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Confessions of the Dead
In this chilling mystery from a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a small New England town is hit with a wave of crimes after the arrival of a mysterious stranger who brings more questions than answers.
Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, is a picture-perfect New England town where weekend tourists flock to see fall leaves and eat breakfast at the Stairway Diner. The crime rate—zero--is a point of pride for Sheriff Ellie Pritchett.
The day the stranger shows up is when the trouble starts. The sheriff and her deputy investigate the mysterious teenage girl. None of the locals can place her. She can’t—or won’t¾answer any questions. She won’t even tell them her name.
While the girl is in protective custody, the officers are called to multiple crime scenes leading them closer and closer to a lake outside of town that doesn’t appear on any map…
Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, is a picture-perfect New England town where weekend tourists flock to see fall leaves and eat breakfast at the Stairway Diner. The crime rate—zero--is a point of pride for Sheriff Ellie Pritchett.
The day the stranger shows up is when the trouble starts. The sheriff and her deputy investigate the mysterious teenage girl. None of the locals can place her. She can’t—or won’t¾answer any questions. She won’t even tell them her name.
While the girl is in protective custody, the officers are called to multiple crime scenes leading them closer and closer to a lake outside of town that doesn’t appear on any map…
457 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2024
1927 people are currently reading
14260 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
940 books354k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 983 reviews
July 30, 2024
“Confessions of the Dead” is another Patterson and Barker co-authored novel. The bad news is that this one goes off the rails very fast. Even with all of the non-stop action from the beginning to end, the result turned out to be a disappointing read on several levels.
This will be one of my shortest Patterson reviews ever because I am going to take the path of mercy over being as critical as I could be.
I have two overwhelming criticisms (there are more, but this will suffice).
The first is that the authors pretty took much took (or stole) Stephen King’s recipe for creating a way to completely destroy small towns through violent actions and townsfolk being manipulated by outside forces. Unfortunately for them (and fortunately for us), King already wrote this book, several times in fact, with “Needful Things”, “The Regulators”, and the “Dome”. And he did a much better job of it, by far. In my humble opinion, this was way, way too much of a blatant copy of those previously published novels. Whether it was intentional or not, who knows. And quite frankly, who cares. That’s just how it felt to me. How did an editor or a publisher not think twice about this? Not good. Very bad juju.
The second is that the ending was extremely disappointing, farfetched, and awful. It didn’t even really make much sense, even from a science fiction or horror angle. Over 400 pages to get to that ending... Ugh. It was so convoluted and such a major letdown after all of the buildup that I was left frustrated and angry for wasting my time with it.
Several months ago, Patterson tried to write a Grisham novel and now he’s trying to write a Stephen King novel. Why? It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Not in this case. Maybe Patterson’s running out of ideas, which can happen when you publish 6 – 8 books, or more, a year. However, in this case. It’s just wrong. Please stop.
It is best that I leave it at that. You can decide for yourself if you pick this one up. I just cannot, in any way, recommend it. Moving on…
This will be one of my shortest Patterson reviews ever because I am going to take the path of mercy over being as critical as I could be.
I have two overwhelming criticisms (there are more, but this will suffice).
The first is that the authors pretty took much took (or stole) Stephen King’s recipe for creating a way to completely destroy small towns through violent actions and townsfolk being manipulated by outside forces. Unfortunately for them (and fortunately for us), King already wrote this book, several times in fact, with “Needful Things”, “The Regulators”, and the “Dome”. And he did a much better job of it, by far. In my humble opinion, this was way, way too much of a blatant copy of those previously published novels. Whether it was intentional or not, who knows. And quite frankly, who cares. That’s just how it felt to me. How did an editor or a publisher not think twice about this? Not good. Very bad juju.
The second is that the ending was extremely disappointing, farfetched, and awful. It didn’t even really make much sense, even from a science fiction or horror angle. Over 400 pages to get to that ending... Ugh. It was so convoluted and such a major letdown after all of the buildup that I was left frustrated and angry for wasting my time with it.
Several months ago, Patterson tried to write a Grisham novel and now he’s trying to write a Stephen King novel. Why? It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Not in this case. Maybe Patterson’s running out of ideas, which can happen when you publish 6 – 8 books, or more, a year. However, in this case. It’s just wrong. Please stop.
It is best that I leave it at that. You can decide for yourself if you pick this one up. I just cannot, in any way, recommend it. Moving on…
September 24, 2025
ACTION GALORE!! I have kind of noticed a theme amongst reviews where reviewers are complaining that there is not enough action and the novel is too slow. I totally get that. Yet can a book have too much action? To me this one did. Don't get me wrong either as the action in this book is nuts and I believe the smorgasbord of action will have something for everyone.
The setting is Hollows Bend a quaint little New England town where very little happens. The opening scene is a diner where Matt the deputy sheriff is having breakfast with the town drunk Buck who is also in charge of the towns water supply. Nice fit right, lol? We meet Matt's current love interest Gaby who waitresses there and his former high school love Addie who happens to be knocked up and well you can just guess about the rumours flying as to whose baby it is. Of course there is a lot of tension between Gaby and Addie and rightfully so. Things are pretty diner like at the breakfast until a completely nude 16 year old girl enters. She does not speak at all to questions asked of her by Matt and then moments after she arrives the town is besieged by flying crows which are attacking the diner, diving beak first into the windows and such. The crows are on a mission and are attacking the whole town. This happens right at the outset and from here the action DOES NOT STOP!
It is a hard book to review imo as for the longest time I was really appreciating all the varied action. Like I said, I think that whatever you may be into that you will find it here for the most part. It is quite varied. From the moment the girl appears it seems that many townspeople start losing their minds and many commit crimes against each other of all sorts. Again I do not want to spoil things but there was one that struck me as it reminded me of my wife and I. Though what was happening was kind of crazy I just kind of laughed and laughed to myself because it kind of reminded me of us two and tbh I think most couples could kind of see themselves in what happened. There are all kinds of crimes and about 12 or so threads of these crimes. The book is pov style and jumps all over the place from the various characters and the crimes they commit. There is kind of a narrator who interviews the deputy sheriff as to the events that happened this day and the narrative is interview style and though extra very short chapters that relate to this conversation lead you to think that things will be explained in the end via this route so reading it was quite interesting and in the end things are explained. The narrator here is likely a FBI agent.
