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Детективи

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Минути преди да седне на електрическия стол, серийният убиец Е.Д. - Звяра иска да се изповяда пред сержант Малкълм Ейнсли от полицейското управление в Маями. Една мистериозна тайна може да донесе нови и неочаквани разкрития.

411 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 1997

1221 people are currently reading
2655 people want to read

About the author

Arthur Hailey

94 books760 followers
Arthur Hailey was a British/Canadian novelist. After working at a number of jobs and writing part-time, he became a writer full-time during 1956, encouraged by the success of the CBC television drama, Flight into Danger (in print as Runway Zero Eight ). Following the success of Hotel in 1965, he moved to California; followed by a permanent move to the Bahamas in 1969.

Each of his novels has a different industrial or commercial setting and includes, in addition to dramatic human conflict, carefully researched information about the way that particular environment and system functions and how these affect society and its inhabitants.

Critics often dismissed Hailey's success as the result of a formulaic "potboiler" style, in which he caused an ordinary character to become involved in a crisis, then increased the suspense by switching among multiple related plot lines.

Hailey would spend approximately one year researching a subject, followed by six months reviewing his notes and, finally, about 18 months writing the book.

Many of his books reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and more than 170 million copies have been sold worldwide in 40 languages. Many have been made into movies and Hotel was made into a long-running television series. Airport became a successful film with dramatic visual effects.

A Canadian citizen whose children live in Canada and California, Hailey made his home in Lyford Cay, an exclusive residential resort on New Providence Island in the Bahamas with his second wife Sheila.

In 2002, Hailey told John Marquis, editor of the Bahamas' principal daily newspaper The Tribune, that he was lucky in having supportive parents who encouraged him to believe in himself. Brought up in a working-class home, Hailey never lost the common touch following his phenomenal success. 'I have worked hard, but I have also been very lucky,' he said.

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5 stars
2,003 (36%)
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2,142 (38%)
3 stars
1,101 (19%)
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77 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
Profile Image for W.
1,185 reviews4 followers
November 26, 2020
This was Hailey's last book and he signed off with a flourish.

It is a compelling,raw thriller with lots of blood and gore.Multiple murders are described in chilling detail alongwith the work of homicide detectives.Hailey always researched his books meticulously and has clearly done so this time as well.

As a serial killer is about to be executed,he calls the detective who arrested him to confess to the crimes he committed and the one he didn't.

Hailey graphically describes execution by electric chair.The plot then moves in a different direction but everything ties together neatly in the end.

The themes explored are pretty dark,religiously inspired violence,serial killings,pre meditated murder and even incest.

A homicide detective can expect just about anything during the course of his work and the stress takes its toll.

Hailey was an agnostic and his views on the subject get plenty of space.Likewise,a married man having affairs is something that has happened in his earlier books.It mirrors his own life and is something which some readers may feel uncomfortable about.

By the time this book was written,Hailey was almost a forgotten author.I wonder how successful it was commercially.But it's a cracking good read.

Ironically,the book has a character who once made millions by writing bestsellers.But those days are behind him as his books flop with newer authors taking his place.

Despite its sheer length,the pace is unrelenting.I was engrossed all the way through.He could still tell a very good story in his old age.
Profile Image for Literally Lesia.
307 reviews996 followers
May 23, 2024
Знаєте, от є книжки, які, як вино, з роками стають тільки кращими. «Детектив» Артура Гейлі, на жаль, такою НЕ є. Хто читав багато сучасних детективів і трилерів побачить в цій книжці нецікаве розслідування, багато непотрібних деталей і просто вже неактуальні речі. Я думаю, що на момент написання (1997) «Детектив» легко міг сподобатися читачам, однак зараз… не думаю. Тобто 100% знайдуться ті, кому історія буде довподоби, я не серед таких людей. А ще мені не подобалося, що на середині книжки ми знали, хто скоїв певні злочини, але далі просто дізнавалися мотив цієї людини. Такий підхід точно не для мене.

