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Покана за задгробен живот
Милано в днешна Италия. Предстои най-сериозната криза, пред която светът някога се е изправял. Смаяни, хората се питат какво ще правят сега, когато най-голямата мечта на човечеството се е превърнала в кошмар.
Бостън, няколко месеца по-рано. Най-сложното разследване, което Сайръс О'Мали е водил – специалният агент на ФБР се опитва да разбере защо сериен убиец пробива дупчица в главите на жертвите си след смъртта им.
Англия, 1988. Алекс Уелър преживява автомобилна катастрофа, в която загиват родителите му. На прага между живота и смъртта момченцето вижда река от светлина, а на другия бряг – баща си, който радостно му маха да отиде при него. Алекс обаче не може да помръдне и изведнъж се озовава обратно в света на живите.
От този момент Алекс има една цел: да се потопи отново в онова преживяване. Дори ако се наложи да убива.
Бостън, няколко месеца по-рано. Най-сложното разследване, което Сайръс О'Мали е водил – специалният агент на ФБР се опитва да разбере защо сериен убиец пробива дупчица в главите на жертвите си след смъртта им.
Англия, 1988. Алекс Уелър преживява автомобилна катастрофа, в която загиват родителите му. На прага между живота и смъртта момченцето вижда река от светлина, а на другия бряг – баща си, който радостно му маха да отиде при него. Алекс обаче не може да помръдне и изведнъж се озовава обратно в света на живите.
От този момент Алекс има една цел: да се потопи отново в онова преживяване. Дори ако се наложи да убива.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
184 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Cooper
26 books1,386 followersGlenn Cooper is an internationally bestselling thriller writer.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
November 4, 2016
My first but not my last Glenn Cooper read. This was a book with a real difference, an extremely interesting plot and the ability to make you think hard all the way through. Entertainment indeed but depth not to be denied. I found this book really truly fascinating.
A brilliant neuroscientist, obsessed with death since his own childhood near death experience, resorts to drastic measures to prove the existence of the afterlife.
Boston. It is the most complex investigation that Cyrus O'Malley has ever faced. The FBI special agent looks at photos of the victims for the umpteenth time and wonders why, after being strangled, the serial killer has drilled a tiny hole through their skull. For Cyrus, the case becomes an obsession. To solve it, he will be forced to give up everything he holds dear.
England, 1988. It is the most overwhelming feeling that Alex Weller has ever had. In ecstasy, at the pivot point between life and death, the boy sees a river of light flowing in front of him and on the other side there is his father, joyfully urging him to join him. But Alex cannot move, and suddenly he is back at the site of the terrible car accident that has just killed his parents.
Since that time, Alex has had only one goal: to understand and relive that experience. Even if he is forced to kill.
Alex Weller is a very clever and enigmatic man (and character), through whatever means he deems necessary he is seeking for the answer on human beings crossing over to the other side, to do this he has to get very close to death and dying and it's not pretty.
He runs a group that meets monthly, great minds who all have an interest on one level or another in the reality or proof of life after death, these are intelligent men and women, seeking something that has been intangible for so long. Alex wants to reach that place, again and again, and again.
Alex creates something amazing, something that in his mind will change the world forever. He forges ahead with this master plan to help humanity and the wake he leaves on his journey is outstanding.
This book is brilliant, there is SO much too it without it getting to be too much or too confusing, the plot is tight and unique, the characters are very real and for me easy hear and see in my imagination. The book made me wonder "what if" such a situation ever did occur. It makes you question your choices if you had them.
Meanwhile the FBI are looking for a serial killer who leaves a signature mark of a small drill mark into the brain of the victims, but why? For what purpose?. Cyrus O'Malley is determined, loyal, and passionate about finding out not only why, but who and making it all come to a halt before another victim is found.
How do the story lines intersect? THAT my friends is the key to the book, from then on in you will be so eager for more that pages will be turning and you can forget your surroundings around you. A nail biter at the end of the book, I almost forgot to breathe! Very rewarding reading and I am keen to read more of Glenn Cooper, a talented writer. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review, many thanks.
A brilliant neuroscientist, obsessed with death since his own childhood near death experience, resorts to drastic measures to prove the existence of the afterlife.
Boston. It is the most complex investigation that Cyrus O'Malley has ever faced. The FBI special agent looks at photos of the victims for the umpteenth time and wonders why, after being strangled, the serial killer has drilled a tiny hole through their skull. For Cyrus, the case becomes an obsession. To solve it, he will be forced to give up everything he holds dear.
