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Max Wolfe #1
תיק רצח
האם יש אנשים שמגיע להם למות?
רוצח סדרתי מטיל אימה על רחובות לונדון, ומהר מאוד נהיה כוכב נערץ ברשתות החברתיות – הקרבנות שלו הם בעלי הכוח והעשירים.
נתיב הרציחות מוביל לאחד מבתי הספר היוקרתיים לבנים של אנגלייה, לשבעה חברים שנשבעו אמונים לנֶצח ולסודות אפלים שנשמרו שנים רבות במסדרונות.
זהו ספר ראשון בסדרת הבלש מקס וולף, אב חד־הורי, חובב כלבים ומתאגרף, עצמאי בשטח ובעל מצפון וחושים בלתי מתפשרים. כבר בשבוע הראשון להצבתו במחלק רצח הוא יוצא למרדף אחרי רוצח אכזרי ברחובות האחוריים של לונדון, דרך מעמקי הרשת האפלה עד מסדרונות השלטון. הגופות נערמות, ומקס מגלה שהסכנה הולכת ומתקרבת אליו ואל כל מי שהוא אוהב ומכיר. עד מהרה מתברר שהוא נאבק לא רק על הצדק, אלא גם על חייו
רוצח סדרתי מטיל אימה על רחובות לונדון, ומהר מאוד נהיה כוכב נערץ ברשתות החברתיות – הקרבנות שלו הם בעלי הכוח והעשירים.
נתיב הרציחות מוביל לאחד מבתי הספר היוקרתיים לבנים של אנגלייה, לשבעה חברים שנשבעו אמונים לנֶצח ולסודות אפלים שנשמרו שנים רבות במסדרונות.
זהו ספר ראשון בסדרת הבלש מקס וולף, אב חד־הורי, חובב כלבים ומתאגרף, עצמאי בשטח ובעל מצפון וחושים בלתי מתפשרים. כבר בשבוע הראשון להצבתו במחלק רצח הוא יוצא למרדף אחרי רוצח אכזרי ברחובות האחוריים של לונדון, דרך מעמקי הרשת האפלה עד מסדרונות השלטון. הגופות נערמות, ומקס מגלה שהסכנה הולכת ומתקרבת אליו ואל כל מי שהוא אוהב ומכיר. עד מהרה מתברר שהוא נאבק לא רק על הצדק, אלא גם על חייו
365 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 787 reviews
June 24, 2017
Seven rich men met at private school twenty years ago and now one after one is being brutally killed. Detective Max Wolfe is new in the Homicide division of London's West End Central, 27 Savile Row and he and his colleague must find out who is behind the killings and why?
The first time I became acquainted with Max Wolfe was in the short novella Dead Time that is set between this book and the next one; The Slaughter Man. I liked him and his family; daughter Scout and dog Stan immediately. So, when my mother saw a show on the telly where they discussed this book did I remember that I had it and of course, being the good daughter that I am decided to read the book to see if it would be something for my mother to read. Well, that and because I wanted to read it, well mostly because I wanted to read it.
Anyway, this was a real page-turner that in the end turned into my favorite kind of game; how long after midnight can I stay awake and read is it called. I stopped playing this game until around 00:45 am because my eyes started to get wonky. So, I continued next day and could hardly put the book down.
The first time I became acquainted with Max Wolfe was in the short novella Dead Time that is set between this book and the next one; The Slaughter Man. I liked him and his family; daughter Scout and dog Stan immediately. So, when my mother saw a show on the telly where they discussed this book did I remember that I had it and of course, being the good daughter that I am decided to read the book to see if it would be something for my mother to read. Well, that and because I wanted to read it, well mostly because I wanted to read it.
Anyway, this was a real page-turner that in the end turned into my favorite kind of game; how long after midnight can I stay awake and read is it called. I stopped playing this game until around 00:45 am because my eyes started to get wonky. So, I continued next day and could hardly put the book down.
This is a really good book, it's very dark, but so engrossing and I just adore little Scout and Stan. Max is a single father and you get to know why a bit later in the book and let me tell you, the knowledge of why made me really pissed off. I vaguely remember reading something about the situation in the novella, but I really need to read it again now that I have read this book.
The murders are brutal and even I found some parts hard to read and I thought that I was quite used to read about the awful things men to each other, but it seems that there are still parts of me that find some readings hard.
The Murder Bag was a well written and captivating book, full of twists all the way until the end of the book.
I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review!
December 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks for the opportunity.
This is the first novel in a new crime series penned by Tony Parsons, author of Man and Boy and other novels, none of them crime related. I was keen to see how he went with venturing into this new genre of writing and was happy to find this book a really enjoyable and good read.
I REALLY liked the plot, I thought it worked really well and the entire book moved at a solid pace, not too fast, not too slow, just right. Great plotting, great characters and some twists you won't see coming. Smashing!
Twenty years ago seven rich, privileged students became friends at their exclusive private school, Potter’s Field. Now they have started dying in the most violent way imaginable. Pretty horrific deaths going on that's for sure.
The book starts with a scenario that kicks off the book sharply featuring these seven boys whilst they were in their school days, it's pretty in your face stuff to start out with. But it gives us important background to the rest of the novel.
Detective Max Wolfe has recently arrived in the Homicide division of London’s West End Central, 27 Savile Row. He's a great character, I really liked him a lot, he's a bit of a maverick detective that is passionate about his work but I loved the way we got to see his softer side in his relationship with his daughter and the man when he is at home.
He's soon hot on the trail piecing together not only who is killing these men, but what the connection is and the WHY of the killing spree, he's got a serial killer on his hands and he's determined to uncover the truth and get answers. He's not afraid to put himself in danger either, sometimes rather recklessly in his pursuit of the bad guys, he's a bold one our Max.
There are secrets, lies and deception going on. It's messy and complex this case. I liked the writing style, it flowed well. He's not afraid to tackle some graphic scenarios, you need that in a good crime novel in my opinion. Especially where a serial killer is involved.
It's good crime reading, it held my attention from the first page until the last, I was eager to see who the killer was, eager to see justice done and liked some of the moments in the book that complicated the investigation. I can tell Tony has done his research into terminology used in police procedures and investigations for this novel, he drops it in all the way through, perhaps a touch too much but it wasn't enough to interfere with my reading of the book.
I like Max Wolfe and will be absolutely reading the next book in the series. A cracking read.
This is the first novel in a new crime series penned by Tony Parsons, author of Man and Boy and other novels, none of them crime related. I was keen to see how he went with venturing into this new genre of writing and was happy to find this book a really enjoyable and good read.
I REALLY liked the plot, I thought it worked really well and the entire book moved at a solid pace, not too fast, not too slow, just right. Great plotting, great characters and some twists you won't see coming. Smashing!
Twenty years ago seven rich, privileged students became friends at their exclusive private school, Potter’s Field. Now they have started dying in the most violent way imaginable. Pretty horrific deaths going on that's for sure.
The book starts with a scenario that kicks off the book sharply featuring these seven boys whilst they were in their school days, it's pretty in your face stuff to start out with. But it gives us important background to the rest of the novel.
Detective Max Wolfe has recently arrived in the Homicide division of London’s West End Central, 27 Savile Row. He's a great character, I really liked him a lot, he's a bit of a maverick detective that is passionate about his work but I loved the way we got to see his softer side in his relationship with his daughter and the man when he is at home.
