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The Perfect Corpse
'This is a book with everything – a great hero, gory murders and Nazis. It kept me guessing to the very end . The Perfect Thriller. ' Andrew Roberts.
When the frozen corpse of an American serviceman named Ferris Clark is found in the Greenland icecap, forensic archaeologist Jack Raven is hired to investigate.
Raven is the world’s leading expert in forensics and he is suspicious from the outset. Not only is the World War Two corpse naked, but it is perfectly preserved. And that’s not possible.
As Raven investigates the mystery of Clark’s final hours, he stumbles across the sinister and intertwined story of a senior Nazi officer. He also discovers that those around him know more than they are admitting. And they are trying to conceal the truth.
Raven soon finds himself caught in a race against there is a murderer on the loose and Raven alone can prevent further killings.
But he can only do this by solving the greatest riddle of all. How did Ferris Clark die? And why?
The answer those questions may cost him his life.
Giles Milton is the internationally bestselling author of eleven works of narrative history. His books have been translated into 25 languages. His most recent publication is Checkmate in The Cold War Showdown that Shaped the Modern World, the tale of Berlin in the immediate aftermath of the World War Two, the sectors of the city and the Berlin Airlift.
Praise for Giles
‘A wonderfully clear and digestible account. . . The devastation wrought on Berlin by the Russians is vividly described by the British historian Giles Milton in a series of sharp vignettes. . . as gripping as any thriller.’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday ( Checkmate in Berlin ) .
'A magnificent story, brilliantly told.' Anthony Horowitz ( Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare ) .
‘To write a book which makes the reader, after finishing it, sit in a trance, lost in his passionate desire to pack a suitcase and go, somehow, to the fabulous place – that, in the end, is something one would give a sack of nutmegs for.’ Philip Hensher, The Spectator ( Nathaniel’s Nutmeg ).
‘A sheer pleasure to read.’ Susan Chira, The New York Times ( Samurai William ).
'A romping tale of 18th-century sailors enslaved by Barbary seafarers and sold to a Moroccan tyrant. It has all the usual Miltonian swift narrative and swashbuckling high-drama laid on a bed of historical grit.' Benedict Allen, The Independent ( White Gold ).
When the frozen corpse of an American serviceman named Ferris Clark is found in the Greenland icecap, forensic archaeologist Jack Raven is hired to investigate.
Raven is the world’s leading expert in forensics and he is suspicious from the outset. Not only is the World War Two corpse naked, but it is perfectly preserved. And that’s not possible.
As Raven investigates the mystery of Clark’s final hours, he stumbles across the sinister and intertwined story of a senior Nazi officer. He also discovers that those around him know more than they are admitting. And they are trying to conceal the truth.
Raven soon finds himself caught in a race against there is a murderer on the loose and Raven alone can prevent further killings.
But he can only do this by solving the greatest riddle of all. How did Ferris Clark die? And why?
The answer those questions may cost him his life.
Giles Milton is the internationally bestselling author of eleven works of narrative history. His books have been translated into 25 languages. His most recent publication is Checkmate in The Cold War Showdown that Shaped the Modern World, the tale of Berlin in the immediate aftermath of the World War Two, the sectors of the city and the Berlin Airlift.
Praise for Giles
‘A wonderfully clear and digestible account. . . The devastation wrought on Berlin by the Russians is vividly described by the British historian Giles Milton in a series of sharp vignettes. . . as gripping as any thriller.’ Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday ( Checkmate in Berlin ) .
'A magnificent story, brilliantly told.' Anthony Horowitz ( Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare ) .
‘To write a book which makes the reader, after finishing it, sit in a trance, lost in his passionate desire to pack a suitcase and go, somehow, to the fabulous place – that, in the end, is something one would give a sack of nutmegs for.’ Philip Hensher, The Spectator ( Nathaniel’s Nutmeg ).
‘A sheer pleasure to read.’ Susan Chira, The New York Times ( Samurai William ).
'A romping tale of 18th-century sailors enslaved by Barbary seafarers and sold to a Moroccan tyrant. It has all the usual Miltonian swift narrative and swashbuckling high-drama laid on a bed of historical grit.' Benedict Allen, The Independent ( White Gold ).
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First published July 14, 2014
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About the author
Giles Milton
40 books584 followersBritish writer and journalist Giles Milton was born in Buckinghamshire in 1966. He has contributed articles for most of the British national newspapers as well as many foreign publications, and specializes in the history of travel and exploration. In the course of his researches, he has traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Japan and the Far East, and the Americas.
Knowledgeable, insatiably curious and entertaining, Milton locates history's most fascinating—and most overlooked—stories and brings them to life in his books.
He lives in London, where he is a member of the Hakluyt Society, which is dedicated to reprinting the works of explorers and adventurers in scholarly editions, some of which he uses in his research. He wrote most of Samurai William in the London Library, where he loves the "huge reading room, large Victorian desks and creaking armchairs". At home and while traveling, he is ever on the lookout for new untold stories. Apparently he began researching the life of Sir John Mandeville for his book The Riddle and the Knight after Mandeville’s book Travels "literally fell off the shelf of a Paris bookstore" in which he was browsing.
Copyright BookBrowse.com 2007
Knowledgeable, insatiably curious and entertaining, Milton locates history's most fascinating—and most overlooked—stories and brings them to life in his books.
He lives in London, where he is a member of the Hakluyt Society, which is dedicated to reprinting the works of explorers and adventurers in scholarly editions, some of which he uses in his research. He wrote most of Samurai William in the London Library, where he loves the "huge reading room, large Victorian desks and creaking armchairs". At home and while traveling, he is ever on the lookout for new untold stories. Apparently he began researching the life of Sir John Mandeville for his book The Riddle and the Knight after Mandeville’s book Travels "literally fell off the shelf of a Paris bookstore" in which he was browsing.
Copyright BookBrowse.com 2007
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September 16, 2017
Οι πατάτες είναι για να τις τρώμε: τηγανιτές, ψητές, βραστές… όχι όμως για να τις διαβάζουμε. Κι εγώ φίλε μου, όχι μόνο τη διάβασα, αλλά κατάπια ολόκληρη φόλα και τώρα είμαι σίγουρο πως τα εγκεφαλικά μου κύτταρα έχουν νεκρωθεί.
Το κείμενο που ακολουθεί είναι τίγκα στα spoilers (εάν θέλετε να απολαύσετε με την ησυχία σας την πατατο-φόλα, μην συνεχίσετε!)
Είναι λοιπόν ο βασικός ήρωας ο Τζακ, ιατροδικαστής – αρχαιολόγος (και γαμώ τις ειδικότητες!) και δέχεται ένα mail από ένα ινστιτούτο κρυογονικής στη Νεβάδα να πάει να ελέγξει ένα πτώμα που βρέθηκε στη Γροιλανδία παγωμένο και σούπερ διατηρημένο. Ο τύπος πηγαίνει, όμως ο Πρόεδρος του ινστιτούτου όταν τον βλέπει, γίνεται έξω φρένων γιατί δεν τον θέλει μέσα στα πόδια του. Του βγάζει εισιτήρια να τον διώξει σούμπιτο, από κει που ‘ρθε, αυτός σιγά μην φύγει, και ξεκινάει το πείραμα του αιώνα, να αποψύξουν έναν παγωμένο Αμερικανό λοχία, από το 1944. Κι όλα αυτά στα κρυφά και στα μουλωχτά.
