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Frieda Klein #3
Waiting for Wednesday
Ruth Lennox, beloved mother of three, is found by her daughter in a pool of her own blood. Who would want to murder an ordinary housewife? And why?
Psychotherapist Frieda Klein finds she has an unusually personal connection with DCI Karlsson's latest case. She is no longer working with him in an official capacity, but when her niece befriends Ruth Lennox's son, Ted, she finds herself in the awkward position of confidante to both Karlsson and Ted.
When it emerges that Ruth was leading a secret life, her family closes ranks and Karlsson finds he needs Frieda's help more than ever before.
But Frieda is distracted. Having survived an attack on her life, she is struggling to stay in control and when a patient's chance remark rings an alarm bell, she finds herself chasing down a path that seems to lead to a serial killer who has long escaped detection. Or is it merely a symptom of her own increasingly fragile mind?
Because, as Frieda knows, every step closer to a killer is one more step into a darkness from which there may be no return . . .
Psychotherapist Frieda Klein finds she has an unusually personal connection with DCI Karlsson's latest case. She is no longer working with him in an official capacity, but when her niece befriends Ruth Lennox's son, Ted, she finds herself in the awkward position of confidante to both Karlsson and Ted.
When it emerges that Ruth was leading a secret life, her family closes ranks and Karlsson finds he needs Frieda's help more than ever before.
But Frieda is distracted. Having survived an attack on her life, she is struggling to stay in control and when a patient's chance remark rings an alarm bell, she finds herself chasing down a path that seems to lead to a serial killer who has long escaped detection. Or is it merely a symptom of her own increasingly fragile mind?
Because, as Frieda knows, every step closer to a killer is one more step into a darkness from which there may be no return . . .
Paperback
First published May 24, 2013
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About the author
Nicci French
80 books3,635 followersNote: (Nicci Gerrard and Sean French also write separately.)
Nicci Gerrard was born in June 1958 in Worcestershire. After graduating with a first class honours degree in English Literature from Oxford University, she began her first job, working with emotionally disturbed children in Sheffield. In that same year she married journalist Colin Hughes.
In the early eighties she taught English Literature in Sheffield, London and Los Angeles, but moved into publishing in 1985 with the launch of Women's Review, a magazine for women on art, literature and female issues.
In 1987 Nicci had a son, Edgar, followed by a daughter, Anna, in 1988, but a year later her marriage to Colin Hughes broke down.
In 1989 she became acting literary editor at the New Statesman, before moving to the Observer, where she was deputy literary editor for five years, and then a feature writer and executive editor.
It was while she was at the New Statesman that she met Sean French.
Sean French was born in May 1959 in Bristol, to a British father and Swedish mother. He too studied English Literature at Oxford University at the same time as Nicci, also graduating with a first class degree, but their paths didn't cross until 1990. In 1981 he won Vogue magazine's Writing Talent Contest, and from 1981 to 1986 he was their theatre critic. During that time he also worked at the Sunday Times as deputy literary editor and television critic, and was the film critic for Marie Claire and deputy editor of New Society.
Sean and Nicci were married in Hackney in October 1990. Their daughters, Hadley and Molly, were born in 1991 and 1993.
By the mid-nineties Sean had had two novels published, The Imaginary Monkey and The Dreamer of Dreams, as well as numerous non-fiction books, including biographies of Jane Fonda and Brigitte Bardot.
In 1995 Nicci and Sean began work on their first joint novel and adopted the pseudonym of Nicci French. The Memory Game was published to great acclaim in 1997 followed by The Safe House (1998), Killing Me Softly (1999), Beneath the Skin (2000), The Red Room (2001), Land of the Living (2002), Secret Smile (2003), Catch Me When I Fall (2005), Losing You (2006) and Until It's Over (2008). Their latest novel together is What To Do When Someone Dies (2009).
Nicci and Sean also continue to write separately. Nicci still works as a journalist for the Observer, covering high-profile trials including those of Fred and Rose West, and Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr. Novels include Things We Knew Were True (2003), Solace (2005) and The Moment You Were Gone (2007). Sean's last novel is Start From Here (2004).
Nicci Gerrard was born in June 1958 in Worcestershire. After graduating with a first class honours degree in English Literature from Oxford University, she began her first job, working with emotionally disturbed children in Sheffield. In that same year she married journalist Colin Hughes.
In the early eighties she taught English Literature in Sheffield, London and Los Angeles, but moved into publishing in 1985 with the launch of Women's Review, a magazine for women on art, literature and female issues.
In 1987 Nicci had a son, Edgar, followed by a daughter, Anna, in 1988, but a year later her marriage to Colin Hughes broke down.
In 1989 she became acting literary editor at the New Statesman, before moving to the Observer, where she was deputy literary editor for five years, and then a feature writer and executive editor.
It was while she was at the New Statesman that she met Sean French.
Sean French was born in May 1959 in Bristol, to a British father and Swedish mother. He too studied English Literature at Oxford University at the same time as Nicci, also graduating with a first class degree, but their paths didn't cross until 1990. In 1981 he won Vogue magazine's Writing Talent Contest, and from 1981 to 1986 he was their theatre critic. During that time he also worked at the Sunday Times as deputy literary editor and television critic, and was the film critic for Marie Claire and deputy editor of New Society.
Sean and Nicci were married in Hackney in October 1990. Their daughters, Hadley and Molly, were born in 1991 and 1993.
By the mid-nineties Sean had had two novels published, The Imaginary Monkey and The Dreamer of Dreams, as well as numerous non-fiction books, including biographies of Jane Fonda and Brigitte Bardot.
In 1995 Nicci and Sean began work on their first joint novel and adopted the pseudonym of Nicci French. The Memory Game was published to great acclaim in 1997 followed by The Safe House (1998), Killing Me Softly (1999), Beneath the Skin (2000), The Red Room (2001), Land of the Living (2002), Secret Smile (2003), Catch Me When I Fall (2005), Losing You (2006) and Until It's Over (2008). Their latest novel together is What To Do When Someone Dies (2009).
Nicci and Sean also continue to write separately. Nicci still works as a journalist for the Observer, covering high-profile trials including those of Fred and Rose West, and Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr. Novels include Things We Knew Were True (2003), Solace (2005) and The Moment You Were Gone (2007). Sean's last novel is Start From Here (2004).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 962 reviews
January 9, 2014
Third instalment of Nicci French's series featuring Dr Frieda Klein. I preferred it to the second one and found the plotlines much more gripping, but I'm getting more and more irritated by Frieda as a character, especially the appalling way she treats her so-called friends and her insomnia, which the authors seem to have to remind us about every few pages. Maybe if Frieda actually ate some food once in a while, she'd sleep a bit better. So annoying to read a novel about yet another female character pushing a bit of food around her plate and constantly forgetting to eat (yeah, right). Eat some doughnuts, woman, you'll feel much better. The continued presence of Dean Reeve from the first novel feels implausible to me and adds very little, and the tone of the book - of the whole series - is unrelentingly grim. I'll still read the fourth one when it comes out though, despite disliking the main character intensely, because the Nicci French pair write a damn good, suspenseful, satisfying, hard to guess what's happening plot when they put their minds to it.
March 25, 2014
The third book in this series and it was even better than the first two. The character of Frieda is so interesting, a psychotherapist who up until this book had worked with the police. This book finds her in mental turmoil, after her near death in the last. Three different storylines all relate to each other in some way. These are very character driven psychological suspense stories and the supporting character, DCI Larsson, Josef and her niece Chloe are also very interesting. Another great job by French kept me turning the pages and the personal tumult and red herrings add to this.
Looking forward to Thursday.
Arc from publisher.
Looking forward to Thursday.
Arc from publisher.
March 5, 2016
Waiting for Wednesday by Nicci French is a 2014 publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It has taken me a good long while to get to this third book, but I wanted to locate the first two installments first, and it took a little time to get through library holds, but it was worth the wait.
This series must be read in order because the storylines bleed over from one book to the next. This one begins with Frieda’s recovery from attempted murder, and the irony of having her arch enemy to thank for saving her life. But, the experience has left Frieda unstable on many fronts and is hard to put into words just exactly how unstable and fragile she behaves. She is certainly not herself, that’s for sure, and neither is anyone else for that matter.
Even though Frieda has been kicked off the force and is no longer a consultant, the criminal psychologist that feels humiliated by Frieda, has made it his life’s goal to pay her back, in spades. If that weren’t enough, her stalker, still sends her reminders that he is watching her. Still, Frieda manages to find herself embroiled in a police investigation when her niece, Chloe, introduces her to a friend whose mother was recently murdered.
As it turns out Karlsson and Yvette are working on the homicide and Karlsson can’t seem to keep himself from asking Frieda to give her opinion.