Profile Image for Paul Weiss.
1,465 reviews542 followers
January 23, 2025
“Nowadays he simply believed that judicial death morally demeaned those who administered it, …”

“… including the public in whose name executions were carried out. Also, whatever the method, death was a release; a lifetime in prison without parole was a greater punishment by far.”


Aside from a positively first-rate and absolutely pure police procedural on the nature of a police department’s investigation of a knotty murder case, Arthur Hailey’s DETECTIVE clearly offers up the author’s crystal-clear opinions on capital punishment and its place in a rational, modern society.

Long-standing fans who, in years past, enjoyed Hailey’s exciting, informative, and thriller insider trips through an airport, a hospital, and a newspaper publisher (to name only a few of Hailey’s gripping “venues”) will once again solidly ensconce themselves in their favourite reading chairs to be treated to the subtleties, details, and nuances of a major police investigation of a serial murder case– corruption, lawyers, grand juries, interrogations, Miranda warnings, confessions, forensics, clues, the influence of religion, suicide, and more.

Sensitive readers might be cautioned that Hailey’s portrayal of the details and minutiae of an execution by electrocution is gritty and graphic and potentially disturbing.

Don’t look for anything in the way of suspense, thrills and chills, or red herrings. They just aren’t there and the bad guys are pretty easily determined by even the most uninvolved reader at every stage of the novel. As you might expect from Hailey’s approach to his past novels, the police department and the personalities of the personnel are his story. And it’s a gripping story indeed from first page to last.

Paul Weiss
Profile Image for Metodi Markov.
1,726 reviews437 followers
December 21, 2024
Тези дни, всеки един автор на бестселъри би написал минимум трилогия по този сюжет!

"Детективи" е много добър криминален роман на Артър Хейли, който аз с голямо удоволствие препрочетох. Макар и да е поовехтял доволно за тези трийсетина години, историите в него все още са доволно интересни и са преставени прецизно и достоверно, в характерния за този писател стил.

Струва си да му отделите от времето си!

Цитат:

"- Светът винаги си е бил жесток, Хулио — замислено отвърна Ейнсли. — Разликата сега е, че има много повече хора за убиване и много повече убийци."
Profile Image for Велислав Върбанов.
924 reviews161 followers
December 6, 2024
„Детективи“ е много добър и интересен роман! Хейли е разказал силна психологическа криминална история и изградил сложни персонажи...


„Мълчанието, с което смяташе, че ще се справи трудно, не се оказа проблем и по-късно, когато се върна във външния свят, откри, че е пълен с безсмислен брътвеж. Хората, разбра Малкълм, просто не можеха да не запълват тишината с гласовете си.“
Profile Image for Ahtims.
1,673 reviews124 followers
August 30, 2023
Was a fast paced read , but quite predictable when it came to the crime(s) and perps.
Wouldn't do for a second read.
I bought this in a used book sales thinking that I have read it long ago and found it impressive ( Subject matter dealing with a grumpy old Forensic pathologist- by the same author) , but I was mistaken.
Profile Image for Anna Kushnir.
222 reviews7 followers
May 30, 2024
Насправді історія мені сподобалось. Такий хороший детектив з декількома розслідуваннями, що зрештою переплітаються через нашого головного героя. До героя в мене були питаннячка. Крім декількох сексистських і расистських зауважень, він дуже високомаральний коп з принципами. АЛЕ. Він систематично зраджує дружині і практично це нормалізує🤯 Оцей колишній священник, який не приймає жодних нечесних способів розслідування, бо ви що, він же за мораль. Можу це списати тільки на те, що без цього герой був би зовсім ідеальним і Гейлі вирішив додати йому негативу. Тож все ще хороша книжка і буду й далі читати Гейлі.