Και ξετυλίγεται η υπόθεση και ακολουθεί η μία φόλα την άλλη γιατί έτσι μόνο μπορεί να βγει η ιστορία:
- Γίνεται ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα σύγχρονα πειράματα, αποψύχεται ένας άνθρωπος μετά από 60 και χρόνια, οι επιστήμονες δεν έχουν ξαναβρεθεί ποτέ σε μία τέτοια επιχείρηση, ε! και αφήνουν το πτώμα να αποψυχθεί μόνο του χωρίς κανείς να το παρακολουθεί κι αύριο μέρα είναι! – ας κοιμηθούμε σήμερα το βράδυ – ερχόμαστε το πρωί!
2Σ’ένα τόσο ακριβό και μυστικό ερευνητικό κέντρο, δεν υπάρχουν κάμερες ασφαλείας παρά μόνο ένας νυχτοφύλακας, ο Τζακ πηγαινοέρχεται, χωρίς να φοβούνται πως θα τον ανακαλύψουν αλλά όταν για τη ροή της ιστορίας, θελήσουν να δουν πως ξύπνησε το πτώμα, θα βρεθεί και μια κάμερα ασφαλείας (αναβοσβήνει κατά το δοκούν…)
3Το πτώμα – άντρας ξυπνάει στο πιτς – φυτίλι, (ξαναλέω 60 χρόνια μετά), ολόγυμνος, σ’ένα επιστημονικό τραπέζι με χίλια μύρια σωληνάκια πάνω του και είναι μια χαρά. Δεν του κάνει τίποτα εντύπωση… να μόνο μια στιγμή μέχρι να ακουμπήσουν σταθερά τα πόδια του στο πάτωμα… Μετά σκοτώνει για να ντυθεί και κυκλοφορεί άνετος στην Αμερική, χωρίς να του κάνει τίποτα καμία εντύπωση: μήτε τα αυτοκίνητα, μήτε οι άνθρωποι, μήτε οι υπολογιστές, μήτε τα κινητά, μήτε τίποτα… όλα φυσιολογικά… ούτε καν μια στοιχειώδη ημικρανία… το μόνο που τον ενδιαφέρει είναι να ολοκληρώσει την αποστολή που είχε αναλάβει
Σου έρχεται τώρα μια ιδέα και θέλεις να ψάξεις σε απόρρητα αρχεία. Αμερική ή Γερμανία. Δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα… πηγαίνεις άνετος, δίχως αιτήσεις, δίχως τίποτα όλα τα αρχεία στα πόδια σου…
5Ο Τζακ είναι ένας ιατροδικαστής – αρχαιολόγος… αλλά είναι τόσο έξυπνος και fit, που έχει και όπλο (τώρα δεν μας νοιάζει και που το βρήκε…), είναι από τα βασικά μέλη της αστυνομικής έρευνας, γίνεται κολλητός με το FBI, έχει και μια πρώην γκόμενα που την έστειλε κανονικά αλλά εκείνη με το που θα της ζητήσει κάτι, αμέσως θα τον εξυπηρετήσει γιατί είναι και τρελά ερωτευμένη και τρελά ενοχική γιατί τον απάτησε κιόλας… Μαγειρεύει επίσης υπέροχα για όσες ενδιαφέρονται…
Τέλος πάντων, πολλά είπα, να μην πω κι άλλα… Ο συγγραφέας τα έχει ρίξει όλα σ’ένα τσουβάλι: ευγονική, κρυογονική, ναζί, απόβαση της Νορμανδίας, ss και δεν ξέρω κι εγώ τι άλλο…
Να μην τα πολυλογώ, ήταν τόσο φόλα, που και το 2/10 είναι μεγάλη παραχώρηση εκ μέρους μου κι αυτό για κάτι δικά μου...
Readathon 2017: Ένα βιβλίο που ο πρωταγωνιστής είναι επιστήμονας [36/80]
http://skorofido.blogspot.gr/2017/09/...
Το κείμενο που ακολουθεί είναι τίγκα στα spoilers (εάν θέλετε να απολαύσετε με την ησυχία σας την πατατο-φόλα, μην συνεχίσετε!)
Είναι λοιπόν ο βασικός ήρωας ο Τζακ, ιατροδικαστής – αρχαιολόγος (και γαμώ τις ειδικότητες!) και δέχεται ένα mail από ένα ινστιτούτο κρυογονικής στη Νεβάδα να πάει να ελέγξει ένα πτώμα που βρέθηκε στη Γροιλανδία παγωμένο και σούπερ διατηρημένο. Ο τύπος πηγαίνει, όμως ο Πρόεδρος του ινστιτούτου όταν τον βλέπει, γίνεται έξω φρένων γιατί δεν τον θέλει μέσα στα πόδια του. Του βγάζει εισιτήρια να τον διώξει σούμπιτο, από κει που ‘ρθε, αυτός σιγά μην φύγει, και ξεκινάει το πείραμα του αιώνα, να αποψύξουν έναν παγωμένο Αμερικανό λοχία, από το 1944. Κι όλα αυτά στα κρυφά και στα μουλωχτά.
Και ξετυλίγεται η υπόθεση και ακολουθεί η μία φόλα την άλλη γιατί έτσι μόνο μπορεί να βγει η ιστορία:
- Γίνεται ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα σύγχρονα πειράματα, αποψύχεται ένας άνθρωπος μετά από 60 και χρόνια, οι επιστήμονες δεν έχουν ξαναβρεθεί ποτέ σε μία τέτοια επιχείρηση, ε! και αφήνουν το πτώμα να αποψυχθεί μόνο του χωρίς κανείς να το παρακολουθεί κι αύριο μέρα είναι! – ας κοιμηθούμε σήμερα το βράδυ – ερχόμαστε το πρωί!