In the meantime, all of Frieda’s friends and family are deeply concerned for her as she appears to be losing her grip and falling further and further away from her practice and the life she once led.
Well, you know what they say about weaving tangled webs. This case is a prime example of that, and goes to show you the far reaching effects our decisions can have on others, even beyond the grave.
But, Frieda finds herself helping the murder victim’s family all while trying to puzzle out a phrase uttered to her under false pretenses. While trying to determine the origins of this story, she stumbles across a clue to a cold case which could potentially blow the lid off it.
So, there is a lot going on here, with all of the recurring characters behaving erratically. There are two cases to solve and Frieda is in the middle of both of them, slowly falling apart every day, spiraling into a dark tailspin, that had me wondering if she was going to come through all this in one piece, not physically, but mentally.
Although this is one is very dark, moody, and is pretty depressing, I thought the character developments were very well done, and so much more realistic. Frieda is a far cry from the woman we met in 'Blue Monday'. Josef is also far removed from his cheerful self, and Olivia has become more a paranoid parent than ever. Yvette is struggling with her actions from the last book, trying to make amends, and even Karlsson makes a boneheaded move that was completely out of character. So, instead of the usual, ‘onward and upwards’ mentality we usually see, the characters responded to all that came before just as someone might in real life- shaken, unstable, and depressed, and sad, or maybe a little angry, or dealing with regret. Each character dealt with this in their own unique way, but Frieda will have you wringing your hands, wondering how much more a person could stand.
The plot was very engrossing exploring the double lives some people live and horrific consequences of their selfish actions, as well has providing us a side story that is equally compelling and twice as chilling.
Although the story ties up most of the loose ends, it doesn’t end with a rosy outcome, and is a little heavy throughout, but I was cheered to see Frieda beginning to take the right steps toward recovery. I am now on a diligent search for the next book in the series. To me this one was the best in the series to date.
It has taken me a good long while to get to this third book, but I wanted to locate the first two installments first, and it took a little time to get through library holds, but it was worth the wait.
This series must be read in order because the storylines bleed over from one book to the next. This one begins with Frieda’s recovery from attempted murder, and the irony of having her arch enemy to thank for saving her life. But, the experience has left Frieda unstable on many fronts and is hard to put into words just exactly how unstable and fragile she behaves. She is certainly not herself, that’s for sure, and neither is anyone else for that matter.
Even though Frieda has been kicked off the force and is no longer a consultant, the criminal psychologist that feels humiliated by Frieda, has made it his life’s goal to pay her back, in spades. If that weren’t enough, her stalker, still sends her reminders that he is watching her. Still, Frieda manages to find herself embroiled in a police investigation when her niece, Chloe, introduces her to a friend whose mother was recently murdered.
As it turns out Karlsson and Yvette are working on the homicide and Karlsson can’t seem to keep himself from asking Frieda to give her opinion.
In the meantime, all of Frieda’s friends and family are deeply concerned for her as she appears to be losing her grip and falling further and further away from her practice and the life she once led.
Well, you know what they say about weaving tangled webs. This case is a prime example of that, and goes to show you the far reaching effects our decisions can have on others, even beyond the grave.
But, Frieda finds herself helping the murder victim’s family all while trying to puzzle out a phrase uttered to her under false pretenses. While trying to determine the origins of this story, she stumbles across a clue to a cold case which could potentially blow the lid off it.
So, there is a lot going on here, with all of the recurring characters behaving erratically. There are two cases to solve and Frieda is in the middle of both of them, slowly falling apart every day, spiraling into a dark tailspin, that had me wondering if she was going to come through all this in one piece, not physically, but mentally.
Although this is one is very dark, moody, and is pretty depressing, I thought the character developments were very well done, and so much more realistic. Frieda is a far cry from the woman we met in 'Blue Monday'. Josef is also far removed from his cheerful self, and Olivia has become more a paranoid parent than ever. Yvette is struggling with her actions from the last book, trying to make amends, and even Karlsson makes a boneheaded move that was completely out of character. So, instead of the usual, ‘onward and upwards’ mentality we usually see, the characters responded to all that came before just as someone might in real life- shaken, unstable, and depressed, and sad, or maybe a little angry, or dealing with regret. Each character dealt with this in their own unique way, but Frieda will have you wringing your hands, wondering how much more a person could stand.
The plot was very engrossing exploring the double lives some people live and horrific consequences of their selfish actions, as well has providing us a side story that is equally compelling and twice as chilling.
Although the story ties up most of the loose ends, it doesn’t end with a rosy outcome, and is a little heavy throughout, but I was cheered to see Frieda beginning to take the right steps toward recovery. I am now on a diligent search for the next book in the series. To me this one was the best in the series to date.
March 6, 2016
Η Φρίντα Κλάιν έχει μια ιδιαίτερη επίδραση πάνω μου. Αν και είναι μοναχική, ωστόσο περιτριγυρίζεται από αληθινούς φίλους, που την αγαπάνε όσο τίποτα και θα έδιναν ακόμα και τη ζωή τους γι' αυτή. Ίσως γιατί είναι ειλικρινής και αληθινή. Επίσης, ενώ είναι φιλήσυχος άνθρωπος, όπως αναφέρει και ο Κάρλσον κάπου στο βιβλίο "η Φρίντα πρέπει να έχει δεχτεί περισσότερες καταγγελίες για βίαιη συμπεριφορά από όσες μποντι-μπίλντερ μπράβος σε παράνομο κλαμπ". Είναι πραγματικά παρανοϊκό πώς τα γεγονότα πέφτουν πάνω της χωρίς αυτή να τα προκαλεί και πόσο ακολουθώντας τα ένστικτά της μπλέκει σε υποθέσεις που ξεπερνάνε τα απλά καθημερινά προβλήματα των ανθρώπων.
Στη σκοτεινή Τετάρτη τα γεγονότα συνεχίζουν λίγες εβδομάδες μετά τα συμβάντα του προηγούμενου βιβλίου, όπου η Φρίντα έχει σχεδόν συνέλθει πλήρως, αλλά δεν δουλεύει ακόμα κανονικά με τους ασθενείς της. Οι υποθέσεις είναι δύο, η μία αφορά στη δολοφονία μιας μητέρας - νοικοκυράς, που ενώ αρχικά όλοι αναρωτιούνται ποιος μπορεί να ήθελε να τη σκοτώσει, τελικά μαζεύονται στο τμήμα κάμποσοι άνθρωποι που ομολογούν τη δολοφονία της, εκνευρίζοντας τον Κάρλσον και τους υπόλοιπους. Η Φρίντα πιάνεται από μια φράση ενός ασθενούς - παγίδας (άλλη ιστορία και αυτή) και αναζητά με μανία μια εξαφανισμένη κοπέλα. Ανεξάρτητα με αυτή δρα ένας δημοσιογράφος. Στο τέλος του βιβλίου αποκαλύπτεται μια ιστορία που κρατούσε χρόνια, που αποτέλεσμα έχει μια πολύ λυρική περιγραφή των συναισθημάτων της Φρίντα για την υπόθεση (την οποία δεν θα παραθέσω γιατί θα ήταν σπόιλερ).
Ο Ντιν Ριβ βρίσκεται συνεχώς στο μυαλό της Φρίντα, η οποία νιώθει το σκοτάδι να την τυλίγει. Προσωπικά δεν νομίζω ότι τώρα άλλαξε κάτι για να πλημμυρίσει η ζωή της με σκοτάδι, νομίζω ότι κάποια πράγματα που νόμιζε ότι είχε καλά κρυμμένα στο μυαλό της τώρα εμφανίζονται και πρέπει επιτέλους να τα αντιμετωπίσει. Νομίζω ότι το επόμενο βιβλίο θα μας βοηθήσει να μάθουμε περισσότερα για τη Φρίντα, εγώ πάντως την αγαπώ ήδη πάρα πολύ!! Θα ήθελα πολύ να δω τη σειρά να γυρίζεται σε ταινία ή σε σειρά λίγων επεισοδίων.
Τέλος, είναι από τα βιβλία που θα ήθελα ένα διάλειμμα με κάτι άλλο προτού διαβάσω το επόμενο, ξέρετε, είναι από τα βιβλία με τα οποία εμπλέκεσαι τόσο έντονα συναισθηματικά που θες μια παύση μέχρι το επόμενο (μη σου ρουφήξει την ψυχή σου)
Πάντως, για όσους δεν έχετε διαβάσει τα βιβλία, πάρτε τα με τη σειρά, είναι πολύ σημαντικό αν θέλετε να ζήσετε αυτό το συναίσθημα για το οποίο μιλούσα νωρίτερα!