⛔️А от виданню цьому від КСД я б поставила 1, бо це просто хамство видавати книгу такої якості. Редактури 0!! І якщо першу половину книги я зустрічала поодинокі ляпи, то останні 100 сторінок просто нечитабельні. Постійно переплутані роди, одруківки, репліки розділені неправильно, переклад настільки кострубатий, що тобі потрібно в голові спробувати все перекласти англійською щоб зрозуміти що малось на увазі і зібрати до купи речення, що українською просто не мають сенсу. Хотілося б щоб видавництво несло якусь відповідальність за такий продукт і чи повертало гроші, чи якимось іншим способом компенсувало витрати на "оце".
Profile Image for Mansi.
13 reviews4 followers
June 19, 2024
My favourite novel.so binding
Profile Image for Matt.
4,814 reviews13.1k followers
November 27, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Arthur Hailey, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Arthur Hailey brings a great story to readers with this well-crafted novel. As he prepares to take his wife and son on a long-delayed vacation, the phone rings with news that Detective Sergeant Malcolm Ainsley wishes he could ignore. A former priest, Ainslie has made a name for himself with the Miami PD and hopes to keep climbing. Within the confines of a prison in another part of the state, the chaplain has a message from death row. Elroy Doil has been awaiting his execution and the date is set for the following day. Doil wishes to make a confession and only Det. Sgt. Ainslie will do. While this could be a scam, Doil was convicted of two murders, but suspected of up to ten more. Det. Sgt. Ainslie makes the trek, in hopes of closing out more cases. Doil has much to say an tap into the religious background that Ainslie used to pull upon daily. It appears others within Miami’s political and police hierarchy could be involved with the killings, something that no one can ignore. Now, with his family angered by his delays, Malcolm Ainslie must challenge authority and press to ensure he ignores no potential lead to solve these ten cases. A brilliant novel that explores the world of police work in ways only an author of Arthur Hailey’s calibre could accomplish.

I am still fairly new to the work of Arthur Hailey, but have enjoyed the experience from the outset. While past books have explored airports, hotels and even an aerial disaster, this book seeks to delve into the world of murder investigations and police work on the whole. It builds with a variety of narrative approaches, each of which enriches the larger story. Momentum gains traction with each part, exploring many of the issues at hand, with chapters keeping things edgy while leaving the reader completely committed. Hailey uses some dramatic spins and great storytelling that culminates in a stellar ending as things come together nicely.

Characters are impactful as their backstories connect well with ongoing development. Readers are subjected to varied personalities and sentiments throughout the story, allowing them to see all moving parts or focus on a single one of their own interest. Many characters are able to push the plot along while flavouring the piece with their respective layers. Hailey knows how to connect his cast with the attentive reader without sharing too much at any one time, important when a mystery is afoot!

Surprises are core in a police procedural, as it creates an entertaining foundation. While the reader can see certain things beforehand, twists add something more to the reading experience. Providing unpredictable aspects for the reader to ponder, the reading experience becomes all the more focused. Hailey keeps the story moving and the tension grows until things are revealed and a killer emerges from the shadows. The reader waits to see what’s coming, only to be offered a brilliant thriller that has wonderfully unexpected portions. Arthur Hailey fans, new and old alike will be kept flipping pages well into the night.

Kudos, Mr. Hailey, for a great addition to your collection.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for Tucinkata.
296 reviews
July 30, 2019
4.5

"— А църквата се противопоставя на смъртното наказание.
— Не бъди толкова сигурен, Хорхе. Под повърхността много религии изобилстват от лицемерие, защото приемат убийството, когато им изнася. О, известна ми е прекрасната теория. Преподавали са ми я. „Животът е Божи дар и никое човешко същество няма право да отнема живот.“ Но това е така само когато им е изгодно.
— И кога не им е изгодно?
— По време на война, когато хора, а не Господ, отнемат живот. И всички държави, които тръгват на война, още от старозаветните израилтяни, та чак до съвременна Америка — всички те приемат, че Бог е на тяхна страна."

