girl from Romania, a homeless orphan to boot, who feels in the UK at home and speaks fluent, idiomatic English. She says it's because she was raised by English-speaking nuns in an orphanage until her super-powers kicked in and she was proclaimed a devil worshipper and thrown out. Oooo-kay. Still it was just an orphanage…and she never mentioned how many years she spent there.
Then allegedly she moved to a small town and found a post of a librarian (sic! without practically any education!). During that time she self-taught herself a lot about occultism and other paranormal abilities (because small-town libraries, Romanian or otherwise, have so many occult books on their shelves, right?). And, of course she polished her English (speaking and practising with whom, I pray? A butcher? A baker? A homeless drunkard?). Mind you Anka was very beautiful, simply stunning, even compared to those elegant, pampered London ladies (and I do beg the author to show me where he found such ladies in London) but until one evil man called Simon (or Darius) Azar nobody got interested in making use of exceptionally good appearances of that girl. No goody-goody stranger, no mafia, no neighbour pimp, no model agency, not even a hopeless romantic. Were they completely blind?
Finally the ending. It was the silliest, most schematic and Dan Brown-esque part, especially with Anka being disqualified from the position of a Dominic's girlfriend because a) she lied to a complete stranger about her role in a certain cult (how dared she, this stranger being Dominic himself!) b) she killed with a knife another character (not saying who because it would be a spoiler, let me just assure you he was one manipulative jerk) looking remarkably ugly during the act c) she was manipulated, probably even coerced, by a sociopathic cult guru into having sex with certain individuals while being videotaped (how dared she!). *Le sigh*
Still I loved some of the settings - Paris catacombs! Sicily! Cambridge! London!
Final verdict:
One of best occult thrillers I've read this year. If Dan Brown was able to write such a book he would crow about it for the eternity and award himself a medal. It was fast-paced and decently researched, fully enjoyable despite its flaws.
June 11, 2013
Layton Green is one of my favorite indie authors who I first started reading in 2011. While I do think that overall this book could be read as a standalone novel, as there are very few references to the previous books other than a few sentences here and there, it is the character development in the previous books that would be missing in this series as well as quite a bit of Grey's back story. Plus I enjoyed both of the first two novels, so I personally think that you should pick them up. The first two books are The Summoner and The Egyptian.
In the third book in Green's Dominic Grey series, Layton had Grey and Viktor traveling all over the world in order to solve murders of Satanic leaders.
There are some bizarre murder occurring on the religious scene, however, these are not your typical religious figures. First, a satanic priest in San Francisco, where witnesses claim that a robed figure appeared out of now where and set him on fire. Then another satanic priest of a highly secretive cult is murdered under very strange circumstances Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, are brought in to assist in the investigation. Nothing that Grey and Viktor have done before will have fully prepared them to what lays ahead and Viktor is forced to face his past, that he wished to keep buried in order to keep his sanity as absinthe becomes more and more his friend. Grey and Viktor will have to questions everything they believe in as the lines between good and evil, black and white and real and paranormal become more and more blurred as the body count raises, Grey and Viktor must rely on each other in order to survive.
This is the best Dominic grey book yet, once again Green was able to hook me in right from the very first chapter. The mystery, thrills and action are unsurpassed within this book as Green keeps them coming, but even with all the action (which I will say Green does an awesome job with fight scenes that you feel like you are there and they are not unrealistic, he knows the limits of his characters) he is able to produce well round, interesting and realistic characters that you will instantly become attached to. Furthermore, you will find yourself learning something about history, cults, psychology and the cities that Grey and Viktor visit, that the book will hold your interest just with these aspects. If you think that this seems like a lot to take in or occur within a book, do not worry, Green combines them all together without the book feeling over whelming to create a sit in the edge of you seat novel that you will keep you wanting more.
Green has really developed and learned from his first book the Summoner. He now is able to meld the information he needs to portray within religion, history, and cults smoothly into the plot that it does not seem slow. The information is well placed, informative, interesting and you can tell that Green has done his due diligence in the portrayal of the information about cults. Speaking of the Cults, Green's imagination for cults is unsurpassed in any other cult based book that I have read and each book has a different take on a cults that I have personally never heard of. Green lays out the cults in a very scary way that never actually leaves you feeling like they are fake or made up. Although all the books within the Grey series have some sort of "paranormal" aspect to them, I like how Green is able to eventually explain what is happening either through science or the power of thought/mind. I think that this is even more creative (and more research needed) than just relying on the paranormal to remain unexplained.
I love love that the further Green gets into the series the more we get to know about another main character Viktor Radek. I am personally happy that Green decided to make both Grey and Viktor main characters as they each bring entirely different aspects (both strength and weaknesses) to the mystery, thrills and overall plot within the book as the reader gets to view what is happening from two different point of view, trains of thought and experiences that Grey and Viktor have had. While in the previous books the main focus as been Grey and his past (which was not pleasant and we do get a few more tidbits from his life as a street fighter), this book we get to divulge into Viktor's past and all of it is interesting, but not all of it is pretty. Viktor is really a man of mystery before this book as it is only hinted that he has a dark past especially with his constant need for absinthe. I find both Grey and Viktor as very fascinating characters and probably one of my favorite duo in the books I read, as they both bring something very different to the plot and story.
This is a great book that leaves me wanting more from Green and his Dominic Grey Series. If this is the first time you have heard of this series I suggest you run out and get started. Green's books are going to become a household favorite to those who want to delve into the darker side of society, those where the morals of people are skewed very far to the left, and where cults survive with a flourish. If you are looking for the next up and coming author in the thriller/mystery genre Layton Green is the author you are looking for and Green will give you everything you have been asking for. As you can probably guess I highly recommend this book and the first two within this series, so get out there and pick them up.
Enjoy!!!
Note: As this book does involve satanic cults, there are scenes that some readers may find disturbing as there are some descriptive parts in regards to sacrifices and ritual.
In the third book in Green's Dominic Grey series, Layton had Grey and Viktor traveling all over the world in order to solve murders of Satanic leaders.
There are some bizarre murder occurring on the religious scene, however, these are not your typical religious figures. First, a satanic priest in San Francisco, where witnesses claim that a robed figure appeared out of now where and set him on fire. Then another satanic priest of a highly secretive cult is murdered under very strange circumstances Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, are brought in to assist in the investigation. Nothing that Grey and Viktor have done before will have fully prepared them to what lays ahead and Viktor is forced to face his past, that he wished to keep buried in order to keep his sanity as absinthe becomes more and more his friend. Grey and Viktor will have to questions everything they believe in as the lines between good and evil, black and white and real and paranormal become more and more blurred as the body count raises, Grey and Viktor must rely on each other in order to survive.
