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Dark Places of The Earth #1
Dark Places
In a place so harsh that survivalis a struggle, one man has found the strength to kill ...
Paul Wood is a modern vagabond, a man who chooses to leave the comforts of San Francisco to spend months backpacking through some of the world's most challenging Cameroon, Indonesia, Nepal. While hiking in the Himalayas, Paul gets more of a rush than he bargained for when he finds the body of a murdered hiker, the victim mutilated in a way that Paul has witnessed once before, years ago and thousands of miles away.
To quell a scandal, the police rule the death a suicide and close the case. But Paul can't let it go. A man who has traveled through the thin air at the top of the world and across land mines in war zones, he is not easily discouraged. But his newest expedition will show him some of the darkest places imaginable, in both the terrain he navigates and the men he encounters. Finding the killer becomes Paul's new obsession -- a journey that leads him dangerously close to the edge ... and maybe over it.
Paul Wood is a modern vagabond, a man who chooses to leave the comforts of San Francisco to spend months backpacking through some of the world's most challenging Cameroon, Indonesia, Nepal. While hiking in the Himalayas, Paul gets more of a rush than he bargained for when he finds the body of a murdered hiker, the victim mutilated in a way that Paul has witnessed once before, years ago and thousands of miles away.
To quell a scandal, the police rule the death a suicide and close the case. But Paul can't let it go. A man who has traveled through the thin air at the top of the world and across land mines in war zones, he is not easily discouraged. But his newest expedition will show him some of the darkest places imaginable, in both the terrain he navigates and the men he encounters. Finding the killer becomes Paul's new obsession -- a journey that leads him dangerously close to the edge ... and maybe over it.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
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530 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 22, 2022
I went into this blind knowing nothing about it and i'm glad I did. The story follows Paul an IT wizard who loves nothing more than going backpacking around the world.
During a hiking trip in Nepal he stumbles across the body of a young Canadian man who was murdered in an unsual way. The police couldnt care less and write it off as suicide. As Paul begins his own investigation it shows earilly similar traits to the death of his girlfriend years prior in another third world country.
What Paul stumbles across leads him all over the world, a serial killer who will not stop and puts his own life in danger. Can Paul get anyone to believe him about a serial killer operating in numerous third world countrys and targeting travelers?
The storys pace is great and I loved all the descriptions of the countrys he visits such as Nepal, Africa, Indonesia and Europe. There is plenty of twists and turns and concludes well.
During a hiking trip in Nepal he stumbles across the body of a young Canadian man who was murdered in an unsual way. The police couldnt care less and write it off as suicide. As Paul begins his own investigation it shows earilly similar traits to the death of his girlfriend years prior in another third world country.
What Paul stumbles across leads him all over the world, a serial killer who will not stop and puts his own life in danger. Can Paul get anyone to believe him about a serial killer operating in numerous third world countrys and targeting travelers?
The storys pace is great and I loved all the descriptions of the countrys he visits such as Nepal, Africa, Indonesia and Europe. There is plenty of twists and turns and concludes well.
December 16, 2020
Loved reading this book. The story is about crazy sociopath serial killing. Love the writing style. Every chapter is filled with cliffhangers which keep me hooked to it. Though I like the tech savvy avatar of the protagonist some people may find this character Paul, a bit confusing or rather say his tech language is confusing. I very much enjoyed this book and the storyline is awesome. I was completely engrossed in this book from the beginning.
March 11, 2017
Es wird von einem Mann gemunkelt, der sich 'Der Stier' nennt; es geht das Gerücht, dass dieser Mann die Gesellschaft alleinreisender Backpacker sucht, sie in abgelegene Gegenden begleitet, dort ermordet und ihnen die Augen aus sticht. Es gibt zudem unbestätigte Vermutungen, der Stier sei kein Afrikaner, sondern ein europäischer Rucksacktourist. Seine Spur soll sich von Kapstadt bis nach Malawi ziehen.