He's soon hot on the trail piecing together not only who is killing these men, but what the connection is and the WHY of the killing spree, he's got a serial killer on his hands and he's determined to uncover the truth and get answers. He's not afraid to put himself in danger either, sometimes rather recklessly in his pursuit of the bad guys, he's a bold one our Max.
There are secrets, lies and deception going on. It's messy and complex this case. I liked the writing style, it flowed well. He's not afraid to tackle some graphic scenarios, you need that in a good crime novel in my opinion. Especially where a serial killer is involved.
It's good crime reading, it held my attention from the first page until the last, I was eager to see who the killer was, eager to see justice done and liked some of the moments in the book that complicated the investigation. I can tell Tony has done his research into terminology used in police procedures and investigations for this novel, he drops it in all the way through, perhaps a touch too much but it wasn't enough to interfere with my reading of the book.
I like Max Wolfe and will be absolutely reading the next book in the series. A cracking read.
February 28, 2015
This is Tony Parsons first foray into the crime genre. That he usually writes contemporary family dramas shows in his creation of his characters, particularly his detective, DC Max Wolfe. Max is separated from his wife who has left him for another man, leaving their young daughter Scout behind with Max. Recently assigned to Homicide, he must juggle the demands of the job with those of being a single parent.
The prologue to the book throws us straight into a brutal gang rape and murder of a teenage girl. Twenty years later Max is involved in investigating the similar murders of two seemingly unconnected victims when he realises that they attended the same exclusive boarding School and that several other high profile men could be at risk.
This is a clever story, quite gripping in parts with a number of twists and turns. The characters are well written and the research into police procedures and murder weapons held by the police museum added authenticity.
The prologue to the book throws us straight into a brutal gang rape and murder of a teenage girl. Twenty years later Max is involved in investigating the similar murders of two seemingly unconnected victims when he realises that they attended the same exclusive boarding School and that several other high profile men could be at risk.
This is a clever story, quite gripping in parts with a number of twists and turns. The characters are well written and the research into police procedures and murder weapons held by the police museum added authenticity.
February 9, 2015
Do some people deserve to die?
In their schooldays, seven boys at Potter's Field, an exclusive school for the very rich, become friends. They look out for each other, not only as friends, but because they share a very dark secret.
One commits suicide at the age of eighteen. So then there are six.
Merchant banker, Hugo Buck, is found with his throat slit from side to side. So then there are five.
Did his wife, sick of his philandering, pay to have him killed - or is there something more sinister going on?
Detective Max Wolfe, newly arrived at London's West End Homicide Division believes the answer lies in the past and that the surviving members of the group, some very frightened for their lives, know the answer.
But no-one is talking - yet. How many more of the group will have to die before the truth is revealed?
This was a brilliant "I can't put it down" book - to the extent that I have pre-ordered the sequel The Slaughter Man due out May 21st (my birthday present to myself!).
This book is fast paced, thrilling, compelling but with very, very human characters.
A definite recommendation! Thank you Tony Parsons - I will be reading more from you.
In their schooldays, seven boys at Potter's Field, an exclusive school for the very rich, become friends. They look out for each other, not only as friends, but because they share a very dark secret.
One commits suicide at the age of eighteen. So then there are six.
Merchant banker, Hugo Buck, is found with his throat slit from side to side. So then there are five.
Did his wife, sick of his philandering, pay to have him killed - or is there something more sinister going on?
Detective Max Wolfe, newly arrived at London's West End Homicide Division believes the answer lies in the past and that the surviving members of the group, some very frightened for their lives, know the answer.
But no-one is talking - yet. How many more of the group will have to die before the truth is revealed?
This was a brilliant "I can't put it down" book - to the extent that I have pre-ordered the sequel The Slaughter Man due out May 21st (my birthday present to myself!).
This book is fast paced, thrilling, compelling but with very, very human characters.
A definite recommendation! Thank you Tony Parsons - I will be reading more from you.
May 23, 2014
Having already been well-received and incredibly widely reviewed, The Murder Bag marks the first foray of Tony Parsons into the world of crime writing. With all the pre-publicity hype and long build-up to its release, I was keen to read this, but was it a gripping read, or less of a murder, and more of a mixed bag? Knowing the blood, sweat and tears that accompanies the writing of a crime book, from crime writers of my acquaintance, I am always wary of being too critical of books, but as a voracious and consistent reader of the genre, I was a little disappointed and perplexed by this book for several reasons, and would slightly question the plaudits afforded to it by other reviewers. So seeking to keep my ‘firm but fair’ reputation intact, here are my observations…
The story is basic enough, with a group of men from privileged backgrounds, linked by their school years, finding themselves being picked off one by one, for some reason as yet unknown. Enter intrepid detective, Max Wolfe- not quite a believable maverick, not quite a complete dullard- single father of cutesy five year old girl with all the mawkish sentimentality that underpins this relationship- with a dog, Stan, who I felt more intimately acquainted with than many of the human protagonists. I think it’s fair to say that The Murder Bag, is not in any way re-inventing the wheel in terms of the crime fiction genre. Indeed, in my reading of it, I felt that quite possibly the author has invested a lot of time in reading a selection of other crime writers, and extracting the best elements of several to be combined into his plot. Hence, what is produced is a curious mix of the solidity of the British police procedural, combined with the more salacious brutality of an American crime novel, with neither really working in tandem with the other.
Also, it is abundantly clear that some serious amount of research into police practices, forensic profiling, social networking, the Iraq War, etc had been undertaken, but in a similar way to other over-researched thrillers (Dan Brown- I’m looking at you), I did feel slightly bruised and battered by the amount of information crowbarred in, and its disturbance of the equilibrium of the plot overall. Consequently, I felt the book was rather stilted in its realisation and dialogue, and despite a promising opening did seem to lose its way from that point. There is a rather superfluous romantic entanglement for Wolfe along the way that added nothing tangible to the overall plot, and with the patchy unfolding of the murder plot itself, I found my attention wandering although I did not quite reach the point of giving up on it altogether, which does count for something I suppose.
Overall a pretty disappointing read, but sure that with an endorsement by Lee Child and the solidity of the author’s previous fictional output it will do well enough. Not a ground-breaking criminal debut for Parsons, but will undoubtedly not be the last of this series, as there is enough to warrant another foray with Max Wolfe in the future.
The story is basic enough, with a group of men from privileged backgrounds, linked by their school years, finding themselves being picked off one by one, for some reason as yet unknown. Enter intrepid detective, Max Wolfe- not quite a believable maverick, not quite a complete dullard- single father of cutesy five year old girl with all the mawkish sentimentality that underpins this relationship- with a dog, Stan, who I felt more intimately acquainted with than many of the human protagonists. I think it’s fair to say that The Murder Bag, is not in any way re-inventing the wheel in terms of the crime fiction genre. Indeed, in my reading of it, I felt that quite possibly the author has invested a lot of time in reading a selection of other crime writers, and extracting the best elements of several to be combined into his plot. Hence, what is produced is a curious mix of the solidity of the British police procedural, combined with the more salacious brutality of an American crime novel, with neither really working in tandem with the other.
