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Skoenlapper
Alex het 'n teorie oor chaos. Waar hy ookal gaan, volg dit hom, en dit kom al van lank voor sy joernalisdae af. By 'n troue iewers tussen Dar es Salaam en Arusha ontmoet Alex vir Ranna, 'n vryskutfotograaf met 'n bos swart krulhare en 'n verlede waaroor sy nie praat nie. En soos gewoonlik haal die chaos vir Alex in. Eers begin dit reën sonder ophou, en dan spoel die lyk van 'n Amerikaanse IT-biljoenêr op 'n strand uit. Skielik blyk dit Ranna het rede om haar verlede weg te steek. Waarom anders stel die polisie in haar belang?
328 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2012
3652 people are currently reading
2998 people want to read
About the author
Irma Venter
12 books154 followersIrma Venter is a thriller writer. She writes books about strong women, interesting men and that fascinating space between right and wrong. Her first book, Skoenlapper, was published in 2012, in Afrikaans. Six of her books have been translated.
Irma Venter is 'n misdaadskrywer. Haar eerste boek word in 2012 gepubliseer. Skoenlapper word gevolg deur Skrapnel, Sondebok, Skarlaken, Sirkus, Sondag en Sewe-en-veertig. Minder as Niks verskyn in 2021, en is die begin van 'n nuwe krimireeks met Ami Prinsloo as die hoofkarakter. Die Verkeerde Vrou is die tweede boek in die reeks, gevolg deur Al Wat Tel. Die vierde boek in die Ami-reeks het pas verskyn – Die Drie Weduwees.
Irma Venter is 'n misdaadskrywer. Haar eerste boek word in 2012 gepubliseer. Skoenlapper word gevolg deur Skrapnel, Sondebok, Skarlaken, Sirkus, Sondag en Sewe-en-veertig. Minder as Niks verskyn in 2021, en is die begin van 'n nuwe krimireeks met Ami Prinsloo as die hoofkarakter. Die Verkeerde Vrou is die tweede boek in die reeks, gevolg deur Al Wat Tel. Die vierde boek in die Ami-reeks het pas verskyn – Die Drie Weduwees.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
May 11, 2020
4 stars for an interesting murder mystery, that takes place in Tanzania and South Africa. Ranna is a beautiful photographer in Dar es Salam. She meets Alex, a journalist and they are attracted to each other. Then a rich famous American, Billy Jones, is found dead, possibly murdered. Ranna is a suspect. Two other men were murdered that she knew, in Paris, France and San Francisco, US. This mystery had many twists and turns. The investigation takes place during an unprecedented rain which causes a devastating flood.
One quote: "There are many ways to fall in love. Suddenly. Slowly. Patiently. Excessively. Destructively. Obsessively. Love has more sides than any other emotion."
Thanks to Amazon Crossing for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#HardRain #NetGalley
One quote: "There are many ways to fall in love. Suddenly. Slowly. Patiently. Excessively. Destructively. Obsessively. Love has more sides than any other emotion."
Thanks to Amazon Crossing for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#HardRain #NetGalley
May 27, 2020
I visited Dar and Zanzibar not long ago so I was predisposed to like this book just because of its setting. Unfortunately I had issues with a few other things.
The book starts well and the story line is good. The mystery builds about who is the murderer and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader off balance. I was put off slightly by not liking either of the main characters and really not feeling their love at all. Nevertheless I read on only to be totally disappointed in the ending, or should I say the last page, because there was actually not an ending at all.
I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had believed the two main characters and their relationship. Loved the setting though and it would probably make an excellent movie - if they rewrote the end!
The book starts well and the story line is good. The mystery builds about who is the murderer and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader off balance. I was put off slightly by not liking either of the main characters and really not feeling their love at all. Nevertheless I read on only to be totally disappointed in the ending, or should I say the last page, because there was actually not an ending at all.
I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had believed the two main characters and their relationship. Loved the setting though and it would probably make an excellent movie - if they rewrote the end!