"Ейнсли си спомняше как един стар патоанатом бе заявил: „Боклук! Точно това е човешкото тяло и щом научим каквото ни трябва, колкото по-скоро се избавим от него, толкова по-добре. Най-добрият начин е труповете да се изгарят. Ако после някой иска да разпръсне праха над някое езеро, добре, това няма да навреди никому. Но гробища, ковчези… всичко това е варварство, загуба на плодородна земя“."

"„Човек никога не се избавя напълно от миналото си“ — помисли си Ейнсли."

"Мълчанието, с което смяташе, че ще се справи трудно, не се оказа проблем и по-късно, когато се върна във външния свят, откри, че е пълен с безсмислен брътвеж."

"Хората, разбра Малкълм, просто не можеха да не запълват тишината с гласовете си. Но в Поконо той откри, че придружено от лесно усвоимите знаци с ръце, мълчанието в много случаи е за предпочитане."

"Образованите хора си мислят, че са изключително умни, но понякога прекалената образованост ги кара да надхитряват сами себе си, заради което ги залавят."

"Различните религии казват толкова много неща — далеч повече от обикновената история — за времето, през което са живели хората, за мисловната им нагласа във всяка епоха и общество, за техните страхове, надежди и удоволствия, за онова, от което са се плашели, със или без да го съзнават, при което смъртта винаги е заемала водещо място, за това дали съществува след нея или просто настъпва забрава."

"— А в цялостен образователен план — принципната цел на университета — къде виждате мястото на сравнителните религии?
— О, несъмнено като важна история — човешката история в продължение на, грубо казано, пет хиляди години. През това време религиите са предизвикали безброй промени: нововъведения и разрушения, войни и мир, справедливост и тирания. Повечето религии имат своите светци и измамници. Хората по върховете — императори, политици, военни, користолюбци — са използвали религиите най-вече за да се докопат до властта... Но съм сигурен, че независимо как разглеждаме мястото на религиите в историята, никой друг аспект от човешкото битие през вековете не е бил толкова всепроникващ или дълготраен.
Profile Image for Илия Михайлов.
Author 8 books24 followers
January 31, 2019
Обичам Хейли. Той ми е сред любимите разказвачи. Книгите му, които отдавна съм поставил на почетно място в моята Зала на литературната слава, винаги са ме облагородявали и докосвали. Мисля, че този човек е благословен с таланта да кара читателите си да се вглеждат в себе си и да откриват онези уж „малки неща“, които ги правят човеци.
Някакъв странен и нахален предразсъдък ме държеше далече от „Детективи“ години наред. Мислех си глупаво, че това ще е някакъв евтин криминален роман с привкус на нискобюджетен американски филм от онези, които въртяха навремето по „Евроком“ София.
Книгата обаче се оказа невероятно дълбока и пълна с послания за любовта и омразата между хората. За ранената вяра и загубената й способност да лекува човешката душа. За отчуждението и грешките, които допускаме, понякога умишлено. За провалените шансове в живота и за онова, което се случва, когато се опитваме да останем себе си.
Profile Image for Olya Zahvoyska.
334 reviews18 followers
May 7, 2024
Можливо через те, що я чекала трохи більшого від Гейлі (бо мені дуже сподобався Готель), можливо через надзвичайно велику кількість вбивств, людей, міні-історій… але це не 5.

Так, було цікаво до останньої сторінки, інтрига трималась, дещо вгадувалось, пристрасті вирували, а закінчення - на найцікавішому))) і я думаю, що він скаже «так», бо таке вже було, і тому що люди такі люди)) емоції часто виграють у розуму
Profile Image for Nonny.
81 reviews5 followers
February 17, 2012
What a disappointment. I had read all his other books in years past and thought all were great.... Saw this one on the library shelf and brought it home to read. Hailey seems to wonder around in this book telling multiple stories that don't hold together well. He rants at the Catholic church unconvincingly, in the middle of this book --- breaking the story up badly. One day I should read one of his others-again----Moneychangers or The Evening News so I don't finish his novels on this bad note.
Profile Image for Aisha.
306 reviews54 followers
November 4, 2022
Arthur Hailey delivers as usual!