Also, it is abundantly clear that some serious amount of research into police practices, forensic profiling, social networking, the Iraq War, etc had been undertaken, but in a similar way to other over-researched thrillers (Dan Brown- I’m looking at you), I did feel slightly bruised and battered by the amount of information crowbarred in, and its disturbance of the equilibrium of the plot overall. Consequently, I felt the book was rather stilted in its realisation and dialogue, and despite a promising opening did seem to lose its way from that point. There is a rather superfluous romantic entanglement for Wolfe along the way that added nothing tangible to the overall plot, and with the patchy unfolding of the murder plot itself, I found my attention wandering although I did not quite reach the point of giving up on it altogether, which does count for something I suppose.
Overall a pretty disappointing read, but sure that with an endorsement by Lee Child and the solidity of the author’s previous fictional output it will do well enough. Not a ground-breaking criminal debut for Parsons, but will undoubtedly not be the last of this series, as there is enough to warrant another foray with Max Wolfe in the future.
September 19, 2022
4.50 Stars (Rnd ⬆️) — Murder Bag is not your average bit of crime-fiction. This becomes extremely apparent in the early stages of the novel, where Parsons paints a picture of brilliantly paced tension that is subtle & poignant using a pulsating, sophisticated prose that’s more about what is not said, than what is.
Telling the story of Detective Wolf, from his first day in homicide, following an intense opening sequence centred around his final days in counter-terrorism. The action hits the reader in the face very quickly & is told in a narrative which — to me — felt entirely unique, bold & wonderfully taut, devoid of any of the often tacky and predictable diatribes, instead offering a nuanced focus that’s more character based than anything I’ve read recently. Parsons uses Wolf as the canvas, rather than the brush and it’s a refreshing take that enables a wider array of background information about the protagonist, his family and his love that includes a high focus on man’s relationship with canines — a recurring theme that permeates the story fairly consistently.
Investigating a group of privileged boarding school chums — who’ve all become quite successful in their careers — that are being picked off one by one by a crazed, intelligent killer who’s intent of taunting police which creates a deep & intelligent subplot where our protagonist must not only grow and overcome his own fears & shortcomings in order to stay in-step with the killer, but that also must find a way to outfox a savvy foe all whilst trying to be a good single father to his young child & navigate the daily obstacles that come with a politically charged workplace as well.
Murder Bag has a much stronger sense of backstory for its hero and uses a number of unique tropes for him to defy and conquer along the way, and offers plot twists and turns that whilst at times are obvious for an experienced reader, remain engaging and rewarding in-spite of being so, a trait that’s not easy to pull off. This is a thought provoking thriller that is a genuine page turner in a manner that feels entirely unique in a genre that is flooded with same same — it offers something more poignant and heartfelt, that rewards the reader throughout the novel.
The authors skill is clear in the conclusion here, often my most trepidatious moments come in the ending, but here — my fears were allayed, in fantastic fashion. Instead of doing the obvious — or even more irksome, the mega-twist — Parsons weaves a strong narrative web to form a satisfying but — give me more — conclusion, making this an effort well worth investing in.
I’ve already started #2 The Slaughter Man.
Kudos.
Telling the story of Detective Wolf, from his first day in homicide, following an intense opening sequence centred around his final days in counter-terrorism. The action hits the reader in the face very quickly & is told in a narrative which — to me — felt entirely unique, bold & wonderfully taut, devoid of any of the often tacky and predictable diatribes, instead offering a nuanced focus that’s more character based than anything I’ve read recently. Parsons uses Wolf as the canvas, rather than the brush and it’s a refreshing take that enables a wider array of background information about the protagonist, his family and his love that includes a high focus on man’s relationship with canines — a recurring theme that permeates the story fairly consistently.
Investigating a group of privileged boarding school chums — who’ve all become quite successful in their careers — that are being picked off one by one by a crazed, intelligent killer who’s intent of taunting police which creates a deep & intelligent subplot where our protagonist must not only grow and overcome his own fears & shortcomings in order to stay in-step with the killer, but that also must find a way to outfox a savvy foe all whilst trying to be a good single father to his young child & navigate the daily obstacles that come with a politically charged workplace as well.
Murder Bag has a much stronger sense of backstory for its hero and uses a number of unique tropes for him to defy and conquer along the way, and offers plot twists and turns that whilst at times are obvious for an experienced reader, remain engaging and rewarding in-spite of being so, a trait that’s not easy to pull off. This is a thought provoking thriller that is a genuine page turner in a manner that feels entirely unique in a genre that is flooded with same same — it offers something more poignant and heartfelt, that rewards the reader throughout the novel.
The authors skill is clear in the conclusion here, often my most trepidatious moments come in the ending, but here — my fears were allayed, in fantastic fashion. Instead of doing the obvious — or even more irksome, the mega-twist — Parsons weaves a strong narrative web to form a satisfying but — give me more — conclusion, making this an effort well worth investing in.
I’ve already started #2 The Slaughter Man.
Kudos.
July 12, 2015
“The Murder Bag” aka The Murder Man (Max Wolfe #1) is the first novel in a new crime series by Tony Parsons, bestselling British author of Man and Boy. This is the author’s first outing into the crime genre, and it is definitely a winner. For clarification, there are two names for this book; Murder Bag and Murder Man. I believe Murder Bag was the UK title and Murder Man was the US title.
DC Max Wolfe, is a single parent to his five year old daughter, “Scout”, and dog, ‘Stan”, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Max had originally worked as a surveillance officer, under the Counter Terrorism Command, in London’s West end, until he was transferred to the Homicide & Serious Crime Command, under the direction of DCI Victor Mallory. I love how Max doesn’t follow orders…he follows his own tune!
“Seven schoolboys in military uniform, grinning at the camera twenty years ago.” Potter’s Field College is a boarding school for boys thirteen to eighteen in the combined Cadet Force.
The first one, “James Sutcliffe” committed suicide and had suffered from depression. Now there were six.
Max is called to investigate a brutal murder, an Investment Banker, "Hugo Buck", is found with his throat slit. Now there were five. As more bodies turn up, DC Wolfe, suspects he is looking for a serial killer. The media are calling the serial killer, “Bob the Butcher”.
But why were these men dying? What is the connection?
The” Murder Bag” became the “doctor’s bag” for modern homicide investigation. The murder bag itself is a forensic bag used at murder scenes.
This is a solid fast-paced steady crime novel that held my attention from beginning to end. Information and clues are revealed on a need-to-know basis. Great plot and moving characters.
I enjoyed this book so much that I went ahead and ordered the next book in the series, “The Slaughter Man”, and was recently approved for “Dead Time” from Netgalley, a DC Max Wolfe Short Story.
DC Max Wolfe, is a single parent to his five year old daughter, “Scout”, and dog, ‘Stan”, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Max had originally worked as a surveillance officer, under the Counter Terrorism Command, in London’s West end, until he was transferred to the Homicide & Serious Crime Command, under the direction of DCI Victor Mallory. I love how Max doesn’t follow orders…he follows his own tune!
“Seven schoolboys in military uniform, grinning at the camera twenty years ago.” Potter’s Field College is a boarding school for boys thirteen to eighteen in the combined Cadet Force.
The first one, “James Sutcliffe” committed suicide and had suffered from depression. Now there were six.
Max is called to investigate a brutal murder, an Investment Banker, "Hugo Buck", is found with his throat slit. Now there were five. As more bodies turn up, DC Wolfe, suspects he is looking for a serial killer. The media are calling the serial killer, “Bob the Butcher”.