Στη σκοτεινή Τετάρτη τα γεγονότα συνεχίζουν λίγες εβδομάδες μετά τα συμβάντα του προηγούμενου βιβλίου, όπου η Φρίντα έχει σχεδόν συνέλθει πλήρως, αλλά δεν δουλεύει ακόμα κανονικά με τους ασθενείς της. Οι υποθέσεις είναι δύο, η μία αφορά στη δολοφονία μιας μητέρας - νοικοκυράς, που ενώ αρχικά όλοι αναρωτιούνται ποιος μπορεί να ήθελε να τη σκοτώσει, τελικά μαζεύονται στο τμήμα κάμποσοι άνθρωποι που ομολογούν τη δολοφονία της, εκνευρίζοντας τον Κάρλσον και τους υπόλοιπους. Η Φρίντα πιάνεται από μια φράση ενός ασθενούς - παγίδας (άλλη ιστορία και αυτή) και αναζητά με μανία μια εξαφανισμένη κοπέλα. Ανεξάρτητα με αυτή δρα ένας δημοσιογράφος. Στο τέλος του βιβλίου αποκαλύπτεται μια ιστορία που κρατούσε χρόνια, που αποτέλεσμα έχει μια πολύ λυρική περιγραφή των συναισθημάτων της Φρίντα για την υπόθεση (την οποία δεν θα παραθέσω γιατί θα ήταν σπόιλερ).
Ο Ντιν Ριβ βρίσκεται συνεχώς στο μυαλό της Φρίντα, η οποία νιώθει το σκοτάδι να την τυλίγει. Προσωπικά δεν νομίζω ότι τώρα άλλαξε κάτι για να πλημμυρίσει η ζωή της με σκοτάδι, νομίζω ότι κάποια πράγματα που νόμιζε ότι είχε καλά κρυμμένα στο μυαλό της τώρα εμφανίζονται και πρέπει επιτέλους να τα αντιμετωπίσει. Νομίζω ότι το επόμενο βιβλίο θα μας βοηθήσει να μάθουμε περισσότερα για τη Φρίντα, εγώ πάντως την αγαπώ ήδη πάρα πολύ!! Θα ήθελα πολύ να δω τη σειρά να γυρίζεται σε ταινία ή σε σειρά λίγων επεισοδίων.
Τέλος, είναι από τα βιβλία που θα ήθελα ένα διάλειμμα με κάτι άλλο προτού διαβάσω το επόμενο, ξέρετε, είναι από τα βιβλία με τα οποία εμπλέκεσαι τόσο έντονα συναισθηματικά που θες μια παύση μέχρι το επόμενο (μη σου ρουφήξει την ψυχή σου)
Πάντως, για όσους δεν έχετε διαβάσει τα βιβλία, πάρτε τα με τη σειρά, είναι πολύ σημαντικό αν θέλετε να ζήσετε αυτό το συναίσθημα για το οποίο μιλούσα νωρίτερα!
June 19, 2018
The story was good but Frieda Klein is a very irritating character. I know this is the sign of a skilled author to make me feel so annoyed with her, but she’s almost too much for me to enjoy the story.
February 6, 2017
Λόγω του τραυματισμού της, η Φρίντα αποφεύγει να αναμιχθεί σε υποθέσεις της αστυνομίας. Βρίσκεται όμως να γνωρίζει τον γιο της γυναίκας που δολοφονήθηκε. Παράλληλα με αυτή την υπόθεση, παρακολουθούμε και την έρευνα που κάνει ένας δημοσιογράφος για εξαφανισμένα κορίτσια και στην πορεία, συναντιέται με τη Φρίντα και τις εκθέτει τα στοιχεία της έρευνας του. Σε αυτό το βιβλίο, ενώ αρχικά η συμμετοχή της Φρίντα στην κύρια υπόθεση είναι παρασκηνιακή, καταφέρνει να λύσει μία υπόθεση την οποία η αστυνομία δεν είχε καν φανταστεί...
Το τρίτο βιβλίο της σειράς με πρωταγωνίστρια τη Φρίντα Κλάιν, κρατά αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη από την αρχή ως το τέλος.
Απολαύστε το!!
Το τρίτο βιβλίο της σειράς με πρωταγωνίστρια τη Φρίντα Κλάιν, κρατά αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη από την αρχή ως το τέλος.
Απολαύστε το!!
May 26, 2020
“We’re taught to beware of strangers. It’s our friends most of us should worry about.”
- Frieda Klein
-——-
“Real secrets aren’t found in objects, in schedules, in the words we speak or the expressions we put on our faces, in underwear drawers and filing cabinets, deleted texts, and diaries pushed to the bottom of the bag. They are lodged far deeper, unguessable even to ourselves.”
- Frieda Klein
-——-
“Secrets are difficult to keep.
Everything has a consequence.”
- Malcolm Karlsson
-——-
“People are very complicated. They can be lots of different people at the same time. They can cause pain and yet still be kind, sympathetic, good.”
- Frieda Klein
- Frieda Klein
-——-
“Real secrets aren’t found in objects, in schedules, in the words we speak or the expressions we put on our faces, in underwear drawers and filing cabinets, deleted texts, and diaries pushed to the bottom of the bag. They are lodged far deeper, unguessable even to ourselves.”
- Frieda Klein
-——-
“Secrets are difficult to keep.
Everything has a consequence.”
- Malcolm Karlsson
-——-
“People are very complicated. They can be lots of different people at the same time. They can cause pain and yet still be kind, sympathetic, good.”
- Frieda Klein
November 20, 2019
4.5! I’m finding that I have a hard time reviewing books in a series, 1 after the other. This is the 3rd book in the Frieda Klein series & everything (positive!) i said about the first 2, are pretty much exactly what I’d say here! Except I liked this 1 even more! Now that we’re getting to know the usual characters better, it’s only making the stories & the mysteries even more compelling. Definitely 1 of my favorite series ever! (But you have to start at the beginning!)
November 23, 2018
Το διάβασαν δύο καλοί φίλοι μου και του έβαλαν από 3 αστεράκια έκαστος. Πίστευα έτσι ότι θα ήταν χειρότερο από τα δύο προηγούμενα της σειράς (που μου άρεσαν πολύ). Τελικά όμως δεν μπορούσα να το αφήσω απο τα χέρια μου. Δεν ξέρω κατά πόσο με επηρέασε το ότι είχα τοποθετήσει κάπως χαμηλά τον πήχη, αλλά πιστεύω ότι δεν το έκανε καθόλου. Σκάλωσα πολύ με την πλοκή, οι πρωταγωνιστές μού φαίνονται πλέον όλοι οικείοι (έχω αρχίσει να μη νιώθω μόνο τη Φρίντα ως ''βασική'' αλλά και πολλούς ακόμα). Ίσως σε κάποιους να φαίνεται ίσως λίγο ''αργό''. Εμένα δεν μου φάνηκε καθόλου και το κατέταξα στα αγαπημένα μου της χρονιάς.
September 5, 2019
Възходяща линия на поредицата.
Това е изненада, тъй като обичайно една по-оригинална първа част продава следващите, които просто продължават историята. Тук изпитвам обратното. Първоначалните случаи за разплитане не бликаха от оригиналност и се залагаше на постоянни обрати - къде обосновани, къде не. В третата част нещата са по-солидно и внимателно изградени на база човешката мотивация, а не в търсене на нечувани обрати (то останали какво толкова нечувано да се случи след толкова дълбане в жанра ...). Казвам това за цялата книга с изключение на края. Ако краят не го бях вече чел на други места ("Мъжете, които мразеха жените", например) - бих дал и максимална оценка.
Много ми допадна идеята как в едно перфектно щастливо на витрината семейство се оказва, че всеки има дългогодишни тайни и повърхността е коренно различна от съдържанието. И то е многопластово. Напомни ми на класически крими сюжети от типа "един от смейството в тази къща е убиеца", но натоварено със съвременната проблематика на семейни и социални отношения. Малките неща - от финансовите окастряния в полицията, до професионалното съперничество с друг психолог, до това как децата приемат слабостите на възрастните, до това как професията изтиква от пътя си семейството - това са за мен елементите, заради които "Сряда" си струва. Добавянето на писмата като форма на изказ на персонаж, също работи добре в случая.
Все още не намирам за оригинално преследването от злия брат близнак, това че й праща цветя, мъсти от нейно име и тнт. Но се компенсира от проведен психологически експеримент като част от съревнованието в професията.
Вече съм убеден и че авторите използват материали от т.нар. "профайлъри" за убийците и за разговорите на професионално ниво между персонажи - няма лошо, информацията е публична от документални, научни и художествени книги, не е някаква тайна.