This is the best Dominic grey book yet, once again Green was able to hook me in right from the very first chapter. The mystery, thrills and action are unsurpassed within this book as Green keeps them coming, but even with all the action (which I will say Green does an awesome job with fight scenes that you feel like you are there and they are not unrealistic, he knows the limits of his characters) he is able to produce well round, interesting and realistic characters that you will instantly become attached to. Furthermore, you will find yourself learning something about history, cults, psychology and the cities that Grey and Viktor visit, that the book will hold your interest just with these aspects. If you think that this seems like a lot to take in or occur within a book, do not worry, Green combines them all together without the book feeling over whelming to create a sit in the edge of you seat novel that you will keep you wanting more.
Green has really developed and learned from his first book the Summoner. He now is able to meld the information he needs to portray within religion, history, and cults smoothly into the plot that it does not seem slow. The information is well placed, informative, interesting and you can tell that Green has done his due diligence in the portrayal of the information about cults. Speaking of the Cults, Green's imagination for cults is unsurpassed in any other cult based book that I have read and each book has a different take on a cults that I have personally never heard of. Green lays out the cults in a very scary way that never actually leaves you feeling like they are fake or made up. Although all the books within the Grey series have some sort of "paranormal" aspect to them, I like how Green is able to eventually explain what is happening either through science or the power of thought/mind. I think that this is even more creative (and more research needed) than just relying on the paranormal to remain unexplained.
I love love that the further Green gets into the series the more we get to know about another main character Viktor Radek. I am personally happy that Green decided to make both Grey and Viktor main characters as they each bring entirely different aspects (both strength and weaknesses) to the mystery, thrills and overall plot within the book as the reader gets to view what is happening from two different point of view, trains of thought and experiences that Grey and Viktor have had. While in the previous books the main focus as been Grey and his past (which was not pleasant and we do get a few more tidbits from his life as a street fighter), this book we get to divulge into Viktor's past and all of it is interesting, but not all of it is pretty. Viktor is really a man of mystery before this book as it is only hinted that he has a dark past especially with his constant need for absinthe. I find both Grey and Viktor as very fascinating characters and probably one of my favorite duo in the books I read, as they both bring something very different to the plot and story.
This is a great book that leaves me wanting more from Green and his Dominic Grey Series. If this is the first time you have heard of this series I suggest you run out and get started. Green's books are going to become a household favorite to those who want to delve into the darker side of society, those where the morals of people are skewed very far to the left, and where cults survive with a flourish. If you are looking for the next up and coming author in the thriller/mystery genre Layton Green is the author you are looking for and Green will give you everything you have been asking for. As you can probably guess I highly recommend this book and the first two within this series, so get out there and pick them up.
Enjoy!!!
Note: As this book does involve satanic cults, there are scenes that some readers may find disturbing as there are some descriptive parts in regards to sacrifices and ritual.
March 12, 2015
When Layton emailed me about reviewing his new book, I happily agreed as I had enjoyed the first two books very much. He also mentioned that his books have been picked up Thomas and Mercer Publishing, an imprint of Amazon. They are publishing this one and will re-publish the first two which were self-published. I'm excited about that as I hope that a publisher will be able to give them the push and the PR that can be difficult for an author to do alone. Layton did a fantastic job on the first two books, the quality was excellent but doing all that promo is exhausting and takes away from writing time, so I am hoping that Thomas and Mercer will make this series the best seller it should be.
As I said, I really enjoyed the first two books and had high expectations for this one. Although I didn't love it as much as the first two, it mostly lived up to my expectations. It had one major flaw, which I address later.
Viktor and Dominic have worked together for a year now. Although employer and employee, they are also friends, though they rarely share intimate details. Both are troubled, both are loners, both are inquisitive, both will do whatever they have to to solve a case and protect the innocent. This case is personal for Viktor, involving someone from his university days and he finds it difficult to share necessary information with Dominic though eventually he does. They butt heads several times and each makes some poor choices. Viktor and Dominic are real; they have flaws, they make mistakes, they lead lives that are sometimes boring, they make the best choice they can in whatever circumstances they find themselves and hope for the best. With the involvement of the person from Viktor's past, we get to know more about him and some of his layers are peeled away. As a result, he becomes even more real. I felt as if I actually knew him.
The locations in this book were less exotic than the first two, being set in San Francisco US, Paris France, Sicily, and London England with most of the book being set in England. I loved how Green made the settings in the first two books practically characters in the story and not just a foreign setting for the sake of being exotic. Since this book bounces around so much, the locations are not as strong but they are still important and we don't get the tourist perspective, which I appreciated.
Despite the exotic location, and the religious/supernatural/paranormal phenomena they investigate, and the many skills they each have, neither Dom nor Viktor are supermen. They get hurt and that affects them, they don't jump up and keep going. Okay, Dom does but he also passes out from blood loss before reaching his goal. They make the effort to keep going despite their injuries and it's realistic, not cartoonish. Instead it adds to the depth of the story and helps keep the book grounded in reality; that's a plus since the emphasis as always is on ephemeral things such as good, evil and faith.
The thing that I didn't like, that I'd like to see Green move away from, that kept the book from being a five star story, is how he incorporates women into the stories. The stories have few women but there's always one whom Dominic gets involved with and then she either suffers serious injury and they split or she turns out to be one of the bad guys. I'd really like to see a major female character with whom Dom does NOT get involved and I'd like to see more use of women as secondary characters. Honestly, that was the main flaw in the book and you may feel differently about it. The story didn't grip the way the first two did and I think a lot of it was due to my reaction to his use of women in the stories. It didn't help that Anka never felt as real to me as Dominic or Viktor or even the main villain.
So if you like a smart, complex, story with depth, that will make you think, then try these books. But read in order; you could read out of order but they're best appreciated in order.
Some quotes:
But Christianity's and Zoroastrianism's version of the Devil, as well as the original Jewish concept of a Satan--which simply means adversary in Hebrew--all beg the same question: from where did evil arise?
"I think it best if we know and understand our adversaries, or at least that which we perceive our adversaries to be. I believe in combating ignorance with knowledge, and hopefully wisdom."
"Pure hedonism as the highest form of evil, the antithesis of selflessness. And from where do you believe the impetus for such behavior derives?
"I'd like to say nature, but I'm not sure I believe that. Plenty of evil acts serve no biological or evolutionary function. But nurture just begs the same question, since it started somewhere."
Format Read: Kindle ARC
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As I said, I really enjoyed the first two books and had high expectations for this one. Although I didn't love it as much as the first two, it mostly lived up to my expectations. It had one major flaw, which I address later.
Viktor and Dominic have worked together for a year now. Although employer and employee, they are also friends, though they rarely share intimate details. Both are troubled, both are loners, both are inquisitive, both will do whatever they have to to solve a case and protect the innocent. This case is personal for Viktor, involving someone from his university days and he finds it difficult to share necessary information with Dominic though eventually he does. They butt heads several times and each makes some poor choices. Viktor and Dominic are real; they have flaws, they make mistakes, they lead lives that are sometimes boring, they make the best choice they can in whatever circumstances they find themselves and hope for the best. With the involvement of the person from Viktor's past, we get to know more about him and some of his layers are peeled away. As a result, he becomes even more real. I felt as if I actually knew him.