September 2, 2021
I finally had a good audio book experience! :D
The novel is told alternately in chunks by Alex and Rana - journalist and photo journalist, respectively - and sees their love story go awry when a body washes up and Rana is the number one suspect.
I actually really enjoyed the narration of this one, and I suspect it made me appreciate the story more. Even though both Alex and Rana seem like horrible people, I found the narration allowed me to become invested in their story while remaining detached from them as characters. I could just appreciate their story unfolding without getting too worked up about them being terrible people. Plus, they were just really pleasant voices to listen to. They told the story really well.
I really enjoyed how things built up around Rana - there was definitely something suss going on but it was hard to pinpoint what that was. I really enjoyed mulling over the mystery without lingering too much on trying to solve it.
Towards the end it did begin to feel a little drawn out, and it makes me super curious about this being a series. I do feel there was enough here that it could have been a standalone, but I'm also intrigued enough by these characters - and particularly Rana's past - to continue onto another adventure with them.
The novel is told alternately in chunks by Alex and Rana - journalist and photo journalist, respectively - and sees their love story go awry when a body washes up and Rana is the number one suspect.
I actually really enjoyed the narration of this one, and I suspect it made me appreciate the story more. Even though both Alex and Rana seem like horrible people, I found the narration allowed me to become invested in their story while remaining detached from them as characters. I could just appreciate their story unfolding without getting too worked up about them being terrible people. Plus, they were just really pleasant voices to listen to. They told the story really well.
I really enjoyed how things built up around Rana - there was definitely something suss going on but it was hard to pinpoint what that was. I really enjoyed mulling over the mystery without lingering too much on trying to solve it.
Towards the end it did begin to feel a little drawn out, and it makes me super curious about this being a series. I do feel there was enough here that it could have been a standalone, but I'm also intrigued enough by these characters - and particularly Rana's past - to continue onto another adventure with them.
August 3, 2021
Until about 50% of the way into this book I thought it was classic noir set in what is, to me, an exotic location - Tanzania. A mysterious woman, Ranna, a photographer who seems to be a fatal attraction for most of the men who cross her paths. Alex, a journalist at loose ends who is powerfully drawn to her, but is put off by her reluctance to reveal details of her past. A clever detective, Hamisi, hiding his own secrets.
This is all told from Alex's POV with a strong forward momentum, building tension scene after scene.
And then Ranna takes over the story, and the tension dissipates. In the interest of avoiding spoilers I won't say much more except that I felt the suspense of not knowing that imbued Alex's side of the story was frittered away once Ranna, with prodding from Hamisi, shares what haunts her.
I kept hoping that there would be a twist at the end that would salvage my hope for an African noir, but in the end I was disappointed. Factoring in the great beginning and the evocative descriptions of Tanzania and later South Africa, I'm giving it 3 stars, despite the let down of the closing half of the book.
This is all told from Alex's POV with a strong forward momentum, building tension scene after scene.
And then Ranna takes over the story, and the tension dissipates. In the interest of avoiding spoilers I won't say much more except that I felt the suspense of not knowing that imbued Alex's side of the story was frittered away once Ranna, with prodding from Hamisi, shares what haunts her.
I kept hoping that there would be a twist at the end that would salvage my hope for an African noir, but in the end I was disappointed. Factoring in the great beginning and the evocative descriptions of Tanzania and later South Africa, I'm giving it 3 stars, despite the let down of the closing half of the book.
April 24, 2020
A first-class mystery with perfect pacing...
Hard Rain (Rogue Book 1) had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class mystery with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery and suspense will want it.
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Irma Venter the future. I would recommend this book. Five stars from me.
Hard Rain (Rogue Book 1) had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class mystery with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery and suspense will want it.
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Irma Venter the future. I would recommend this book. Five stars from me.
August 10, 2013
What a wonderful new voice in Afrikaans! Great language and style. Loved every moment of it!