Ще се радвам да продължи в този дух до края и да се гради около малките неща, а не върху гръмките случки от началото.
Това е изненада, тъй като обичайно една по-оригинална първа част продава следващите, които просто продължават историята. Тук изпитвам обратното. Първоначалните случаи за разплитане не бликаха от оригиналност и се залагаше на постоянни обрати - къде обосновани, къде не. В третата част нещата са по-солидно и внимателно изградени на база човешката мотивация, а не в търсене на нечувани обрати (то останали какво толкова нечувано да се случи след толкова дълбане в жанра ...). Казвам това за цялата книга с изключение на края. Ако краят не го бях вече чел на други места ("Мъжете, които мразеха жените", например) - бих дал и максимална оценка.
Много ми допадна идеята как в едно перфектно щастливо на витрината семейство се оказва, че всеки има дългогодишни тайни и повърхността е коренно различна от съдържанието. И то е многопластово. Напомни ми на класически крими сюжети от типа "един от смейството в тази къща е убиеца", но натоварено със съвременната проблематика на семейни и социални отношения. Малките неща - от финансовите окастряния в полицията, до професионалното съперничество с друг психолог, до това как децата приемат слабостите на възрастните, до това как професията изтиква от пътя си семейството - това са за мен елементите, заради които "Сряда" си струва. Добавянето на писмата като форма на изказ на персонаж, също работи добре в случая.
Все още не намирам за оригинално преследването от злия брат близнак, това че й праща цветя, мъсти от нейно име и тнт. Но се компенсира от проведен психологически експеримент като част от съревнованието в професията.
Вече съм убеден и че авторите използват материали от т.нар. "профайлъри" за убийците и за разговорите на професионално ниво между персонажи - няма лошо, информацията е публична от документални, научни и художествени книги, не е някаква тайна.
Ще се радвам да продължи в този дух до края и да се гради около малките неща, а не върху гръмките случки от началото.
October 20, 2017
I’ve sort of fretted over how many stars to give this one. I have the previous one in the series a rounded up 5 stars. This one, after time and reflection to confirm this, was as well done as the previous one, and more ambitious and complex in some ways. But the enjoyment factor was down a notch for me.
That isn’t a valid criticism of the book, though, just how it fell with me.
The story is of the unraveling of the protagonist after the trauma at the ending of the previous book. An unraveling, from the inside out, of a very controlled, private, independent woman.
The world she has previously constructed for herself, in which she has been highly functioning and largely content, starts flying apart like a tire coming unraveled on the highway. And it’s largely because she has dropped her guard, her boundaries, her standards and seems unable to go back or adapt. She has good reason. It makes sense. It’s terrific character-developing, suspense-making writing. But not the kind of gripping I was expecting for the next book in this series.
Will she get it together or fall completely apart? And how, in the process, will she solve the crime (s?) and/or save...someone, anyone?
There’s a large cast of characters here. An annoying and heartbreaking plethora of damaged children and young people, all of whom require this particular protagonist’s unofficial, personal intervention. A range of adults and young people who are potentially, or maybe alternately, victims and perpetrators. And two whole separate (or are they?) complex crime story threads.
As I said, this was ambitious, and on the whole well done. Not sorry I read it. And despite not exactly enjoying it I liked and appreciated it a lot.
The unraveling is painful, as it’s meant to be, and the ending is not unsatisfying. On the whole this is a recommendation, and a caution. Being particularly invested in this character, her self-made, albeit trauma-induced, breakdown is a slow motion train wreck.
I had to keep reading to find out what would happen, but the stress wasn’t exactly the pleasant stress of suspense novels where you know that underneath it all, you’re in the hands of a strong and capable protagonist who will somehow see this through.
Having enjoyed riding on the strong shoulders of this particular strong protagonist through the first couple of books, it wasn’t the same kind of carry as a reader this time. And I wonder what kind of carry is in store in future installments. Will our hero climb back up or fall deeper into an abyss?
The kind of book where I feel like I have to carry a hopelessly disintegrating protagonist, instead of being carried along by a fundamentally sound one (even damaged and struggling, you still expect they’ll come through when it counts), is not my favorite read. This book clarified this as a reading trigger for me. I need my protagonists to not melt into an ultimately irredeemable puddle of avoidable awful. This protagonist hasn’t gone there yet, but she sure tried in this story.
That isn’t a valid criticism of the book, though, just how it fell with me.
The story is of the unraveling of the protagonist after the trauma at the ending of the previous book. An unraveling, from the inside out, of a very controlled, private, independent woman.
The world she has previously constructed for herself, in which she has been highly functioning and largely content, starts flying apart like a tire coming unraveled on the highway. And it’s largely because she has dropped her guard, her boundaries, her standards and seems unable to go back or adapt. She has good reason. It makes sense. It’s terrific character-developing, suspense-making writing. But not the kind of gripping I was expecting for the next book in this series.
Will she get it together or fall completely apart? And how, in the process, will she solve the crime (s?) and/or save...someone, anyone?
There’s a large cast of characters here. An annoying and heartbreaking plethora of damaged children and young people, all of whom require this particular protagonist’s unofficial, personal intervention. A range of adults and young people who are potentially, or maybe alternately, victims and perpetrators. And two whole separate (or are they?) complex crime story threads.
As I said, this was ambitious, and on the whole well done. Not sorry I read it. And despite not exactly enjoying it I liked and appreciated it a lot.
The unraveling is painful, as it’s meant to be, and the ending is not unsatisfying. On the whole this is a recommendation, and a caution. Being particularly invested in this character, her self-made, albeit trauma-induced, breakdown is a slow motion train wreck.
I had to keep reading to find out what would happen, but the stress wasn’t exactly the pleasant stress of suspense novels where you know that underneath it all, you’re in the hands of a strong and capable protagonist who will somehow see this through.
Having enjoyed riding on the strong shoulders of this particular strong protagonist through the first couple of books, it wasn’t the same kind of carry as a reader this time. And I wonder what kind of carry is in store in future installments. Will our hero climb back up or fall deeper into an abyss?
The kind of book where I feel like I have to carry a hopelessly disintegrating protagonist, instead of being carried along by a fundamentally sound one (even damaged and struggling, you still expect they’ll come through when it counts), is not my favorite read. This book clarified this as a reading trigger for me. I need my protagonists to not melt into an ultimately irredeemable puddle of avoidable awful. This protagonist hasn’t gone there yet, but she sure tried in this story.
August 10, 2016
To τρίτο βιβλίο της σειράς, η "Σκοτεινή Τετάρτη", κατάφερε (και αυτό) να σταθεί επάξια στο συγγραφικό ύψος που μας έχει συνηθίσει το δίδυμο Nicci French. Πραγματικά, είναι τόσο υπέροχο να διαβάζεις μια σειρά βιβλίων και να είναι όλα τόσο καλογραμμένα, συναρπαστικά και αγωνιώδη που να μην βαριέσαι καθόλου στη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης...!
Στην "Τετάρτη" εξελίσσονται δύο αστυνομικές υποθέσεις παράλληλα: από τη μία η "επίσημη" έρευνα για τη δολοφονία μιας μητέρας τριών παιδιών, η οποία φαινομενικά ζούσε την τέλεια ζωή και κανένας δεν θα είχε λόγο να σκοτώσει. Και από την άλλη η "ανεπίσημη", την οποία ξεκινά η Φρίντα και φυσικά βρίσκεται εντελώς μπλεγμένη στα πλοκάμια μιας σκοτεινής υπόθεσης που αφορά την μυστηριώδη εξαφάνιση νέων γυναικών. Οι δύο υποθέσεις δεν έχουν καμία σχέση μεταξύ τους, όμως είναι και οι δύο εξίσου περίπλοκες και συναγωνίζονται με επιτυχία και αδιάκοπο σασπένς για να κρατήσουν αμείωτη την προσοχή μας. Και το καταφέρνουν και οι δύο! Εκτός του ότι, όσο και να σπάσεις το κεφάλι σου, δεν θα καταφέρεις να βρεις τον ένοχο παρά μόνο όταν αποφασίσουν οι συγγραφείς να τον αποκαλύψουν, επιπλέον σοκάρεσαι έντονα από τις αποκαλύψεις αυτές, όταν έρχονται. Πραγματικά, το ανθρώπινο μυαλό δεν μπορεί πολλές φορές να διανοηθεί για το τι είναι ικανό ένα άτομο και μέχρι πού φτάνουν τα όριά του. Το μόνο σίγουρο είναι πως και τα δύο εγκλήματα θα κρατήσουν ενεργό το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη και οι δράστες τους θα είναι μια πραγματική έκπληξη/αποκάλυψη.