Im Klappentext wird der Vergleich mit Alex Garlands 'Der Strand' gezogen, welches ich damals verschlungen habe. Dieses Buch hat tatsächlich eine ähnliche Atmosphäre, allein durch das gemeinsame sportliche Hobby der handelnden Personen. Von Anfang an, wirklich mit dem ersten Satz, fesselt der Autor den Leser an die rasante, überraschende und spannende Geschichte vor grandioser Kulisse (weswegen mir das alte Cover auch besser gefällt). Die (Handlungs-?)Unfähigkeit oder Unwilligkeit internationaler Behörden bis hin zur Korruption der Polizei mancher Länder frustriert den nicht nur den sympatischen Protagonisten sondern den Leser gleich mit. Eine packende Lektüre, die mich in ferne Länder geführt und ausgezeichnet unterhalten hat. Empfehlung!
Im Klappentext wird der Vergleich mit Alex Garlands 'Der Strand' gezogen, welches ich damals verschlungen habe. Dieses Buch hat tatsächlich eine ähnliche Atmosphäre, allein durch das gemeinsame sportliche Hobby der handelnden Personen. Von Anfang an, wirklich mit dem ersten Satz, fesselt der Autor den Leser an die rasante, überraschende und spannende Geschichte vor grandioser Kulisse (weswegen mir das alte Cover auch besser gefällt). Die (Handlungs-?)Unfähigkeit oder Unwilligkeit internationaler Behörden bis hin zur Korruption der Polizei mancher Länder frustriert den nicht nur den sympatischen Protagonisten sondern den Leser gleich mit. Eine packende Lektüre, die mich in ferne Länder geführt und ausgezeichnet unterhalten hat. Empfehlung!
April 5, 2022
This is one of my favourite books of all time. Never read something as captivating and thrilling.
March 12, 2020
Dark Places review
This is a book about a serial killer like nothing I've ever read before. It was excellent. I will define read more Jon Evans books
This is a book about a serial killer like nothing I've ever read before. It was excellent. I will define read more Jon Evans books
November 15, 2012
I loved reading this book. It's fast paced from beginning till end, with a bit of surprising turns and twists in the middle. It was very hard to put down and I just wanted to keep going and going. Love the writing style and storyline!
Want to read
October 2, 2019Synopsis: Paul is a modern vagabond backpacking through places like the Himalayas. He finds a murdered hiker; he's obsessed to find the killer.
May 1, 2020
DARK PLACES [2004] By Jon Evans
My Review 2.5 Stars***
I finished reading this debut novel by world traveler and computer software developer Jon Evans this past Monday, April 6th. I seem to recall stumbling across a tantalizing snapshot of the plot of this book in my surfing exploits to find original and intriguing serial killer novels a few years back. I spotted it on my Prime Lending Library options and thought I would give it a shot.
First, I honestly can remember only two other occasions that I figuratively forced myself to continue reading a book until its conclusion. In both of those instances I made myself finish a book in order to dissect it in a memorably critical fashion, if only for my own satisfaction. In the case of DARK PLACES, that was not my motivation. The underlying plot of this serial killer novel was actually quasi original (it immediately triggered memories of Eli Roth and his Hostel movie franchise). The common thread of course is the idea that the most horrifying acts conceivable might become reality in a location outside the boundaries of our civilized nation. Frankly I am old enough to remember the shocking atrocities that occurred to an American citizen in the classic film Midnight Express.
Having said that, I persevered because I was interested "just enough" to want to know how that the protagonist prevailed in the story. In order to satisfy that curiosity I had to suffer through countless unfamiliar words describing everything from food and salutations to emotions, muddle through a slew of locales that I could neither pronounce nor locate on a world map if someone put a gun to my head, and then I'd also have to give a nod to all of the editing errors I encountered along my masochistic journey. Obviously, the author IS a world traveler (after reading his bio) and readers who are "into" back packing and adventurous trips to third world countries would have successfully navigated the narrative due to familiarity with the other continents and the various destinations the author describes. I mean that it isn't the author's fault that as a reader I felt that I was figuratively on an alien planet somewhere in another galaxy.
That aside, our hero ("Paul") is a young computer whiz who is also an avid trekker to third world countries. The story is set in the year 2000 so one could easily follow all of the digital investigation that was carried out by Paul to determine the identity of the killer because the computer science described in the book was so dated. The entire book is more about the main character, his search for meaning in life, and the details of his ill fated love affair with a fellow traveler who was raped and murdered. The serial murderer who was responsible for her death takes a back seat to the frequent flashbacks about Paul and his times with the girlfriend prior to her tragic death. Although as I pointed out earlier, the plot has at least some degree of originality the author is simply unable to pull the reader in and sustain any semblance of suspense.