But why were these men dying? What is the connection?
The” Murder Bag” became the “doctor’s bag” for modern homicide investigation. The murder bag itself is a forensic bag used at murder scenes.
This is a solid fast-paced steady crime novel that held my attention from beginning to end. Information and clues are revealed on a need-to-know basis. Great plot and moving characters.
I enjoyed this book so much that I went ahead and ordered the next book in the series, “The Slaughter Man”, and was recently approved for “Dead Time” from Netgalley, a DC Max Wolfe Short Story.
June 19, 2022
3.5* Dosta pisaca na engleskom u poslednje vreme okreće se pisanju krimića (bilo da su ranije pisali ljubiće ili neki drugi žanr) jer to se u Britaniji i Americi najbolje prodaje... Ovaj krimić mi je bledunjav u odnosu na druge majstore ovog žanra iz V. Britanije... poput Pitera Džejmsa, npr.
Prvi mačići se u vodu bacaju, videćemo kakva mu je druga knjiga u ovom žanru... :)
Prvi mačići se u vodu bacaju, videćemo kakva mu je druga knjiga u ovom žanru... :)
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February 1, 2025I have read a few of Tony Parson's books in the past, but this series could not be more different!
I had to stop, as I was just not ready for it...
I had to stop, as I was just not ready for it...
March 3, 2014
This is a very modern book which will not appeal to all fans of crime fiction, indeed I expect it may split people 50:50 a bit like Marmite.
It is an action thriller about a maverick police office, DC Max Wolfe who to say is impulsive is to imply the Pope may be Catholic as they say. He, that is Wolfe, not the Pontiff, is head strong, follows his hunches rather than the line of command and ultimately is instinctive. Happily he is flawed, prone to mistakes and not always the best with people. A senior police officer implies that Wolfe is the reason the Police are not routinely armed. However, for all his many faults he is a great Father and loves his daughter more than life itself.
The book takes a while to settle down; more like modern poetry with stylised prose rather than simple narrative or engaging story telling. Yet it is gripping and if you can get over this you are swept along it what quickly becomes a compelling read. All the elements of a clever crime/murder/serial killer plot with original situations and elements.
I personally enjoyed Max and the dwelling on his personal/home life had me worried for his nearest and dearest throughout the book.
This is the first of what promises to be a new series based around this character. That bodes well as although he is well defined here there are plenty of aspects to explore. I must say though I found it strange that for someone who exists to love his daughter so much is so blasé about his own personal safety. He seems to spend more time in hospital than a Consultant.
Tony Parsons is an excellent journalist and reviewer, as seen on TV, with this book he will enhance his reputation as a novelist. With The Murder Bag he has laid out his credentials as an author of crime drama, detective fiction at its thrilling best for a modern time, I for one will follow this new career path with great interest, but then I love Marmite.
It is an action thriller about a maverick police office, DC Max Wolfe who to say is impulsive is to imply the Pope may be Catholic as they say. He, that is Wolfe, not the Pontiff, is head strong, follows his hunches rather than the line of command and ultimately is instinctive. Happily he is flawed, prone to mistakes and not always the best with people. A senior police officer implies that Wolfe is the reason the Police are not routinely armed. However, for all his many faults he is a great Father and loves his daughter more than life itself.
The book takes a while to settle down; more like modern poetry with stylised prose rather than simple narrative or engaging story telling. Yet it is gripping and if you can get over this you are swept along it what quickly becomes a compelling read. All the elements of a clever crime/murder/serial killer plot with original situations and elements.
I personally enjoyed Max and the dwelling on his personal/home life had me worried for his nearest and dearest throughout the book.
This is the first of what promises to be a new series based around this character. That bodes well as although he is well defined here there are plenty of aspects to explore. I must say though I found it strange that for someone who exists to love his daughter so much is so blasé about his own personal safety. He seems to spend more time in hospital than a Consultant.
Tony Parsons is an excellent journalist and reviewer, as seen on TV, with this book he will enhance his reputation as a novelist. With The Murder Bag he has laid out his credentials as an author of crime drama, detective fiction at its thrilling best for a modern time, I for one will follow this new career path with great interest, but then I love Marmite.
July 9, 2014
Dear, oh dear, oh dear… Clunky, cliche-ridden and horrible writing… There are a few good ideas - like the Black museum - and the beginning was quite thrilling and well-paced but after that I really should have stopped. There are some terribly cliched characters - the posh headmaster (Peregrine!?) - some sexy bint in need of physical consolation from the detective - the "good egg" female police officer… Often awkward to the point of embarrassment… and writing so graceless I was afraid someone would ask to see what I was reading. Awful, crude syntax. A mystery to me that anything so amateur could have been published. My first and last in this series...
July 7, 2015
This book is by far the best crime book I've read in last couple of years!
The plot is TOTALLY AWESOME!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat all the time and it was unbelievably impossible for me to not read it in one sitting. I was totally blown by the ending and all the other twists and turns. It is a page turner and I'm definitely going to read all the books in this series and probably all the other's as well!
Tony Parson's is my new favourite crime author!!!
The plot is TOTALLY AWESOME!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat all the time and it was unbelievably impossible for me to not read it in one sitting. I was totally blown by the ending and all the other twists and turns. It is a page turner and I'm definitely going to read all the books in this series and probably all the other's as well!
Tony Parson's is my new favourite crime author!!!
July 22, 2020
Note- I miss adding this book. I finish this book last month. I took it out from the library before the shutdown. I did not start it until May of this year.
I love this book but I do have a soft heart for single dads. I will be reading the next in the series.
🇺🇸🦋🐼💀
I love this book but I do have a soft heart for single dads. I will be reading the next in the series.
🇺🇸🦋🐼💀
May 6, 2019
Spoiler alert **
I can't remember the last time I gave a book 1 star 😏. I just feel I have no choice here as I was absolutly disappointed. What saved the story a small amount was the opening chapters, they were so exciting and I could see where the story could go and its opportunities. But it all fell flat after that I felt. Too many things were just not working for me. The chapters felt too cramped with information that didn't really need to be told. There were sentences that felt too 'frilly' for a crime novel!! The language was sometimes romanticized and confused me in the context of the story.
The killer ended up being someone irrelevant to the whole thing! And this is what really pushed my rating down to 1 star. Because I kept thinking, despite the cheesy one liners, the crazy coincidences maybe the big reveal of the killer would surprise me or at least shock me a little.
My main annoyances are that I liked Stan the dog more than any of the characters. And that two of the 7 group of boys who were being killed off one by one jad a glass eye. That's just weird is it not!?
And how come the girl in the prologue mentioned the boys raping her and doing allsorts but never mentioned the headmaster!? Who we later find out he had a lot to do with it all.
I didn't enjoy this at all appart from the distant promise of a gripoing plot right at the start. 😏.
But most reviews are very positive and lots have enjoyed it. Its good that we are not all the same 👍.
I can't remember the last time I gave a book 1 star 😏. I just feel I have no choice here as I was absolutly disappointed. What saved the story a small amount was the opening chapters, they were so exciting and I could see where the story could go and its opportunities. But it all fell flat after that I felt. Too many things were just not working for me. The chapters felt too cramped with information that didn't really need to be told. There were sentences that felt too 'frilly' for a crime novel!! The language was sometimes romanticized and confused me in the context of the story.