August 17, 2020
Alex Derksen is a foreign journalist from South Africa on assignment in Tanzania. Shortly after arriving in the new country, he meets beautiful photographer Ranna Abramson. For Alex, it’s love at first sight.
But Ranna is not an easy woman to love. She seems attracted to Alex but she’s constantly pushing him away at the same time. She’s obviously hiding something but she won’t share her troubles with Alex. She shows up for a date with a bloody arm one night. Not long after, one of her acquaintances is found dead and Ranna is suspected of murder. What exactly is Ranna hiding? Or what is she running from?
I wanted to like this more than I did. It’s a pretty solid premise but the writing was too–jumpy? I actually restarted it about 20 pages in because I thought I had missed something. Alex and Ranna barely knew each other but Alex seemed to think that she owed him something. It was some crazy insta-love.
And then Ranna finally shares her worries with Alex and all I could think was, “What? Really? That’s where we’re going?” With this revelation in hand, I had a good idea of who done what, so to speak. All that I needed was the full details of why.
I was correct about who but the why? It felt far-fetched. And then the resolution? That really left me scratching my head. Alex and Ranna’s choices made absolutely no sense to me.
I did enjoy the hot, humid, rainy setting of the book. The author’s descriptions of Tanzania and South Africa made my travel bug flare up. It was also fun to read some South African words that I hadn’t come across before, like bakkie. It’s a pickup truck, if you’re curious.
Apparently this is a series but I don’t feel any need to continue with it.
I received this book for free through the Amazon First Reads program. I am not an Amazon affiliate.
But Ranna is not an easy woman to love. She seems attracted to Alex but she’s constantly pushing him away at the same time. She’s obviously hiding something but she won’t share her troubles with Alex. She shows up for a date with a bloody arm one night. Not long after, one of her acquaintances is found dead and Ranna is suspected of murder. What exactly is Ranna hiding? Or what is she running from?
I wanted to like this more than I did. It’s a pretty solid premise but the writing was too–jumpy? I actually restarted it about 20 pages in because I thought I had missed something. Alex and Ranna barely knew each other but Alex seemed to think that she owed him something. It was some crazy insta-love.
And then Ranna finally shares her worries with Alex and all I could think was, “What? Really? That’s where we’re going?” With this revelation in hand, I had a good idea of who done what, so to speak. All that I needed was the full details of why.
I was correct about who but the why? It felt far-fetched. And then the resolution? That really left me scratching my head. Alex and Ranna’s choices made absolutely no sense to me.
I did enjoy the hot, humid, rainy setting of the book. The author’s descriptions of Tanzania and South Africa made my travel bug flare up. It was also fun to read some South African words that I hadn’t come across before, like bakkie. It’s a pickup truck, if you’re curious.
Apparently this is a series but I don’t feel any need to continue with it.
I received this book for free through the Amazon First Reads program. I am not an Amazon affiliate.
September 14, 2018
Irma se werk raak net beter en beter, dink ek. Toe my leesstof opraak, begin ek Skoenlapper weer lees. Selfs al was Sirkus my gunsteling (ek moet Sondag nog lees), besef ek toe net skielik hoe ongelooflik Skoenlapper eintlik is. Sterk karakters, goeie intrige. Uitstekende skryfstyl. Ek hoop daar kom nog baie uit jou pen, Irma.
May 6, 2020
Wel it was a story. I didn't like it. Not the beginning or how it progressed.
Recommendation: Skip It
Recommendation: Skip It
May 23, 2020
Amazon World Book Day 2020
South Africa
Solid crime thriller. Strong female character. My first book set in Tanzania. Agree with others suggestion that it would make a good movie staring Charlize Theron.
South Africa
Solid crime thriller. Strong female character. My first book set in Tanzania. Agree with others suggestion that it would make a good movie staring Charlize Theron.