It is not my intent to provide any spoilers in this brief review. My primary criticisms are the gargantuan credibility gaps that were in the final analysis just unforgettable and unforgivable. Paul is simply not "Indiana Jones" and the flat stupidity he exhibits in his initial pursuit of the man directly responsible for his lover's death is simply not believable. And that is ignoring the fact that he was able to ascertain the identity of the killer faster than Sherlock Holmes on steroids in the first place. The ending of the book (and how our heroic vigilante computer nerd is able to prevail against the cunning villain) is not believable whatsoever. The single most "suspend belief until you lose consciousness" moment had to do with Paul dropping the flashlight over the edge which saves the day. And that isn't including the need to accept the premise that an experienced rock climber could "free climb" to scale a vertical cliff surface in pitch blackness.
Obviously I am not interested at all in following any additional exploits of Paul's. However, despite my criticisms It is my opinion that this was not at all the worst "debut" novel I have ever read. It has numerous editing errors which would likely annoy many readers more than a little bit.
My Review 2.5 Stars***
I finished reading this debut novel by world traveler and computer software developer Jon Evans this past Monday, April 6th. I seem to recall stumbling across a tantalizing snapshot of the plot of this book in my surfing exploits to find original and intriguing serial killer novels a few years back. I spotted it on my Prime Lending Library options and thought I would give it a shot.
First, I honestly can remember only two other occasions that I figuratively forced myself to continue reading a book until its conclusion. In both of those instances I made myself finish a book in order to dissect it in a memorably critical fashion, if only for my own satisfaction. In the case of DARK PLACES, that was not my motivation. The underlying plot of this serial killer novel was actually quasi original (it immediately triggered memories of Eli Roth and his Hostel movie franchise). The common thread of course is the idea that the most horrifying acts conceivable might become reality in a location outside the boundaries of our civilized nation. Frankly I am old enough to remember the shocking atrocities that occurred to an American citizen in the classic film Midnight Express.
Having said that, I persevered because I was interested "just enough" to want to know how that the protagonist prevailed in the story. In order to satisfy that curiosity I had to suffer through countless unfamiliar words describing everything from food and salutations to emotions, muddle through a slew of locales that I could neither pronounce nor locate on a world map if someone put a gun to my head, and then I'd also have to give a nod to all of the editing errors I encountered along my masochistic journey. Obviously, the author IS a world traveler (after reading his bio) and readers who are "into" back packing and adventurous trips to third world countries would have successfully navigated the narrative due to familiarity with the other continents and the various destinations the author describes. I mean that it isn't the author's fault that as a reader I felt that I was figuratively on an alien planet somewhere in another galaxy.
That aside, our hero ("Paul") is a young computer whiz who is also an avid trekker to third world countries. The story is set in the year 2000 so one could easily follow all of the digital investigation that was carried out by Paul to determine the identity of the killer because the computer science described in the book was so dated. The entire book is more about the main character, his search for meaning in life, and the details of his ill fated love affair with a fellow traveler who was raped and murdered. The serial murderer who was responsible for her death takes a back seat to the frequent flashbacks about Paul and his times with the girlfriend prior to her tragic death. Although as I pointed out earlier, the plot has at least some degree of originality the author is simply unable to pull the reader in and sustain any semblance of suspense.
It is not my intent to provide any spoilers in this brief review. My primary criticisms are the gargantuan credibility gaps that were in the final analysis just unforgettable and unforgivable. Paul is simply not "Indiana Jones" and the flat stupidity he exhibits in his initial pursuit of the man directly responsible for his lover's death is simply not believable. And that is ignoring the fact that he was able to ascertain the identity of the killer faster than Sherlock Holmes on steroids in the first place. The ending of the book (and how our heroic vigilante computer nerd is able to prevail against the cunning villain) is not believable whatsoever. The single most "suspend belief until you lose consciousness" moment had to do with Paul dropping the flashlight over the edge which saves the day. And that isn't including the need to accept the premise that an experienced rock climber could "free climb" to scale a vertical cliff surface in pitch blackness.