Και μέσα σε όλα αυτά, η ζωή συνεχίζει να κυλάει και να εξελίσσεται για τους ήρωές μας, που ειδικά αν διαβάζεις τα βιβλία σερί (όπως εγώ καλή ώρα) τους νιώθεις πλέον σαν μέλη της οικογένειάς σου! Η Φρίντα προσπαθεί να αναρρώσει από τα τραύματά της, δεν βλέπει επισήμως ασθενείς κι έχει ρίξει όλο της το βάρος στην αναζήτηση των χαμένων γυναικών. Βρίσκεται όμως ανακατεμένη, άθελά της ουσιαστικά, και με τα παιδιά της δολοφονημένης γυναίκας και, επομένως, η υπόθεση αυτή την τριβελίζει επίσης. Και οι υπόλοιποι ήρωες εξελίσσονται, μεγαλώνουν και ωριμάζουν, άλλοτε με τις καλές και άλλοτε με τις κακές στιγμές τους, συμπληρώνοντας τέλεια το παζλ με την εικόνα της ζωής και του περιβάλλοντος της Φρίντα Κλάιν.
Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα αυτός ο συνδυασμός των δύο υποθέσεων, το λέω μια ακόμα φορά. Γιατί όταν διάβαζα τη μία, την έβρισκα τόσο ενδιαφέρουσα που δεν ανυπομονούσα να έρθει η άλλη. Άφηνα απλά την ιστορία να 'κυλάει' και να με παρασέρνει στο ρεύμα της. Κι όταν διαβάζεις ένα βιβλίο που όχι μόνο δεν κάνει καθόλου κοιλιά και εσένα να βαριέσαι, αλλά επιπλέον σε γεμίζει με ποικίλα συναισθήματα και δε σε αφήνει να το αφήσεις, πραγματικά δεν νομίζω πως χρειάζεσαι ο,τιδήποτε άλλο για να είσαι ένας απόλυτα ευχαριστημένος αναγνώστης!
Στην "Τετάρτη" εξελίσσονται δύο αστυνομικές υποθέσεις παράλληλα: από τη μία η "επίσημη" έρευνα για τη δολοφονία μιας μητέρας τριών παιδιών, η οποία φαινομενικά ζούσε την τέλεια ζωή και κανένας δεν θα είχε λόγο να σκοτώσει. Και από την άλλη η "ανεπίσημη", την οποία ξεκινά η Φρίντα και φυσικά βρίσκεται εντελώς μπλεγμένη στα πλοκάμια μιας σκοτεινής υπόθεσης που αφορά την μυστηριώδη εξαφάνιση νέων γυναικών. Οι δύο υποθέσεις δεν έχουν καμία σχέση μεταξύ τους, όμως είναι και οι δύο εξίσου περίπλοκες και συναγωνίζονται με επιτυχία και αδιάκοπο σασπένς για να κρατήσουν αμείωτη την προσοχή μας. Και το καταφέρνουν και οι δύο! Εκτός του ότι, όσο και να σπάσεις το κεφάλι σου, δεν θα καταφέρεις να βρεις τον ένοχο παρά μόνο όταν αποφασίσουν οι συγγραφείς να τον αποκαλύψουν, επιπλέον σοκάρεσαι έντονα από τις αποκαλύψεις αυτές, όταν έρχονται. Πραγματικά, το ανθρώπινο μυαλό δεν μπορεί πολλές φορές να διανοηθεί για το τι είναι ικανό ένα άτομο και μέχρι πού φτάνουν τα όριά του. Το μόνο σίγουρο είναι πως και τα δύο εγκλήματα θα κρατήσουν ενεργό το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη και οι δράστες τους θα είναι μια πραγματική έκπληξη/αποκάλυψη.
Και μέσα σε όλα αυτά, η ζωή συνεχίζει να κυλάει και να εξελίσσεται για τους ήρωές μας, που ειδικά αν διαβάζεις τα βιβλία σερί (όπως εγώ καλή ώρα) τους νιώθεις πλέον σαν μέλη της οικογένειάς σου! Η Φρίντα προσπαθεί να αναρρώσει από τα τραύματά της, δεν βλέπει επισήμως ασθενείς κι έχει ρίξει όλο της το βάρος στην αναζήτηση των χαμένων γυναικών. Βρίσκεται όμως ανακατεμένη, άθελά της ουσιαστικά, και με τα παιδιά της δολοφονημένης γυναίκας και, επομένως, η υπόθεση αυτή την τριβελίζει επίσης. Και οι υπόλοιποι ήρωες εξελίσσονται, μεγαλώνουν και ωριμάζουν, άλλοτε με τις καλές και άλλοτε με τις κακές στιγμές τους, συμπληρώνοντας τέλεια το παζλ με την εικόνα της ζωής και του περιβάλλοντος της Φρίντα Κλάιν.
Μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα αυτός ο συνδυασμός των δύο υποθέσεων, το λέω μια ακόμα φορά. Γιατί όταν διάβαζα τη μία, την έβρισκα τόσο ενδιαφέρουσα που δεν ανυπομονούσα να έρθει η άλλη. Άφηνα απλά την ιστορία να 'κυλάει' και να με παρασέρνει στο ρεύμα της. Κι όταν διαβάζεις ένα βιβλίο που όχι μόνο δεν κάνει καθόλου κοιλιά και εσένα να βαριέσαι, αλλά επιπλέον σε γεμίζει με ποικίλα συναισθήματα και δε σε αφήνει να το αφήσεις, πραγματικά δεν νομίζω πως χρειάζεσαι ο,τιδήποτε άλλο για να είσαι ένας απόλυτα ευχαριστημένος αναγνώστης!
March 24, 2014
For the longest I've been hoping to read a Nicci French crime, mystery thriller. When given the opportunity through Goodreads, I didn't hesitate to ask for an advanced copy. Once I was approved I did my usual happy jig. After reading Waiting for Wednesday I've come to the conclusion that I did myself a great disservice by not reading the previous Freida Klein novels.
This novel, Waiting for Wednesday begins with Ruth Lennox being discovered in her home by her daughter, dead from an apparent brutal attack. Initially no one can fathom how a mother of three teens could be randomly selected as the victim of some sadistic crazy until the truth of her life begins to surface for the world to scrutinize.
Detective Karlsson is interested in finding the killer as well as defending Freida Klein's honor. After Freida was embroiled with a previous case that almost cost her life, as well as has rendered her in a state of fear. The only times I found Klein to be human were during the moments when she was vulnerable to the fear she felt when dealing with the monster from the case from hell.
Essentially, I was completely drawn in by Nicci French's eloquence in her words choice, vivid descriptions, and believable conversations. What I couldn't ignore was how much of an outsider I felt after much of the novel. I wanted so much to be engorged in this novel, but I was constantly attempting to feel some sort of connection to the characters. I never once felt that way about any of these characters. Including Freida Klein. She seemed cold and distant. Sure she opened the doors of her world to her neice, who also befriends the victims only son, there was nothing else that suggested she had emotions.
My review is basically this: I should have read the previous Frieda Klein novels in order to truly appreciate the depth of Nicci French's writing. Don't get me wrong. She's an awesome writer and I'm more than grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to enjoy her writing. I think I'll become more familiar with her earlier Klein novels before I move forward in this series.
Copy provided by Penguin Group Viking via Netgalley
This novel, Waiting for Wednesday begins with Ruth Lennox being discovered in her home by her daughter, dead from an apparent brutal attack. Initially no one can fathom how a mother of three teens could be randomly selected as the victim of some sadistic crazy until the truth of her life begins to surface for the world to scrutinize.
Detective Karlsson is interested in finding the killer as well as defending Freida Klein's honor. After Freida was embroiled with a previous case that almost cost her life, as well as has rendered her in a state of fear. The only times I found Klein to be human were during the moments when she was vulnerable to the fear she felt when dealing with the monster from the case from hell.
Essentially, I was completely drawn in by Nicci French's eloquence in her words choice, vivid descriptions, and believable conversations. What I couldn't ignore was how much of an outsider I felt after much of the novel. I wanted so much to be engorged in this novel, but I was constantly attempting to feel some sort of connection to the characters. I never once felt that way about any of these characters. Including Freida Klein. She seemed cold and distant. Sure she opened the doors of her world to her neice, who also befriends the victims only son, there was nothing else that suggested she had emotions.
My review is basically this: I should have read the previous Frieda Klein novels in order to truly appreciate the depth of Nicci French's writing. Don't get me wrong. She's an awesome writer and I'm more than grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to enjoy her writing. I think I'll become more familiar with her earlier Klein novels before I move forward in this series.