The killer ended up being someone irrelevant to the whole thing! And this is what really pushed my rating down to 1 star. Because I kept thinking, despite the cheesy one liners, the crazy coincidences maybe the big reveal of the killer would surprise me or at least shock me a little.
My main annoyances are that I liked Stan the dog more than any of the characters. And that two of the 7 group of boys who were being killed off one by one jad a glass eye. That's just weird is it not!?
And how come the girl in the prologue mentioned the boys raping her and doing allsorts but never mentioned the headmaster!? Who we later find out he had a lot to do with it all.
I didn't enjoy this at all appart from the distant promise of a gripoing plot right at the start. 😏.
But most reviews are very positive and lots have enjoyed it. Its good that we are not all the same 👍.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2014
The main character in this gritty thriller is Detective Constable Max Wolfe, who lives alone with young daughter, Scout and their dog Stan, in London. We are shown from the very start of this novel that Wolfe is a man who flagrantly breaks the rules – sometimes, of course, that can be a good thing, but had one of his hunches in this book gone wrong his career might have ended rather swiftly. Quite often his behaviour seems rather too impulsive and you understand why his superior, Elizabeth Swire, becomes infuriated with him. However, a rather important act where he breaks several rules at once, at the beginning of the book, means that he is promoted to homicide. This is important for Wolfe, who has longed to work with Detective Chief Inspector Victor Malloy; someone he has immense respect for and looks to as something of a mentor.
Wolfe’s first case in homicide is when he and Molloy are called to investigate the death of a banker, whose throat has been violently slashed. An obvious suspect is his wife who, having caught him being unfaithful, had posted their marital bed to his office (meaning I liked her before I had even met her). However, shortly afterwards, there is another death – this time of a homeless man. At first, it seems that there can be no discernable link between the City banker and a down and out drug user, but it turns out that the two men both went to the same school – the exclusive, and expensive, Potter’s Field. Wolfe finds a photograph of a group of schoolboys who have something in common; they are being murdered. .. The answers to these crimes lay in the past and a crime which took place many years before. Worse, someone on the internet is claiming to be the killer and people are applauding the deaths of these ex-public schoolboys , while their friends are now fearful of being the next victim.
This is a fast paced and exciting book, with a good cast of characters. I did, however, find the over emphasis on Wolfe’s love of dogs rather wearing. Almost everyone in the book has a dog, loves dogs, and they are linked to Potter’s Field as well. I felt like saying, “we get the dogs, please shut up about them now!” At times I felt as though I was in some awful ‘cozy’ gone wrong, where a dog would end up solving the case. Secondly, I was not thrilled with the way female characters were represented in the storyline. Wolfe’s boss, Swire, is described as a kind of Thatcherite warrior, while other women are either headstrong, but need rescuing, are having affairs, are bad mothers or show various other disagreeable character traits. When Wolfe was actually out solving the case, the whole book came to life. The class of schoolboys, now successful lawyers, army officers and MP’s, are wonderfully realised and it is obvious that they are not telling the police all that they know. This is the first in a series and it was well plotted, but hopefully, by book two, the author will concentrate slightly more on the mystery (which was really good) and less on the detective’s problems at home.
Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
Wolfe’s first case in homicide is when he and Molloy are called to investigate the death of a banker, whose throat has been violently slashed. An obvious suspect is his wife who, having caught him being unfaithful, had posted their marital bed to his office (meaning I liked her before I had even met her). However, shortly afterwards, there is another death – this time of a homeless man. At first, it seems that there can be no discernable link between the City banker and a down and out drug user, but it turns out that the two men both went to the same school – the exclusive, and expensive, Potter’s Field. Wolfe finds a photograph of a group of schoolboys who have something in common; they are being murdered. .. The answers to these crimes lay in the past and a crime which took place many years before. Worse, someone on the internet is claiming to be the killer and people are applauding the deaths of these ex-public schoolboys , while their friends are now fearful of being the next victim.
This is a fast paced and exciting book, with a good cast of characters. I did, however, find the over emphasis on Wolfe’s love of dogs rather wearing. Almost everyone in the book has a dog, loves dogs, and they are linked to Potter’s Field as well. I felt like saying, “we get the dogs, please shut up about them now!” At times I felt as though I was in some awful ‘cozy’ gone wrong, where a dog would end up solving the case. Secondly, I was not thrilled with the way female characters were represented in the storyline. Wolfe’s boss, Swire, is described as a kind of Thatcherite warrior, while other women are either headstrong, but need rescuing, are having affairs, are bad mothers or show various other disagreeable character traits. When Wolfe was actually out solving the case, the whole book came to life. The class of schoolboys, now successful lawyers, army officers and MP’s, are wonderfully realised and it is obvious that they are not telling the police all that they know. This is the first in a series and it was well plotted, but hopefully, by book two, the author will concentrate slightly more on the mystery (which was really good) and less on the detective’s problems at home.
Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
March 19, 2018
Είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο του Τόνι Πάρσονς που πέφτει στα χέρια μου και οι εντυπώσεις που μου άφησε μετά το τέλος της ανάγνωσής του είναι πολύ καλές. ''Ο Σάκος του Φόνου'' είναι ένα καθαρόαιμο police procedural |(διαδικαστικό αστυνομικό ελληνιστί) μυθιστόρημα που διαβάζεται μονορούφι (το τελείωσα μέσα σε ένα απόγευμα), χωρίς ωστόσο να διεκδικεί βραβείο καινοτομίας τόσο όσον αφορά την ιστορία και την πλοκή όσο και τον κεντρικό χαρακτήρα που παραπέμπει στους σκληρούς ντετέκτιβ της hardboiled αμερικανικής σχολής. Παρολαυτά, το βιβλίο σου κεντρίζει από τις πρώτες σελίδες το ενδιαφέρον και διατηρεί το σασπένς μέχρι το τέλος του. Όσοι θέλετε να περάσετε ένα ευχάριστο βράδυ με ένα ανάγνωσμα που θα σας ψυχαγωγήσει, χωρίς να απαιτεί κάποια ιδιαίτερη διανοητική προσπάθεια από τη μεριά σας, το βιβλίο του Πάρσονς είναι μια ιδανική επιλογή.
ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ: 3,5/5.
ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ: 3,5/5.
August 25, 2019
2,5/5
Ξεκίνησε πολύ δυναμικά, αλλά κάπου με κούρασε. Διαβάστε αναλυτικά την κριτική μου στο blog μου.
Ξεκίνησε πολύ δυναμικά, αλλά κάπου με κούρασε. Διαβάστε αναλυτικά την κριτική μου στο blog μου.
April 1, 2015
Do some men deserve to die?
In 1988 a girl was raped and murdered.
Twenty years later a rich banker is found in his office with his throat slashed from side to side.
So, is the banker dead because some crazy maniac who calls himself Bob the Butcher is killing rich and privileged men, or is there more to the story?
I liked the prologue. I really did. I expected some gruesome and gripping story about revenge on the behave of the poor girl who deserved justice. But... I didn't get that. Not even close.