Obviously I am not interested at all in following any additional exploits of Paul's. However, despite my criticisms It is my opinion that this was not at all the worst "debut" novel I have ever read. It has numerous editing errors which would likely annoy many readers more than a little bit.
November 2, 2008
While trekking the Annapurna Circuit narrator Balthazar Wood and his companion come across a dead Canadian, propped up, with two Swiss Army knives stuck deeply into his eyes. The local constabulary is not interested in creating any fuss, but Wood proceeds to investigate. He has some motivation as the death is remarkably similar to a killing two years prior, in which his girlfriend was murdered in Cameroon, and marked in the same way. Also, on the mountain, he is pursued by a person he believes to be the killer.
The book was a real page turner. I finished it in a night. There are issues with believability, but if one is willing to suspend some disbelief, there is compensation not only in the fast pace of the tale, but in the diverse payload, from trekking to info on the social sub-group of people who are drawn to that, to internet background regarding tracing people. This is not great literature. The characters are not drawn deeply, and I have issues with how the author weaves in the tale of Cameroon, but that said, it was fun, and is recommended.
The book was a real page turner. I finished it in a night. There are issues with believability, but if one is willing to suspend some disbelief, there is compensation not only in the fast pace of the tale, but in the diverse payload, from trekking to info on the social sub-group of people who are drawn to that, to internet background regarding tracing people. This is not great literature. The characters are not drawn deeply, and I have issues with how the author weaves in the tale of Cameroon, but that said, it was fun, and is recommended.
September 6, 2021
This is definitely one of the weirdest reviews on the blog, playing off a stupid joke that the title of the book is also the name of a band that has waned in cultural influence in the intervening years. Anyways, I pretended that I was actually reviewing a new, secretly-released album by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, writing about each chapter as if it were a song, where the concept album was the life of Jon Evans (that would be the title of the album, the way music reviews were labeled). Notably, one Trail of the Dead fan wrote a comment, and I had actually managed to fool him (actually he merely asked for my sources). Then, the author himself commented, that he found it highly amusing. Which was enough to make the writing of this review worthwhile--which is not THAT bad, I think.
https://flyinghouses.blogspot.com/200...
https://flyinghouses.blogspot.com/200...
October 18, 2007
Not a huge mystery fan, but this one, part mystery, part travelog, was creepy enough to hook me.
March 29, 2013
It's well-written, but the plotline just couldn't hold my interest.
July 22, 2021
This book's synopsis doesn't do it justice. What sounded like a bad Steven Segal movie actually turned out to be one of the most intriguing and compelling thrillers I've ever read.
August 15, 2017
As a computer science, I particularly enjoy how the author incorporates knowledge of the net to the story. And not just at surface level, the IT-related details actually play an important role in the plot.
Plot is catchy until a few last chapter, where things are pretty predictable. Some of the details in the storyline make you feel like it has been forced to happen so that the story could go on.
Characters personalities are well-built. Evans manages to capture the essence of each character in a few sentence. Description of main character's personalities and feelings are relatable to me.
Plot is catchy until a few last chapter, where things are pretty predictable. Some of the details in the storyline make you feel like it has been forced to happen so that the story could go on.
Characters personalities are well-built. Evans manages to capture the essence of each character in a few sentence. Description of main character's personalities and feelings are relatable to me.
February 6, 2021
Honestly wanted to walk away from this book after trudging through the first couple of chapters...but slowly the pace of the story increased, the twists and turns became cliff hangers that had me unable to put the book down, even when I needed to focus on work!
First Jon Evans book I have read, and I am curious to explore more of his stories because after the thrill ride Dark Places took me on, I am craving more. Additionally, as someone who is not a techie or a backpacker, I still found that I was able to get into the story as Balthazar (Paul) Woods travels the world.
First Jon Evans book I have read, and I am curious to explore more of his stories because after the thrill ride Dark Places took me on, I am craving more. Additionally, as someone who is not a techie or a backpacker, I still found that I was able to get into the story as Balthazar (Paul) Woods travels the world.