A complete page turner, well researched and provides a nice peek into the world of Miami PD. Highly recommend this to fans of crime thrillers.

Also as a side note, Arthur Hailey is a wonderful author. If you haven't read his books The Evening News and Detective would be good starters.
Profile Image for PostMortem.
305 reviews32 followers
October 4, 2024
Прочитам втора книга на Хейли и затвърждавам мнението си, че е много добър разказвач. "Детективи" е многопластов роман, разглеждащ сериозни теми - вярата и религията, детските травми, човешките отношения и т.н.

Ако трябва да съм честен, то "Летище" ми хареса повече, но и тук има повече от достатъчно причини да се прочете докрай и осмисли.
Profile Image for Foxy Vixen.
316 reviews11 followers
January 17, 2021
If you enjoy long books, than this certainly is one for you. I enjoyed this book very much, there weren’t too many characters, so I wasn’t confused about who I was reading about.
This is a very SAD story in many places.. the character Cynthia was revealed in all of her glory, but with much explaination of why she did what she did.

It gave a true meaning of what the dedicated men and women go thru each day to catch the bad guys and how it affects their personal lives and the tolls it takes on them and their families.

If you are Catholic and enjoy reading about priests who have left the priesthood, than this book is certainly for you. How does one loose their faith and how others look upon you once you have left the priesthood.

A great book that looks at the many evils that there are in the world and how it affects many generations of evil that follows.

This book is a BOTM at Snag A Read For Free. Come check us out and see how you can read this book for FREE from our library.
Profile Image for Aravind.
546 reviews13 followers
May 25, 2018
Detective has all the elements one would expect from a novel by Arthur Hailey - a close-up view of the workings of an industry, this time the Homicide division of the Miami Police Department, some memorable characters, and a compelling story that binds everything together and keeps the reader engrossed. Though there was a bit too much detailing and some predictable turns of events, I could not put this novel down, sleeping late in the nights and getting late for the office in the mornings for the past few days... This one is another satisfying read from one of my favourite authors!
Profile Image for Corey.
525 reviews124 followers
June 6, 2016
This was an excellent novel, Arthur Hailey is a brilliant author, this is the only book of his that I read, but I intend to read more of his books if I see any that hold my interest, I thought this was a great cop story with great mystery and suspense. I picked this book up at a store that sells used books and I bought it and read in the summer of 2011, and it was probably the best book I read that Summer.
Profile Image for Jayesh Bheda.
18 reviews6 followers
April 9, 2020
Probably written for a TV series

It has so many characters, sub plots, crimes, flashbacks that sometimes it's hard to follow the story.

The reason I was able to complete because of the lockdown.
Profile Image for Oksana Karpevych.
10 reviews
September 8, 2025
Серійний убивця очікує смертної кари на електричному стільці за низку жорстоких злочинів. Та напередодні страти він несподівано вирішує висповідатися й наполягає, щоб його сповідь вислухав детектив відділу вбивств Малкольм Ейнслі — колишній священник. Малкольм — дуже нетиповий детектив, і його минуле допомагає краще розуміти людей. Особливо цікаві його роздуми про віру, яку він втратив. Водночас постать суперечлива: він принципово відкидає будь-які нечесні методи у розслідуваннях, але разом із тим абсолютно нормально ставиться до подружніх зрад.