Copy provided by Penguin Group Viking via Netgalley
January 30, 2016
Ακόμα ένα φανταστικ�� βιβλίο μυστηρίου με πρωταγωνίστρια την αγαπημένη μου Φρίντα Κλάιν. Το 3ο βιβλίο της σειράς μου άρεσε λίγο λιγότερο από τα δύο προηγούμενα, λόγω του ότι ήταν κάπως αργό στην αρχή… χμ… μέχρι τη μέση περίπου. Στις τελευταίες 200 περίπου σελίδες απέκτησε τρομερό ενδιαφέρον και απίστευτη αγωνία, ενώ στις προηγούμενες σελίδες παρακολουθείς απλά την εξέλιξη της υπόθεσης και την συλλογή των στοιχείων. Το πιο πετυχημένο σε αυτά τα βιβλία θεωρώ ότι είναι η πρωταγωνίστρια που σκαλίζει τα πάντα, κάτι που υπό φυσιολογικές συνθήκες δε θα γινόταν, τουλάχιστον όχι σε τέτοιο βαθμό. Εγώ τρελαίνομαι που είναι ψυχοθεραπεύτρια, ίσως αυτό με τραβάει περισσότερο σε αυτήν τη σειρά, γιατί προσπαθώ κι εγώ μαζί με εκείνη να καταλάβω τι τρέχει με κάποιον θεραπευόμενό της για παράδειγμα. Περισσότερο χαίρομαι όταν καταλαβαίνω τι συμβαίνει με κάποιον ασθενή της παρά αν λύσω την υπόθεση. Δεν θέλω να γράψω πολλά για να μη μου ξεφύγει κάτι που αφορά την υπόθεση, αλλά αν σου άρεσαν τα δύο προηγούμενα ή αν γενικά σου αρέσουν τα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα ΠΡΕΠΕΙ να το διαβάσεις!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2014
The story begins when a mother of three (Ruth Lennox) is found dead by her daughter inside their home. Ruth is a seemingly typical mother and housewife and the question is, who would want her dead and in such a brutal way? As the story unfolds, so do the layers of Ruth’s secret life as well as the rest of the family.
Although Psychotherapist Frieda Klein isn’t working with Karlsson on this particular case she is soon pulled in by a connection that she has with the case, through her niece and her relationship with Ruth’s son.
Recovering from a previous attack, she is somehow drawn back in and finds herself struggling to keep herself together although it seems that she is in the grips of a serial killer from her past.
I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I will say that I liked the book enough that I am going to go back and start this series from the beginning.
This book was written very well and the character development was spot on. I will also tweak my review when I finish the first two books of the series. I would definitely recommend this book for the psycothriller enthusiast in you!
On a side note...has anyone else noticed that, so far, all three books are also titles to songs? Waiting for Wednesday is a song by Lisa Loeb. So, I will leave you with the lyrics and let you decide if it is a coincidence or not...probably not, but still fun to think outside the box.
Although Psychotherapist Frieda Klein isn’t working with Karlsson on this particular case she is soon pulled in by a connection that she has with the case, through her niece and her relationship with Ruth’s son.
Recovering from a previous attack, she is somehow drawn back in and finds herself struggling to keep herself together although it seems that she is in the grips of a serial killer from her past.
I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I will say that I liked the book enough that I am going to go back and start this series from the beginning.
This book was written very well and the character development was spot on. I will also tweak my review when I finish the first two books of the series. I would definitely recommend this book for the psycothriller enthusiast in you!
On a side note...has anyone else noticed that, so far, all three books are also titles to songs? Waiting for Wednesday is a song by Lisa Loeb. So, I will leave you with the lyrics and let you decide if it is a coincidence or not...probably not, but still fun to think outside the box.
"Waiting For Wednesday" by Lisa Loeb
waiting for wednesday, my stomach doesn't hurt enough,
pain always is the sign.
waiting for wednesday, no proof of mine exists,
so l don't have to take it back.
don't want to show you good-bye.
show you good-bye.
show you good-bye.
show you good-bye.
but you're waiting for wednesday.
waiting for wednesday.
waiting for wednesday, i pray you'll put me on the spot.
i do believe you, that you'll love me that you'll leave me.
what will i do when you come near to me?
you'll put me on the spot.
you've been doing this a long, long time,
not that you're better than me,
but that you do it a lot.
Now i'm waiting for wednesday,
waiting for wednesday,
waiting for wednesday,
waiting for wednesday.
i'm gonna show you good-bye,
show you good-bye,
show you good-bye,
show you good-bye.
now I'm waiting for wednesday,
you're back from out of town,
the west is dry, your mind is clear,
and i don't want to be here,
i don't want to be here,
i don't want to be here,
to show you good-bye.
and i'm waiting for wednesday, to show you good-bye.
March 9, 2017
3,5 ster. Ik vond dit deel minder krachtig dan de vorige twee delen. Waar de andere delen mij steeds het gevoel gaven dat ik door moest lezen, deed dit deel dat niet. Het onderzoek dat in dit boek centraal staat bevat zoveel verschillende personages, dat ik soms moeite moest doen om te begrijpen over wie het ging. Daarnaast ontmoet Frieda ook heel wat nieuwe mensen, wat het nog verwarrende maakt. Ik vond het boek zeker niet slecht, maar ik hoop dat de andere delen mij meer pakken dan dit deel.
June 22, 2016
Yup this was it. This was the one that disappointed me. I knew it was coming. It's kind of inevitable, like the flu, you know it's going to get you but you don't know when or where.
There's always one book in every series that isn't the same. I suppose a series is lucky if it's only one book. At least it helps make the other books in the series seem even better than they actually were. See? Now my judgement is already beginning to get cloudy about this series. Maybe I was wrong, maybe they were all bad. However I'm pretty sure this might just be the bad egg. I hope so, I really do.
Freida is just in desperate form in this novel. I understand that she went through a really traumatic experience and is struggling with the repercussions and the various upheavals that are happening in her life but geez... I'm exhausted from reading about it. I want strong, fiercely independent, loyal, take-no-prisoners Frieda back. Like yesterday. She fritters from one location to another and from one disastrous situation to another. I could barely keep up.
The actual plotline is interesting enough but the subplot was too weird and the teeny tiny sentence that led Frieda to the discovery of not one but two serial killers was way too unrealistic.
There was still pluses, some of my favourite characters still had bit parts such as Josef and Reuben which was nice. I also do enjoy Karlsson more as the books continue and didn't mind him taking more of a leading role in this book since Frieda was a little derailed. Look it wasn't terrible but I'm hoping for the less is more approach in the next instalment, this was too long at 550 pages, so here's hoping!
There's always one book in every series that isn't the same. I suppose a series is lucky if it's only one book. At least it helps make the other books in the series seem even better than they actually were. See? Now my judgement is already beginning to get cloudy about this series. Maybe I was wrong, maybe they were all bad. However I'm pretty sure this might just be the bad egg. I hope so, I really do.
Freida is just in desperate form in this novel. I understand that she went through a really traumatic experience and is struggling with the repercussions and the various upheavals that are happening in her life but geez... I'm exhausted from reading about it. I want strong, fiercely independent, loyal, take-no-prisoners Frieda back. Like yesterday. She fritters from one location to another and from one disastrous situation to another. I could barely keep up.
The actual plotline is interesting enough but the subplot was too weird and the teeny tiny sentence that led Frieda to the discovery of not one but two serial killers was way too unrealistic.
There was still pluses, some of my favourite characters still had bit parts such as Josef and Reuben which was nice. I also do enjoy Karlsson more as the books continue and didn't mind him taking more of a leading role in this book since Frieda was a little derailed. Look it wasn't terrible but I'm hoping for the less is more approach in the next instalment, this was too long at 550 pages, so here's hoping!
February 17, 2014
I normally love Nicci French books, and was looking forward to Waiting for Wednesday.
Rather disappointed with it though. Frieda Klein has started to get on my nerves a bit!
The whole following up on a hunch part, from one random comment to finding a serial killer, no, too random, too unbelievable. Several story lines run into one book, but don't join up, or glue together.
If you hadn't read the previous Frieda Klein books, this one would be rather hard to understand, as it links into the previous ones quite a lot.
Not sure I'll bother with the next one, shame.
Rather disappointed with it though. Frieda Klein has started to get on my nerves a bit!
The whole following up on a hunch part, from one random comment to finding a serial killer, no, too random, too unbelievable. Several story lines run into one book, but don't join up, or glue together.
If you hadn't read the previous Frieda Klein books, this one would be rather hard to understand, as it links into the previous ones quite a lot.
Not sure I'll bother with the next one, shame.