April 12, 2022
Eye Opener. Plot was very stimulating and really kept me on the edge of the seat most of the time. I usually do not like stories with too many characters to remember, but I managed that all right.
I had to stop and try to look up many of the localities mentioned in the book and finding on a map, so the geography lesson was spot on. Enjoyed the book, will look for more Jon Evans books, though
I sincerly hope he doesn't write a sequel to this one chasing the other 4 Murderers.
I had to stop and try to look up many of the localities mentioned in the book and finding on a map, so the geography lesson was spot on. Enjoyed the book, will look for more Jon Evans books, though
I sincerly hope he doesn't write a sequel to this one chasing the other 4 Murderers.
February 1, 2022
complicated but satisfying
Jon Evans has found a niche putting people in exotic places and turning the exotic into the dangerous.he takes ordinary people and gives them extraordinary challenges. I find myself fascinated by how he approaches each novel. A travelogue with mystery and suspense
Jon Evans has found a niche putting people in exotic places and turning the exotic into the dangerous.he takes ordinary people and gives them extraordinary challenges. I find myself fascinated by how he approaches each novel. A travelogue with mystery and suspense
January 2, 2025
4.5🌟
I’m so glad I gave this books another shot because it ended up being a gripping read. Unlike other thrillers I’ve read, this stands out for the unique places and hikes it describes. I loved the main character )even in he nah some dumb choices). I also really liked the ending and the twists throughout the story.
I’m so glad I gave this books another shot because it ended up being a gripping read. Unlike other thrillers I’ve read, this stands out for the unique places and hikes it describes. I loved the main character )even in he nah some dumb choices). I also really liked the ending and the twists throughout the story.
January 7, 2018
I enjoyed this book. It was a good murder mystery and did keep you guessing. I liked how the author spoke about the places where the story was taking place. If you can get past older computer/internet jargon, which isn't difficult, I think it's a great read.
January 23, 2019
Brilliant.
I cant remember the last book I enjoyed as much as this.Sordid, brutal and hard to believe. The author opened the door to another, albeit unimaginable world of horror. Well written and captivating in its hold over me to finish in one sitting..
I cant remember the last book I enjoyed as much as this.Sordid, brutal and hard to believe. The author opened the door to another, albeit unimaginable world of horror. Well written and captivating in its hold over me to finish in one sitting..
September 23, 2019
A fun, fast read. I enjoyed the premise, being a backpacker currently myself, but it lost a bit of steam towards the end for me. Still, fun ride and would recommend for others that enjoy a quick thriller!
November 6, 2021
Lonely Planet adventurers band together against evil
Fascinating tale of folks who look for adventure, bonding as friends over illness, truck breakdowns, chores, too much togetherness and murder.
Fascinating tale of folks who look for adventure, bonding as friends over illness, truck breakdowns, chores, too much togetherness and murder.
August 13, 2018
The mutilated body of a lone backpacker lays in an abandoned village in the Himalayas. Who cares? Who will investigate and hunt down the killer?
January 16, 2023
Absolutely brilliant I loved this book, I couldn't put it down.
February 10, 2014
Exotic Locals, Banana Pancakes & Murder on the Cheap
The Lonely Planet traveler knows how to see some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic locations on the cheap. A passport, a backpack, a pair of good boots and a map of the local youth hostels and you’re on your way. Typical problems on the road revolve around disease, transportation, food and water. Who would think to add serial killer to this list? This is the idea presented in this creepy little story.
International backpackers are typically affable, easy-going and a happy-go-lucky bunch. Easy to make new friends of a variety of cultures and always up for “whatever” they are the low hanging fruit to the traveling sociopath on a budget. Our Hero, Paul, a world traveler of The Road, encounters this serial killer and begins a slow chase to find him and stop him forever. Part of this is a revenge quest – Paul’s girlfriend was one of the victims – but along the way Paul learns that the whole situation is even creepier than simple murder.
This slow thriller, set in the early aughts, has Paul traveling from internet café to internet café, from Cameroon to Nepal to Indonesia. The author paints each location beautifully; you know he’s been there, that he’s eaten the food and seen the sights. The thrill isn’t in the mystery, Paul figures out who the killer is pretty quickly, but in how he’s going to resolve the situation. Local and international law enforcement are less than helpful. It’s down to him, a Lonely Planet web editor, and a handful of acquaintances he met on The Road.