My biggest problem was the main character. Enter DC Max Wolfe, a single father with a cute little dog (to give him depth I suppose), an impulsive cop who doesn't think about his actions and even though he is engaged in boxing gets beat up on a regular basis while chasing the killer. Everything about Max was just odd - his working hours, his thoughts, the fact that he didn't have a partner and his flirting with a suspect in a murder he was investigating. I felt as if he didn't know what he was doing most of the time and quite often his behaviour seemed rather too impulsive. I wasn't impressed with his personality, I had a feeling that Parsons wanted us to feel like Max is a man with scars, but didn't want to turn him into an bitter alcoholic who has a dark past, so instead he gave him chronic insomnia and a woman who left him for a better life.
The mistery wasn't really that big. Once the second body was found everyone could figure out that the boys raped the girl and that their past is now catching up with them. I think the cops could have solved the case much sooner if they knew what they were doing and haven't wasted so many time on some freak on the internet who clearly just wanted some attention.
The side characters were so poorly written that I didn't really care about them. That was a huge part of why I gave this book a low rating.
There were so many unnecessary details and places that did nothing for the story. I mean, it's obvious Parsons did a lot of research, but I think that he should have focused more on building good characters and a better mistery than writing about the Black Museum, some shop for freaks who like guns etc.
I also had a problem with the chapters. The ended oddly and I just didn't understand why the writer was jumping from one thing to another with no particular reason.
Every little thing that happens in this book happens to service the plot and I think that's why I had the feeling that the cops were morons while Max Wolfe just went from place to place with no reason.
I liked the whole thing with Potter's Field. I'm a huge fan of stories about rich kids who seem to have it all on the surface but when you dig deeper you realise they don't have anything.
The resoultion felt like a huge strech. The killer was just so unrelated to the story in general. The whole thing with multiple glass eyes was just plain stupid, I mean what are the odds that two of seven friends have a glass eye. Again - everything that happens, happens to serve the story.
I was so disappointed by this book. The prologue was so powerful but the rest...
In 1988 a girl was raped and murdered.
Twenty years later a rich banker is found in his office with his throat slashed from side to side.
So, is the banker dead because some crazy maniac who calls himself Bob the Butcher is killing rich and privileged men, or is there more to the story?
I liked the prologue. I really did. I expected some gruesome and gripping story about revenge on the behave of the poor girl who deserved justice. But... I didn't get that. Not even close.
My biggest problem was the main character. Enter DC Max Wolfe, a single father with a cute little dog (to give him depth I suppose), an impulsive cop who doesn't think about his actions and even though he is engaged in boxing gets beat up on a regular basis while chasing the killer. Everything about Max was just odd - his working hours, his thoughts, the fact that he didn't have a partner and his flirting with a suspect in a murder he was investigating. I felt as if he didn't know what he was doing most of the time and quite often his behaviour seemed rather too impulsive. I wasn't impressed with his personality, I had a feeling that Parsons wanted us to feel like Max is a man with scars, but didn't want to turn him into an bitter alcoholic who has a dark past, so instead he gave him chronic insomnia and a woman who left him for a better life.
The mistery wasn't really that big. Once the second body was found everyone could figure out that the boys raped the girl and that their past is now catching up with them. I think the cops could have solved the case much sooner if they knew what they were doing and haven't wasted so many time on some freak on the internet who clearly just wanted some attention.
The side characters were so poorly written that I didn't really care about them. That was a huge part of why I gave this book a low rating.
There were so many unnecessary details and places that did nothing for the story. I mean, it's obvious Parsons did a lot of research, but I think that he should have focused more on building good characters and a better mistery than writing about the Black Museum, some shop for freaks who like guns etc.
I also had a problem with the chapters. The ended oddly and I just didn't understand why the writer was jumping from one thing to another with no particular reason.
Every little thing that happens in this book happens to service the plot and I think that's why I had the feeling that the cops were morons while Max Wolfe just went from place to place with no reason.
I liked the whole thing with Potter's Field. I'm a huge fan of stories about rich kids who seem to have it all on the surface but when you dig deeper you realise they don't have anything.
The resoultion felt like a huge strech. The killer was just so unrelated to the story in general. The whole thing with multiple glass eyes was just plain stupid, I mean what are the odds that two of seven friends have a glass eye. Again - everything that happens, happens to serve the story.
I was so disappointed by this book. The prologue was so powerful but the rest...
July 4, 2021
Könnte die nächste Reihe werden die ich gerne lesen werde Die erste Folge war gut und besonders die Kurzgeschichte am Ende. 😉
June 12, 2016
3,5/5*
July 16, 2015
A first police novel by the writer Tony Parsons who is very gracefully about the folks who helped them and recognised their toils and work.
Max Wolfe, what a powerful name albeit a wee bit cliche, is a policeman whom is not so much a team player and views the world somewhat different than the average policeman. When the book opens Max is busy with a known terrorist and he alone sees him taking action. What happens next you'll learn reading the story but it leads to him getting a job at the homicide squad. The commanding officer of the squad being a bit Yoda, their superior is the token nitwit who is busier stroking politics than doing police work.
Wolfe gets involved in a series of murders that involve the victims being part of a private school where they did some major misbehaving and it is biting their backsides or better put it is cutting their throats. The whole attitude is a wee bit cliche and for the better reader of thrillers the actual killer(s) are not that difficult to guess once they have made their entry in Parsons tale. Even the ultimate baddie is recognizable fairly quick (it being a wee bit of a cliche too).
The best bits in the book are about Wolfe his daughter Scout and their dog Stan.
Is it a bad book?- Heck no it is very well written albeit a bit to predictable for my taste. There are far better books about serial killers this one while well written and easy to read is just too average in a genre that has brought far better, original & unpredictable novels.
Max Wolfe, what a powerful name albeit a wee bit cliche, is a policeman whom is not so much a team player and views the world somewhat different than the average policeman. When the book opens Max is busy with a known terrorist and he alone sees him taking action. What happens next you'll learn reading the story but it leads to him getting a job at the homicide squad. The commanding officer of the squad being a bit Yoda, their superior is the token nitwit who is busier stroking politics than doing police work.
Wolfe gets involved in a series of murders that involve the victims being part of a private school where they did some major misbehaving and it is biting their backsides or better put it is cutting their throats. The whole attitude is a wee bit cliche and for the better reader of thrillers the actual killer(s) are not that difficult to guess once they have made their entry in Parsons tale. Even the ultimate baddie is recognizable fairly quick (it being a wee bit of a cliche too).
The best bits in the book are about Wolfe his daughter Scout and their dog Stan.
Is it a bad book?- Heck no it is very well written albeit a bit to predictable for my taste. There are far better books about serial killers this one while well written and easy to read is just too average in a genre that has brought far better, original & unpredictable novels.
August 5, 2018
I found this first novel nputdownable
The story about The Murder bag.
Two bodies have been found with their throats cuts. Investment banker Hugo Buck was found by his cleaner with his throat cut.
A homeless man Adam Jones hooked on heroine was found with his throat cut. Both Hugo and Adam were friends when they were both at boarding school together.
Can new Detective Max Wolfe of Homicide division of London find who is responsible for these wicked knife attacks? And find out why this serial killer decided to kill Hugo and Adam.
I am looking forward to detective Max Wolfe who will be back in 2015 in The Slaughter Man.
I recommend The Murder Bag to everyone who likes reading a good page turning thriller.