The locations in this book were less exotic than the first two, being set in San Francisco US, Paris France, Sicily, and London England with most of the book being set in England. I loved how Green made the settings in the first two books practically characters in the story and not just a foreign setting for the sake of being exotic. Since this book bounces around so much, the locations are not as strong but they are still important and we don't get the tourist perspective, which I appreciated.
Despite the exotic location, and the religious/supernatural/paranormal phenomena they investigate, and the many skills they each have, neither Dom nor Viktor are supermen. They get hurt and that affects them, they don't jump up and keep going. Okay, Dom does but he also passes out from blood loss before reaching his goal. They make the effort to keep going despite their injuries and it's realistic, not cartoonish. Instead it adds to the depth of the story and helps keep the book grounded in reality; that's a plus since the emphasis as always is on ephemeral things such as good, evil and faith.
The thing that I didn't like, that I'd like to see Green move away from, that kept the book from being a five star story, is how he incorporates women into the stories. The stories have few women but there's always one whom Dominic gets involved with and then she either suffers serious injury and they split or she turns out to be one of the bad guys. I'd really like to see a major female character with whom Dom does NOT get involved and I'd like to see more use of women as secondary characters. Honestly, that was the main flaw in the book and you may feel differently about it. The story didn't grip the way the first two did and I think a lot of it was due to my reaction to his use of women in the stories. It didn't help that Anka never felt as real to me as Dominic or Viktor or even the main villain.
So if you like a smart, complex, story with depth, that will make you think, then try these books. But read in order; you could read out of order but they're best appreciated in order.
Some quotes:
But Christianity's and Zoroastrianism's version of the Devil, as well as the original Jewish concept of a Satan--which simply means adversary in Hebrew--all beg the same question: from where did evil arise?
"I think it best if we know and understand our adversaries, or at least that which we perceive our adversaries to be. I believe in combating ignorance with knowledge, and hopefully wisdom."
"Pure hedonism as the highest form of evil, the antithesis of selflessness. And from where do you believe the impetus for such behavior derives?
"I'd like to say nature, but I'm not sure I believe that. Plenty of evil acts serve no biological or evolutionary function. But nurture just begs the same question, since it started somewhere."
Format Read: Kindle ARC
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2013
THE DIABOLIST is the third novel in Layton Green’s outstanding series featuring phenomenologist Viktor Radek and his resourceful colleague, Dominic Grey. Think Sherlock Holmes and Watson, but in the Grey series, Sherlock prefers absinthe to cocaine, and Watson is an expert in Jujutsu who knows 420 ways to kill you with his pinky toe. Add to that fascinating, well-researched cases and exotic locales the world over and you have a series that is fast becoming one of my favorites on the market today.
The novel opens with a creepy Satanic ceremony in San Francisco. Amid much chanting and ritual, we learn that the leader of the ceremony, Matthias Gregory, has received death threats; this ceremony is meant to reassert his power. Things don’t go quite as planned, however, when a figure in black materializes from nowhere and Gregory goes up in flames. The mysterious death naturally compels the powers that be to seek phenomenologist Viktor Radek’s assistance with the case, particularly when a second leader of a Satanic cult is murdered in a similar fashion. In short order, Viktor and Dominic Grey find themselves immersed in a case involving bizarre deaths, a charismatic New Age prophet, and a mysterious woman with a penchant for vanishing into thin air. The case is complicated further when elements of Viktor’s shadowy past are pulled into the mix.
Like THE SUMMONER and THE EGYPTIAN, the previous novels in Green’s series, THE DIABOLIST combines evocative settings with a well-paced, serpentine plot and plenty of action. The writing is top notch, and I love the fact that readers learn more in this novel about Viktor Radek, a complex character whose motivations and vulnerabilities continue to fascinate me. As is common with these types of thrillers, the women in THE DIABOLIST occasionally fit a little too neatly into the damsel-in-distress archetype, but Green somehow manages to walk the line between honoring conventions of the genre and avoiding overt cliche, with considerable grace. Down the road, however, I would love to see Green create a female character in Dominic Grey’s world who is as complex and richly-layered as the men.
Ultimately, what makes this series stand out from the likes of Dan Brown and other authors of his ilk, is the strength of the telling. There is a fluidity, grace, and precision to Green’s writing that gets more refined with each novel. Both of the main characters are extremely well-drawn, and the intelligence with which Green approaches his subject matter is a welcome relief from the typically mainstream, black-and-white, good-versus-evil paradigm. Viktor notes at the beginning of the novel, in a lecture that could just as well be taken as a directive to the reader, that “In order to understand… you must step outside of your milieu, and put yourself wholly in the mind of the believer… You’ll find your own beliefs challenged; you’ll find yourself drawn into a world that frightens and excites you.”
Layton Green’s THE DIABOLIST is definitely that.
Final judgment: THE DIABOLIST will appeal to fans of the action, mystery, or thriller genres, with a couple of caveats. (1) Be prepared to suspend disbelief, as there are some fantastical elements to the plot. (2) You may want to look elsewhere if you’re sensitive to violence; if you don’t mind some seriously bone-jarring (and occasionally graphic) fight scenes, however, this book is for you. A dynamic, elegantly written, and expertly crafted thriller, THE DIABOLIST earns an unqualified five stars from this reviewer.
The novel opens with a creepy Satanic ceremony in San Francisco. Amid much chanting and ritual, we learn that the leader of the ceremony, Matthias Gregory, has received death threats; this ceremony is meant to reassert his power. Things don’t go quite as planned, however, when a figure in black materializes from nowhere and Gregory goes up in flames. The mysterious death naturally compels the powers that be to seek phenomenologist Viktor Radek’s assistance with the case, particularly when a second leader of a Satanic cult is murdered in a similar fashion. In short order, Viktor and Dominic Grey find themselves immersed in a case involving bizarre deaths, a charismatic New Age prophet, and a mysterious woman with a penchant for vanishing into thin air. The case is complicated further when elements of Viktor’s shadowy past are pulled into the mix.
Like THE SUMMONER and THE EGYPTIAN, the previous novels in Green’s series, THE DIABOLIST combines evocative settings with a well-paced, serpentine plot and plenty of action. The writing is top notch, and I love the fact that readers learn more in this novel about Viktor Radek, a complex character whose motivations and vulnerabilities continue to fascinate me. As is common with these types of thrillers, the women in THE DIABOLIST occasionally fit a little too neatly into the damsel-in-distress archetype, but Green somehow manages to walk the line between honoring conventions of the genre and avoiding overt cliche, with considerable grace. Down the road, however, I would love to see Green create a female character in Dominic Grey’s world who is as complex and richly-layered as the men.