The storytelling is a little dry, and I would have preferred more mystery, but the backpacking lifestyle and each location is brought to vivid life, and it made me want to pack a pack, buy a water filter and hit The Road – despite the serial killer.
The Lonely Planet traveler knows how to see some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic locations on the cheap. A passport, a backpack, a pair of good boots and a map of the local youth hostels and you’re on your way. Typical problems on the road revolve around disease, transportation, food and water. Who would think to add serial killer to this list? This is the idea presented in this creepy little story.
International backpackers are typically affable, easy-going and a happy-go-lucky bunch. Easy to make new friends of a variety of cultures and always up for “whatever” they are the low hanging fruit to the traveling sociopath on a budget. Our Hero, Paul, a world traveler of The Road, encounters this serial killer and begins a slow chase to find him and stop him forever. Part of this is a revenge quest – Paul’s girlfriend was one of the victims – but along the way Paul learns that the whole situation is even creepier than simple murder.
This slow thriller, set in the early aughts, has Paul traveling from internet café to internet café, from Cameroon to Nepal to Indonesia. The author paints each location beautifully; you know he’s been there, that he’s eaten the food and seen the sights. The thrill isn’t in the mystery, Paul figures out who the killer is pretty quickly, but in how he’s going to resolve the situation. Local and international law enforcement are less than helpful. It’s down to him, a Lonely Planet web editor, and a handful of acquaintances he met on The Road.
The storytelling is a little dry, and I would have preferred more mystery, but the backpacking lifestyle and each location is brought to vivid life, and it made me want to pack a pack, buy a water filter and hit The Road – despite the serial killer.
September 21, 2015
Well. I must say, this book turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I ended up getting hooked on it, and , in the end, thought it was a very good read.
For a first book it is excellent. The murder/mystery aspect was well thought out, and for once, the twists and turns kept me guessing right to the end. I liked the way little red herrings (that could be entirely plausible) were dropped into the plot to further disguise what was really happening (or about to happen).
The only criticism is that in places the writing was slightly clunky and repetitive. If we'd heard one more time how the "Annapurna trail had prepared me for X, Y and Z and my legs were like machines" I think I would have screamed! There also seems to be repetition of words or phrases in places throughout the book, which distracted the flow a little. These sections read a little like the text had been passed through MS Word's thesaurus tool to get some nice "big" words into the manuscript.
Overall this was a good read, and a great first novel. If I came across another Jon Evans book, I would certainly pick it up and read it with interest. I think with a bit of experience and a few more books under his belt, he could become a fantastic crime thriller author."
For a first book it is excellent. The murder/mystery aspect was well thought out, and for once, the twists and turns kept me guessing right to the end. I liked the way little red herrings (that could be entirely plausible) were dropped into the plot to further disguise what was really happening (or about to happen).
The only criticism is that in places the writing was slightly clunky and repetitive. If we'd heard one more time how the "Annapurna trail had prepared me for X, Y and Z and my legs were like machines" I think I would have screamed! There also seems to be repetition of words or phrases in places throughout the book, which distracted the flow a little. These sections read a little like the text had been passed through MS Word's thesaurus tool to get some nice "big" words into the manuscript.
Overall this was a good read, and a great first novel. If I came across another Jon Evans book, I would certainly pick it up and read it with interest. I think with a bit of experience and a few more books under his belt, he could become a fantastic crime thriller author."
May 18, 2015
The author obviously has chosen to write what he knows. The IT stuff is all very real and accurate, although now obviously dated with references to search engines and services that don't exist any more (remember Yahoo Briefcase?). At one point Paul pays for one year of 500 megs at something called xdrive.com and comments on how pricey it is; that was the situation in 2000, when the term "cloud storage" was still unknown and there was no Dropbox or Google Drive. There is a passing mention of the anonymous remailer anon.penet.fi, which I remember very well from the time when Usenet was still a thing.