There is also a tangent of young kids around ten who are determined to find out what is happening here. There are four of them and Evelyn and Robbie are brother and sister and Robbie is autistic and also has aspberger's but is quite the genius.
The insanity continues on and you kind of get confused along the way as the young naked girl is communicating things in her own way but a lot of it does not make sense and you are thinking hey she is wrong about that but in the end it all comes together.
So the jacket of the book does not reveal a lot but if you had more of a hint on things I think that a lot of readers would run to this book due to its real genre. Clearly the title gives you a clue but it just takes so long to shore up things so to speak. It just takes forever for the reader to grasp where its going and ironically I will say that even though it was non stop action it was just to slow in revealing things. Kind of an odd statement right? So much action and yet slow, lol, but imo so true!
This book was quite different and I welcome change. Though at times quite frustrating indeed in the end it is just a take on a repeated genre imo. I am sure those who really aren't into that genre will be quite upset about it all but I am ok with that genre and due to the uniqueness of the book and the fact that something different is indeed needed once and a while I will rate it four stars.
The setting is Hollows Bend a quaint little New England town where very little happens. The opening scene is a diner where Matt the deputy sheriff is having breakfast with the town drunk Buck who is also in charge of the towns water supply. Nice fit right, lol? We meet Matt's current love interest Gaby who waitresses there and his former high school love Addie who happens to be knocked up and well you can just guess about the rumours flying as to whose baby it is. Of course there is a lot of tension between Gaby and Addie and rightfully so. Things are pretty diner like at the breakfast until a completely nude 16 year old girl enters. She does not speak at all to questions asked of her by Matt and then moments after she arrives the town is besieged by flying crows which are attacking the diner, diving beak first into the windows and such. The crows are on a mission and are attacking the whole town. This happens right at the outset and from here the action DOES NOT STOP!
It is a hard book to review imo as for the longest time I was really appreciating all the varied action. Like I said, I think that whatever you may be into that you will find it here for the most part. It is quite varied. From the moment the girl appears it seems that many townspeople start losing their minds and many commit crimes against each other of all sorts. Again I do not want to spoil things but there was one that struck me as it reminded me of my wife and I. Though what was happening was kind of crazy I just kind of laughed and laughed to myself because it kind of reminded me of us two and tbh I think most couples could kind of see themselves in what happened. There are all kinds of crimes and about 12 or so threads of these crimes. The book is pov style and jumps all over the place from the various characters and the crimes they commit. There is kind of a narrator who interviews the deputy sheriff as to the events that happened this day and the narrative is interview style and though extra very short chapters that relate to this conversation lead you to think that things will be explained in the end via this route so reading it was quite interesting and in the end things are explained. The narrator here is likely a FBI agent.
There is also a tangent of young kids around ten who are determined to find out what is happening here. There are four of them and Evelyn and Robbie are brother and sister and Robbie is autistic and also has aspberger's but is quite the genius.
The insanity continues on and you kind of get confused along the way as the young naked girl is communicating things in her own way but a lot of it does not make sense and you are thinking hey she is wrong about that but in the end it all comes together.
So the jacket of the book does not reveal a lot but if you had more of a hint on things I think that a lot of readers would run to this book due to its real genre. Clearly the title gives you a clue but it just takes so long to shore up things so to speak. It just takes forever for the reader to grasp where its going and ironically I will say that even though it was non stop action it was just to slow in revealing things. Kind of an odd statement right? So much action and yet slow, lol, but imo so true!
This book was quite different and I welcome change. Though at times quite frustrating indeed in the end it is just a take on a repeated genre imo. I am sure those who really aren't into that genre will be quite upset about it all but I am ok with that genre and due to the uniqueness of the book and the fact that something different is indeed needed once and a while I will rate it four stars.
April 7, 2025
Pues he disfrutado de cada página de este libro. Tiene un ritmo trepidante d principio a fin.Esa pedazo ambientación del pueblo que hace que estés ahí. Los personajes me han gustado muchoooo...el libro tiene de todo, thriller,intriga,terror, ciencia ficción ... Hacía mucho, que no devoraba y disfrutaba tanto un libro, por fin!!🤘🏻🤘🏻lo empecé ayer y no he podido dejar de leer hasta terminarlo. Me ha volado la cabeza.🤯😂
September 14, 2024
EXCERPT: Matt took out his wallet and set a twenty on the counter. 'I best be getting back to the station. Ellie is out on patrol, and Sally's holding down the fort.'
Gabby didn't answer. She was still looking out over the dining room, her flushed face gone white as a sheet. The voices behind Matt died away, the clink of silverware on plates vanished. There were several gasps, then silence.
One hand instinctively easing to his gun, Matt turned slowly on the stool and faced the front of the diner.
Standing in the open door, the sun bright at her back, was a girl of maybe sixteen. She wore not a stitch of clothing. Her long dark hair draped over her shoulder, partially covering her right breast. Her bare feet were caked in mud.
ABOUT 'CONFESSIONS OF THE DEAD': The dead tell no tales…unless they swam in Cemetery Lake. Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, is a picture-perfect New England town where weekend tourists flock to see fall leaves and eat breakfast at the Stairway Diner. The crime rate—zero--is a point of pride for Sheriff Ellie Pritchett. The day the stranger shows up is when the trouble starts. The sheriff and her deputy investigate the mysterious teenage girl. None of the locals can place her. She can’t—or won’t answer any questions. She won’t even tell them her name. While the girl is in protective custody, the officers are called to multiple crime scenes leading them closer and closer to a lake outside of town that doesn’t appear on any map…
MY THOUGHTS: Very much reminiscent of early Stephen King - Hollows Bend is a small town where nothing much ever happens, let alone anything bad, until it does. Then bad follows bad, follows bad . . .
Sinister and creepy, I haven't enjoyed a horror story like this for a long time. I was well overdue for a fix. Thank you Messers Patterson & Barker.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ConfessionsoftheDead @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHORS: James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today.
J.D. Barker is a New York Times and international bestselling American author of suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.
Gabby didn't answer. She was still looking out over the dining room, her flushed face gone white as a sheet. The voices behind Matt died away, the clink of silverware on plates vanished. There were several gasps, then silence.