June 29, 2016
Είναι αρκετά καλό βιβλίο (μη ξεχνάμε είναι το πρώτο της σειράς), με ανατροπές και αγωνία μέχρι το τέλος και με έναν ήρωα που είναι συμπαθής. Έχει ωραία αφήγηση και είναι καλογραμμένο, αλλά για μένα υστερεί λίγο στην ανάλυση της ομάδας και τον τρόπο δράσης της, είναι γραμμένο πάνω στον πρωταγωνιστή βεβαία οπότε παίζει και αυτό το ρόλο του, αλλά και πάλι αυτό είναι υποκειμενικό. Γενικά όμως είναι ένα καλό αστυνομικό βιβλίο!
March 20, 2017
Wel dit boek is aangeraden door mijn collega die me ooit Harlan Coben heeft aangeraden. En net zoals bij HB is dit een reeks die ik zeker ga verder lezen!!
October 29, 2020
Compré el libro en Budapest, hace 4 años, en una librería de segunda mano. Tardé varios años en finalmente leerlo pero creo que lo hice en el momento adecuado. Conocí a DC Wolfe en una semana de nuevas restricciones por la pandemia, y sumergirme en su historia, fue como un bálsamo de inmunidad temporal ante la locura del mundo.
Me sorprendió gratamente su "situación familiar". No logro recordar ningún otro protagonista masculino con sus mismas circunstancias.
El caso a resolver no es para tirar cohetes - o al menos a mí no me lo pareció - pero tengo mucha curiosidad por ver la evolución de DC Wolfe, así que me apunto al resto de la saga :)
Me sorprendió gratamente su "situación familiar". No logro recordar ningún otro protagonista masculino con sus mismas circunstancias.
El caso a resolver no es para tirar cohetes - o al menos a mí no me lo pareció - pero tengo mucha curiosidad por ver la evolución de DC Wolfe, así que me apunto al resto de la saga :)
March 15, 2017
Για το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είχα εξ'αρχής πολύ καλό προαίσθημα - ο συνδυασμός εξωφύλλου,υπόθεσης και ανάγνωσης του πρώτου κεφαλαίου στο site του Μεταίχμιου ήταν υπερ του δέοντος πειστικός! ΕΥΤΥΧΩΣ, το βιβλίο αποδείχτηκε πολύ ανώτερο των προσδοκιών μου,και με μεγάλη μου χαρά το κατατάσσω στα καλύτερα του 2016 και, γενικότερα, στα καλύτερα αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα που έχω διαβάσει.
Ο πρωταγωνιστής του βιβλίου, ο αστυνομικός επιθεωρητής Μαξ Γουλφ, μετατίθεται στην Υπηρεσία Ανθρωποκτονιών και στην πρώτη του υπόθεση καλείται να λύσει τον γρίφο μιας σειράς φόνων. Τα θύματα ήταν φίλοι ήδη από την εποχή που πήγαιναν σχολείο, και στο συγκεκριμένο χωροχρόνο καλούνται οι αστυνομικοί να βρουν το αίτιο της δράσης του δολοφόνου. Το οποίο αίτιο δεν είναι κάτι εξαιρετικά πρωτότυπο από μόνο του: ένας φόνος μιας κοπέλας από μια παρέα κακομαθημένων νεαρών, και κάποιος άγνωστος που παίρνει εκδίκηση για λογαριασμό της σχεδόν 20 χρόνια μετά, σκοτώνοντάς τους έναν έναν. Αυτό το μαθαίνουμε ήδη από τον πρόλογο. Η επιτυχία όμως του Parsons και της ιστορίας του επιτυγχάνεται με τον τρόπο που έχει στήσει όλη την υπόλοιπη ιστορία και με την εξέλιξη της δράσης. Σε κανένα σημείο του δεν βαριέσαι, δεν νιώθεις πως το βιβλίο κάνει κοιλιά και πάει να σε απογοητεύσει. Ακόμα και το γεγονός πως ξέρεις τα υποψήφια θύματα και συμπεραίνεις πως κάποια από αυτά θα πεθάνουν δεν κάνει λιγότερο έντονα τα συναισθήματα που νιώθεις διαβάζοντας τις ανάλογες σκηνές. Εν τέλει, ο Parsons στηρίχθηκε σε ένα γνωστό σε αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα μοτίβο και κυριολεκτικά ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥΡΓΗΣΕ!
Ένα μεγάλο συν για μένα είναι βέβαια και ο ίδιος ο Μαξ Γουλφ. Μου έκανε την καλυτερότερη εντύπωση! Ανθρώπινος, καθημερινός ήρωας, με φόβους και ευαισθησίες. Δεν βρίσκεις πάντα έναν τέτοιο χαρακτήρα με την ιδιότητα του αστυνομικού. Πολλοί είναι 'στεγνοί',αποστειρωμένοι,σκοτεινοί,επιρρεπείς σε ουσίες ή ψυχολογικές μεταπτώσεις κτλ. Αποδεκτά βέβαια όλα αυτά από τους φανς του αστυνομικού, είναι μέρος του "παιχνιδιού" άλλωστε! Όμως πόσο ευχάριστο ταυτόχρονα να ανακαλύπτεις έναν τόσο ζεστό ήρωα! Με τις καθημερινές του στιγμές, τις όμορφες και τις δύσκολες, και τόσο σύγχρονο! Έξτρα πόντοι από μένα γι' αυτό και μόνο! Απόλαυσα όλες τις σκηνές του εξίσου, τόσο αυτές της εξιχνίασης των εγκλημάτων όσο και τις...οικογενειακές με την κόρη και τον σκύλο τους!
Είναι από τις λίγες φορές που χαίρομαι τόσο πολύ που το βιβλίο που διάβασα σηματοδοτεί μια σειρά βιβλίων με έναν ήρωα. Περιμένω ήδη με ανυπομονησία το επόμενο, θέλω να μάθω περισσότερα για τον κόσμο του Μαξ και να τον ξαναδώ εν δράσει! Ελπίζω οι εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο να μην με απογοητεύσουν!
ΣΠΕΥΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΕΤΕ, ΠΑΙΔΙΑ!
Περισσότερη - το ίδιο ενθουσιώδης - κριτική στον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο:
Ο σάκος του φόνου
Ο πρωταγωνιστής του βιβλίου, ο αστυνομικός επιθεωρητής Μαξ Γουλφ, μετατίθεται στην Υπηρεσία Ανθρωποκτονιών και στην πρώτη του υπόθεση καλείται να λύσει τον γρίφο μιας σειράς φόνων. Τα θύματα ήταν φίλοι ήδη από την εποχή που πήγαιναν σχολείο, και στο συγκεκριμένο χωροχρόνο καλούνται οι αστυνομικοί να βρουν το αίτιο της δράσης του δολοφόνου. Το οποίο αίτιο δεν είναι κάτι εξαιρετικά πρωτότυπο από μόνο του: ένας φόνος μιας κοπέλας από μια παρέα κακομαθημένων νεαρών, και κάποιος άγνωστος που παίρνει εκδίκηση για λογαριασμό της σχεδόν 20 χρόνια μετά, σκοτώνοντάς τους έναν έναν. Αυτό το μαθαίνουμε ήδη από τον πρόλογο. Η επιτυχία όμως του Parsons και της ιστορίας του επιτυγχάνεται με τον τρόπο που έχει στήσει όλη την υπόλοιπη ιστορία και με την εξέλιξη της δράσης. Σε κανένα σημείο του δεν βαριέσαι, δεν νιώθεις πως το βιβλίο κάνει κοιλιά και πάει να σε απογοητεύσει. Ακόμα και το γεγονός πως ξέρεις τα υποψήφια θύματα και συμπεραίνεις πως κάποια από αυτά θα πεθάνουν δεν κάνει λιγότερο έντονα τα συναισθήματα που νιώθεις διαβάζοντας τις ανάλογες σκηνές. Εν τέλει, ο Parsons στηρίχθηκε σε ένα γνωστό σε αστυνομικά μυθιστορήματα μοτίβο και κυριολεκτικά ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥΡΓΗΣΕ!