June 21, 2020
Frieda Klein book No. 3: The best detective series out there, and it gets better each book! A perfect wife and mother is bludgeoned to death. As Frieda Karlson and co. investigate further, they find out a web of lies. Meanwhile the kids are connected to Frieda via her niece, Chloe! And to top it all off, there is not a single line of the story that hasn't got Frieda looking for someone, that no one's reported missing! It all comes together to make yet another amazing strongly London set story! 9 out of 12.
July 26, 2022
Als de dertienjarige Dora Lennox op een dag uit school komt, vindt ze haar moeder vermoord in huis.
Wat eerst lijkt op een uit de hand gelopen inbraak, blijkt bij nader inzien toch niet zo eenvoudig te zijn. Ruth Lennox had namelijk al jaren lang een minnaar.
Frieda Klein wordt bij de zaak betrokken omdat haar nichtje Chloe bevriend is met Ted, de zoon van Ruth en Russell Lennox.
Er spelen nog een paar andere dingen in Frieda's leven. Zo wordt ze belazerd door Hal Bradshaw, die zogezegde psychopatische patiënten op haar en enkele colloga's afstuurt en daarna een artikel hierover laat publiceren in de krant. Frieda laat het hier niet bij en gaat degenen die meewerkten aan deze farce opzoeken en met hen praten.
Dan is er ook nog Jim Fearby, een gepensioneerde journalist, die zich vastgebeten heeft in een zaak van vermiste meisjes. Toevallig loopt hij Frieda tegen het lijf en weet haar te overtuigen dat deze meisjes geen weglopers zijn, maar echt wel op onrustwekkende wijze verdwenen zijn.
Het verhaal was in het begin wat moeilijk te volgen, door de vele personages vooral, maar stilaan blijkt dat alles toch met elkaar te maken heeft. En uiteindelijk worden zowel de moord op Ruth Lennox als de verdwijning van de meisjes opgelost.
Goed verhaal, waar je echter wel je aandacht bij moet houden. Maar zo hoort het.
Wat eerst lijkt op een uit de hand gelopen inbraak, blijkt bij nader inzien toch niet zo eenvoudig te zijn. Ruth Lennox had namelijk al jaren lang een minnaar.
Frieda Klein wordt bij de zaak betrokken omdat haar nichtje Chloe bevriend is met Ted, de zoon van Ruth en Russell Lennox.
Er spelen nog een paar andere dingen in Frieda's leven. Zo wordt ze belazerd door Hal Bradshaw, die zogezegde psychopatische patiënten op haar en enkele colloga's afstuurt en daarna een artikel hierover laat publiceren in de krant. Frieda laat het hier niet bij en gaat degenen die meewerkten aan deze farce opzoeken en met hen praten.
Dan is er ook nog Jim Fearby, een gepensioneerde journalist, die zich vastgebeten heeft in een zaak van vermiste meisjes. Toevallig loopt hij Frieda tegen het lijf en weet haar te overtuigen dat deze meisjes geen weglopers zijn, maar echt wel op onrustwekkende wijze verdwenen zijn.
Het verhaal was in het begin wat moeilijk te volgen, door de vele personages vooral, maar stilaan blijkt dat alles toch met elkaar te maken heeft. En uiteindelijk worden zowel de moord op Ruth Lennox als de verdwijning van de meisjes opgelost.
Goed verhaal, waar je echter wel je aandacht bij moet houden. Maar zo hoort het.
December 14, 2018
3.5 Good addition. Looking forward to reading the next Freida Kline book, Thursday's Children.
This isn't exactly a high suspenseful series. More of a steady and constant paced mystery novel. However, the patient and even tone, is supplemented by quite an intriguing main character. You are drawn to her, just as the other characters are drawn to her as well.
I don't read these in one sitting. I generally have taken a few breaks and finish reading over 2-3 days. Which is not typical for me whatsoever! (I'm more of a same day, start & finish type reader:)) For some reason, the lack of urgency I felt while reading, was not a negative for me. I think taking a few reading breaks allowed me to digest the story more; and as a result, I was able to enjoy the stories more. Ultimately, I felt a better sense of fulfillment upon finishing each book.
This isn't exactly a high suspenseful series. More of a steady and constant paced mystery novel. However, the patient and even tone, is supplemented by quite an intriguing main character. You are drawn to her, just as the other characters are drawn to her as well.
I don't read these in one sitting. I generally have taken a few breaks and finish reading over 2-3 days. Which is not typical for me whatsoever! (I'm more of a same day, start & finish type reader:)) For some reason, the lack of urgency I felt while reading, was not a negative for me. I think taking a few reading breaks allowed me to digest the story more; and as a result, I was able to enjoy the stories more. Ultimately, I felt a better sense of fulfillment upon finishing each book.
June 26, 2013
Waiting For Wednesday is the third book in the series by husband and wife writing team Nicci French, featuring psychiatrist Dr Frieda Klein. Tuesday's Gone, the second book, was my introduction to this gritty, British crime fiction series and I was delighted to lay my hands on an ARC of this newest installment.
With her practice on hold while Frieda recovers from the near fatal injuries she sustained during the events of Tuesday's Gone and her official connection with the police department severed, Frieda should be taking it easy. But with Joseph renovating her bathroom, her sister drinking too much and Dean lurking unseen somewhere nearby, Frieda is on edge. Then her wayward niece demands her aunts help for a friend whose mother was brutally murdered in her own home, a case DCI Karlsson is investigating. Desperate to escape the turmoil and with her control slipping, Frieda allows herself to become distracted by a chance remark, obsessively tracing its origins which leads her to a broken down journalist and into the lair of a serial killer.
The investigation into the death of Ruth Lennox is full of surprising twists and turns. The veneer of the seemingly blameless wife and mother is peeled back to reveal not only her secrets and lies but also those of her husband and children. It's an emotional case that Frieda is reluctant to become involved in but her niece's relationship with the woman's teenage son makes avoiding the case awkward, especially when DCI Karlsson asks her for her help.
I felt I gained a better understanding of Frieda in this installment of the series. Though she remains an enigmatic protagonist, with her self control slipping, she acquires a fragility not really explored before. The taunting presence of Dean, the psychopath she encountered in Tuesday's Gone, leaves her feeling increasingly vulnerable and the harassment by Dr Hal Bradshaw, combined with her recent failings, causes Frieda to lose confidence in herself.
Frieda's obsession with a scripted story presented by an emergency patient becomes a way of distracting herself. She can't let go of the tale despite the convoluted and increasingly dangerous direction it leads her in and on little more than a hunch, she is in danger of destroying her friendship with DCI Karlsson and her professional reputation.
With it's carefully crafted, nuanced plot and intriguing characters, Waiting For Wednesday is a gripping psychological thriller. I'm already excitedly anticipating the next book in the series. Though it could be read as a stand alone, I wouldn't recommend it is the accumulation of story and character detail that contributes to its appeal. Do yourself a favour and start with Blue Monday.
July 28, 2013
There’s always something a little unsatisfactory about reviewing the third book in a series. If you’ve read and loved the first two – Blue Monday and Tuesday's Gone – as I have, I must report that I thought this was the best yet. If you haven’t, don’t start with this one – although there are a few attempts to summarise what’s gone before, there are aspects you really won’t understand and appreciate, like Frieda’s chaotic relationships, the significance of Dean, the back stories of all the characters and the significance of their actions. Nicci French – the husband and wife writing team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French – has (have?) written some wonderful earlier psychological thrillers, so if you haven’t read any of their work before I’d recommend starting with one of them. It’s difficult to recommend to others, but I think my personal favourites were Killing Me Softly, Beneath The Skin and Secret Smile. I wouldn’t recommend some of their later books – some of them just didn’t quite hit the mark for me, and perhaps signalled to the authors too that a new direction was needed. And this series, featuring psychotherapist Frieda Klein, is something of a departure from their previous books, but has the same engrossing story lines, well drawn characters (particularly, but not exclusively, the women), and palpable sense of tension.
The story opens when the body of Ruth Lennox – apparently the perfect wife and mother - is found by her daughter. As the investigation gets underway, it transpires that there was a lot more to Ruth’s life than met the eye. Frieda – still recovering from her experience in Tuesday’s Gone – connects with the family through her niece Chloe (as infuriating as ever) who is friendly with the eldest son Tom. While the police’s efforts to solve the case continue, with a more in-depth look at the characters of DCI Karlsson and DC Yvette Long, Frieda (who is no longer working with the police) is side-tracked into another investigation by a chance comment made by a patient. She pairs up with Jim Fearby, an elderly journalist with an obsession for the truth, and the whole story is played out with Frieda’s own fragile mental state becoming increasingly evident. All the same characters are here – Sandy, her sister-in-law Olivia, the wonderful Josef who originally met Frieda by falling through her roof and in this book is “helping” by refurbishing her bathroom. And in the shadows – always – is that sinister character.