One hand instinctively easing to his gun, Matt turned slowly on the stool and faced the front of the diner.
Standing in the open door, the sun bright at her back, was a girl of maybe sixteen. She wore not a stitch of clothing. Her long dark hair draped over her shoulder, partially covering her right breast. Her bare feet were caked in mud.
ABOUT 'CONFESSIONS OF THE DEAD': The dead tell no tales…unless they swam in Cemetery Lake. Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, is a picture-perfect New England town where weekend tourists flock to see fall leaves and eat breakfast at the Stairway Diner. The crime rate—zero--is a point of pride for Sheriff Ellie Pritchett. The day the stranger shows up is when the trouble starts. The sheriff and her deputy investigate the mysterious teenage girl. None of the locals can place her. She can’t—or won’t answer any questions. She won’t even tell them her name. While the girl is in protective custody, the officers are called to multiple crime scenes leading them closer and closer to a lake outside of town that doesn’t appear on any map…
MY THOUGHTS: Very much reminiscent of early Stephen King - Hollows Bend is a small town where nothing much ever happens, let alone anything bad, until it does. Then bad follows bad, follows bad . . .
Sinister and creepy, I haven't enjoyed a horror story like this for a long time. I was well overdue for a fix. Thank you Messers Patterson & Barker.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ConfessionsoftheDead @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
THE AUTHORS: James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author and most trusted storyteller. He has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today.
J.D. Barker is a New York Times and international bestselling American author of suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.
November 20, 2024
Eager to tackle another collaborative effort between James Patterson and J.D. Barker, I embarked on a stunning trip into the darkness, only to find some light to guide me. These two authors tend to develop wonderful stories with themes well worth the reader’s time, entertaining throughout the process. In a small New England town, a girl mysteriously appears, as if out of nowhere. Crows fall from the skies and the sheriff is overrun with a number of odd, violent murders. What has happened and can anyone explain the goings-on before everyone is dead or left to wade through the blood of a once bucolic town? Patterson and Barker deliver a great piece that had me hooked from the opening pages.
Nothing of note happens in Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, which is just what Sherrif Ellie Pritchett prefers to see. While tourists arrive for bucolic weekends, the crime rate makes it easy to manage and leaves many happy to call it home. All that changes when a teenage girl stumbles into the Stairway Diner, naked and completely mute. Her presence leaves many to wonder if she has been abducted or something worse. She won’t talk, leaving many to wonder what’s happened.
While the sheriff and her deputy begin poking around, a number of odd and gruesome murders take place across Hollows Bend, for reasons that no one can explain. When crows begin to arrive in the hundreds and fall out of the sky, there is more mystery that cannot be understood with ease. Has some invisible film covered the town and left it to simmer? Are people going mad due to something in the water? The air? The ground? Sherrif Pritchett will have to make sense of it all, while trying to determine if this teenage girl has something to do with it all.
As the crimes are examined a little more, additional clues point to some form of repetition or at least reproduction. No one can explain it yet, though it seems to have some sort of connection to past activity and that Hallows Bend has become a repository for those who must atone for their sins. While something is sure to connect, it will take time and the right questions to eke out confessions that serve as pieces to better understand the happenings and how to resolve them all. Patterson and Barker deliver in this chilling story that has me eager to devour more of their collaborative work.
I love a book that pushes the limits, seeking to explain things that are not easily understood. While James Patterson has been known to veer off into odd tangents, churning out more books that I take breaths in a day, some of his collaborators infuse strong themes and flavouring to keep his name on track. J.D. Barker does a stellar job with this piece, providing just the right amount of mystery and gruesome nature to keep the reader curious. A well-paced narrative provides a foundation on which the story can build, developing momentum at the moment is is needed. Characters serve to provide pathways as the reader seeks to follow things effectively, leaving no stone unturned. The book has a very King-esque nature to it, which should not take away from the authors or their intent. I loved it and found the contrasting darkness and mystery just what I needed to keep myself thinking. Not for the reader seeking a superficial read, this is one book that will keep everyone thinking and pondering well after it is completed.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Barker, for a great novel that left me curious from the outset.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Nothing of note happens in Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, which is just what Sherrif Ellie Pritchett prefers to see. While tourists arrive for bucolic weekends, the crime rate makes it easy to manage and leaves many happy to call it home. All that changes when a teenage girl stumbles into the Stairway Diner, naked and completely mute. Her presence leaves many to wonder if she has been abducted or something worse. She won’t talk, leaving many to wonder what’s happened.
While the sheriff and her deputy begin poking around, a number of odd and gruesome murders take place across Hollows Bend, for reasons that no one can explain. When crows begin to arrive in the hundreds and fall out of the sky, there is more mystery that cannot be understood with ease. Has some invisible film covered the town and left it to simmer? Are people going mad due to something in the water? The air? The ground? Sherrif Pritchett will have to make sense of it all, while trying to determine if this teenage girl has something to do with it all.
As the crimes are examined a little more, additional clues point to some form of repetition or at least reproduction. No one can explain it yet, though it seems to have some sort of connection to past activity and that Hallows Bend has become a repository for those who must atone for their sins. While something is sure to connect, it will take time and the right questions to eke out confessions that serve as pieces to better understand the happenings and how to resolve them all. Patterson and Barker deliver in this chilling story that has me eager to devour more of their collaborative work.
I love a book that pushes the limits, seeking to explain things that are not easily understood. While James Patterson has been known to veer off into odd tangents, churning out more books that I take breaths in a day, some of his collaborators infuse strong themes and flavouring to keep his name on track. J.D. Barker does a stellar job with this piece, providing just the right amount of mystery and gruesome nature to keep the reader curious. A well-paced narrative provides a foundation on which the story can build, developing momentum at the moment is is needed. Characters serve to provide pathways as the reader seeks to follow things effectively, leaving no stone unturned. The book has a very King-esque nature to it, which should not take away from the authors or their intent. I loved it and found the contrasting darkness and mystery just what I needed to keep myself thinking. Not for the reader seeking a superficial read, this is one book that will keep everyone thinking and pondering well after it is completed.
Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and Barker, for a great novel that left me curious from the outset.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 9, 2024
Confessions of the Dead
5⭐️
The heart pounding suspense! The action! The horror! The psychological gymnastics! This sci-fi horror pulled me in from the beginning and felt like a movie the whole time. I gasped, I held my breath, and I was on the edge of my seat while I devoured this book.
It’s one of those “well that escalated quickly” type of days in the small town of Hollows Bend. With a police department of 3 people total, they’re no match for the strange happenings that keep piling up. Numerous characters and POVs were introduced, but it didn’t feel overwhelming or confusing. Like all my favorite JD Barker books, I was fully immersed in the world created and watched it all play out in my mind’s eye. With all the detail and storylines it felt like it would be impossible to wrap everything up by the end in a way that would feel complete and enjoyable for the reader, but I was not disappointed. Everything came together and left me feeling a combination of content and stunned in all the best ways. 5 SOLID stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: Jul 09 2024
5⭐️
The heart pounding suspense! The action! The horror! The psychological gymnastics! This sci-fi horror pulled me in from the beginning and felt like a movie the whole time. I gasped, I held my breath, and I was on the edge of my seat while I devoured this book.
It’s one of those “well that escalated quickly” type of days in the small town of Hollows Bend. With a police department of 3 people total, they’re no match for the strange happenings that keep piling up. Numerous characters and POVs were introduced, but it didn’t feel overwhelming or confusing. Like all my favorite JD Barker books, I was fully immersed in the world created and watched it all play out in my mind’s eye. With all the detail and storylines it felt like it would be impossible to wrap everything up by the end in a way that would feel complete and enjoyable for the reader, but I was not disappointed. Everything came together and left me feeling a combination of content and stunned in all the best ways. 5 SOLID stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: Jul 09 2024
November 8, 2024
4⭐️s
This was my first Patterson book ever, and I was pleasantly surprised. I think my preconceptions about him being boilerplate, dumbed-down, airport fiction were altered throughout the course of the story. I had a good time with this one
It definitely had a Stephen King vibe to it… small town, large cast, supernaturally-tinged, with an indescribable weirdness.
Why You Should Or Shouldn’t Read It
You should. It was unexpectedly captivating, and has a vividness to its setting and characters that I loved.
One Lesson I Learned
Life your life in a morally congruent way unless you are prepared to endure an infinite, personal hell
One Thing That Will Stick With Me
Name tattoos
This was my first Patterson book ever, and I was pleasantly surprised. I think my preconceptions about him being boilerplate, dumbed-down, airport fiction were altered throughout the course of the story. I had a good time with this one
It definitely had a Stephen King vibe to it… small town, large cast, supernaturally-tinged, with an indescribable weirdness.
Why You Should Or Shouldn’t Read It
You should. It was unexpectedly captivating, and has a vividness to its setting and characters that I loved.
One Lesson I Learned
Life your life in a morally congruent way unless you are prepared to endure an infinite, personal hell
One Thing That Will Stick With Me
Name tattoos
April 20, 2025
Al principio te parece que estás leyendo a Stephen King, después te das cuenta de que te están presentando intriga tras intriga sin darte la mas mínima pista a la que te puedas agarrar, asi que se te hace pesado y solo esperas una buena resolución final, que solo ocurre a medias.
July 15, 2024
Creepy.
Bizarre.
Seemed more along the lines of a Stephen King book, but not nearly as good.
Often times, less is better.
This book probably could have been cut in half.
It was okay.
Bizarre.
Seemed more along the lines of a Stephen King book, but not nearly as good.
Often times, less is better.
This book probably could have been cut in half.
It was okay.
May 5, 2025
Ambientado en un pueblo tranquilo y pequeño, un lugar donde nunca pasa nada, un pueblo enfocado al turismo, que de repente y en cien paginas ocurre de todo, todo lo impensable ocurre, la aparición de una chica medio muerta, muertes inexplicables, y gente volviéndose loca… un comienzo que sin duda es una “copia” de alguno de los libros de King… (mal hecho….)
Un comienzo muy caótico, con muchos personajes, donde no se entiende nada hasta que vas empezando a hilar cosas según avanzas… y después de leerte 400 paginas llegas a un final que para mi ha sido decepcionante, nada creíble y un sin sentido.
No tengo claro si es un libro de terror, de ciencia ficción o de que, pero ha sido una novela que no me ha enganchado nada, muy larga, y que pensaba que seria un thriller del estilo a los de Barker, pero para nada ha sido así.
No quiero decir que sea mal libro, pero no ha sido para mi, Barker es un autor que me gusto en su día pero no ha vuelto a ser lo que era después de su trilogía famosa.
Un comienzo muy caótico, con muchos personajes, donde no se entiende nada hasta que vas empezando a hilar cosas según avanzas… y después de leerte 400 paginas llegas a un final que para mi ha sido decepcionante, nada creíble y un sin sentido.
No tengo claro si es un libro de terror, de ciencia ficción o de que, pero ha sido una novela que no me ha enganchado nada, muy larga, y que pensaba que seria un thriller del estilo a los de Barker, pero para nada ha sido así.
No quiero decir que sea mal libro, pero no ha sido para mi, Barker es un autor que me gusto en su día pero no ha vuelto a ser lo que era después de su trilogía famosa.
April 24, 2025
Finalizada. Será una de las decepciones del año. No sé qué han querido hacer, pero a mí me ha parecido terrible. Nota 1/5. FIN.
July 4, 2024
I cannot remember the last time I read a genuine James Patterson book!
I’m sick of spending money on a book only to find it’s rubbish. James how about you sit down at your computer & write a book yourself instead of using your name to sell books for second rate authors.
This was a badly written & edited book. After reading about 40% of the book I started to skim through, eventually came to the last chapter & realised nothing had changed. A very disappointing read. JP is off my list of must read Authors
I’m sick of spending money on a book only to find it’s rubbish. James how about you sit down at your computer & write a book yourself instead of using your name to sell books for second rate authors.
This was a badly written & edited book. After reading about 40% of the book I started to skim through, eventually came to the last chapter & realised nothing had changed. A very disappointing read. JP is off my list of must read Authors
October 7, 2024
Оказа се хорър, точно по вкуса ми, накарал ме трескаво да прелиствам страниците в опит да навържа логически събитията. А те започват да текат с главоломна бързина, миг след като спокойното неделно утро на малко американско градче е брутално взривено. Постоянната смяна „на камерите“ – с гледни точки на десетки герои - допълнително ускорява темпото и създава усещане за обърканост, което двамата автори умело подклаждат, пускайки тук-там късчета странна информация. И макар да имах някои смътни догадки за какво иде на реч, краят определено успя да ме изненада. Не съм сигурен, че ще се понрави на всеки, обаче аз останах доволен.