Ένα μεγάλο συν για μένα είναι βέβαια και ο ίδιος ο Μαξ Γουλφ. Μου έκανε την καλυτερότερη εντύπωση! Ανθρώπινος, καθημερινός ήρωας, με φόβους και ευαισθησίες. Δεν βρίσκεις πάντα έναν τέτοιο χαρακτήρα με την ιδιότητα του αστυνομικού. Πολλοί είναι 'στεγνοί',αποστειρωμένοι,σκοτεινοί,επιρρεπείς σε ουσίες ή ψυχολογικές μεταπτώσεις κτλ. Αποδεκτά βέβαια όλα αυτά από τους φανς του αστυνομικού, είναι μέρος του "παιχνιδιού" άλλωστε! Όμως πόσο ευχάριστο ταυτόχρονα να ανακαλύπτεις έναν τόσο ζεστό ήρωα! Με τις καθημερινές του στιγμές, τις όμορφες και τις δύσκολες, και τόσο σύγχρονο! Έξτρα πόντοι από μένα γι' αυτό και μόνο! Απόλαυσα όλες τις σκηνές του εξίσου, τόσο αυτές της εξιχνίασης των εγκλημάτων όσο και τις...οικογενειακές με την κόρη και τον σκύλο τους!
Είναι από τις λίγες φορές που χαίρομαι τόσο πολύ που το βιβλίο που διάβασα σηματοδοτεί μια σειρά βιβλίων με έναν ήρωα. Περιμένω ήδη με ανυπομονησία το επόμενο, θέλω να μάθω περισσότερα για τον κόσμο του Μαξ και να τον ξαναδώ εν δράσει! Ελπίζω οι εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο να μην με απογοητεύσουν!
ΣΠΕΥΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΕΤΕ, ΠΑΙΔΙΑ!
Περισσότερη - το ίδιο ενθουσιώδης - κριτική στον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο:
Ο σάκος του φόνου
March 1, 2015
Not bad, and I'd certainly read the next one. Plenty twists and turns so - although I'd guessed a couple, not everything was entirely expected.
My only gripe is something Kathy Reichs is terrible for - shoe-horning in exposition and explanations in the most contrived way. For example, if some acronym or bit of jargon is used, they will feature some character looking confused thus signalling someone else to carefully explain in the most excruciatingly artificial way. Just stick it in the normal text, for godsakes. Besides, Parsons went too far here, and got his history completely wrong - not only referring to the War of the Roses (rather than WarS - it was hardly a standalone event) but also putting it in entirely in the wrong period. A school chapel founded (so insistently in this book) by Henry VIII could not have been 'interrupted' in its building by the "war" of the Roses. They had finished 24 years before he came to the throne.
Numpty.
My only gripe is something Kathy Reichs is terrible for - shoe-horning in exposition and explanations in the most contrived way. For example, if some acronym or bit of jargon is used, they will feature some character looking confused thus signalling someone else to carefully explain in the most excruciatingly artificial way. Just stick it in the normal text, for godsakes. Besides, Parsons went too far here, and got his history completely wrong - not only referring to the War of the Roses (rather than WarS - it was hardly a standalone event) but also putting it in entirely in the wrong period. A school chapel founded (so insistently in this book) by Henry VIII could not have been 'interrupted' in its building by the "war" of the Roses. They had finished 24 years before he came to the throne.
Numpty.
January 2, 2016
A very different novel from the author of Man and Boy, and one which i thoroughly enjoyed.
DC Max Wolfe is an outsider, he gets things wrong, he disobeys orders, but above all he wants to discover the truth. His investigation of a series of deaths is told from the first person perspective, and very little feeling or description is left out. The plot is a little convoluted, and on a couple of occasions the coincidences a little too obvious, but overall it was a very enjoyable read.
This gritty first Max Wolfe novel, already has me wanting to read the next in series.
DC Max Wolfe is an outsider, he gets things wrong, he disobeys orders, but above all he wants to discover the truth. His investigation of a series of deaths is told from the first person perspective, and very little feeling or description is left out. The plot is a little convoluted, and on a couple of occasions the coincidences a little too obvious, but overall it was a very enjoyable read.
This gritty first Max Wolfe novel, already has me wanting to read the next in series.
May 10, 2016
Ωραίο.Σφιχτή πλοκή,γρήγορος ρυθμός,αφήγηση σε πρώτο πρόσωπο που δεν έγινε κουραςτική.Ισως να ήθελα περισσότερες περιγραφές από το πάντα αγαπημένο Λονδινάκι και την εγγλέζικη εξοχή αλλά anyway.
August 12, 2017
Ich war sehr gespannt auf "Dein finsteres Herz" und bin auch sehr gut in das Buch reingekommen.
Max Wolfe fand ich als Ermittler sehr sympathisch und mal auf eine andere Art ungewöhnlich, denn er ist alleinerziehender Vater. Zwischen den ganzen trinkenden und abgewrackten Ermittler war dies mal eine nette und sehr erfrischende Abwechslung.
Der Fall selbst hat ebenfalls ein großes Potential, aber gleichzeitig auch eine Menge Luft nach oben. Es geht viel durcheinander, manche Sprünge sind so groß, dass man das Gefühl hat Dinge zu verpassen und ich des öfteren zurückgeblättert habe, um Passagen noch einmal zu lesen.
Ein richtiges Spannungsgefühl kam bei mir leider nur selten auf und manche Abschnitte waren dann doch eher langweilig. Vieles erschien mir zu konstruiert und zu gewollt. Auch die Auflösung konnte mich nur bedingt überzeugen.
Da dies ein Debütroman ist, habe ich große Hoffnung, dass mir der zweite Teil der Max Wolfe Reihe besser gefallen wird.
Max Wolfe fand ich als Ermittler sehr sympathisch und mal auf eine andere Art ungewöhnlich, denn er ist alleinerziehender Vater. Zwischen den ganzen trinkenden und abgewrackten Ermittler war dies mal eine nette und sehr erfrischende Abwechslung.
Der Fall selbst hat ebenfalls ein großes Potential, aber gleichzeitig auch eine Menge Luft nach oben. Es geht viel durcheinander, manche Sprünge sind so groß, dass man das Gefühl hat Dinge zu verpassen und ich des öfteren zurückgeblättert habe, um Passagen noch einmal zu lesen.
Ein richtiges Spannungsgefühl kam bei mir leider nur selten auf und manche Abschnitte waren dann doch eher langweilig. Vieles erschien mir zu konstruiert und zu gewollt. Auch die Auflösung konnte mich nur bedingt überzeugen.
Da dies ein Debütroman ist, habe ich große Hoffnung, dass mir der zweite Teil der Max Wolfe Reihe besser gefallen wird.
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