The descriptions of the backpacker culture and the people on the trails seem also very authentic. I could see this working as a movie. I felt the story lost a bit of momentum at the halfway point when the killer was identified, although there of course was still the other revelation and the final showdown.
The idea of serial killing adventure travellers is chilling. I hope it is nowhere near as feasible as described here, although there certainly are remote places where the local police might not have the resources or inclination to thoroughly investigate murders involving tourists.
The descriptions of the backpacker culture and the people on the trails seem also very authentic. I could see this working as a movie. I felt the story lost a bit of momentum at the halfway point when the killer was identified, although there of course was still the other revelation and the final showdown.
The idea of serial killing adventure travellers is chilling. I hope it is nowhere near as feasible as described here, although there certainly are remote places where the local police might not have the resources or inclination to thoroughly investigate murders involving tourists.
December 16, 2013
My good friends loaned me this book to accompany their personal tale of meeting the author while they were trekking in Ecuador. It was a fun, quick read and I found it intriguing in that Evans seemed to have invented a new sub-genre for Mystery/Suspense, which is Tech-Geek as World Traveler/Unsuspecting Super Sleuth.
Certain aspects of the writing style seemed as if Evans was trying too hard. He tends towards these exclamatory-virtually-underlined-twists-of-phrase that are typically based in pop-culture. Makes sense that the book feel contemporary given the genre twist, I doubt the story will hold up well to time, but they feel like cop-outs.
It was candy enough to make me want to read his follow-up, The Blood Price, which is far superior to Dark Places in that it offers the reader some intriguing historical value in it's contemporary frame-work, but it does have some of the same problems.
I congratulate Evans though for originality and some great plot-twists.
Certain aspects of the writing style seemed as if Evans was trying too hard. He tends towards these exclamatory-virtually-underlined-twists-of-phrase that are typically based in pop-culture. Makes sense that the book feel contemporary given the genre twist, I doubt the story will hold up well to time, but they feel like cop-outs.
It was candy enough to make me want to read his follow-up, The Blood Price, which is far superior to Dark Places in that it offers the reader some intriguing historical value in it's contemporary frame-work, but it does have some of the same problems.
I congratulate Evans though for originality and some great plot-twists.
November 18, 2015
Well, WOW! This story took me, shook me and enthralled me from the first page to the last!
Clearly the author has either travelled extensively, for we go from Nepal to California to Indonesia to London to Africa and more, accompanied by vivid descriptions, or he is brilliant at research. Then to weave in murder and mayhem across continents? Amazing.
Although this is set in the year 2000 and employs the technology from the time to find the killer and is therefore out of date (tech-wise), I found the sleuthing wonderful. At the time, that was how it was done, after all, but it did make me smile a bit, considering how far technology has come since then.
However, tech and investigation and murder were not the main focus, not for me. I love the places we are taken to, to experience how it is to suffer a monsoon as if we are there, or to breathe with difficulty in the Himalayas. The sweating jungles of Africa, as well as the colours. And so much more.
The story is excellent too, of course! DEFINITELY worth reading.
Clearly the author has either travelled extensively, for we go from Nepal to California to Indonesia to London to Africa and more, accompanied by vivid descriptions, or he is brilliant at research. Then to weave in murder and mayhem across continents? Amazing.
Although this is set in the year 2000 and employs the technology from the time to find the killer and is therefore out of date (tech-wise), I found the sleuthing wonderful. At the time, that was how it was done, after all, but it did make me smile a bit, considering how far technology has come since then.
However, tech and investigation and murder were not the main focus, not for me. I love the places we are taken to, to experience how it is to suffer a monsoon as if we are there, or to breathe with difficulty in the Himalayas. The sweating jungles of Africa, as well as the colours. And so much more.
The story is excellent too, of course! DEFINITELY worth reading.
April 3, 2016
I read the second half of this book in one sitting. It was becoming so ludicrous that I was fascinated, wondering just how bad it could get. It's a travelogue murder mystery with an IT geek as the main character. Unfortunately those different aspects don't really mesh. The travelogue was actually quite appealing and was the saving factor that kept this book from getting a 1-star rating. The murder mystery was just plain dumb. The geeky IT stuff was mildly interesting, but probably only because of my IT background. How do books like this ever get published?
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