England, 1988. It is the most overwhelming feeling that Alex Weller has ever had. In ecstasy, at the pivot point between life and death, the boy sees a river of light flowing in front of him and on the other side there is his father, joyfully urging him to join him. But Alex cannot move, and suddenly he is back at the site of the terrible car accident that has just killed his parents.
Since that time, Alex has had only one goal: to understand and relive that experience. Even if he is forced to kill.
Alex Weller is a very clever and enigmatic man (and character), through whatever means he deems necessary he is seeking for the answer on human beings crossing over to the other side, to do this he has to get very close to death and dying and it's not pretty.
He runs a group that meets monthly, great minds who all have an interest on one level or another in the reality or proof of life after death, these are intelligent men and women, seeking something that has been intangible for so long. Alex wants to reach that place, again and again, and again.
Alex creates something amazing, something that in his mind will change the world forever. He forges ahead with this master plan to help humanity and the wake he leaves on his journey is outstanding.
This book is brilliant, there is SO much too it without it getting to be too much or too confusing, the plot is tight and unique, the characters are very real and for me easy hear and see in my imagination. The book made me wonder "what if" such a situation ever did occur. It makes you question your choices if you had them.
Meanwhile the FBI are looking for a serial killer who leaves a signature mark of a small drill mark into the brain of the victims, but why? For what purpose?. Cyrus O'Malley is determined, loyal, and passionate about finding out not only why, but who and making it all come to a halt before another victim is found.
How do the story lines intersect? THAT my friends is the key to the book, from then on in you will be so eager for more that pages will be turning and you can forget your surroundings around you. A nail biter at the end of the book, I almost forgot to breathe! Very rewarding reading and I am keen to read more of Glenn Cooper, a talented writer. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review, many thanks.
October 21, 2024
The plot of this book could be defined as metaphysical science fiction. I know it sounds pompous, but in fact we are talking about a drug that allows those who use it to see what is after death, without dying of course. But the experience is so beautiful that many people want to do it forever, to the point that they commit suicide to get there... A beautiful plot for a book, right? And in fact the plot is very interesting from the first pages, in which a scientist discovers that in the moments immediately after death, a substance forms in people's skulls that allows them to see what is after death. And what does the scientist do? He kills a few people, just to prove his theory and also to take a bit of this substance to experiment on himself the effects of taking it. And once he discovers that the effects are miraculous, he works to understand what the chemical structure of the molecule is and then commissions its production to a chemical laboratory. From there on the issue becomes very interesting also for the underworld, which in fact enters forcefully into the story, with enormous profits. The issue obviously begins to interest the FBI, because between the people murdered by the scientist, the billions of dollars earned by the underworld and the dozens of suicides caused by Bliss (the name given to this substance) I would say that there is a lot of material for the FBI. And so we also get to know Cyrus, the FBI agent protagonist of the story, both from a professional and personal point of view, but I won't say more so as not to spoil and ruin the pleasure of reading. The book is not very credible, and I don't think it wants to be, but it certainly raises many questions about the afterlife, in a fairly original way and also puts a personal point of the author in the very last line of the last page, which thus increases even more the questions that the reader can ask himself. Well, ok, three stars, also because the writing style is good, neither slow nor too fast, with the characters quite well outlined and easy to remember.
June 25, 2017
Покана за задгробен живот започна обещаващо, но силното начало само я превърна в още по-голямо разочарование.
Историята: Алекс Уелър оцелява в катастрофа като дете и посвещава живота си на търсене на начин да се върне на мястото, което вижда, когато е на прага между живота и смъртта. Когато най-сетне успява, решава да го сподели със света - и светът го приветства. Какъв шанс имат ФБР и здравият разум срещу доказателство за задгробен живот?
Ммдаа, и на мен ми звучеше интригуващо.
Книгата има две основни действащи лица. ФБР агентът Сайръс О'Мали, иначе казано добрият главен герой, веднага предизвика съчувствие, макар и по банален начин (болно дете, лоша бивша жена). Но дотам - не израстна, не направи нищо интересно, не ми даде причина да се привържа към него. Алекс Уелър - лошият главен герой - също събуди съчувствие в началото, но с времето стана скучен злодей. Никой друг не направи впечатление, защото всички бяха представени чрез повторение на професиите и външния им вид, вместо да се открият чрез действия или начин на мислене.