May 17, 2020
Truly awful. I cannot believe this was selected for World Book Day...ridiculous plot and awful dialogue. If only I could give a 0. I cannot believe anyone published this drivel.
July 27, 2020
Hate finished this hoping it would finally end up somewhere but just feel like I spent a long train ride with a chatty passenger who thought she was super-interesting.
March 11, 2019
Hierdie boek is die storie van 'n skrywer wat verlief geraak het op haar karakter en 'n klomp nonsens rondom aangelas het sodat sy die karakter kan verder ondersoek. Dis vol onnodige herhaling en vol van die tipe misstappe wat 'n leser wat relatief bekend is met speurverhale vinnig optel: Bloed word bruin sodra dit droog en oud word, dit bly nie rooi op 'n wit t-hemp nie. Mens gooi nie wapens in die see in nie, dit spoel uit. Watter mens wat hulself (vroee spoiler hier) VERAL as daardie mens 'n vroee slagoffer van geweld was en (einde spoiler) . Die karakters is nie konsekwent nie, en tree nie op volgens hul joernalistieke kennis of lewenskennis nie.
Ranna is baie, baie duidelik die hoofkarakter hier, en sy het so nou en dan flashes van meriete. Alex, aan die ander kant, is ongelooflik problematies. Eerstens: hy is 'n letterlike eggo van Ranna. Dieselfde tipe familiegeskiedenis (net meer boring), dieselfde werk (net meer boring), dieselfde afstand van mense en gebeure (net meer boring). Hy drink wat sy drink. Hy het geen persoonlikheid buite 'omw maar wat van RANNA' nie. Tweedens: die hoofstukke wat vanuit Alex se perspektief is klink soos 'n vrou wat praat, nie 'n man nie. As die afdeling-name die enigste rede is hoekom ek jou karakters kan onderskei is dit rerig problematies. Ek het in die laaste deel van die boek rerig verward geraak oor wie nou presies die woord doen, want Alex en Ranna klink presies dieselfde.
Derdens: Daar is absoluut GEEN REDE vir hul verhouding nie, en dit het my so frustreer dit kry sy eie paragraaf. Die konsep 'insta-love' vertaal nog nie in Afrikaans nie, maar dit is so van toepassing hier. Hulle het mekaar letterlik gesien en siedaar, hulle is lief vir mekaar. Geen gesprekke met actual inhoud nie, geen opbou van spanning nie, geen chemistry nie. Veral van Alex se kant af maak dit GEEN SIN NIE. Ranna is heeltyd laat, onbeskof, lieg konstant--hoekom sal mens skielik onbeholpe verlief raak op so iemand? Want sy's hot? Dit laat Alex net rerig pateties lyk dat hy aanhoudend aanhardloop agter iemand wat duidelik nie juis belangstel nie. Maar wag--daar's IETS tussen hulle. Love at first sight. Jy weet, soos in Twilight. Ja. Dis daai tipe romanse. Alex se letterlik op 'n stadium 'Ranna is die eerste persoon ooit wat hy nie kon lees nie'. Ugggggggh. As jou romanse met Twilight vergelyk kan word is jy in die moeilikheid.
Klein goedjies het my irriteer, soos almal se oe wat heeltyd kleur verander (nou blou, nou pers, nou raak iemand se oe donkerder, nou verklap iemand se oe 'n belangrike feit--HOE), maar baie belangriker was die drade wat teen die einde nog los le:
En dan die 'oplossing' tot Ranna se hele drama, wat ongelooflik onbevredigend was: Die onvermydelike gevolgtrekking is dat die skrywer se eerste prioriteit die 'verhouding' tussen Ranna en Alex was, en nie die moordverhaal nie. Noem dit dan romanse en kry klaar, want daar is niks, niks wat ek so haat soos liefdesverhale wat wegkruip in ander stories nie.