Ultimately, what makes this series stand out from the likes of Dan Brown and other authors of his ilk, is the strength of the telling. There is a fluidity, grace, and precision to Green’s writing that gets more refined with each novel. Both of the main characters are extremely well-drawn, and the intelligence with which Green approaches his subject matter is a welcome relief from the typically mainstream, black-and-white, good-versus-evil paradigm. Viktor notes at the beginning of the novel, in a lecture that could just as well be taken as a directive to the reader, that “In order to understand… you must step outside of your milieu, and put yourself wholly in the mind of the believer… You’ll find your own beliefs challenged; you’ll find yourself drawn into a world that frightens and excites you.”
Layton Green’s THE DIABOLIST is definitely that.
Final judgment: THE DIABOLIST will appeal to fans of the action, mystery, or thriller genres, with a couple of caveats. (1) Be prepared to suspend disbelief, as there are some fantastical elements to the plot. (2) You may want to look elsewhere if you’re sensitive to violence; if you don’t mind some seriously bone-jarring (and occasionally graphic) fight scenes, however, this book is for you. A dynamic, elegantly written, and expertly crafted thriller, THE DIABOLIST earns an unqualified five stars from this reviewer.
June 23, 2013
Posted First on Blog Critics as Book Review: The Diabolist by Layton Green
Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek are back in a no holds barred dark and suspenseful novel taking us back into the underworld of religion and it various offshoots. Private investigators, specializing in cults, they have drawn a dangerous murder that will test the very heart of their own conviction.
In The Diabolist by Layton Green, Grey and Radek are investigating the bizarre and almost supernatural death of a well-known Satanic Priest. Each witness is spellbound by what they observed, or thought they had. As the investigative team move forward they realize they will have to split up as another murder occurs in Paris under the same circumstances.
Grey is uncomfortable with separation but Radek is insistent. There is something going on that strikes fear into the heart of all those involved. As the strange and eerie evidence begins to pile up, Radek finds himself in a mental backlog of his past. While Grey pursues the chilling leads in Paris and on to London, Radek tracks his memories of the past and finds the very devil at his own door.
Has mass hysteria swept the cults of the underworld, or is the figure that seems to appear and disappear at will, challenging and killing his adversaries with fire, really a new and powerful master. Can Grey uncover the answers before his friend meets the very fate of the rest?
The Diabolist is a novel of darkness and suspense, with a charismatic pair of investigators. Having followed this team in The Summoner, the case that brought them together, I am even more interested to learn the depths and interactions have only improved. The descriptions are so vivid, I picture them in my mind, rooting them to find and unearth the things that often paralyze us with fear. Reading the tale you feel an odd relief that they are on the job. The fear felt by the characters permeates you reading as you move forward. As I stop to turn up the lights, I remind myself that this is a story. One that will move you to the edge of your seat as you shake off your fear.
If you enjoy dark suspense, and really want to find an interesting read for the summer months, The Diabolist is a great find. The characters are bold and yet carry flaws that make them so likable, you will enjoy their exploits as they delve into the differing cults in an effort to educate others to the tricks and practices. Yet there is just enough realism as well that if you are an X-Files fan, this will be another venue for the often strange happenings that cannot be explained.
A great work for a reading group, the protagonists will draw you in, and keep you looking for more.
Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek are back in a no holds barred dark and suspenseful novel taking us back into the underworld of religion and it various offshoots. Private investigators, specializing in cults, they have drawn a dangerous murder that will test the very heart of their own conviction.
In The Diabolist by Layton Green, Grey and Radek are investigating the bizarre and almost supernatural death of a well-known Satanic Priest. Each witness is spellbound by what they observed, or thought they had. As the investigative team move forward they realize they will have to split up as another murder occurs in Paris under the same circumstances.
Grey is uncomfortable with separation but Radek is insistent. There is something going on that strikes fear into the heart of all those involved. As the strange and eerie evidence begins to pile up, Radek finds himself in a mental backlog of his past. While Grey pursues the chilling leads in Paris and on to London, Radek tracks his memories of the past and finds the very devil at his own door.
Has mass hysteria swept the cults of the underworld, or is the figure that seems to appear and disappear at will, challenging and killing his adversaries with fire, really a new and powerful master. Can Grey uncover the answers before his friend meets the very fate of the rest?
The Diabolist is a novel of darkness and suspense, with a charismatic pair of investigators. Having followed this team in The Summoner, the case that brought them together, I am even more interested to learn the depths and interactions have only improved. The descriptions are so vivid, I picture them in my mind, rooting them to find and unearth the things that often paralyze us with fear. Reading the tale you feel an odd relief that they are on the job. The fear felt by the characters permeates you reading as you move forward. As I stop to turn up the lights, I remind myself that this is a story. One that will move you to the edge of your seat as you shake off your fear.
If you enjoy dark suspense, and really want to find an interesting read for the summer months, The Diabolist is a great find. The characters are bold and yet carry flaws that make them so likable, you will enjoy their exploits as they delve into the differing cults in an effort to educate others to the tricks and practices. Yet there is just enough realism as well that if you are an X-Files fan, this will be another venue for the often strange happenings that cannot be explained.
A great work for a reading group, the protagonists will draw you in, and keep you looking for more.
August 15, 2013
Dominic Grey is back on another adventure with his boss, phenomenologist and cult expert Viktor Radek. This time they're investigating the murder of a Satanic priest who is burned alive by a robed figure who seems to appear and disappear before the eyes of several witnesses. When other religious leaders begin receiving letters from the murderer, condemning them to a similar death, Dominic and Viktor are determined to uncover the truth before more deaths occur.
The Diabolist by Layton Green is the third book in the Dominic Grey series and the first to be published under Amazon's Thomas and Mercer imprint. The first two books were also re-released this summer, and I'm not surprised the series was picked up. It's a unique series that delves deeply into religious cults in a detailed yet objective way ~ and there's always plenty of suspense and excitement to keep the pages turning!
In The Diabolist, Green tackles Satanism, and with it, the whole concept of evil. I found this absolutely fascinating and it really made me think. His stories also make you realize that whether what someone believes is actually true or not doesn't always matter; what matters most is whether they absolutely believe it is true. If they believe enough, they can almost make it real.
As with the first two books, there is a lot of action but also a lot of thoughtfulness throughout the book. Dominic and Viktor have to fight for their lives many times, but there's plenty of time for introspection as well. There's also plenty of magic and mystery in this one.
I have to say this is probably my favorite of the three books so far. And it really does stand alone, so if you're looking to try the series, you can start with the first one, The Summoner, or just jump in with The Diabolist. If you enjoy thrillers that make you think, I highly recommend the Dominic Grey series.
The Diabolist by Layton Green is the third book in the Dominic Grey series and the first to be published under Amazon's Thomas and Mercer imprint. The first two books were also re-released this summer, and I'm not surprised the series was picked up. It's a unique series that delves deeply into religious cults in a detailed yet objective way ~ and there's always plenty of suspense and excitement to keep the pages turning!