August 9, 2024
I’ve read some reviews that this was very similar to a Stephen King book which is what I was thinking the whole time I read it. But I didn’t see that as a negative thing. Riveting from the first page I couldn’t put it down. Highly entertaining
September 1, 2024
Really slow start, then finally got interested halfway through then completely hated the ending. Definitely not the book for me.
May 21, 2025
Sensaciones encontradas con esta lectura…
Este libro me ha dejado con una sensación agridulce, así que voy por partes. No es un thriller ni una novela negra al uso; más bien, diría que es una historia con muchos tintes paranormales. Es una novela rara, extraña, en la que no sabes qué esperar. Todas las cábalas que puedas hacer, caerán.
Hay muchos personajes, y al principio puede parecer algo caótico. Poco a poco te vas ubicando y entendiendo quién es quién. Los personajes están bien definidos y llenos de matices, aunque ninguno ha conseguido ganarse del todo mi cariño.
La historia tiene intriga, y los autores saben cómo mantener el suspense, pero también hay muchos elementos que se escapan de lo "normal". Los saltos entre capítulos, en mi opinión, le han quitado credibilidad a la historia, y hay bastante relleno que finalmente no lleva a nada.
He disfrutado la novela a medias. Pese a todo, ha conseguido engancharme y crearme la necesidad de seguir leyendo… pero ese final me ha dejado KO. Tiene cosas interesantes, sí, pero no ha cumplido conmigo.
Compré el libro por la reputación de los autores (lo confieso), aunque ya sabemos que cada libro es un mundo. Los dos anteriores de Barker tampoco lograron convencerme —y eso que eran de temáticas totalmente distintas—. Aun así, tengo fichado el próximo que publica en julio.
Si te animas a leerlo, ve con la mente abierta, sin expectativas, y dispuesto a sorprenderte… para bien o para no tanto.
Este libro me ha dejado con una sensación agridulce, así que voy por partes. No es un thriller ni una novela negra al uso; más bien, diría que es una historia con muchos tintes paranormales. Es una novela rara, extraña, en la que no sabes qué esperar. Todas las cábalas que puedas hacer, caerán.
Hay muchos personajes, y al principio puede parecer algo caótico. Poco a poco te vas ubicando y entendiendo quién es quién. Los personajes están bien definidos y llenos de matices, aunque ninguno ha conseguido ganarse del todo mi cariño.
La historia tiene intriga, y los autores saben cómo mantener el suspense, pero también hay muchos elementos que se escapan de lo "normal". Los saltos entre capítulos, en mi opinión, le han quitado credibilidad a la historia, y hay bastante relleno que finalmente no lleva a nada.
He disfrutado la novela a medias. Pese a todo, ha conseguido engancharme y crearme la necesidad de seguir leyendo… pero ese final me ha dejado KO. Tiene cosas interesantes, sí, pero no ha cumplido conmigo.
Compré el libro por la reputación de los autores (lo confieso), aunque ya sabemos que cada libro es un mundo. Los dos anteriores de Barker tampoco lograron convencerme —y eso que eran de temáticas totalmente distintas—. Aun así, tengo fichado el próximo que publica en julio.
Si te animas a leerlo, ve con la mente abierta, sin expectativas, y dispuesto a sorprenderte… para bien o para no tanto.
March 7, 2025
3.5-4 stars. Entertaining and action-packed with a twist I did not expect!
April 19, 2025
Desde las primeras paginas me voló la cabeza, pero me ha decepcionado mucho, no me esperaba tanta fantasía en este autor. En un pueblo tranquilo y pequeño que se dedica al turismo y donde nunca pasa nada, de repente su poblacion se vuelve loca. Una historia con muchisima intriga, con ciencia ficción y momentos de terror y paranormales, mucha fantasía siendo el género que peor llevo, a momentos parece que estuviéramos leyendo al maestro del terror Stephen King. El ritmo va super rápido, capitulos cortos pero que en todos ellos sucede una desgracia., pero no se entiende nada. Al principio vi muy complicado poder seguir la trama con la cantidad de personajes que hay, pero es como si fueran piezas de un puzle que entre sí van encajando, pero la vision general me ha parecido todo un despropósito, tan irreal que me costó muchísimo terminarlo. 5/10
June 28, 2025
Tenía muchas ganas a este libro por los autores que son y pensaba que me iba a encontrar con un thriller de los que a mí me gustan, pero por desgracia no ha sido así y no ha sido un libro para mí.
Al principio sí me enganchó por la curiosidad de saber lo que estaba pasando pero poco a poco fui perdiendo el interés. Y además, ni el desenlace ni el final me dijeron nada. Lo terminé porque lo estaba leyendo en una lectura conjunta, sino lo habría abandonado.
Al principio sí me enganchó por la curiosidad de saber lo que estaba pasando pero poco a poco fui perdiendo el interés. Y además, ni el desenlace ni el final me dijeron nada. Lo terminé porque lo estaba leyendo en una lectura conjunta, sino lo habría abandonado.
February 11, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it was entirely different from what I had anticipated. From the very beginning, I sensed there would be some intriguing otherworldly explanations woven into the narrative, yet the storyline kept me guessing at every turn.
While I did struggle with many of the characters, who often came across as quite unlikable, I found that this complexity added a layer of depth—especially as the plot thickened towards the gripping conclusion. Their flawed natures became more understandable as the story unfolded.
One aspect that left me a bit disappointed was some of the explanations provided in the conclusion. I find it hard to accept the notion that adultery, while undoubtedly immoral and detestable, could be seen in the same light as heinous acts like rape, murder, child abuse, and torture.
Overall, however, this book was a true page-turner that captivated me from start to finish. I genuinely enjoyed the experience and would recommend it.
While I did struggle with many of the characters, who often came across as quite unlikable, I found that this complexity added a layer of depth—especially as the plot thickened towards the gripping conclusion. Their flawed natures became more understandable as the story unfolded.