2Σ’ένα τόσο ακριβό και μυστικό ερευνητικό κέντρο, δεν υπάρχουν κάμερες ασφαλείας παρά μόνο ένας νυχτοφύλακας, ο Τζακ πηγαινοέρχεται, χωρίς να φοβούνται πως θα τον ανακαλύψουν αλλά όταν για τη ροή της ιστορίας, θελήσουν να δουν πως ξύπνησε το πτώμα, θα βρεθεί και μια κάμερα ασφαλείας (αναβοσβήνει κατά το δοκούν…)
3Το πτώμα – άντρας ξυπνάει στο πιτς – φυτίλι, (ξαναλέω 60 χρόνια μετά), ολόγυμνος, σ’ένα επιστημονικό τραπέζι με χίλια μύρια σωληνάκια πάνω του και είναι μια χαρά. Δεν του κάνει τίποτα εντύπωση… να μόνο μια στιγμή μέχρι να ακουμπήσουν σταθερά τα πόδια του στο πάτωμα… Μετά σκοτώνει για να ντυθεί και κυκλοφορεί άνετος στην Αμερική, χωρίς να του κάνει τίποτα καμία εντύπωση: μήτε τα αυτοκίνητα, μήτε οι άνθρωποι, μήτε οι υπολογιστές, μήτε τα κινητά, μήτε τίποτα… όλα φυσιολογικά… ούτε καν μια στοιχειώδη ημικρανία… το μόνο που τον ενδιαφέρει είναι να ολοκληρώσει την αποστολή που είχε αναλάβει
Σου έρχεται τώρα μια ιδέα και θέλεις να ψάξεις σε απόρρητα αρχεία. Αμερική ή Γερμανία. Δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα… πηγαίνεις άνετος, δίχως αιτήσεις, δίχως τίποτα όλα τα αρχεία στα πόδια σου…
5Ο Τζακ είναι ένας ιατροδικαστής – αρχαιολόγος… αλλά είναι τόσο έξυπνος και fit, που έχει και όπλο (τώρα δεν μας νοιάζει και που το βρήκε…), είναι από τα βασικά μέλη της αστυνομικής έρευνας, γίνεται κολλητός με το FBI, έχει και μια πρώην γκόμενα που την έστειλε κανονικά αλλά εκείνη με το που θα της ζητήσει κάτι, αμέσως θα τον εξυπηρετήσει γιατί είναι και τρελά ερωτευμένη και τρελά ενοχική γιατί τον απάτησε κιόλας… Μαγειρεύει επίσης υπέροχα για όσες ενδιαφέρονται…
Τέλος πάντων, πολλά είπα, να μην πω κι άλλα… Ο συγγραφέας τα έχει ρίξει όλα σ’ένα τσουβάλι: ευγονική, κρυογονική, ναζί, απόβαση της Νορμανδίας, ss και δεν ξέρω κι εγώ τι άλλο…
Να μην τα πολυλογώ, ήταν τόσο φόλα, που και το 2/10 είναι μεγάλη παραχώρηση εκ μέρους μου κι αυτό για κάτι δικά μου...
Readathon 2017: Ένα βιβλίο που ο πρωταγωνιστής είναι επιστήμονας [36/80]
http://skorofido.blogspot.gr/2017/09/...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 21, 2018Ένα κατεψυγμένο πτώμα ανακαλύπτεται στους πάγους της Γροιλανδίας και μεταφέρεται σε ένα κέντρο κρυογονικής στη Νεβάδα της Αμερικής. Το σώμα φαίνεται να ανήκει στον Φέρις Κλαρκ και είναι τόσο καλοδιατηρημένο σαν να το βύθισαν άμεσα σε υγρό άζωτο. Ο Τζακ Ρέιβεν, ιατροδικαστής-αρχαιολόγος καλείται να λύσει το μυστήριο.
Τι θα συμβεί, όμως, όταν το κέντρο κρυογονικής έχει αποφασίσει να αποψύξει το σώμα του Κλαρκ και να τον επαναφέρει στη ζωή αποκαλύπτοντας οτι πρόκειται για έναν αδίστακτο δολοφόνο; Τελικά ποιος είναι ή μάλλον ποιος δεν είναι ο Φέρις Κλαρκ;
Διαβάστε περισσότερα: Book Tales
Τι θα συμβεί, όμως, όταν το κέντρο κρυογονικής έχει αποφασίσει να αποψύξει το σώμα του Κλαρκ και να τον επαναφέρει στη ζωή αποκαλύπτοντας οτι πρόκειται για έναν αδίστακτο δολοφόνο; Τελικά ποιος είναι ή μάλλον ποιος δεν είναι ο Φέρις Κλαρκ;
Διαβάστε περισσότερα: Book Tales
January 31, 2015
Dr. Jake Raven is a forensic archeologist (shouldn’t that be anthropologist?), but he’s clearly supposed to be some sort of English Indiana Jones. He’s summoned by ZAKRON, a company that normally deals in cryogenics, to investigate why a corpse frozen in 1944 should be perfectly preserved, with no deterioration at all. The victim, an American named Ferris Clark, was found upside-down and completely naked in Greenland ice. Was the man murdered? A suicide? Raven also takes up finding out the circumstances of Clark’s demise — despite the objections of the head of ZAKRON, the secretive (and, surely, nefarious) Dr. Tom Lawyer.
Needless to say, no Indiana Jones or James Bond tale can be complete without a pretty blonde sidekick. So enter adoring and adorable Tammy Fox, “senior lab technician with responsibility for the long term care of our cryo-preserved patients” and granddaughter of ZAKRON’s founder. And what with ZAKRON being involved, the plot goes in a predictable direction.
So I should have hated this book, right? But despite the predictable nature of the plot, I really found myself enjoying it. Sure, The Perfect Corpse was the perfect storm of clichés and sci-fi staples, but I have to say that author Giles Milton — kudos to him! — sucked me in anyway.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this ebook from NetGalley and Prospero Press in return for an honest review.
Needless to say, no Indiana Jones or James Bond tale can be complete without a pretty blonde sidekick. So enter adoring and adorable Tammy Fox, “senior lab technician with responsibility for the long term care of our cryo-preserved patients” and granddaughter of ZAKRON’s founder. And what with ZAKRON being involved, the plot goes in a predictable direction.
So I should have hated this book, right? But despite the predictable nature of the plot, I really found myself enjoying it. Sure, The Perfect Corpse was the perfect storm of clichés and sci-fi staples, but I have to say that author Giles Milton — kudos to him! — sucked me in anyway.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this ebook from NetGalley and Prospero Press in return for an honest review.
June 23, 2017
Ωραία υπόθεση, πολλά κενά και ατοπα στη λύση του μυστηρίου
August 1, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/08/01...
Publisher: Prospero
Publishing Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9780992897222
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.0/5
Publisher Description: When the frozen corpse of Ferris Clark is found in the Greenland ice, forensic archaeologist Jack Raven is hired to investigate. He is suspicious from the outset. The corpse is not only naked, but in an absolutely pristine state. As Jack unravels the mystery of Ferris Clark’s final hours, he uncovers a dark and terrible past. He also finds himself caught in a race against time. There is a murderer on the loose and Jack alone can stop the killings.
Review: Cover art is ….meh.
This was a fairly slow paced novel with an inventive story line and a weak plot. Jack Raven (Raven? Really?) is on the case of discovering why a perfectly preserved corpse is…..perfectly preserved. What follows is a tortuous path through history of flaccid discoveries. All of these disparate events culminates in finding out who the corpse really is, which really doesn’t matter at all, as we know he is one of the dreaded Nazi special forces with a penchant for killing.
So one of the first unbelievable sequences is one of a perfectly preserved naked corpse that gets accidentally revived at stupid ZAKRON and begins with killing the night watchman, stealing his clothes/gun and disappearing. Jack Raven (lol), after studying the corpse, stands up and says “Not many can kill with a slash of a scalpel. Requires medical know-how…and mental preparation”. Well I think it is pretty easy to kill someone with a scalpel especially when that someone was injected with knock out juice prior to slicing. At one point Jack is talking to the biggest pain in the ass and whiny maudlin character ever built, Tammy, and says, “They will shoot him if they catch him.” And Tammy Tantrum says “Jesus the nightmare gets worse….” Really? How could that be bad? There is a serial killing WWII Nazi running around killing people and Tammy is upset that they may shoot this Ice Freak? Fug.
Well as we near the end of this disaster, the killer hijacks Tammy and her lovable and adorable little scamps into the desert while Jack Raven sneaks up on them. The killer is demanding where the military base is and Jack walks up and starts telling him that he is in the future and all his former mates are long dead and this confuses the killer to the point where he is stumbling around. So….he was not confused a month prior to his escape from ZAKRON? At no point during that time was he unbelievably stupid not to realize what period in time he was in? Did it take Jack “The CAW!” Raven to explain his present circumstances that eventually leads the psychopath to suicide? I don’t associate suicides with psychopaths, but maybe this was a “Nazi with a heart of gold” where self-preservation suddenly becomes anathema.
The holes in the story-line are many, the characters are thinly built and the plot, while interesting historically, really did not provide anything substantive. This could have been a great setting for bringing espionage from the past, into sort of an ongoing sinister plot that spans the decades and involves an inner power circle. Now the idiot team of Tammy and the Dr. Raven can run for their stupid lives while spanning the globe for answers. Tough shjt though, you’re pretty much stuck in bumfuck Nevada the whole time, excepting Raven’s hottie German ex-GF looking up crap in ancient libraries.
Publisher: Prospero
Publishing Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9780992897222
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 2.0/5
Publisher Description: When the frozen corpse of Ferris Clark is found in the Greenland ice, forensic archaeologist Jack Raven is hired to investigate. He is suspicious from the outset. The corpse is not only naked, but in an absolutely pristine state. As Jack unravels the mystery of Ferris Clark’s final hours, he uncovers a dark and terrible past. He also finds himself caught in a race against time. There is a murderer on the loose and Jack alone can stop the killings.
Review: Cover art is ….meh.
This was a fairly slow paced novel with an inventive story line and a weak plot. Jack Raven (Raven? Really?) is on the case of discovering why a perfectly preserved corpse is…..perfectly preserved. What follows is a tortuous path through history of flaccid discoveries. All of these disparate events culminates in finding out who the corpse really is, which really doesn’t matter at all, as we know he is one of the dreaded Nazi special forces with a penchant for killing.
So one of the first unbelievable sequences is one of a perfectly preserved naked corpse that gets accidentally revived at stupid ZAKRON and begins with killing the night watchman, stealing his clothes/gun and disappearing. Jack Raven (lol), after studying the corpse, stands up and says “Not many can kill with a slash of a scalpel. Requires medical know-how…and mental preparation”. Well I think it is pretty easy to kill someone with a scalpel especially when that someone was injected with knock out juice prior to slicing. At one point Jack is talking to the biggest pain in the ass and whiny maudlin character ever built, Tammy, and says, “They will shoot him if they catch him.” And Tammy Tantrum says “Jesus the nightmare gets worse….” Really? How could that be bad? There is a serial killing WWII Nazi running around killing people and Tammy is upset that they may shoot this Ice Freak? Fug.
Well as we near the end of this disaster, the killer hijacks Tammy and her lovable and adorable little scamps into the desert while Jack Raven sneaks up on them. The killer is demanding where the military base is and Jack walks up and starts telling him that he is in the future and all his former mates are long dead and this confuses the killer to the point where he is stumbling around. So….he was not confused a month prior to his escape from ZAKRON? At no point during that time was he unbelievably stupid not to realize what period in time he was in? Did it take Jack “The CAW!” Raven to explain his present circumstances that eventually leads the psychopath to suicide? I don’t associate suicides with psychopaths, but maybe this was a “Nazi with a heart of gold” where self-preservation suddenly becomes anathema.
The holes in the story-line are many, the characters are thinly built and the plot, while interesting historically, really did not provide anything substantive. This could have been a great setting for bringing espionage from the past, into sort of an ongoing sinister plot that spans the decades and involves an inner power circle. Now the idiot team of Tammy and the Dr. Raven can run for their stupid lives while spanning the globe for answers. Tough shjt though, you’re pretty much stuck in bumfuck Nevada the whole time, excepting Raven’s hottie German ex-GF looking up crap in ancient libraries.
June 10, 2017
Ένα εξαιρετικό πραγματικά βιβλίο που με κράτησε δέσμια στις σελίδες του μέχρι το τέλος. Με καλοδουλεμένη πλοκή που παντρεύει παρόν και παρελθόν με ανατριχιαστικό σχεδόν τρόπο, συνδυάζει το αστυνομικό μυστήριο αλλά και μια ιστορία χαμένη στον Β’ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο με αριστοτεχνικά αποτελέσματα. Οπότε, προκαταβολικά, ένα μεγάλο μπράβο στον συγγραφέα, μιας και πίστευα ότι τίποτα δε θα με εξέπληττε πλέον στα ξένα βιβλία μυστηρίου.
Το κατεψυγμένο πτώμα του Φέρις Κλαρκ εντοπίζεται στους πάγους της Γροιλανδίας και ο ιατροδικαστής Τζακ Ρέιβεν καλείται να ερευνήσει την υπόθεση. Το πτώμα βρίσκεται σε άριστη κατάσταση παρά τα τόσα χρόνια που πέρασαν και αυτό περιπλέκει περισσότερο την υπόθεση. Παράλληλα ξετυλίγεται ένα μυστικό του παρελθόντος αλλά και ένας κατά συρροή δολοφόνος κυκλοφορεί ελεύθερος. Ο Ρέιβεν καλείται να απαντήσει στο πώς πέθανε τελικά ο Κλαρκ αλλά και στο πώς συνδέεται με τα γεγονότα του Β.Π.Π.
Πραγματικά ήταν τρομερά ευχάριστη έκπληξη αυτό το βιβλίο, καθώς όταν το ξεκίνησα δεν πίστευα ότι θα κατάφερνε και να με τρομάξει -υπάρχει μια συγκεκριμένη περιγραφή σχετικά με το πτώμα του Κλαρκ που με ανατρίχιασε- αλλά και να μην ακολουθήσει την πεπατημένη με τα συνηθισμένα κλισέ αυτών των βιβλίων και να δημιουργήσει κάτι διαφορετικό που κρατάει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον. Ο συγγραφέας τολμάει να τα βάλει με την ιστορία και να παρουσιάσει τη δική του οπτική για την εξέλιξη κάποιων γεγονότων. Χωρίς λοιπόν το βιβλίο να γίνεται ιστορικό, καταφέρνει να περάσει εν μέρει και τη δική του άποψη μέσα από την πορεία των χαρακτήρων που έχουν δημιουργηθεί.
Νομίζω ότι το πιο μεγάλο πλεονέκτημα του βιβλίου είναι η ατμόσφαιρα που έχει αλλά και οι έντονες περιγραφές, νιώθεις ότι βλέπεις τις δολοφονίες μπροστά σου, μέσα στη δίνη του πολέμου αναζητάς τις απαντήσεις που ψάχνεις και μπαίνεις στο μυαλό του δολοφόνου για να καταλάβεις το σκεπτικό του. Όλα αυτά οδηγούν σε ακόμη ένα ξενύχτι με το βιβλίο αγκαλιά και να περνάει η ώρα και να ξέρεις ότι πρέπει να σηκωθείς νωρίς αλλά να επιμένεις. Και τα κεφάλαια προχωράνε, οι αποκαλύψεις διαδέχονται η μία την άλλη και κλείνεις εν τέλει ευτυχισμένος το βιβλίο, ξέροντας ότι έχεις διαβάσει μια πολύ καλή ιστορία. Πάμε για την επόμενη…
Μέχρι τότε όμως, μην προσπεράσετε αυτό το βιβλίο, θα σας κρατήσει καλή παρέα και σίγουρα δε θα σας κάνει να βαρεθείτε.
Το κατεψυγμένο πτώμα του Φέρις Κλαρκ εντοπίζεται στους πάγους της Γροιλανδίας και ο ιατροδικαστής Τζακ Ρέιβεν καλείται να ερευνήσει την υπόθεση. Το πτώμα βρίσκεται σε άριστη κατάσταση παρά τα τόσα χρόνια που πέρασαν και αυτό περιπλέκει περισσότερο την υπόθεση. Παράλληλα ξετυλίγεται ένα μυστικό του παρελθόντος αλλά και ένας κατά συρροή δολοφόνος κυκλοφορεί ελεύθερος. Ο Ρέιβεν καλείται να απαντήσει στο πώς πέθανε τελικά ο Κλαρκ αλλά και στο πώς συνδέεται με τα γεγονότα του Β.Π.Π.
Πραγματικά ήταν τρομερά ευχάριστη έκπληξη αυτό το βιβλίο, καθώς όταν το ξεκίνησα δεν πίστευα ότι θα κατάφερνε και να με τρομάξει -υπάρχει μια συγκεκριμένη περιγραφή σχετικά με το πτώμα του Κλαρκ που με ανατρίχιασε- αλλά και να μην ακολουθήσει την πεπατημένη με τα συνηθισμένα κλισέ αυτών των βιβλίων και να δημιουργήσει κάτι διαφορετικό που κρατάει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον. Ο συγγραφέας τολμάει να τα βάλει με την ιστορία και να παρουσιάσει τη δική του οπτική για την εξέλιξη κάποιων γεγονότων. Χωρίς λοιπόν το βιβλίο να γίνεται ιστορικό, καταφέρνει να περάσει εν μέρει και τη δική του άποψη μέσα από την πορεία των χαρακτήρων που έχουν δημιουργηθεί.
Νομίζω ότι το πιο μεγάλο πλεονέκτημα του βιβλίου είναι η ατμόσφαιρα που έχει αλλά και οι έντονες περιγραφές, νιώθεις ότι βλέπεις τις δολοφονίες μπροστά σου, μέσα στη δίνη του πολέμου αναζητάς τις απαντήσεις που ψάχνεις και μπαίνεις στο μυαλό του δολοφόνου για να καταλάβεις το σκεπτικό του. Όλα αυτά οδηγούν σε ακόμη ένα ξενύχτι με το βιβλίο αγκαλιά και να περνάει η ώρα και να ξέρεις ότι πρέπει να σηκωθείς νωρίς αλλά να επιμένεις. Και τα κεφάλαια προχωράνε, οι αποκαλύψεις διαδέχονται η μία την άλλη και κλείνεις εν τέλει ευτυχισμένος το βιβλίο, ξέροντας ότι έχεις διαβάσει μια πολύ καλή ιστορία. Πάμε για την επόμενη…
Μέχρι τότε όμως, μην προσπεράσετε αυτό το βιβλίο, θα σας κρατήσει καλή παρέα και σίγουρα δε θα σας κάνει να βαρεθείτε.
March 10, 2017
Υπόθεση μυστηρίου με αρκετά στοιχεία ιστορίας.
Από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος κρατάει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον αν και προσωπικά θα ήθελα το τέλος λίγο πιο δουλεμένο.
Στα αδύναμά του σημεία εντοπίζω τους διαλόγους, ειδικά όταν πρόκειται για συναίσθημα. Τους βρήκα λίγο άγουρους.
Από την άλλη, σε όλο το μύθο δεν κουράστηκα. Διαβάζεται απνευστί, γρήγορα, χωρίς να κάνει "κοιλιές". Για τους λάτρεις του είδους είναι ένα πολύ καλό βιβλίο.
Από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος κρατάει αμείωτο το ενδιαφέρον αν και προσωπικά θα ήθελα το τέλος λίγο πιο δουλεμένο.
Στα αδύναμά του σημεία εντοπίζω τους διαλόγους, ειδικά όταν πρόκειται για συναίσθημα. Τους βρήκα λίγο άγουρους.
Από την άλλη, σε όλο το μύθο δεν κουράστηκα. Διαβάζεται απνευστί, γρήγορα, χωρίς να κάνει "κοιλιές". Για τους λάτρεις του είδους είναι ένα πολύ καλό βιβλίο.
January 12, 2015
was given this book free by netgalley for a honest review... the overall plot seemed interesting in this spy murder adventure thriller but just felt it was just lacking a little something to make it an excellent book it was quite slow paced and some of the characters seemed wooden
November 23, 2019
Η πατάτα της χρονιάς.
September 2, 2017
Попробовал вот почитать низачем, просто ради удовольствия и развлечения. В общем — получилось. Правда, с реальными историями «прашпиёнов», какими автор развлекает нас в своих нефикциях, не сравнится, но вполне увлекательно, хороший темп и экзота из всяких маргиналий науки — в частности, крионики (oh please) и метеорологии (гораздо лучше). Главгерой, к тому же — патологоанатомический археолог, эдакий Сергей-Герасимов-имени-Ярослава-Мудрого.
Ну а сюжет — обычная вариация на тему попаданчества через глубокую заморозку, только вывернутый довольно причудливо. Про методики поиска, следствия и разоблачения мы, прогулявшиеся. Как говорится, вокруг квартала не раз и не два, уже много чего знаем: можно это делать, как Шёрлок Хоумз, можно — как Роберт Лэнгдон, можно просто картинки в книжке рассматривать, как Джайлз и Баффи, а можно идти от одной случайной, но удачной и своевременной находки в неоцифрованных архивах к другой — ну или клику по первой странице результатов в поиске «гугла», как здесь. Впрочем, и это вполне развлекает, потому что как бы достоверно.
Ну а сюжет — обычная вариация на тему попаданчества через глубокую заморозку, только вывернутый довольно причудливо. Про методики поиска, следствия и разоблачения мы, прогулявшиеся. Как говорится, вокруг квартала не раз и не два, уже много чего знаем: можно это делать, как Шёрлок Хоумз, можно — как Роберт Лэнгдон, можно просто картинки в книжке рассматривать, как Джайлз и Баффи, а можно идти от одной случайной, но удачной и своевременной находки в неоцифрованных архивах к другой — ну или клику по первой странице результатов в поиске «гугла», как здесь. Впрочем, и это вполне развлекает, потому что как бы достоверно.
February 20, 2024
I have read all of the previous books by Giles Milton and have loved all of them. Now, this book is OK, and I accept it is a novel, but some of the characters are very 2 dimensional and stereotypical. The dialogue between the characters is a bit cheesy in places. It is fast paced but feels like it comes to an abrupt end, maybe Giles got fed up writing it and wanted to move on. I would love Giles to go back to writing historical non-fiction books, which he is clearly great at, and leave novels to others.
April 29, 2018
Η ιδέα του βιβλίου ήταν πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα: η επαναφορά στη ζωή ενός σώματος που είχε καταψυχεί και που ανήκε σε γερμανό σταρτιωτικό, μέλος επίλεκτου σώματος των SS με ειδίκευση στις δολοφονίες, δολιοφθορές και δύσκολες καταστάσεις. Θα μου άρεσε πολύ να διαβάσω και την πλευρά του "αναστημένου" και παγωμένου από το 1943 ανθρώπου, τις αντιδράσεις του στο ανήκουστο αυτό γεγονός και στον κόσμο του 21ου αιώνα. Το βιβλίο δεν ήταν κακό αλλά θα μπορούσε να είναι και καλύτερο.
June 11, 2019
The book is readable but the characters were not in any way developed and it was impossible to engage with any of them. Disappointing as in his 2 other books I read (see my other reviews) you were really connected with the characters of the story. The other thing is there was too much of a character just happening to be in the right place at the right time for example the FBI agent, or important clues appearing for example in a book the character just happened to be reading.
September 29, 2022
Στην πραγματικότητα ήθελα να βάλω 1.5 αστεράκια, αλλά ... άντε το μισό υπέρ του συγγραφέα.
Η ιδέα καλή, αλλά από εκεί και πέρα ο συγγραφέας έχει πετάξει στο… μίξερ τόσα πολλά συστατικά που στο τέλος το αποτέλεσμα είναι εντελώς ανούσιο και άγευστο. Έχει λίγο από όλα, ναζί, ευγονική, εγκλήματα των Ες Ες, κρυογονική, και πάνω απ’ όλα ένα ακαταμάχητο και γοητευτικό ιατροδικαστή. Αυτό που δεν έχει είναι πλοκή.
Η ιδέα καλή, αλλά από εκεί και πέρα ο συγγραφέας έχει πετάξει στο… μίξερ τόσα πολλά συστατικά που στο τέλος το αποτέλεσμα είναι εντελώς ανούσιο και άγευστο. Έχει λίγο από όλα, ναζί, ευγονική, εγκλήματα των Ες Ες, κρυογονική, και πάνω απ’ όλα ένα ακαταμάχητο και γοητευτικό ιατροδικαστή. Αυτό που δεν έχει είναι πλοκή.
August 13, 2019
Απογοητευτικό κι αυτό όχι τόσο για την τόσο ασύνδετη πλοκή και τα κενά, αλλά για το ότι έχω διαβάσει τρία έργα του Τζάιλς Μίλτον, τα οποία βρήκα εξαιρετικά. Είναι ικανότατος δημοσιογράφος και ερευνητής και έχει το χάρισμα να καταφέρνει να σε κάνει να ενδιαφερθείς για την Ιστορία. Το συγκεκριμένο μυθιστόρημα ήταν απλά σαν να το έγραψε σε κακή μέρα, έτσι μου φάνηκε.
January 3, 2019
Ξεκίνησε καλά και με κράτησε σε εγρήγορση περίπου μέχρι τη μέση. Μετά σαν να μην είχε φανταστεί ο συγγραφέας την εξέλιξη και να προσπαθούσε απλά να τελειώσει. Το κομμάτι με το ερευνητικό μέρος στην Γερμανία ήταν το πιο ενδιαφέρον. ...
November 7, 2020
Fooled into thinking this was one if his brilliantly researched histories, I was disappointed from the off ... a third rate tale of suspense that never really sparks into life ... left me as cold as the main antagonist ...
November 4, 2024
Διαβάζεται εύκολα. Περιέχει πολλά ιστορικά στοιχεία από μια περίοδο του β' παγκόσμιου πόλεμου που είναι άγνωστα σε πολλούς . Αυτό είναι και το στοιχείο που κάνει το βιβλίο πιο ενδιαφέρον, γιατί ο μύθος και η πλοκή είναι μέτρια.
June 18, 2017
An enjoyable read. I liked the main characters and the combination of history on the one hand and modern technology on the other.
March 10, 2021
Πήρε 4 αστέρια γιατί ήταν πρωτότυπο το θέμα. Είναι αστυνομικό επιστημονικής φαντασίας. Κατά τα άλλα παίρνει 3 αστέρια.
February 28, 2017
An interesting case brings foresic archaeologist Jack Raven to the small town of Henford, Nevada. In the Greenland ice, a perfectly conserved body has been found which must belong to a Ferris Clark who was stationed there as a meteorologist during the Second World War. Now, an American company which experiments in freezing people to conserve them for a time in the future wants to experiment with the body. Tammy Fox, one if the scientists, is not happy with their plan and has therefore invited Jack who already worked on frozen bodies. The experiment seems to work well, but suddenly, in the middle of the night, the corps wakes to life, much earlier than anticipated. Not knowing what happened to him, he gets up to complete his mission which consists of getting rid of a couple of people. The scientists are alarmed when they find this out since their experiment was not meant to attract any publicity. And there is another problem : the re-awakened murderer is not who they thought and a lot more dangerous than they could ever imagine.
When reading the short description I had some doubts of how the elements could be linked convincingly. Yet, they all add a to a fast-paced thriller with a lot of twists and turns and constantly new aspects which are well motivated. Thus the plot follows a red thread and the story could convince me. Even though some parts are quite foreseeable, I felt well entertained while reading it.
Nevertheless, I could have done without the obligatory love story in the novel and Jack's background story as an alcoholic also did not really add any relevant information to the plot. I also did not make the character more round for me, therefore, I would have preferred sticking to the story and having less emotional fuss. Even though I found the link between the past and the present convincing, I guess most of it was a bit far-fetched and exaggerated, also the scientists’ work, I hope that we are still far from what they could do in the novel.
When reading the short description I had some doubts of how the elements could be linked convincingly. Yet, they all add a to a fast-paced thriller with a lot of twists and turns and constantly new aspects which are well motivated. Thus the plot follows a red thread and the story could convince me. Even though some parts are quite foreseeable, I felt well entertained while reading it.
Nevertheless, I could have done without the obligatory love story in the novel and Jack's background story as an alcoholic also did not really add any relevant information to the plot. I also did not make the character more round for me, therefore, I would have preferred sticking to the story and having less emotional fuss. Even though I found the link between the past and the present convincing, I guess most of it was a bit far-fetched and exaggerated, also the scientists’ work, I hope that we are still far from what they could do in the novel.
August 2, 2014
Tengo que reconocer que la historia me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. A pesar de que es un tema que ha sido exprimido hasta la saciedad (el del nazismo) el autor me ha sorprendido (gratamente) y me ha descubierto temas que bien no conocía, bien no había leído nunca en profundidad. Lo que más me ha gustado ha sido la historia paralela de Karin y su trabajo de investigación, el enfoque ha sido como poco original, y como mucho arriesgado, mostrándonos la parte humana de un personaje, digamos chocante, como es Frau Trautwein, cuando lo fácil hubiese sido demonizarlo. Esa parte de la historia me ha parecido lo mejor del libro, como poco a poco van apareciendo nuevas informaciones y como todas las fichas caen en su sitio para completar el “puzzle”. Fantástico.
Lo que menos me ha gustado es el final…y eso en un libro como este (un thriller o suspense) es un problema grave, porque todo depende de cómo el autor acabe “cerrando” el círculo. Sin dar muchas pistas diré que me gusta cuando “los buenos” son inteligentes y hacen cosas brillantes para “coger “a los malos, y aquí, muy a mí pesar, los buenos hacen tonterías…y eso es un jarro de agua fría para la historia. Me ha parecido que el autor se ha tomado muchas concesiones en ese final, sus personajes han cambiado de “modus operandi” para poder llegar a ese final, y no me ha convencido, me ha parecido muy flojo. Pero si tengo que ser sincera, me ha gustado la idea del epílogo, me ha gustado como coloca la última pieza del puzzle, no me lo esperaba y creo que ese “buen sabor de boca” que al final te deja el libro es lo que me ha llevado a darle las 4 estrellas. Si el desenlace entre los buenos y los malos hubiese sido fiel al resto de la historia, este libro sería un 6 estrellas.
********
I have to admit that I liked the story more than I expected. While it is an issue that has been written about for ever (Nazism) the author surprised (pleasantly) and discovered me issues that either I did not know or I had never read in depth. What I liked most was the parallel story about Karin and her research work, the approach has been original, and maybe a bit risky, showing us the human side of a character, say shocking, as Frau Trautwein, when the easy way would have been to demonize it. That part of the story has seemed the best of the book, how Karin was discovering bit by bit of information and how all the pieces fall into place to complete the "puzzle". Fantastic.
What I liked least is the end... and that in a book like this (a thriller or suspense) is a serious problem, because the story depends in how the author finish "closing" the circle. Without giving many clues, I will say that I like it when "the good guys" are intelligent and do brilliant things to "catch" the bad guys, and here, much to my regret, the good ones make nonsense... and that's a jug of cold water for the history. It has seemed to me that the author has made many concessions at the end, his characters have changed their "modus operandi" to get to that final, and it has not convinced me. It felt a very loose end for me. But if I have to be honest, I liked the idea of the epilogue, I liked as he put the last piece of the puzzle, I did not expect it and I think that this good idea at the end is what has led me to give it 4 stars. If the outcome between the good guys and the bad guys had been faithful to the rest of the story, this book would be a 6 star.
FYI, maybe you will find "a bit" of science fiction in this story, which maybe will be ( or not) reality in the not-too-distant future... maybe…
Lo que menos me ha gustado es el final…y eso en un libro como este (un thriller o suspense) es un problema grave, porque todo depende de cómo el autor acabe “cerrando” el círculo. Sin dar muchas pistas diré que me gusta cuando “los buenos” son inteligentes y hacen cosas brillantes para “coger “a los malos, y aquí, muy a mí pesar, los buenos hacen tonterías…y eso es un jarro de agua fría para la historia. Me ha parecido que el autor se ha tomado muchas concesiones en ese final, sus personajes han cambiado de “modus operandi” para poder llegar a ese final, y no me ha convencido, me ha parecido muy flojo. Pero si tengo que ser sincera, me ha gustado la idea del epílogo, me ha gustado como coloca la última pieza del puzzle, no me lo esperaba y creo que ese “buen sabor de boca” que al final te deja el libro es lo que me ha llevado a darle las 4 estrellas. Si el desenlace entre los buenos y los malos hubiese sido fiel al resto de la historia, este libro sería un 6 estrellas.
********
I have to admit that I liked the story more than I expected. While it is an issue that has been written about for ever (Nazism) the author surprised (pleasantly) and discovered me issues that either I did not know or I had never read in depth. What I liked most was the parallel story about Karin and her research work, the approach has been original, and maybe a bit risky, showing us the human side of a character, say shocking, as Frau Trautwein, when the easy way would have been to demonize it. That part of the story has seemed the best of the book, how Karin was discovering bit by bit of information and how all the pieces fall into place to complete the "puzzle". Fantastic.
What I liked least is the end... and that in a book like this (a thriller or suspense) is a serious problem, because the story depends in how the author finish "closing" the circle. Without giving many clues, I will say that I like it when "the good guys" are intelligent and do brilliant things to "catch" the bad guys, and here, much to my regret, the good ones make nonsense... and that's a jug of cold water for the history. It has seemed to me that the author has made many concessions at the end, his characters have changed their "modus operandi" to get to that final, and it has not convinced me. It felt a very loose end for me. But if I have to be honest, I liked the idea of the epilogue, I liked as he put the last piece of the puzzle, I did not expect it and I think that this good idea at the end is what has led me to give it 4 stars. If the outcome between the good guys and the bad guys had been faithful to the rest of the story, this book would be a 6 star.
FYI, maybe you will find "a bit" of science fiction in this story, which maybe will be ( or not) reality in the not-too-distant future... maybe…
September 9, 2014
Part techno-thriller, part spy-story, The Perfect Corpse plunders three popular themes (digging bad things out of the ice; bringing bad things back from the dead, and uber-menacing Nazi stormtroopers) and blends them together in a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying semi-historical, semi-speculative action-adventure romp.
Think Michael Crichton and Robert Harris and you’ll be in the right ballpark. Iceberg. Whatever.
In the Perfect Corpse, author Giles Milton makes the switch from his usual non-fiction historical writing to create an entertaining narrative, playing to the crowd by unleashing a ruthless Totenkopf killer on the unsuspecting American population of Nowheresville, FA. Unsurprisingly, the factual background – which includes details of the chilling eugenics breeding programme, Lebensborn – are solidly presented and feel entirely credible. The nice surprise is that the writing isn’t stodgy or lecturing, but instead the narrative flows without too many bumps in the road, swapping seamlessly from historical investigation to present-day peril.
The investigating protagonist, Jack Raven, makes for a sympathetic and engaging leading man. He’s a forensic anthropologist who is used to unravelling archaeological mysteries and is called in to investigate an unusually well preserved body that’s hauled out from the ice. Initially unwelcomed by the shady corporate types at the cryogenic company which is experimenting on the frozen corpse, Raven soon becomes their go-to guy as an SS soldier comes back from the dead, intent on fulfilling his final, lethal mission. It’s hokum, but damn it’s fun.
(There will be more thoughts on plot and characters over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net )
The book’s finale is suitably satisfying, and I really appreciated the back-in-time epilogue which explains some of the hanging plot threads that had me scratching my head.
It’s not world-class literature, but it’s a damn sight better than the last Dan Brown book I mistakenly read. I hope Giles Milton will keep writing this kind of historical crime fiction: I for one will keep reading it.
7/10
Think Michael Crichton and Robert Harris and you’ll be in the right ballpark. Iceberg. Whatever.
In the Perfect Corpse, author Giles Milton makes the switch from his usual non-fiction historical writing to create an entertaining narrative, playing to the crowd by unleashing a ruthless Totenkopf killer on the unsuspecting American population of Nowheresville, FA. Unsurprisingly, the factual background – which includes details of the chilling eugenics breeding programme, Lebensborn – are solidly presented and feel entirely credible. The nice surprise is that the writing isn’t stodgy or lecturing, but instead the narrative flows without too many bumps in the road, swapping seamlessly from historical investigation to present-day peril.
The investigating protagonist, Jack Raven, makes for a sympathetic and engaging leading man. He’s a forensic anthropologist who is used to unravelling archaeological mysteries and is called in to investigate an unusually well preserved body that’s hauled out from the ice. Initially unwelcomed by the shady corporate types at the cryogenic company which is experimenting on the frozen corpse, Raven soon becomes their go-to guy as an SS soldier comes back from the dead, intent on fulfilling his final, lethal mission. It’s hokum, but damn it’s fun.
(There will be more thoughts on plot and characters over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net )
The book’s finale is suitably satisfying, and I really appreciated the back-in-time epilogue which explains some of the hanging plot threads that had me scratching my head.
It’s not world-class literature, but it’s a damn sight better than the last Dan Brown book I mistakenly read. I hope Giles Milton will keep writing this kind of historical crime fiction: I for one will keep reading it.
7/10
January 20, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
When the frozen corpse of Ferris Clark is found in the Greenland ice, forensic archaeologist Jack Raven is hired to investigate. He is suspicious from the outset. The corpse is not only naked, but in an absolutely pristine state.
As Jack unravels the mystery of Ferris Clark’s final hours, he uncovers a dark and terrible past. He also finds himself caught in a race against time. There is a murderer on the loose and Jack alone can stop the killings.
But first he must solve the greatest riddle of all. How did Ferris Clark die? And why?
Disappointed is how I would describe by feelings about this book. With a blurb that sounded like it was going to read like a runaway train, it ended up being more like the little red caboose!
I will say it again - the plot sounded like being quite exciting but I was just let down by the plodding nature of the prose and the unbelievable situations Raven found himself in. Ultimately, this was just another middle-of-the-road murder mysteries that suffered from an inexperienced writer - but, I do think the author has some promise and I do look forward to seeing if there is more to come...
Paul
ARH
When the frozen corpse of Ferris Clark is found in the Greenland ice, forensic archaeologist Jack Raven is hired to investigate. He is suspicious from the outset. The corpse is not only naked, but in an absolutely pristine state.
As Jack unravels the mystery of Ferris Clark’s final hours, he uncovers a dark and terrible past. He also finds himself caught in a race against time. There is a murderer on the loose and Jack alone can stop the killings.
But first he must solve the greatest riddle of all. How did Ferris Clark die? And why?
Disappointed is how I would describe by feelings about this book. With a blurb that sounded like it was going to read like a runaway train, it ended up being more like the little red caboose!
I will say it again - the plot sounded like being quite exciting but I was just let down by the plodding nature of the prose and the unbelievable situations Raven found himself in. Ultimately, this was just another middle-of-the-road murder mysteries that suffered from an inexperienced writer - but, I do think the author has some promise and I do look forward to seeing if there is more to come...
Paul
ARH
September 27, 2014
I liked this book. Going from London to Nevada? I know all about that. Beside the point...okay, the book.
This book does have a bit of a Frankenstein feel to it, but is in no way a copycat. The plot is complex and carefully laid out, but at times can drag a little in places. The book is not terribly long, so there isn't much room for the plot to drag. Still, the characters are interesting, the main character has a lot of personality and makes some rather wry observations to keep the reader on their toes. Overall I thought the story was pretty exciting.
I liked that the mystery continued all the way to the end. The author doesn't bore the reader with miles of scientific bull that stops the story from moving and puts you to sleep and the setting(s) are interesting and varied.
If you enjoy books where the mystery is not solved the way you expect and keeps you guessing, this is a good place to go.
I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author has up his sleeve.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This book does have a bit of a Frankenstein feel to it, but is in no way a copycat. The plot is complex and carefully laid out, but at times can drag a little in places. The book is not terribly long, so there isn't much room for the plot to drag. Still, the characters are interesting, the main character has a lot of personality and makes some rather wry observations to keep the reader on their toes. Overall I thought the story was pretty exciting.
I liked that the mystery continued all the way to the end. The author doesn't bore the reader with miles of scientific bull that stops the story from moving and puts you to sleep and the setting(s) are interesting and varied.
If you enjoy books where the mystery is not solved the way you expect and keeps you guessing, this is a good place to go.
I'm looking forward to seeing what else this author has up his sleeve.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
January 16, 2015
I want to thank the publisher Prospero Press and www.netgalley.com for providing me with a copy of this novel in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Well, I quite enjoyed it. I am not going to give any of the plot away so my review won't be going into too much detail about specific people or parts of the story as I personally don't like that ... my review is a general outline from my perspective.
This is a unique idea (as far as books I have read before) and very inventive. The author provided a clever mix of history, the present and possible future. Yes, it stretches the boundaries of reality in a big way but isn't that what novels are supposed/allowed to do?
You can read my full review on my blog - http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/
Well, I quite enjoyed it. I am not going to give any of the plot away so my review won't be going into too much detail about specific people or parts of the story as I personally don't like that ... my review is a general outline from my perspective.
This is a unique idea (as far as books I have read before) and very inventive. The author provided a clever mix of history, the present and possible future. Yes, it stretches the boundaries of reality in a big way but isn't that what novels are supposed/allowed to do?
You can read my full review on my blog - http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/
January 22, 2015
A strange tale about finding a man frozen in Greenland for 70 years and the desire to reanimate him. . . to make money, of course. From there things get even more strange, involving mistaken identity, plenty of World War 2 history, and a killing spree. Much of interest, though some of the characters are relatively stereotypical. As usual, women flock to British accents. . .
November 12, 2014
An intriguing read that concerns a perfectly preserved corpse found in the ice of Greenland. A forensic archaeologist is called to investigate and soon finds out that there is a lot more to this body then meets the eye. Lots of scientific detail and a fascinating tale
July 30, 2014
Brilliant! A fast paced page turner. A meteorologist in ice. Doesn't sound exciting, but you won't be able to put it down!
June 7, 2015
I love Giles milton and this is my first read into fiction and found it riveting
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