In The Diabolist, Green tackles Satanism, and with it, the whole concept of evil. I found this absolutely fascinating and it really made me think. His stories also make you realize that whether what someone believes is actually true or not doesn't always matter; what matters most is whether they absolutely believe it is true. If they believe enough, they can almost make it real.
As with the first two books, there is a lot of action but also a lot of thoughtfulness throughout the book. Dominic and Viktor have to fight for their lives many times, but there's plenty of time for introspection as well. There's also plenty of magic and mystery in this one.
I have to say this is probably my favorite of the three books so far. And it really does stand alone, so if you're looking to try the series, you can start with the first one, The Summoner, or just jump in with The Diabolist. If you enjoy thrillers that make you think, I highly recommend the Dominic Grey series.
August 22, 2013
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways.
Wow. I have never heard of this author before running across this book in the giveaways section on Goodreads. I don't know why, this book was awesome. I checked out reviews of all three books before I started reading this. The thing is, Green's fans are rabid fans. After reading this book I can see why.
You can tell by the amount of information that is given concerning locations and history that Green has done a lot of research. A lot. He goes into great detail explaining various cults that made me wonder if he were not a member of said cults. He seemed to have scary amounts of inside knowledge about things we're better off leaving alone. I know this was a fictional work but the best fiction out there always has a touch of truth in it. In this book you have a hard time deciding where the truth ends and the fiction begins.
As to the characters...they are very believable. Dominic Grey is a "super ninja" but not so super that he cannot be touched. He gets injured, physically and emotionally, and has to search his soul for the answers to deeper questions that get forced upon him. Dominic's boss, Victor, is super intelligent and not afraid to face anything but his own memories. Together they make a great team.
From what I gather, this book is the third in the series. I have never read books one and two and it didn't keep me from enjoying this book at all. I looked at the library for the first two and they don't have them yet. Give them time. Layton Green is going to be big. If I didn't have books stacked up that I had promised to read plus our normal daily obligations that life imposes upon us, I would buy the first two books in this series, lock myself in the house and read them without pausing for sleep or food. This book was that good. Thank you Mr. Green, that was some ride.
Wow. I have never heard of this author before running across this book in the giveaways section on Goodreads. I don't know why, this book was awesome. I checked out reviews of all three books before I started reading this. The thing is, Green's fans are rabid fans. After reading this book I can see why.
You can tell by the amount of information that is given concerning locations and history that Green has done a lot of research. A lot. He goes into great detail explaining various cults that made me wonder if he were not a member of said cults. He seemed to have scary amounts of inside knowledge about things we're better off leaving alone. I know this was a fictional work but the best fiction out there always has a touch of truth in it. In this book you have a hard time deciding where the truth ends and the fiction begins.
As to the characters...they are very believable. Dominic Grey is a "super ninja" but not so super that he cannot be touched. He gets injured, physically and emotionally, and has to search his soul for the answers to deeper questions that get forced upon him. Dominic's boss, Victor, is super intelligent and not afraid to face anything but his own memories. Together they make a great team.
From what I gather, this book is the third in the series. I have never read books one and two and it didn't keep me from enjoying this book at all. I looked at the library for the first two and they don't have them yet. Give them time. Layton Green is going to be big. If I didn't have books stacked up that I had promised to read plus our normal daily obligations that life imposes upon us, I would buy the first two books in this series, lock myself in the house and read them without pausing for sleep or food. This book was that good. Thank you Mr. Green, that was some ride.
June 3, 2013
The powers of evil may prove too much for Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek in The Diabolist by Layton Green.
The third book in the Dominic Grey series, The Diabolist brings forth a devious yet charismatic villain from Viktor’s past. The storyline weaves an introspective and philosophical look between good and evil. Dominic and Viktor traverse the world in search for clues and have their work cut out for them this time. The reader learns more about Viktor’s past and his on-going quest for truth. Viktor is a character who wants to believe, yet he has trouble to do so, even when he sees things for himself. Dominic struggles to protect his friend while avoiding capture from the organization searching to kill Viktor and him.
The various settings add to this well-written thriller. I enjoyed how Dominic and Viktor traveled between New York, San Francisco, Paris, London, and more. The research involved within this novel paid off, and I love how Green brings to life the occult and fringe religions. Although this book wasn’t as fast-paced and action-packed as the previous two, the threat facing Viktor and Dominic felt very real.
Layton Green’s The Diabolist chills with its devilish villains and introspective plotline. I recommend Green’s Dominic Grey series.
The third book in the Dominic Grey series, The Diabolist brings forth a devious yet charismatic villain from Viktor’s past. The storyline weaves an introspective and philosophical look between good and evil. Dominic and Viktor traverse the world in search for clues and have their work cut out for them this time. The reader learns more about Viktor’s past and his on-going quest for truth. Viktor is a character who wants to believe, yet he has trouble to do so, even when he sees things for himself. Dominic struggles to protect his friend while avoiding capture from the organization searching to kill Viktor and him.
The various settings add to this well-written thriller. I enjoyed how Dominic and Viktor traveled between New York, San Francisco, Paris, London, and more. The research involved within this novel paid off, and I love how Green brings to life the occult and fringe religions. Although this book wasn’t as fast-paced and action-packed as the previous two, the threat facing Viktor and Dominic felt very real.
Layton Green’s The Diabolist chills with its devilish villains and introspective plotline. I recommend Green’s Dominic Grey series.
May 18, 2013
I won this book in a First Reads Giveaway, and I loved it! It was fast-paced and downright scary at times. I had not read the other two books in the series and could follow the story just fine. You could tell that the author did a lot of research into the religious cults and the occult when writing this book. Even after I finished, I could not stop thinking about the fascinating questions that came up in the story, "What is evil?" and "What is the origin of evil?" If you enjoy reading Dan Brown, you will enjoy this book!
May 28, 2013
If Layton Green was a statue he would be an Oscar. Fortunately, he is one of the best authors out there. And The Diabolist pins us against our seats and thrusts us into Green's remarkable characters with a slant on the occult. Don't misunderstand. Green's talents lie in his intelligence and ability to craft a novel whose characters rage into the abyss and meet the Minotaur - a novel that races and rattles, and impinges on good and evil. An amazing book and an amazing author - don't miss The Summoner either. Green never misses a step.
Ava Rogers
The Review Broads
Ava Rogers
The Review Broads
May 11, 2013
The Diabolist is full of suspense and action. I could not put the book down. It has a great storyline which keeps you interested. I couldn't stop reading it until I knew how it would end. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery book. I did not know this was the third book in the series but I do believe this could be read as a stand a lone also. It was not hard to follow and grasp the plot. Now I will have to read the other two books!