Мені ця книга, як і всі інші прочитані мною твори Гейлі, сподобалася. Здається, що все дуже лінійно, передбачувано, без інтриг і гучних «вау»-сюрпризів. Але попри це, автор вміє писати так, що історія тримає увагу від першої й до останньої сторінки. Сподобалося, як він детально вибудовує характери та відтворює професійне середовище детективів — настільки, що відчуваєш себе частиною розслідування. Це саме той випадок, коли читаєш не заради неочікуваного фіналу, а заради процесу й особливої атмосфери, яка не відпускає.
Profile Image for Volpe Nera.
179 reviews8 followers
January 20, 2025
Дуже файно. Сюжет сподобався, не зважаючи на довгі екскурси у флешбеки (я люблю таке). Але оця шлюханістисть гг якось підкумарювала.
Profile Image for Jen.
232 reviews32 followers
February 27, 2013
Once upon a time, I bought a bunch of books on eBay. They promised to send me a box filled with many different titles, and so they did. One of those titles was Detective by Arthur Hailey.

This is the story of a police detective named Malcolm Ainslie who lives and works in Florida. It follows - roughly - the investigation that is launched when a death row inmate confesses to actually having committed a lot more murders. The police had long suspected this, but they hadn't actually been able to hang the murders on Doil (that's the inmate).

Oh, and did I mention that Ainslie is a former priest-turned-detective?

This book takes you inside the heart and mind of a Florida detective. You encounter a lot of driving and/or sitting in the car, computers, triplicate forms, sexual advances, sexual retreats, sexual reminiscences, spouses being upset that work is a top priority, obnoxious rich people, bureaucracy, politics, and real life forensics that is less than conclusive, tape recorders (remember those?), double crossing, and flashbacks.

Between this book and Line of Duty, I feel that I have been given a real look inside the true world of police-work.

{Three star alt-text is, "I liked it." And I did.}
Profile Image for Samyuktha jayaprakash.
233 reviews9 followers
June 27, 2016
starts very promisingly. the in depth analysis characteristic of a Hailey book , makes you feel like you're reading a non fiction. but the book is too predictable . initially it offers joy as a procedural. But when you have a pretty straightforward story to tell you run with it and finish on a high . but Hailey decides thrown in another mini case and give us so much time to think that the book is not fun any more. Jensen's character was very annoying . pj murdering his ex and her bf I see what you did there xD (oj) toward the end the book really tested my patience . Detective novels do NOT work if you try to explain the history of everything in the 3 mile radius around your plot.
Profile Image for Rahul Pinnamaneni.
2 reviews49 followers
May 4, 2019
This is the kind of book you'd call "unputdownable". Fast-paced, wasting the least of tree pulp in describing a dog's ponytail or the sullen expression on the Gibbon's face in a zoo, the author takes you on a ride, letting you know more about Crime Scene Investigation(CSI) than most authors before. The author takes you high as the story unfurls, never letting you down or consider your time a waste. Crime, Duty, Law, Lust and Loneliness intertwine at various degrees in various stages of the plot, bringing another Best-Seller from one of the finest authors of our time.
Profile Image for Sam.
24 reviews
March 18, 2015
Despite the name of the book, the character does no real detective work. A lead is dropped into his lap, and all he does is pawn all the detective work onto someone else while taking all the credit for her work. This all takes place while the author tries to convince the reader that as long as you don't murder or molest little children, anything you do is considered moral; not even having multiple affairs(while your wife is pregnant). This was trash.
Profile Image for Jolanta.
423 reviews31 followers
April 25, 2020

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“Mes sugaunam nusikaltėlius todėl, kad niekas niekad nebūna toks gudrus, kaip jam ar jai atrodo.”

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“Patys sumaniausi melagiai kartais per daug išplepa.”

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“Nusikaltėliai retai prisimena Merfio dėsnį: jei kas nors gali nenusisekti- būtinai taip ir bus. Detektyvams tai labai padeda.”
Profile Image for Bridget Mackie xxx.
128 reviews5 followers
May 7, 2020
Predictable and he writes like a sexist pig. Couldn’t finish
328 reviews
December 11, 2023
4.5/5 stars. Excellent murder mystery that defies the usual formulaic approach. Interesting characters with depth and a surprise twist in the story.
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