The writing is as excellent as ever, and I really can’t agree with some of the criticisms I’ve read of it as repetitive or as police procedural – there are some very short and essential diversions to pursue the narrative, but the heart and focus of this book is Frieda who becomes more and more fascinating as the series develops. I didn’t guess the ending - but I really didn’t want to, I just wanted to be swept along and discover it with Frieda. This is a wonderful addition to the series – please just don’t start here. I can’t wait for Thursday...
The story opens when the body of Ruth Lennox – apparently the perfect wife and mother - is found by her daughter. As the investigation gets underway, it transpires that there was a lot more to Ruth’s life than met the eye. Frieda – still recovering from her experience in Tuesday’s Gone – connects with the family through her niece Chloe (as infuriating as ever) who is friendly with the eldest son Tom. While the police’s efforts to solve the case continue, with a more in-depth look at the characters of DCI Karlsson and DC Yvette Long, Frieda (who is no longer working with the police) is side-tracked into another investigation by a chance comment made by a patient. She pairs up with Jim Fearby, an elderly journalist with an obsession for the truth, and the whole story is played out with Frieda’s own fragile mental state becoming increasingly evident. All the same characters are here – Sandy, her sister-in-law Olivia, the wonderful Josef who originally met Frieda by falling through her roof and in this book is “helping” by refurbishing her bathroom. And in the shadows – always – is that sinister character.
The writing is as excellent as ever, and I really can’t agree with some of the criticisms I’ve read of it as repetitive or as police procedural – there are some very short and essential diversions to pursue the narrative, but the heart and focus of this book is Frieda who becomes more and more fascinating as the series develops. I didn’t guess the ending - but I really didn’t want to, I just wanted to be swept along and discover it with Frieda. This is a wonderful addition to the series – please just don’t start here. I can’t wait for Thursday...
October 21, 2019
Mijn review van dit jaar:
Ik heb het boek herlezen. Ik geef het boek nu een ster minder dan de vorige keer dat ik het las. Vergeleken met deel 1 en 2 vind ik dit deel minder spannend. Al boeide het mij wel voldoende om te blijven lezen. Toch miste ik wat. Er lopen veel verhaallijnen door elkaar en ze hebben ook niet allemaal wat met elkaar te maken. Al komen een aantal dingen wel samen op het eind. Doordat ik de delen nu vrij kort achter elkaar heb gelezen, kon ik me daar meer van herinneren dan de vorige keer. Toen zat er zeker een jaar tussen.
Mijn review van 2013:
Wederom een leuk boek van Nicci French met Frieda Klein in de hoofdrol. Het boek leest vlot en ondanks de dikte had ik het toch snel uit. Toen ik op de helft was, heb ik de rest in een avond uitgelezen. Ik zat zo in het verhaal dat ik het niet meer weg kon leggen. Gelukkig kon ik de dag erna uitslapen. :-) In het begin lopen er allemaal verhaallijnen door elkaar, maar steeds verder in het verhaal komen die meer bij elkaar. In dit boek is de rol van Frieda Klein bij het oplossen van de moord waar het boek mee begint anders dan in de eerste twee delen. Toch blijft er nog genoeg te speuren voor haar over. Ook oude bekenden uit de eerdere twee delen komen weer terug in het verhaal. Wat ik ook sterk vind aan het verhaal, is dat mensen waarvan jij wilt dat ze blijven leven toch sterven. Dat maakt het verhaal geloofwaardig. In het echte leven blijven ook niet alle goede mensen leven. Ik ben benieuwd naar deel vier, mocht dat er komen.
Ik heb het boek herlezen. Ik geef het boek nu een ster minder dan de vorige keer dat ik het las. Vergeleken met deel 1 en 2 vind ik dit deel minder spannend. Al boeide het mij wel voldoende om te blijven lezen. Toch miste ik wat. Er lopen veel verhaallijnen door elkaar en ze hebben ook niet allemaal wat met elkaar te maken. Al komen een aantal dingen wel samen op het eind. Doordat ik de delen nu vrij kort achter elkaar heb gelezen, kon ik me daar meer van herinneren dan de vorige keer. Toen zat er zeker een jaar tussen.
Mijn review van 2013:
Wederom een leuk boek van Nicci French met Frieda Klein in de hoofdrol. Het boek leest vlot en ondanks de dikte had ik het toch snel uit. Toen ik op de helft was, heb ik de rest in een avond uitgelezen. Ik zat zo in het verhaal dat ik het niet meer weg kon leggen. Gelukkig kon ik de dag erna uitslapen. :-) In het begin lopen er allemaal verhaallijnen door elkaar, maar steeds verder in het verhaal komen die meer bij elkaar. In dit boek is de rol van Frieda Klein bij het oplossen van de moord waar het boek mee begint anders dan in de eerste twee delen. Toch blijft er nog genoeg te speuren voor haar over. Ook oude bekenden uit de eerdere twee delen komen weer terug in het verhaal. Wat ik ook sterk vind aan het verhaal, is dat mensen waarvan jij wilt dat ze blijven leven toch sterven. Dat maakt het verhaal geloofwaardig. In het echte leven blijven ook niet alle goede mensen leven. Ik ben benieuwd naar deel vier, mocht dat er komen.
June 7, 2016
Picking up where the second book left off, and Klein is suffering. There's physical and emotional trauma from her last case, as well as holdovers from her first case. Scotland Yard's got cost-cutting measures that exclude her, her sister-in-law and niece aren't dealing well with one another, she's still having trouble asking for help, and to take her away from all that, she's become fascinated by the story of a missing young woman.
Meanwhile we're learning more about her backstory, and the lives of all her friends and relations.
And even as, once again, there are horrors, there are also people trying to look after one another and offer meaningful help and support. And although Klein is not an official detective, she isn't foolish, either. Where she has reasonable suspicions she passes them along to authorities, she enlists help from others, even against her strong inclinations. I dearly love reading a mystery where people aren't being stupid, or going off half-cocked. And one thing I really like is that "guns blazing" isn't ever a possibility. That's refreshing.
Library copy.
Meanwhile we're learning more about her backstory, and the lives of all her friends and relations.
And even as, once again, there are horrors, there are also people trying to look after one another and offer meaningful help and support. And although Klein is not an official detective, she isn't foolish, either. Where she has reasonable suspicions she passes them along to authorities, she enlists help from others, even against her strong inclinations. I dearly love reading a mystery where people aren't being stupid, or going off half-cocked. And one thing I really like is that "guns blazing" isn't ever a possibility. That's refreshing.
Library copy.
April 30, 2018
3/5
This is my least favorite Frieda Klein mystery so far. (Even a least favorite Frieda Klein is still a good read and better than many other mysteries.) There are way too many twists for me in this super-complicated plot. And at the same time, I enjoyed reading the book, even as I felt that not one more twist could be tolerated. This novel also keeps us up with all the various ins and outs of Frieda’s own life and that of her family and friends. As much as I enjoy reading about Frieda, not all of that is always reassuring—sometimes I am left quite worried. As I’ve said in earlier reviews, the Frieda Klein books really ought to be read in order as there are several threads that pick up from earlier novels.
This is my least favorite Frieda Klein mystery so far. (Even a least favorite Frieda Klein is still a good read and better than many other mysteries.) There are way too many twists for me in this super-complicated plot. And at the same time, I enjoyed reading the book, even as I felt that not one more twist could be tolerated. This novel also keeps us up with all the various ins and outs of Frieda’s own life and that of her family and friends. As much as I enjoy reading about Frieda, not all of that is always reassuring—sometimes I am left quite worried. As I’ve said in earlier reviews, the Frieda Klein books really ought to be read in order as there are several threads that pick up from earlier novels.
June 30, 2020
At some point of time I thought of stopping reading this book. Too many characters, too many side plots. At the end all the plots ended lamely. It would have been much better if they had concentrated on the main plot. I'm still puzzled how they managed to get a very good Saturday after all these ordinary books in this series.
October 31, 2014
Not as good as Monday and Tuesday, too many characters and unnecessary cold leads; on the whole a shambolic episode in the series...but hang in there, because Thursdays Child is less self indulgent, and will leave you waiting for Friday.
September 27, 2015
Πολύ ενδιαφέρον, πολυδιάστατη υπόθεση, διαβάζεται εύκολα ειδικά οι 150 τελευταίες σελίδες. Οι χαρακτήρες γνώριμοι, ακόμα δεν έχουν αποκαλύψει όλο το μεγαλείο τους. Στην αρχή με κούρασε, αλλά μόλις το τέλειωσα ήθελα να διαβάσω τη συνέχεια.
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