June 28, 2016
I liked this book, and I'm enjoying the Dominic Grey series. He's a brooding, introverted investigator who keeps finding trouble. The stories are interesting with out of the ordinary subject matter (this one was about Devil worshippers). Interesting and pretty action packed reads with a hint of supernatural. While I'm enjoying the series, I wouldn't recommend it to most people, because it's pretty out there and really has to be your type of genre to enjoy it.
November 19, 2017
Exciting and suspenseful search for the Satanic Priest thought to have committed grisly murders. Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, who are private investigators of cults, delve into satanic rituals and the inner workings of cults to uncover the murderer. Very exciting.
June 24, 2015
As you can see, I've become a fan of this series. A lot of what's discussed in these books will make you stop and think about life. Looking forward to more adventures with Dominic and Viktor!
September 3, 2022
For this third book in The Dominic Grey Series and his first with the Thomas & Mercer imprint, Layton Green kicks things up a notch and delivers a novel that should, if there's any justice to be found upon the shelves, make him a household name. The Diabolist is a dark, intelligent, spellbinding novel that is destined to appeal to readers of Preston & Child, David Gibbins, and Dan Brown . . . as well as the likes of Peter Straub, John Saul, and James Herbert.
This is a novel about two things - the nature of belief, and the dichotomy of good versus evil. Yes, it's a rip-roaring, pulse-pounding adventure, but it's also an intelligent, deeply philosophical look at the concept of evil, and how it's defined (or justified) within the bounds of faith and belief. It all begins with the mysterious deaths of two prominent religious figures, one of the House of Lucifer and the other of the Church of the Beast, both condemned as heretics. I won't attempt to summarize the details that Layton provides in the course of the novel, but it turns out the public perception of a 'Satanist' is just as troubled and diverse as that of a 'Christian' faith.
At the same time, a charismatic leader by the name of Simon Azar has begun making a name for himself, amassing over a million followers for his Order of New Enlightenment. It's a very attractive, very seductive sort of humanist religion, one that celebrates the natural enjoyment of life in all its forms, all without guilt or shame. It's an intelligent form of belief, and one that's easy to see the appeal of, but there's something suspicious at its heart.
Enter our heroes, Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, working on behalf of Interpol to solve the murders and prevent the death of more . . . including the Pope.
Readers who are already familiar with the series will appreciate the opportunity to delve into Viktor's surprisingly dark past, to learn what made him into the expert on cults and religious phenomenologist he is today. There's a very good reason he so often loses himself to the oblivion of Absinthe, and an equally good reason he is so good at what he does. New readers need not fear, for Dominic's past is recapped nicely in bits and pieces throughout the book, providing them with enough of an introduction to enjoy the story.
The incredible action sequences of the first two books, with Dominic's unique brand of hand-to-hand combat have been perfected here, providing more than a few heart-stopping moments of action and drama. The blood and the gore are here again as well in all their lurid detail, but necessary to the plot, and never used for mere effect. The drama and the suspense are at an all-time high for the series as well, particularly once Viktor receives one of the mysterious letters promising his own death.
Like the first two books of the series, Green deftly balances faith, belief, science, and reason throughout the tale. The question of the supernatural is just that - a question - one that is wisely left somewhat opened ended, with just enough room for readers to believe there's more to life than Viktor and Dominic can explain. It's not a cop-out or a soft ending by any stretch of the imagination. This is an intelligent read that rewards, rather than dismisses, our intelligence in tying up the loose ends. It's just that Green is smart enough to leave a few unanswered questions, a few events that we are free to either believe haven't been explained yet, or simply cannot be explained.
I cannot recommend this one highly enough. If you're new to the series, dive in and enjoy a read that will stimulate all your senses. You'll feel smarter for having read it, I guarantee, but you'll also enjoy every moment.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
This is a novel about two things - the nature of belief, and the dichotomy of good versus evil. Yes, it's a rip-roaring, pulse-pounding adventure, but it's also an intelligent, deeply philosophical look at the concept of evil, and how it's defined (or justified) within the bounds of faith and belief. It all begins with the mysterious deaths of two prominent religious figures, one of the House of Lucifer and the other of the Church of the Beast, both condemned as heretics. I won't attempt to summarize the details that Layton provides in the course of the novel, but it turns out the public perception of a 'Satanist' is just as troubled and diverse as that of a 'Christian' faith.
At the same time, a charismatic leader by the name of Simon Azar has begun making a name for himself, amassing over a million followers for his Order of New Enlightenment. It's a very attractive, very seductive sort of humanist religion, one that celebrates the natural enjoyment of life in all its forms, all without guilt or shame. It's an intelligent form of belief, and one that's easy to see the appeal of, but there's something suspicious at its heart.
Enter our heroes, Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, working on behalf of Interpol to solve the murders and prevent the death of more . . . including the Pope.
Readers who are already familiar with the series will appreciate the opportunity to delve into Viktor's surprisingly dark past, to learn what made him into the expert on cults and religious phenomenologist he is today. There's a very good reason he so often loses himself to the oblivion of Absinthe, and an equally good reason he is so good at what he does. New readers need not fear, for Dominic's past is recapped nicely in bits and pieces throughout the book, providing them with enough of an introduction to enjoy the story.
The incredible action sequences of the first two books, with Dominic's unique brand of hand-to-hand combat have been perfected here, providing more than a few heart-stopping moments of action and drama. The blood and the gore are here again as well in all their lurid detail, but necessary to the plot, and never used for mere effect. The drama and the suspense are at an all-time high for the series as well, particularly once Viktor receives one of the mysterious letters promising his own death.
Like the first two books of the series, Green deftly balances faith, belief, science, and reason throughout the tale. The question of the supernatural is just that - a question - one that is wisely left somewhat opened ended, with just enough room for readers to believe there's more to life than Viktor and Dominic can explain. It's not a cop-out or a soft ending by any stretch of the imagination. This is an intelligent read that rewards, rather than dismisses, our intelligence in tying up the loose ends. It's just that Green is smart enough to leave a few unanswered questions, a few events that we are free to either believe haven't been explained yet, or simply cannot be explained.
I cannot recommend this one highly enough. If you're new to the series, dive in and enjoy a read that will stimulate all your senses. You'll feel smarter for having read it, I guarantee, but you'll also enjoy every moment.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
December 20, 2017
Whoever recommended this book to me: be cursed. First, it made me start with the recent book (well, it was the third one while there actually is a fourth book of the series by now) and not the first of the Dominic Grey Series, and second, I now am hooked. Layton Green’s The Diabolist is a mystery thriller, hence, not only providing the gripping story but getting into your mind with its psychic attitude. When diving into the story, one often is unsure about it being real or surreal. As I said (or so): I loved it.