И макар Покана за задгробен живот да започна с ФБР агент и убиец, разследване и загадки нямаше, не и за мен като читател, защото прекарах повечето време с убиеца и знаех какво прави и планира. Някъде около стотната страница, когато рязко започнах да губя интерес, вече можех да предвидя точно какво ще се случи нататък и бях абсолютно права. Една изненада нямаше.
Дори свръхестественият елемент стана скучен, защото не претърпя никакво развитие.
Най-дразнещото бе, че заплахата стана глобална, не защото злодеят беше много хитър, а защото всички останали се държаха като идиоти. На нито един човек на цялата планета не му хрумна най-очевидният аргумент срещу тази лудост. Изглежда беше запазен за "обрат" накрая.
Бих ли препоръчала Покана за задгробен живот? Само на враговете ми.
Ще прочета ли друга книга на Глен Купър? Отдавна бях хвърлила око на Библиотеката на мъртвите и знам, че една разочароваща книга не значи, че всички останали са такива, но... Определено е много надолу в списъка ми за четене.
Историята: Алекс Уелър оцелява в катастрофа като дете и посвещава живота си на търсене на начин да се върне на мястото, което вижда, когато е на прага между живота и смъртта. Когато най-сетне успява, решава да го сподели със света - и светът го приветства. Какъв шанс имат ФБР и здравият разум срещу доказателство за задгробен живот?
Ммдаа, и на мен ми звучеше интригуващо.
Книгата има две основни действащи лица. ФБР агентът Сайръс О'Мали, иначе казано добрият главен герой, веднага предизвика съчувствие, макар и по банален начин (болно дете, лоша бивша жена). Но дотам - не израстна, не направи нищо интересно, не ми даде причина да се привържа към него. Алекс Уелър - лошият главен герой - също събуди съчувствие в началото, но с времето стана скучен злодей. Никой друг не направи впечатление, защото всички бяха представени чрез повторение на професиите и външния им вид, вместо да се открият чрез действия или начин на мислене.
И макар Покана за задгробен живот да започна с ФБР агент и убиец, разследване и загадки нямаше, не и за мен като читател, защото прекарах повечето време с убиеца и знаех какво прави и планира. Някъде около стотната страница, когато рязко започнах да губя интерес, вече можех да предвидя точно какво ще се случи нататък и бях абсолютно права. Една изненада нямаше.
Дори свръхестественият елемент стана скучен, защото не претърпя никакво развитие.
Най-дразнещото бе, че заплахата стана глобална, не защото злодеят беше много хитър, а защото всички останали се държаха като идиоти. На нито един човек на цялата планета не му хрумна най-очевидният аргумент срещу тази лудост. Изглежда беше запазен за "обрат" накрая.
Бих ли препоръчала Покана за задгробен живот? Само на враговете ми.
Ще прочета ли друга книга на Глен Купър? Отдавна бях хвърлила око на Библиотеката на мъртвите и знам, че една разочароваща книга не значи, че всички останали са такива, но... Определено е много надолу в списъка ми за четене.
February 2, 2023
Не ме впечатли тази книга,много нереално ми се видя всичко. Края беше малко по добре,но като цялост не ми хареса!
April 4, 2018
In questo romanzo, l'autore ha impiantato una struttura del tutto insolita, sin dalle prime pagine veniamo a conoscenza dell'identità dell'assassino e siamo addirittura partecipi delle sue azioni, dei suoi pensieri e del suo movente. Siamo insomma al corrente dell'evolversi progressiva delle vicende. Questo ha sicuramente inciso parecchio sulla suspense e sposta chiaramente l'interesse dell'autore verso altri temi come appunto quello della vita e della morte (come si può palesemente evincere dal titolo) e, soprattutto, delle esperienze pre-morte, che saranno esplicitamente il fulcro della questione e il punto d'origine di tutta la storia.