Ranna is baie, baie duidelik die hoofkarakter hier, en sy het so nou en dan flashes van meriete. Alex, aan die ander kant, is ongelooflik problematies. Eerstens: hy is 'n letterlike eggo van Ranna. Dieselfde tipe familiegeskiedenis (net meer boring), dieselfde werk (net meer boring), dieselfde afstand van mense en gebeure (net meer boring). Hy drink wat sy drink. Hy het geen persoonlikheid buite 'omw maar wat van RANNA' nie. Tweedens: die hoofstukke wat vanuit Alex se perspektief is klink soos 'n vrou wat praat, nie 'n man nie. As die afdeling-name die enigste rede is hoekom ek jou karakters kan onderskei is dit rerig problematies. Ek het in die laaste deel van die boek rerig verward geraak oor wie nou presies die woord doen, want Alex en Ranna klink presies dieselfde.
Derdens: Daar is absoluut GEEN REDE vir hul verhouding nie, en dit het my so frustreer dit kry sy eie paragraaf. Die konsep 'insta-love' vertaal nog nie in Afrikaans nie, maar dit is so van toepassing hier. Hulle het mekaar letterlik gesien en siedaar, hulle is lief vir mekaar. Geen gesprekke met actual inhoud nie, geen opbou van spanning nie, geen chemistry nie. Veral van Alex se kant af maak dit GEEN SIN NIE. Ranna is heeltyd laat, onbeskof, lieg konstant--hoekom sal mens skielik onbeholpe verlief raak op so iemand? Want sy's hot? Dit laat Alex net rerig pateties lyk dat hy aanhoudend aanhardloop agter iemand wat duidelik nie juis belangstel nie. Maar wag--daar's IETS tussen hulle. Love at first sight. Jy weet, soos in Twilight. Ja. Dis daai tipe romanse. Alex se letterlik op 'n stadium 'Ranna is die eerste persoon ooit wat hy nie kon lees nie'. Ugggggggh. As jou romanse met Twilight vergelyk kan word is jy in die moeilikheid.
Klein goedjies het my irriteer, soos almal se oe wat heeltyd kleur verander (nou blou, nou pers, nou raak iemand se oe donkerder, nou verklap iemand se oe 'n belangrike feit--HOE), maar baie belangriker was die drade wat teen die einde nog los le:
En dan die 'oplossing' tot Ranna se hele drama, wat ongelooflik onbevredigend was: Die onvermydelike gevolgtrekking is dat die skrywer se eerste prioriteit die 'verhouding' tussen Ranna en Alex was, en nie die moordverhaal nie. Noem dit dan romanse en kry klaar, want daar is niks, niks wat ek so haat soos liefdesverhale wat wegkruip in ander stories nie.
January 19, 2017
The story line was suspenseful until the end. I could not put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen and who was the culprit. Well written book
September 28, 2020
So awful. The writing is terrible, the story is annoying, it's so cliche and I kept waiting for it to get better and it didn't.
July 30, 2020
This was a fast paced thriller, with some interesting characters. I am rather interested to see how the series would continue, seeing as how the mystery was wrapped up pretty handily by the end. I think I will try and find some more in this series at some point.
March 22, 2025
Ek het bietjie gesukkel met die skryfstyl en pas in hierdie een. Met tye het dit gevoel of die storie nêrens heengaan nie, en dan oorweldigend vinng aanbeweeg.
Dit was wel anders genoeg dat ek graag meer van Irma se werk sal wil lees.
Dit was wel anders genoeg dat ek graag meer van Irma se werk sal wil lees.
July 18, 2021
A thrilling page turner!
May 4, 2020
Hard Rain was part of Amazon’s annual World Book Day and I opted for the audiobook in hopes of some excellent accents. The story starts with journalist Alex Derksen getting settled into his new assignment in Tanzania. When he attends a wedding, he meets the beautiful and mysterious photographer Ranna. Derksen is usually the one reporting the news but finds himself part of the story when he and Ranna come upon a dead body. Ranna’s past is following her around but she’s not forthcoming about her secrets. Derksen struggles with trusting her and uses his journalist’s nose to find out who she really is. Murder and intrigue are part and parcel with Ranna and he must decide whether to run for his life or listen to his heart. // The accents were lovely in this audiobook, but overall it was just OK. I’ve definitely read better thrillers but the location and characters were interesting. I could see it as a movie with Charlize Theron as Ranna! It was an entertaining diversion.