This is the not the first book on Dominic Grey, so I have to live without knowing about the beginnings. There are hints on past adventures spread throughout the novel, and these read damn intriguing to make my bookshelves bend even more (Ok, it’s virtual shelves with e-books nowadays.) So what’s in it? The lead character, Dominic Grey, a former Diplomatic Security Agent, together with his boss, Professor Viktor Radek, a cult expert, investigate the murder of a sect leader. Some more murders are added to this killer series, and the investigation leads the team back to the past of Radek and the leader of a satanic cult organization.
The story is packed with action as well as historic discoveries, which makes it a fast and educating read with respect to the occult and religions. The heros’ actions are majorly realistic (as far as it goes for mystery), having their lows and highs, struggling with the investigations, which always seem to just go to their favour. The antagonists are written similar interesting, although the important combat between Dominic and his opponent was suprisingly short. I will definitely get on with these guys, starting from the beginning, of course.
This is the not the first book on Dominic Grey, so I have to live without knowing about the beginnings. There are hints on past adventures spread throughout the novel, and these read damn intriguing to make my bookshelves bend even more (Ok, it’s virtual shelves with e-books nowadays.) So what’s in it? The lead character, Dominic Grey, a former Diplomatic Security Agent, together with his boss, Professor Viktor Radek, a cult expert, investigate the murder of a sect leader. Some more murders are added to this killer series, and the investigation leads the team back to the past of Radek and the leader of a satanic cult organization.
The story is packed with action as well as historic discoveries, which makes it a fast and educating read with respect to the occult and religions. The heros’ actions are majorly realistic (as far as it goes for mystery), having their lows and highs, struggling with the investigations, which always seem to just go to their favour. The antagonists are written similar interesting, although the important combat between Dominic and his opponent was suprisingly short. I will definitely get on with these guys, starting from the beginning, of course.
September 12, 2021
"The Diabolist" - written by Layton Green and published in 2013 by Thomas & Mercer. I enjoyed this exciting thriller - Dominic Grey, in his third outing, has specialized in cults and other forms of extreme religion, usually when murders occur. He works with Viktor Radek, an expert in religious phenomenology - he does the thinking and Grey does the dirty work. Grey is "a born fighter who abhorred violence, a wanderer who yearned for a place to call home, someone trying to accomplish the Sisyphean task of creating a future while still erasing the past." Green does a good job of grounding the reader in their back stories, so it wasn't a problem jumping in later in the series. I appreciated his quick Tammy Faye reference - and she's just in the news currently, Sep2021. The murders in this book are preceded by short notes giving the day and time of the next one, so Grey and Radek are always on the run across Europe. "He felt as if Viktor's life were an hourglass in Grey's hands, each second whisking away the remaining grains of sand." I liked the writing, the characters and the action - a solid thriller.
June 19, 2013
Book Info
Paperback
Expected publication: June 4th 2013 by Thomas & Mercer
ISBN 1611099846 (ISBN13: 9781611099843)
edition language English
characters Dominic Grey, Viktor Radek
setting San Francisco, California (United States)
Paris (France)
London, England (United Kingdom)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerous.
Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.
The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.
Not having read either the first book The Summoner or second book The Egyptian it was surprisingly easy to follow along with Dominic and Victor's characters, especially since their past was touched upon by the Author in a manner that allowed one to grasp enough of their respective backgrounds to make them solidly fleshed out to the reader of the book.
This is described as a "gripping thriller", it indeed lives up to that name as one follows along with Dominic and Viktor to locales all over the world as they determinedly investigate the initial murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco that is only the beginning of what could turn into a veritable blood bath unless the perpetrator and his accomplices are not stopped.
Racing against the clock both Dominic and Viktor must face seemingly insurmountable odds as their adversaries are much more widespread than they had first believed as well as motivated to the point of fanaticism. The themes that the author incorporates into this novel are not new, after all the battle between good and evil is one that has been played out many times in different literature. The manner in which author Layton Green approaches this conflict however is one that will lead to questioning ones personal feelings as well as ones beliefs as to what constitutes true evil.
I thoroughly enjoyed the strong contrasting characters, both the leads and the villains the author pitted against each other, in this fabulous richly detailed and well researched suspense thriller. If one came into The Diabolist with no prior knowledge of different branches of the occult or Satanists by the time you finish the story you will have a fairly respectable working knowledge as the author imparts a lot of information pertinent to both that rounds out the who/what/when/why and where in the merging plot lines.
This is a fast paced book that takes a stronger stomach to read as it is details practices that are not meant to create sensationalism but rather add reality to the subject matter that is touched upon as the central story line. It is not that it is so very graphically gory but that these details are brutally realistic in their descriptions of the tortures that the victims underwent prior to their deaths. This also includes the trials and tribulations at the hands of one man who viciously beats both Dominic and Viktor in the course of their separate investigations, these scenes alone will cause you pause as you read his callous disregard for the pain of others.
Now that have introduced myself to this series thanks to the kindness of the author, the publisher and Netgalley am planning on going back and seeking out my Kindle copy of book 1 The Summoner the first break that comes in my reading schedule so can enjoy more of the adventures shared by Dominic and Viktor. These two men are worlds apart in both background and age but share a very compelling need to explore the truth and that leads them as well as the reader into some very interesting territory that would love to pursue further. Hopefully this third book will not be the last in the series.
Dominic Grey Novels
Paperback
Expected publication: June 4th 2013 by Thomas & Mercer
ISBN 1611099846 (ISBN13: 9781611099843)
edition language English
characters Dominic Grey, Viktor Radek
setting San Francisco, California (United States)
Paris (France)
London, England (United Kingdom)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerous.
Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.
The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.
My Thoughts
Not having read either the first book The Summoner or second book The Egyptian it was surprisingly easy to follow along with Dominic and Victor's characters, especially since their past was touched upon by the Author in a manner that allowed one to grasp enough of their respective backgrounds to make them solidly fleshed out to the reader of the book.
This is described as a "gripping thriller", it indeed lives up to that name as one follows along with Dominic and Viktor to locales all over the world as they determinedly investigate the initial murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco that is only the beginning of what could turn into a veritable blood bath unless the perpetrator and his accomplices are not stopped.
Racing against the clock both Dominic and Viktor must face seemingly insurmountable odds as their adversaries are much more widespread than they had first believed as well as motivated to the point of fanaticism. The themes that the author incorporates into this novel are not new, after all the battle between good and evil is one that has been played out many times in different literature. The manner in which author Layton Green approaches this conflict however is one that will lead to questioning ones personal feelings as well as ones beliefs as to what constitutes true evil.
I thoroughly enjoyed the strong contrasting characters, both the leads and the villains the author pitted against each other, in this fabulous richly detailed and well researched suspense thriller. If one came into The Diabolist with no prior knowledge of different branches of the occult or Satanists by the time you finish the story you will have a fairly respectable working knowledge as the author imparts a lot of information pertinent to both that rounds out the who/what/when/why and where in the merging plot lines.