È indiscutibile che Mr. Cooper sia un autore eccellente ma suppongo che molti di voi sia concordi con me nell'asserire che sia parecchio ossessionato dalla morte, dalle visioni apocalittiche e il loro legame con la religione. Ho letto molti dei suoi libri (credo 5 o 6) e, in ognuno di essi, ricorre sempre questo forte tema della morte variegato da tante sfumature, come il destino, la vita nell'aldilà o l'esistenza di un dio, tutti temi che appartengono allo stesso campo semantico e quindi ad un certo punto mi viene anche da pensare. È possibile che l'autore sia fortemente attratto da temi ultraterreni, che sia fortemente dimidiato tra la fede e l'ateismo, che abbia forti dubbi esistenziali o che sia diventata una pura ossessione? Forse bisognerebbe aiutarlo a superare questo ostacolo? Seppur io ami follemente la scrittura di Cooper, mi vedo costretta ad esprimere delle parole un po' aspre nello specifico riguardando per questo libro. Devo dire che mi ha un po' delusa, soprattutto nelle prime 200 pagine. Ho esplicitamente pensato, e non lo nego, che con questo libro, si siano un po' abbassati i suoi soliti standard e che il romanzo non regge assolutamente il confronto con l'incredibile trilogia che, per inciso, mi ha fatto innamorare di lui e in cui ritorna, per l'ennesima volta, il tema della morte. Non nego che mi faccia molto piacere leggere i suoi libri ma ho notato che negli ultimi tempi è davvero un fiume in piena, ha pubblicato una miriade di libri e quasi non si riesce più a stargli dietro, ma non vorrei che in questa sua grande foga nello scrivere o forse un po' a causa delle strette condizioni contrattuali si perdesse un grande autore. D'altro canto, non è ancora detta l'ultima parola. Mi rifarò con le sue nuove uscite e a quel punto saprò con certezza se il mio presagio è stato corretto o solo fandonie.
È indiscutibile che Mr. Cooper sia un autore eccellente ma suppongo che molti di voi sia concordi con me nell'asserire che sia parecchio ossessionato dalla morte, dalle visioni apocalittiche e il loro legame con la religione. Ho letto molti dei suoi libri (credo 5 o 6) e, in ognuno di essi, ricorre sempre questo forte tema della morte variegato da tante sfumature, come il destino, la vita nell'aldilà o l'esistenza di un dio, tutti temi che appartengono allo stesso campo semantico e quindi ad un certo punto mi viene anche da pensare. È possibile che l'autore sia fortemente attratto da temi ultraterreni, che sia fortemente dimidiato tra la fede e l'ateismo, che abbia forti dubbi esistenziali o che sia diventata una pura ossessione? Forse bisognerebbe aiutarlo a superare questo ostacolo? Seppur io ami follemente la scrittura di Cooper, mi vedo costretta ad esprimere delle parole un po' aspre nello specifico riguardando per questo libro. Devo dire che mi ha un po' delusa, soprattutto nelle prime 200 pagine. Ho esplicitamente pensato, e non lo nego, che con questo libro, si siano un po' abbassati i suoi soliti standard e che il romanzo non regge assolutamente il confronto con l'incredibile trilogia che, per inciso, mi ha fatto innamorare di lui e in cui ritorna, per l'ennesima volta, il tema della morte. Non nego che mi faccia molto piacere leggere i suoi libri ma ho notato che negli ultimi tempi è davvero un fiume in piena, ha pubblicato una miriade di libri e quasi non si riesce più a stargli dietro, ma non vorrei che in questa sua grande foga nello scrivere o forse un po' a causa delle strette condizioni contrattuali si perdesse un grande autore. D'altro canto, non è ancora detta l'ultima parola. Mi rifarò con le sue nuove uscite e a quel punto saprò con certezza se il mio presagio è stato corretto o solo fandonie.
November 23, 2025
This story is definitely not be for everyone but I loved it didn’t take long before it grabbed me and I had a hard time putting it down, it may also meet your fancy, who knows. “Near Death” is not my usual read, this one is rather creepy and so is one of the main characters. This genre is totally unusual: it includes crime, drugs, death, near death and science. Some gave this book an “R” rating for its violence and mature language. It didn’t turn me off one bit…. Not that bad IMO.
Set in Boston, the story revolves around FBI Special Agent Cyrus O’Malley and Dr. Alex Weller a neuroscientist at Harvard.
After being involved in an accident, Weller nearly killed has a near death experience and spends the rest of his life investigating the brain during the final moment preceding death and became so obsessed that he needed to obtain the chemical from a dying human…. he concocted a drug called “Bliss….and discretely shared his drug to close friends…it soon became a hot commodity on the streets.
When multiple bodies show up with a small hole drilled in their skull, then the FBI came into the picture and Cyrus O���Malley took the lead….