April 17, 2020
Hard Rain is set in Tanzania and South Africa. The setting adds intrigue and mystique to this terrific mystery novel. Ranna is a photographer when she meets Alex, who is a journalist. The story unfolds as a wealthy American is found dead, perhaps a victim of a homicide. Unfortunately for Ranna, she is a person of interest because she knew the victim as well as two others who were found dead in the United States. Some numerous twists and turns make Rain a story that will remain with you for many years.
January 27, 2014
het dit baie geniet.. film materiaal
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June 22, 2020Más reseñas en Lector Reincidente.
La historia que nos presenta Hard Rain es la de Ranna, una talentosa fotógrafa con un pasado complicado, tan complicado que todo hombre con quién se involucre de manera sentimental aparece aparece muerto, y aun sabiendo lo que arriesga decide dar una oportunidad a Alex, un periodista que también tiene un pasado complicado.
A pesar de la renuencia de Ranna de contar su pasado plenamente a Alex, la relación marcha bien hasta que Billy, un amigo cercano de la protagonista femenina, es arrojado muerto por la marea tras las inundaciones estacionales que sufre Tanzania. Todo parece apuntar a Ranna como la principal sospechosa.
El estrés y las verdades a medias hacen mella en la relación, y cuando al fin la fotógrafa le cuenta toda la verdad a Alex… es tan tarde que todo se derrumba.
Hard Rain es un libro que paso sin pena ni gloría, tiene cosas que me gustaron bastante pero ciertos detalles me echaban para atrás, en particular lo relacionado al desarrollo de la relación de los protagonistas. En ningún momento llegué a sentir que hubiera una química importante entre Ranna y Alex, posiblemente debido a los problemas personales que arrastran producto de su pasados individuales, pero si cierta dependencia emocional por parte de este último… Aunque bueno, que buena parte de la trama hubiera sido inexistente si ambos se hubieran sentado y hablado de buenas a primeras.
Dejando a un lado la relación, el desarrollo de la trama del libro me gusto. Los primeros capítulos son utilizados de manera introductoria, estableciendo los personajes centrales de la novela. Dejan también armado el escenario para que la trama evolucione desde la muerte de Billy a la resolución de los problemas acarreados por Ranna. Recién cuando llevas un cuarto del libro se siente que pasa algo importante, y a partir de ahí el ritmo de la novela por completo.
Respecto a la narrativa, en un inicio es Alex quién cumple el rol de narrador, situación que se mantiene durante la primera parte del libro. A partir de la segunda parte, nos podemos encontrar a Ranna también como narradora, el cambio entre ambos POV es palpable y bien estructurado. La perspectiva cambia cuando es necesaria para la historia, de esta forma acompaña a la trama mientras permite que se desarrolle de forma natural y agradable hacia el final.
El final de Hard Rain es uno de los elementos que más me gusto, siento que funciona bastante bien tanto como final cerrado como abierto, permitiendo que uno continué al siguiente libro de la serie Rouge con facilidad, pero si no quieres tampoco se siente que se perdiera mucho. También, es digno de mencionar el hecho que Ranna es una lectora, provocando que nos encontremos con referencias directas a libros reales, como The Secret Life of Bees de Sue Monk Kidd.
La historia que nos presenta Hard Rain es la de Ranna, una talentosa fotógrafa con un pasado complicado, tan complicado que todo hombre con quién se involucre de manera sentimental aparece aparece muerto, y aun sabiendo lo que arriesga decide dar una oportunidad a Alex, un periodista que también tiene un pasado complicado.