This is a fast paced book that takes a stronger stomach to read as it is details practices that are not meant to create sensationalism but rather add reality to the subject matter that is touched upon as the central story line. It is not that it is so very graphically gory but that these details are brutally realistic in their descriptions of the tortures that the victims underwent prior to their deaths. This also includes the trials and tribulations at the hands of one man who viciously beats both Dominic and Viktor in the course of their separate investigations, these scenes alone will cause you pause as you read his callous disregard for the pain of others.
Now that have introduced myself to this series thanks to the kindness of the author, the publisher and Netgalley am planning on going back and seeking out my Kindle copy of book 1 The Summoner the first break that comes in my reading schedule so can enjoy more of the adventures shared by Dominic and Viktor. These two men are worlds apart in both background and age but share a very compelling need to explore the truth and that leads them as well as the reader into some very interesting territory that would love to pursue further. Hopefully this third book will not be the last in the series.
Dominic Grey Novels
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
September 10, 2017
Three and a half stars
The beginning of Excalibur
Mist shrouded woods.
Thundering hooves.
Heavily armored medieval knights gallop toward the camera...
Unfortunately, Graham Chapman and Terry Gilliam did something far too similar six years earlier, banging coconuts together and prancing on foot as they emerged from the mist.
As I watched the rest of Excalibur waaay back in 1981, it was difficult for me to not expect verbal exchanges regarding swallows, not dead yet, flesh wounds and shrubbery in this dramatic medieval sword & sorcery adventure.
I had some similar problems with this novel. Although set in modern times, The Diabolist opens with a scene reminiscent of the dread portal in Pratchett's (Guards! Guards!) which may have jaded my reading in the same way Monty Python and the Holy Grail affected my view of Excalibur. Others have said that Green's novel is an example of how The DaVinci Code could have been written. Needless to say, I have a different opinion. Brown gave us puzzles along the way, allowing us to be a part of the solution. Which, in the end was plausible, if not realistic. Ok, he didn't want us to solve these puzzles, but he wanted us to feel like we might have been able to. Green's protagonist characters follow standard detective novel processes of pounding the pavement, breaking into offices and questioning reluctant witnesses (along with Rambo green beret-type fighting) on a journey that leads us, eventually, to the climax with the evil mastermind. We are spectators rather than involved in the story. Ya, I'm ok with that.
But then he tried to sell me on the psychic psycho and left the hooded illusion unanswered. I realize that reading fiction requires a suspension of disbelief; but, just how far do I need to suspend it?
Not that DaVinci is a classic, but I can say that I preferred it to Diabolist (and, it's certainly easier to pronounce). I did find it an enjoyable way to pass the time, but I'm not likely to read it again. I will consider picking up other Green novels though.
The beginning of Excalibur
Mist shrouded woods.
Thundering hooves.
Heavily armored medieval knights gallop toward the camera...
Unfortunately, Graham Chapman and Terry Gilliam did something far too similar six years earlier, banging coconuts together and prancing on foot as they emerged from the mist.
As I watched the rest of Excalibur waaay back in 1981, it was difficult for me to not expect verbal exchanges regarding swallows, not dead yet, flesh wounds and shrubbery in this dramatic medieval sword & sorcery adventure.
I had some similar problems with this novel. Although set in modern times, The Diabolist opens with a scene reminiscent of the dread portal in Pratchett's (Guards! Guards!) which may have jaded my reading in the same way Monty Python and the Holy Grail affected my view of Excalibur. Others have said that Green's novel is an example of how The DaVinci Code could have been written. Needless to say, I have a different opinion. Brown gave us puzzles along the way, allowing us to be a part of the solution. Which, in the end was plausible, if not realistic. Ok, he didn't want us to solve these puzzles, but he wanted us to feel like we might have been able to. Green's protagonist characters follow standard detective novel processes of pounding the pavement, breaking into offices and questioning reluctant witnesses (along with Rambo green beret-type fighting) on a journey that leads us, eventually, to the climax with the evil mastermind. We are spectators rather than involved in the story. Ya, I'm ok with that.
But then he tried to sell me on the psychic psycho and left the hooded illusion unanswered. I realize that reading fiction requires a suspension of disbelief; but, just how far do I need to suspend it?
Not that DaVinci is a classic, but I can say that I preferred it to Diabolist (and, it's certainly easier to pronounce). I did find it an enjoyable way to pass the time, but I'm not likely to read it again. I will consider picking up other Green novels though.
September 21, 2017
So this is the 3rd installment in the Dominic Grey series, and I was not disappointed.
I like the idea of Grey & Professor Radek trisping around the world solving Cult related murders & intrigue. Oh Lah Lah!
The Old World seems ripe with these things. At times, it seems hard to wrap ones mind towards these things. Like does this really exist?
Oh well, that was me just thinking out loud. No really, I'm serious.
Anyway I will leave that alone, that's a whole other topic.
So with that being said, onward to the next installment. The Shadow Cartel, & from what I've read so far this one won't disappoint either.
Let me get started, so I can leave you my stellar review.
See you in a bit, Ciao!
I like the idea of Grey & Professor Radek trisping around the world solving Cult related murders & intrigue. Oh Lah Lah!
The Old World seems ripe with these things. At times, it seems hard to wrap ones mind towards these things. Like does this really exist?
Oh well, that was me just thinking out loud. No really, I'm serious.
Anyway I will leave that alone, that's a whole other topic.
So with that being said, onward to the next installment. The Shadow Cartel, & from what I've read so far this one won't disappoint either.
Let me get started, so I can leave you my stellar review.
See you in a bit, Ciao!
February 3, 2019
Interesting read. I usually don't read fiction but I got captivated by this book from the very first page. I probably will read a few novels this year because of this experience
Interesting read. I usually don't read fiction but I got captivated by this book from the very first page. I probably will read a few novels this year because of this experience.
Interesting read. I usually don't read fiction but I got captivated by this book from the very first page. I probably will read a few novels this year because of this experience.
July 10, 2018
Mishmash
Based on so many great reviews, I actually bought this book because my library did not have it. But I thought it was just every conceivable occult idea and person thrown into a pot to convey erudition. Also, a lot of Catholic bashing, especially at the end.
Based on so many great reviews, I actually bought this book because my library did not have it. But I thought it was just every conceivable occult idea and person thrown into a pot to convey erudition. Also, a lot of Catholic bashing, especially at the end.
December 22, 2021
Page turning thriller.
Grey and Victor are fascinating characters. The book is fast paced. I read it until well into the night. There is always a surprising twist. I am thrilled there are additional books in this series.
Grey and Victor are fascinating characters. The book is fast paced. I read it until well into the night. There is always a surprising twist. I am thrilled there are additional books in this series.
August 24, 2023
A gripping novel for Gray and Vikor! Read slowly as there is a lot of information to follow along for this case. And characters too with similar names (Dante and Darius)
A bit gory and cringe worthy moments too
3.75 out of 5 stars
A bit gory and cringe worthy moments too
3.75 out of 5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews