CORN DOLLS-- SIGNED, DATED, DOODLED WITH POSTCARD

by Patrick Lennon

It begins for Tom Fletcher with what looks like a very bloody accident in a farm machinery showroom, and reaches back into the past - his own and that of the local police force - before slamming into the present with all the force of the most up-to-date criminal power in the world. Crackling with secrets and surprises, packed with haunting landscapes and haunted characters, freighted with the hot, thundery atmosphere of a Cambridge summer and the inevitable paying-out of past betrayals, CORN DOLLS marks the arrival of a major new crime talent.

Genres: Crime, Mystery

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2007

Reviews

[Niko]

DNF - I just couldn't care enough

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it's only been a day since I finished this book I can't really recall much about it as it was totally unremarkable. I did enjoy reading it to a certain extent as there was enough of a mystery to keep me reading to the end but it wasn't exactly a thrill a minute.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I picked up at the book swap at work as the blurb intrigued me and it was set in Cambridge.

Overall it was interesting with some of the early and middle parts being quite intriguing. Things like the psychological aspect to Ivan's actions or the whole corn doll tradition were things I quite enjoyed. Unfortunately this didn't carry through to the end as things fell apart quite suddenly during the big climactic scene we had been building up to for ages. There had been some hints that things were a little odd, but given everything which had come before I didn't twig to them.

Looking back at it now I think the author took on more than he could chew which is why it went wrong. Prior to the big scene there were some things which didn't quite make sense, like why a police supervisor would allow what Fletcher (one of the main characters) wanted to do as it didn't make any logical sense. Some excuses were offered for this, but they were a bit weak.

Turns out this was because Patrick was building up to some big conspiracy which just doesn't hold up no matter how much I try to figure out how it was meant to work. Especially since there were already a few other conspiracies woven into the plot. So it all got a bit muddled and delved off into the unbelievable, even for a crime thriller. The worst part was that during the whole big festival at the end, when the Bride was introduced, I suddenly thought I knew what was going on and the idea that occurred to me would have been very clever and a wonderful twist. So to be so very close to such a great revelation right when everything dovetailed off into the disaster simply made it all the worse.

Finally, the last line was just cringe worthy. That was really trying to take things a bit too far and forcing the issue.

This book will be taken right back where it came from and swapped in for a, hopefully, better read.

[Fanny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ich habe nach 74 Seiten aufgegeben. Die Geschichte ist bestimmt gut, der Anfang noch nichtmal so uninteressant, aber die Charaktere sind so.... schwierig zu verstehen. Sie wirken überhaupt nicht menschlich, man spürt keine Verbindung zu ihnen. Die konstanten Exkursionen nach Russland fand ich auch ziemlich nervig, weil man erst irgendwo da wo ich aufgehört habe endlich merkt das alles irgendwie zusammenhängt. Aber meine Geduld war trotzdem schon flöten gegangen.

[Eva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Scoprire che il file scaricato non é intero e quindi questo libro non é finito. Una settimana sprecata su questa storia che non era poi quel granché, troppe cose lasciate non dette, personaggi incolori e stile fin troppo semplicistico. Come iniziare male l'anno di lettura. Vabbé.

[Beth Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

i couldn't get into this book at all and i gave up in chapter 2.

[Nathan Medley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Corn Dolls, by Patrick Lennon, wasn't a bad book, but not something I would go out of my way to recommend, in my opinion there are by far a lot better crime books on the shelves than this one.
On the other hand, I enjoyed Ivan Gorensky's character, But there was a great anti-climax to the end of the novel, and I was left disappointed.

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just realised this is the first in a series but not sure whether I will read the next.But might have to tie up things.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author to me and enjoyed this book, will look out for more.

[Jon White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started well but ended so lamely. The detectives seem to have the chemistry of most partners but the story lacks depth. And ends with a wtf.