A pesar de la renuencia de Ranna de contar su pasado plenamente a Alex, la relación marcha bien hasta que Billy, un amigo cercano de la protagonista femenina, es arrojado muerto por la marea tras las inundaciones estacionales que sufre Tanzania. Todo parece apuntar a Ranna como la principal sospechosa.
El estrés y las verdades a medias hacen mella en la relación, y cuando al fin la fotógrafa le cuenta toda la verdad a Alex… es tan tarde que todo se derrumba.
Hard Rain es un libro que paso sin pena ni gloría, tiene cosas que me gustaron bastante pero ciertos detalles me echaban para atrás, en particular lo relacionado al desarrollo de la relación de los protagonistas. En ningún momento llegué a sentir que hubiera una química importante entre Ranna y Alex, posiblemente debido a los problemas personales que arrastran producto de su pasados individuales, pero si cierta dependencia emocional por parte de este último… Aunque bueno, que buena parte de la trama hubiera sido inexistente si ambos se hubieran sentado y hablado de buenas a primeras.
Dejando a un lado la relación, el desarrollo de la trama del libro me gusto. Los primeros capítulos son utilizados de manera introductoria, estableciendo los personajes centrales de la novela. Dejan también armado el escenario para que la trama evolucione desde la muerte de Billy a la resolución de los problemas acarreados por Ranna. Recién cuando llevas un cuarto del libro se siente que pasa algo importante, y a partir de ahí el ritmo de la novela por completo.
Respecto a la narrativa, en un inicio es Alex quién cumple el rol de narrador, situación que se mantiene durante la primera parte del libro. A partir de la segunda parte, nos podemos encontrar a Ranna también como narradora, el cambio entre ambos POV es palpable y bien estructurado. La perspectiva cambia cuando es necesaria para la historia, de esta forma acompaña a la trama mientras permite que se desarrolle de forma natural y agradable hacia el final.
El final de Hard Rain es uno de los elementos que más me gusto, siento que funciona bastante bien tanto como final cerrado como abierto, permitiendo que uno continué al siguiente libro de la serie Rouge con facilidad, pero si no quieres tampoco se siente que se perdiera mucho. También, es digno de mencionar el hecho que Ranna es una lectora, provocando que nos encontremos con referencias directas a libros reales, como The Secret Life of Bees de Sue Monk Kidd.
April 29, 2020
Death follows Ranna, a beautiful and talented photographer, like her shadow. The men she loves are murdered leaving her bereft and on the run. Now living in Africa she meets journalist Alex. The attraction is instant and is more than just sex. this frightens them both. Then a billionaire Ranna was close to is found dead, possibly murdered. Ranna is the prime suspect and Alex is unsure. But this time Ranna truly wants to live and love and is willing to set a deadly trap. But the best-laid plans can run amok and the consequences can be lethal.
I really enjoyed this novel. told from Alex and Ranna's point of views it held my interest. The characters are damaged but engaging and the African locale is well conveyed. The perp was a pleasing surprise but his motivation was far-flung and unbelievable. I detested the ending but the first three quarters is five-star material.
I really enjoyed this novel. told from Alex and Ranna's point of views it held my interest. The characters are damaged but engaging and the African locale is well conveyed. The perp was a pleasing surprise but his motivation was far-flung and unbelievable. I detested the ending but the first three quarters is five-star material.
May 15, 2020
WHEN I STARTED READING THIS BOOK IT WAS; 9% SLOW GOING, 12% NOTHING CHANGED, I STARTED TO DO SOMETHING I RARELY DO, PUT THIS ON MY DNF SHELF. I KEPT READING 20% I WAS GONNA PACK IT IN, SOMEWHERE AFTER THAT SOMETHING CHANGED AND CLICKED INTO PLACE. HOT DAMN IN THE ZONE NOW. I DID LIKE AND DISLIKE THIS BOOK, I HATED THE ENDING, I. HATE. CLIFFHANGERS. THERE ARE 2 MORE BOOKS TOO GO. I WISH EVERTHING COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, INSTEAD OF LEAVING EVERYTHING UP IN THE AIR. SHIT! ;<
April 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I’m new to the mystery/psychological thriller genre but I do feel like this book has twists and turns that I could not predict. Some aspects were predictable, some were not. I thought it was well written and translated. I understood the characters and appreciated their perspective but also rooted for them. All around great read!