One aspect that left me a bit disappointed was some of the explanations provided in the conclusion. I find it hard to accept the notion that adultery, while undoubtedly immoral and detestable, could be seen in the same light as heinous acts like rape, murder, child abuse, and torture.
Overall, however, this book was a true page-turner that captivated me from start to finish. I genuinely enjoyed the experience and would recommend it.
July 14, 2024
Jeepers creepers, what a great read!
I loved every single minute of this dark and disturbing book!
If horror is your thing, this is a definite must-read.
A small, tranquil town with hardly any crime...yeah, right! Rather, the ninth circle of hell, as described by Dante.
This is a town full of secrets, each one more disturbing than the other!
What is happening in Hollows Bend, and why are people suddenly acting weird?
Oh and crows....a murder of crows!
“What the hell is this place?” She eyed him with a sorrow so deep it pained him to look at her. “This is the end.”
I loved every single minute of this dark and disturbing book!
If horror is your thing, this is a definite must-read.
A small, tranquil town with hardly any crime...yeah, right! Rather, the ninth circle of hell, as described by Dante.
This is a town full of secrets, each one more disturbing than the other!
What is happening in Hollows Bend, and why are people suddenly acting weird?
Oh and crows....a murder of crows!
“What the hell is this place?” She eyed him with a sorrow so deep it pained him to look at her. “This is the end.”
April 9, 2025
Me ha sorprendido muchísimo y en el buen sentido. Cuando lo empece no pensaba encontrarme con este tipo de thriller, como con toques de ciencia ficción, pero me ha encantado. Es un libro con muchas vibes de Stephen King, pero mucho más trepidante.
Tiene un ritmo súper ágil, no hay un capítulo en el que no pase algo (y cada vez más loco). No puedes dejar de leer porque todo el rato necesitas entender qué está pasando.
El final dicen que lo amas o lo odias. Yo lo he amado, de hecho, pienso que es la mejor parte del libro.
Tiene un ritmo súper ágil, no hay un capítulo en el que no pase algo (y cada vez más loco). No puedes dejar de leer porque todo el rato necesitas entender qué está pasando.
El final dicen que lo amas o lo odias. Yo lo he amado, de hecho, pienso que es la mejor parte del libro.
September 6, 2024
Wow! This book was totally not what I was expecting! It read like a Stephen King novel! And what a twist at the end!
April 11, 2025
0.5 ⭐️
Qué delirio.
Lo de intentar imitar a King les ha salido entre mal y peor.
Qué delirio.
Lo de intentar imitar a King les ha salido entre mal y peor.
September 15, 2025
3,5 ⭐
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Un thriller paranormal en donde el contraste entre un pueblo idílico y los secretos oscuros que surgen es efectivo. La narrativa logra crear una atmósfera de suspenso creciente, lo que hace que el lector quiera seguir para ver qué se esconde detrás de lo aparentemente perfecto. En general, el libro mantiene un ritmo bastante aceptable. No decae demasiado, hay momentos de intriga que impulsan la lectura, lo que es importante en este género, pero algunos giros o recursos son bastante trillados. Si has leído varios thrillers policiacos, parte de la trama se intuye casi de inmediato, restándole al libro el factor "sorpresa" que pretende dar. No es que sea malo, pero no rompe del todo con lo que ya existe.
Es buen libro si te gustan los misterios. Si te interesan las novelas policiacas con grandes dosis de elementos sobrenaturales no tan novedosos, pero entretenidas, vale la pena; si buscas algo más innovador, probablemente haya opciones más destacadas.
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Un thriller paranormal en donde el contraste entre un pueblo idílico y los secretos oscuros que surgen es efectivo. La narrativa logra crear una atmósfera de suspenso creciente, lo que hace que el lector quiera seguir para ver qué se esconde detrás de lo aparentemente perfecto. En general, el libro mantiene un ritmo bastante aceptable. No decae demasiado, hay momentos de intriga que impulsan la lectura, lo que es importante en este género, pero algunos giros o recursos son bastante trillados. Si has leído varios thrillers policiacos, parte de la trama se intuye casi de inmediato, restándole al libro el factor "sorpresa" que pretende dar. No es que sea malo, pero no rompe del todo con lo que ya existe.
Es buen libro si te gustan los misterios. Si te interesan las novelas policiacas con grandes dosis de elementos sobrenaturales no tan novedosos, pero entretenidas, vale la pena; si buscas algo más innovador, probablemente haya opciones más destacadas.
June 28, 2024
Disclaimer: I was not aware of the controversy surrounding author JD Barker, otherwise I would not have requested this book to begin with. With all due respect, TBR lists are long enough without adding to them with writers who resort to ridiculous stunts for publicity. That being said, I tried to keep an open mind once I saw accusations on social media, and was almost finished with the book by that point. None of that has anything to do with my low rating.
Content warnings: Confessions of the Dead isn't too graphic, but it does manage to stick everything in here--off the top of my head there's Nazis, the KKK, school bombers, child abusers, rapists, and lots of serial cheating.
So I think we understand by this point that James Patterson isn't writing these "co authored" books, but I've still been picking them up here and there, because they all have the hallmarks of his original works: they're fast paced thrillers, mostly unbelievable in their action, but that doesn't usually matter because they're more often than not fun stories that you can read quickly.
But Confessions of the Dead doesn't read at all like a Patterson, which although wildly unbelievable is typically rooted in reality; rather it felt more like a Stephen King book--and I don't mean that as a compliment. It's a weird kind of horror and the NetGalley description pretty much sums it up: it "brings more questions than answers."
There are Patterson's trademark quick chapters, so the book reads quickly in a way, but it felt like it took forever to get to the ending at the same time. Much of the narrative felt repetitive, and it was frustrating how little closure I felt. We were given some answers, but I was mostly left with a "what is the point of all this?" feeling at the end. I'm trying so hard not to be too spoiler-y, but the only way the ending could have been worse is if we were given a "then Matt woke up and it was all a dream..."
Additionally, while I usually enjoy multi-POV books, it felt unnecessary here. The voices mostly sounded all the same, from the stressed-out mom done with everyone's nonsense, to the veteran cop, to the middle schooler who wanted to blow up his town. And there were some that served no purpose to advancing the plot. Malcolm and Hannah? Was that just so we could add a teenage girl getting violated?
Honestly, I appreciated the premise and what the author was shooting for, but the execution was not for me. I wouldn't recommend this.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for granting me the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley.
Content warnings: Confessions of the Dead isn't too graphic, but it does manage to stick everything in here--off the top of my head there's Nazis, the KKK, school bombers, child abusers, rapists, and lots of serial cheating.
So I think we understand by this point that James Patterson isn't writing these "co authored" books, but I've still been picking them up here and there, because they all have the hallmarks of his original works: they're fast paced thrillers, mostly unbelievable in their action, but that doesn't usually matter because they're more often than not fun stories that you can read quickly.
But Confessions of the Dead doesn't read at all like a Patterson, which although wildly unbelievable is typically rooted in reality; rather it felt more like a Stephen King book--and I don't mean that as a compliment. It's a weird kind of horror and the NetGalley description pretty much sums it up: it "brings more questions than answers."
There are Patterson's trademark quick chapters, so the book reads quickly in a way, but it felt like it took forever to get to the ending at the same time. Much of the narrative felt repetitive, and it was frustrating how little closure I felt. We were given some answers, but I was mostly left with a "what is the point of all this?" feeling at the end. I'm trying so hard not to be too spoiler-y, but the only way the ending could have been worse is if we were given a "then Matt woke up and it was all a dream..."
Additionally, while I usually enjoy multi-POV books, it felt unnecessary here. The voices mostly sounded all the same, from the stressed-out mom done with everyone's nonsense, to the veteran cop, to the middle schooler who wanted to blow up his town. And there were some that served no purpose to advancing the plot. Malcolm and Hannah? Was that just so we could add a teenage girl getting violated?
Honestly, I appreciated the premise and what the author was shooting for, but the execution was not for me. I wouldn't recommend this.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for granting me the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley.
July 2, 2024
This book was non-stop action and horror from start to finish! The tension and utter chaos kept me turning the pages like a maniac. What in the world was happening in this small town?! I tried so hard to figure it out but didn't even come close. The reveal was beyond epic to say the least. My mind is still reeling over the cleverness and representation of this story. There are many characters in this one, but I had no trouble following along with all of them. My only gripe would be that the POVs kept switching, leaving me on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what would come next and impatience with having to wait to find out. I really enjoyed this one! A stellar collaboration of Patterson's action and speed alongside Barker's thrilling horror, this book is one that fans won't want to miss. I definitely recommend it!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for granting me early digital access in exchange for my honest review!
August 27, 2025
Cuando empecé este libro esperaba una historia en la línea de sus trabajos anteriores. Sin embargo, debo admitir que hasta el 80% del libro no sabía exactamente qué tipo de locura estaba leyendo, y mucho menos cómo iban a resolver una trama tan descabellada. A pesar de la acción ininterrumpida de principio a fin, el resultado fue una lectura decepcionante en varios sentidos.
La historia se sitúa en Hollows Bend, un pueblo tranquilo y pequeño, enfocado al turismo, donde supuestamente nunca pasa nada. De repente, todo lo impensable comienza a ocurrir: la aparición de una chica medio muerta, una lluvia de cuervos, muertes inexplicables y gente volviéndose loca, atacando a sus propios vecinos. He leído en varias reseñas que la novela tiene un estilo que recuerda a Stephen King mal ejecutado. Quizás por eso no me gustó, ya que no soy fan de King.
Esta novela tiene un buen inicio, aunque un poco caótico, y los sucesos extraños, junto con sus capítulos cortos y la alternancia entre distintos personajes, te enganchan al principio; intentas entender qué está pasando. Pero la segunda parte me resultó decepcionante al ofrecer un final que me pareció tan bizarro como enrevesado e inverosímil.
Uno de los aspectos que suelo valorar en los thrillers es el uso de múltiples perspectivas y tramas paralelas. "La desconocida" lo intenta: hay varias líneas narrativas que se entrelazan a lo largo del libro, y esa alternancia entre personajes, en principio, debería aportar dinamismo. Sin embargo, cuando las transiciones son tan súbitas y los elementos paranormales se dosifican de una manera que me pareció excesiva, se pierde la capacidad de generar una atmósfera constante. En lugar de mantenerte en vilo, a veces me sentía desconectada.
El potencial de los personajes me pareció desaprovechado. Hay momentos en los que se vislumbra el thriller psicológico de calidad al que J.D. Barker nos tiene acostumbrados: las sombras, los traumas y los secretos de los personajes. Y, sin embargo, muchas de esas historias quedan sepultadas bajo capas de escenas y personajes que, a mi parecer, funcionaban como relleno. De repente, aparecen miembros del KKK, nazis, bombas... demasiados problemas sociales en un cóctel que, al final, me pareció que carecía de un sentido coherente.
En definitiva, "La desconocida" es un libro en el que pude apreciar la premisa y la intención de los autores, pero que, para mí, decepciona en el desarrollo de su trama y en sus personajes, dejándote más preguntas que respuestas. Siento que su ejecución no fue la mejor.
"...a veces, la manera más sencilla de calmar a la bestia es alimentarla…”
La historia se sitúa en Hollows Bend, un pueblo tranquilo y pequeño, enfocado al turismo, donde supuestamente nunca pasa nada. De repente, todo lo impensable comienza a ocurrir: la aparición de una chica medio muerta, una lluvia de cuervos, muertes inexplicables y gente volviéndose loca, atacando a sus propios vecinos. He leído en varias reseñas que la novela tiene un estilo que recuerda a Stephen King mal ejecutado. Quizás por eso no me gustó, ya que no soy fan de King.
Esta novela tiene un buen inicio, aunque un poco caótico, y los sucesos extraños, junto con sus capítulos cortos y la alternancia entre distintos personajes, te enganchan al principio; intentas entender qué está pasando. Pero la segunda parte me resultó decepcionante al ofrecer un final que me pareció tan bizarro como enrevesado e inverosímil.