June 7, 2020
Trigger warnings: murder, death, violence, blood, stalking, sexual assault, domestic violence, gore.
3.75 stars.
This was a freebie on Amazon for World Book Day this year and I figured seeing as it was a) free and b) largely set in Tanzania, I'd give it a try. And while it was a slow start, this was actually a pretty solid murder mystery! I really loved the setting and seeing the way the journalism community operated in Tanzania. I liked the two narrators and thought the two perspectives were well crafted. My one minor gripe was
I was going to say that I wasn't sure I would continue with the series, but it appears the decision has been taken out of my hands because this is the only one to have been translated from Afrikaans to English!
3.75 stars.
This was a freebie on Amazon for World Book Day this year and I figured seeing as it was a) free and b) largely set in Tanzania, I'd give it a try. And while it was a slow start, this was actually a pretty solid murder mystery! I really loved the setting and seeing the way the journalism community operated in Tanzania. I liked the two narrators and thought the two perspectives were well crafted. My one minor gripe was
I was going to say that I wasn't sure I would continue with the series, but it appears the decision has been taken out of my hands because this is the only one to have been translated from Afrikaans to English!
May 31, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. However, it just missed the mark too many times. I don't know whether this was because it has been translated or it just wasn't well written? I really struggled with the first third of the book and it didn't grip me. The story was fragmented and then turned out to be something completely different. Which was a shame as I really did want to like this. All a bit fanciful at the end.
May 5, 2020
Bordering on a. 3.5/4; took a few chapters to get into it, and was somewhat predictable with a few wrenches thrown it to throw you off but unsure how I feel about the ending. Also wonder how much got lost in translation as this was not originally written in English.
September 9, 2020
Intriguing mystery of a photographer with a past, present and no future!
Loved the characters, Alex and Isabel as well as all the others. A GREAT story of obsession, and mystery! Well crafted story.
Loved the characters, Alex and Isabel as well as all the others. A GREAT story of obsession, and mystery! Well crafted story.
August 5, 2022
Ek maak 'n punt om nie 'n boek se lokteks te lees voor ek die boek lees nie. Die enigste ander boek wat ek al gelees het van Irma Venter, is 47. So ek het GLAD nie geweet wat om te verwag met Skoenlapper nie.
Wow. Glad nie voorspelbaar nie en ek is mal oor die skryfstyl. Dis diep en dromerig.
Die mooiste stukkie in die boek, en dalk ook van die mooiste sinne wat ek al ooit gelees het, is:
"Die plaas lyk soos ek dit onthou. Mooi en oop. Die onlangse reën het die veld goed gedoen. Soms maak dit nie saak wat 'n mens van 'n plek onthou nie, of wat daar gebeur het nie, dit bly die eerste lug wat jy ingeasem het."
Nou gaan ek die ander S boeke ook moet lees.
Wat 'n fantastiese Afrikaanse lees!!
Wow. Glad nie voorspelbaar nie en ek is mal oor die skryfstyl. Dis diep en dromerig.
Die mooiste stukkie in die boek, en dalk ook van die mooiste sinne wat ek al ooit gelees het, is:
"Die plaas lyk soos ek dit onthou. Mooi en oop. Die onlangse reën het die veld goed gedoen. Soms maak dit nie saak wat 'n mens van 'n plek onthou nie, of wat daar gebeur het nie, dit bly die eerste lug wat jy ingeasem het."
Nou gaan ek die ander S boeke ook moet lees.
Wat 'n fantastiese Afrikaanse lees!!
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