Uno de los aspectos que suelo valorar en los thrillers es el uso de múltiples perspectivas y tramas paralelas. "La desconocida" lo intenta: hay varias líneas narrativas que se entrelazan a lo largo del libro, y esa alternancia entre personajes, en principio, debería aportar dinamismo. Sin embargo, cuando las transiciones son tan súbitas y los elementos paranormales se dosifican de una manera que me pareció excesiva, se pierde la capacidad de generar una atmósfera constante. En lugar de mantenerte en vilo, a veces me sentía desconectada.
El potencial de los personajes me pareció desaprovechado. Hay momentos en los que se vislumbra el thriller psicológico de calidad al que J.D. Barker nos tiene acostumbrados: las sombras, los traumas y los secretos de los personajes. Y, sin embargo, muchas de esas historias quedan sepultadas bajo capas de escenas y personajes que, a mi parecer, funcionaban como relleno. De repente, aparecen miembros del KKK, nazis, bombas... demasiados problemas sociales en un cóctel que, al final, me pareció que carecía de un sentido coherente.
En definitiva, "La desconocida" es un libro en el que pude apreciar la premisa y la intención de los autores, pero que, para mí, decepciona en el desarrollo de su trama y en sus personajes, dejándote más preguntas que respuestas. Siento que su ejecución no fue la mejor.
"...a veces, la manera más sencilla de calmar a la bestia es alimentarla…”
July 12, 2025
Pero que locura de libro!!!!
Se lee muy rápido, capítulos cortos como a mi me gusta, acción sin parar, narración exquisita, escenas sangrientas, muy duras, muy impactantes. Vamos un thriller sicológico paranormal fantástico y con un final en el que mi cabeza ha hecho 🤯🤯🤯🤯, necesito tiempo para asimilar lo que he leído.
Recomendable??? Siiiiiiiii
💙💙💙💙
Se lee muy rápido, capítulos cortos como a mi me gusta, acción sin parar, narración exquisita, escenas sangrientas, muy duras, muy impactantes. Vamos un thriller sicológico paranormal fantástico y con un final en el que mi cabeza ha hecho 🤯🤯🤯🤯, necesito tiempo para asimilar lo que he leído.
Recomendable??? Siiiiiiiii
💙💙💙💙
June 25, 2025
¡Saludos, amigos lectores!
J.D. Barker y James Patterson ya habían demostrado lo bien que funcionaban colaborando, un thriller cargado de acción, pero esta vez han creado un “Thriller psicológico paranormal oscuro” que sorprende.
La trama está localizada en el tranquilo pueblo de Hollows Bend, donde nunca pasa nada... hasta que aparece una adolescente “desconocida”. Desde su llegada: bandadas de cuervos invaden el pueblo, los vecinos comienzan a actuar de forma extraña… y las muertes empiezan a sucederse. La sheriff Ellie y su ayudante Matt deberán enfrentarse a un caso que tal vez les venga grande.
La narración es increíble: La historia contada con múltiples hilos temporales, compuesta con personajes oscuros. Cada capítulo, además de ser breve, lleva el nombre del personaje que lo protagoniza, y está contado desde su punto de vista. Eso permite vivir sus emociones en carne propia, lo que aumenta a un ritmo más ágil y adictivo. Es de esos libros de “solo un capítulo más”, hasta que te das cuenta de que te has saltado las metas de lectura conjunta. Ups!. Lo siento, me pasó.
Hay sangre, escenas cruentas y violencia. Y ojo, se nota que estos dos han leído a Stephen King. Hay ciertos giros y momentos que le evocan, sin perder el sello distintivo de Barker & Patterson.
A medida que la historia evoluciona en lo sobrenatural y la paranoia, el final llega como una gran sorpresa, un final ambiguo y con ese cierre que te deja pensando. Personalmente me encantó. Aunque entiendo que habrá lectores que, al cerrar el libro, digan: “¿Perdona… qué?
Yo lo sabía: ¡si los juntas de nuevo, la lían!
Recomendad para fans y amantes del misterio y thrillers oscuros y paranormales, para lectores que disfruten de lecturas no convencionales, muchos personajes y tensión en aumento.
Abstenerse los que esperen un thriller policial común, o esperen algo similar a su última obra conjunta, “Los crímenes de la carretera”.
¿Prefieres thrillers con toques paranormales o los más realistas?
¿Te molan los finales abiertos o necesitas que todo quede bien atado?
J.D. Barker y James Patterson ya habían demostrado lo bien que funcionaban colaborando, un thriller cargado de acción, pero esta vez han creado un “Thriller psicológico paranormal oscuro” que sorprende.
La trama está localizada en el tranquilo pueblo de Hollows Bend, donde nunca pasa nada... hasta que aparece una adolescente “desconocida”. Desde su llegada: bandadas de cuervos invaden el pueblo, los vecinos comienzan a actuar de forma extraña… y las muertes empiezan a sucederse. La sheriff Ellie y su ayudante Matt deberán enfrentarse a un caso que tal vez les venga grande.
La narración es increíble: La historia contada con múltiples hilos temporales, compuesta con personajes oscuros. Cada capítulo, además de ser breve, lleva el nombre del personaje que lo protagoniza, y está contado desde su punto de vista. Eso permite vivir sus emociones en carne propia, lo que aumenta a un ritmo más ágil y adictivo. Es de esos libros de “solo un capítulo más”, hasta que te das cuenta de que te has saltado las metas de lectura conjunta. Ups!. Lo siento, me pasó.
Hay sangre, escenas cruentas y violencia. Y ojo, se nota que estos dos han leído a Stephen King. Hay ciertos giros y momentos que le evocan, sin perder el sello distintivo de Barker & Patterson.
A medida que la historia evoluciona en lo sobrenatural y la paranoia, el final llega como una gran sorpresa, un final ambiguo y con ese cierre que te deja pensando. Personalmente me encantó. Aunque entiendo que habrá lectores que, al cerrar el libro, digan: “¿Perdona… qué?
Yo lo sabía: ¡si los juntas de nuevo, la lían!
Recomendad para fans y amantes del misterio y thrillers oscuros y paranormales, para lectores que disfruten de lecturas no convencionales, muchos personajes y tensión en aumento.
Abstenerse los que esperen un thriller policial común, o esperen algo similar a su última obra conjunta, “Los crímenes de la carretera”.
¿Prefieres thrillers con toques paranormales o los más realistas?
¿Te molan los finales abiertos o necesitas que todo quede bien atado?
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