What a story, a plot with an unusual mix of mystery and an unbelievable concept of afterlife. The pressure from family and the day-to-day responsibilities all this said in a gripping narrative. The fast-paced nature and the very suspenseful plot made it hard not to be invested in a story that is both exciting and thought-provoking. As for the characters both are well-developed and complex and the care given to them added depth to this thriller. BTW, I love the final twist…it made my day.
Well-said and well done.
My thanks to Book Whisperer for this book which I received via Netgalley.
Set in Boston, the story revolves around FBI Special Agent Cyrus O’Malley and Dr. Alex Weller a neuroscientist at Harvard.
After being involved in an accident, Weller nearly killed has a near death experience and spends the rest of his life investigating the brain during the final moment preceding death and became so obsessed that he needed to obtain the chemical from a dying human…. he concocted a drug called “Bliss….and discretely shared his drug to close friends…it soon became a hot commodity on the streets.
When multiple bodies show up with a small hole drilled in their skull, then the FBI came into the picture and Cyrus O���Malley took the lead….
What a story, a plot with an unusual mix of mystery and an unbelievable concept of afterlife. The pressure from family and the day-to-day responsibilities all this said in a gripping narrative. The fast-paced nature and the very suspenseful plot made it hard not to be invested in a story that is both exciting and thought-provoking. As for the characters both are well-developed and complex and the care given to them added depth to this thriller. BTW, I love the final twist…it made my day.
Well-said and well done.
My thanks to Book Whisperer for this book which I received via Netgalley.
January 31, 2020
Este libro está calificado como novela negra, al principio no digo que no, pero es una mezcla. Para mí empieza como novela negra, avanza a ciencia-ficción y luego acaba con un libro sobre sectas, una historia extraña. Pero para extraño el protagonista, no me ha gustado, un ser narcisista que primero se preocupa por sus estudios científicos, a cosa de lo que sea y de quien sea y luego dice que le importa la paz. En fin, ha sido un libro entretenido pero cuando el protagonista, o al menos uno de ellos, se te atragantan la historia se hace, para mí en este caso, menos creíble. Eso sí, se lee rápido porque son capítulos no muy largos y hay, afortunadamente más personajes. El final tampoco me ha gustado demasiado.
January 12, 2015
I received this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
Part serial killer novel, part crime detective novel, part drug trade novel, part life after death novel, part cult leader- gone-awry novel, part end of the world novel, and a splash of sci-fi to boot, NEAR DEATH brilliantly blends several genres together to make for a book that is nearly impossible to put down! The first 10 pages or so had me wondering if it was something that I could really get into, but it quickly turned into an obsession and race to read more and find out what was going to happen next.
The story deals with Alex Weller, a doctor/scientist who had a near death experience as a kid and has since become hell bent on recreating the experience through science and synthetic drugs. His quest leads him to murder as he tries to extract a precious spinal fluid from his victims that brings forth the experience of life after death. Detective Cyrus O'Malley is hot on heels of Weller, but is also dealing with his daughter who is stricken with a brain tumor and being torn between solving the case and being there for her. Weller eventually comes to call his drug creation Bliss, and after it falls into the wrong hands, the spread of the drug becomes an worldwide epidemic as people will do anything to have the experience that it offers.
The characters, twists and writing in this book were all spectacular and left me wanting more! The story take a slight dip in quality during the second half due to some of the plot points really stretching the believability factor, but still, if you are looking for a book that seamlessly blends together several genres to make for one hell of a thrilling, page turning and pulse pounding experience, then look no further than NEAR DEATH! I give this one 4.5/5
Part serial killer novel, part crime detective novel, part drug trade novel, part life after death novel, part cult leader- gone-awry novel, part end of the world novel, and a splash of sci-fi to boot, NEAR DEATH brilliantly blends several genres together to make for a book that is nearly impossible to put down! The first 10 pages or so had me wondering if it was something that I could really get into, but it quickly turned into an obsession and race to read more and find out what was going to happen next.
The story deals with Alex Weller, a doctor/scientist who had a near death experience as a kid and has since become hell bent on recreating the experience through science and synthetic drugs. His quest leads him to murder as he tries to extract a precious spinal fluid from his victims that brings forth the experience of life after death. Detective Cyrus O'Malley is hot on heels of Weller, but is also dealing with his daughter who is stricken with a brain tumor and being torn between solving the case and being there for her. Weller eventually comes to call his drug creation Bliss, and after it falls into the wrong hands, the spread of the drug becomes an worldwide epidemic as people will do anything to have the experience that it offers.
The characters, twists and writing in this book were all spectacular and left me wanting more! The story take a slight dip in quality during the second half due to some of the plot points really stretching the believability factor, but still, if you are looking for a book that seamlessly blends together several genres to make for one hell of a thrilling, page turning and pulse pounding experience, then look no further than NEAR DEATH! I give this one 4.5/5
March 1, 2021
5 INCREDIBLE STARS!!!!
What an unbelievable read- I haven't been so ecstatic upon finishing a book since I read I am Pilgrim!!
The premise for this is a fabulous one- what if you could PROVE there is an afterlife?
What would you do to further your knowledge- and who would you kill?
After a scientist stumbles upon a formula that takes you to the other side, to what is purportedly waiting after death, it's only the beginning.
Things progress at an alarming pace, and each twist ramps up the tension until you can't wait to see what happens next- the term 'page turner' could have been invented for this book.
I don't want to go into too many plot details, as it would be better going into this read without knowing too much of how things unfold, - and boy, how they unfold!!!
I went into this read thinking it would be some sort of 'flatliners' plot- wrong, so wrong!
I should have known better, penned as it is by Glenn Cooper, author of my all-time-favourite Library of Souls series ( a series I relentlessly plug when anyone asks me for a book recommendation!).
All I can say is- if you want an unbearably exciting read, read this immediately!!
Make it your next read!!! And then tell everyone you know!!!
I'm hardly ever this nuts upon finishing a read, which shows this isn't an ordinary read!!!
The premise, the questions it poses, the entire thing is so thought provoking, while losing none of the thrilling pace.
READ THIS EVERYONE! QUICKLY!!!! :)
What an unbelievable read- I haven't been so ecstatic upon finishing a book since I read I am Pilgrim!!
The premise for this is a fabulous one- what if you could PROVE there is an afterlife?
What would you do to further your knowledge- and who would you kill?
After a scientist stumbles upon a formula that takes you to the other side, to what is purportedly waiting after death, it's only the beginning.
Things progress at an alarming pace, and each twist ramps up the tension until you can't wait to see what happens next- the term 'page turner' could have been invented for this book.
I don't want to go into too many plot details, as it would be better going into this read without knowing too much of how things unfold, - and boy, how they unfold!!!
I went into this read thinking it would be some sort of 'flatliners' plot- wrong, so wrong!
I should have known better, penned as it is by Glenn Cooper, author of my all-time-favourite Library of Souls series ( a series I relentlessly plug when anyone asks me for a book recommendation!).
All I can say is- if you want an unbearably exciting read, read this immediately!!
Make it your next read!!! And then tell everyone you know!!!
I'm hardly ever this nuts upon finishing a read, which shows this isn't an ordinary read!!!
The premise, the questions it poses, the entire thing is so thought provoking, while losing none of the thrilling pace.
READ THIS EVERYONE! QUICKLY!!!! :)
March 18, 2014
La pregunta fundamental de esta historia es: ¿hay vida después de la muerte?. Y a partir de ahí, la búsqueda y una serie de descubrimientos desatan una secuencia de eventos que conforman una historia que se vuelve absorbente y casi adictiva. Cooper consigue dar justo lo necesario para dejarnos con ganas de más, pero no demasiado como para sabotearse solo. ¿Cómo cambiaría la actitud de las personas hacia su propia vida con respuestas contundentes a la pregunta inicial?.
Sobre la edición en español, sin embargo, existen ciertos detalles técnicos que hay que identificar como tales para que la lectura no se afecte: el traductor ocupa en ocasiones lenguaje demasiado coloquial de la jerga española, sobre todo cuando algún personaje se emociona demasiado. Eso no resulta agradable, sobre todo cuando quien habla es un personaje estadounidense o británico. Además de ellos uso mucho 'de qué' de forma incorrecta. Pero ese es error del editor.
La historia está bien estructurada y los personajes tienen personalidad propia. Muy recomendable.
Sobre la edición en español, sin embargo, existen ciertos detalles técnicos que hay que identificar como tales para que la lectura no se afecte: el traductor ocupa en ocasiones lenguaje demasiado coloquial de la jerga española, sobre todo cuando algún personaje se emociona demasiado. Eso no resulta agradable, sobre todo cuando quien habla es un personaje estadounidense o británico. Además de ellos uso mucho 'de qué' de forma incorrecta. Pero ese es error del editor.
La historia está bien estructurada y los personajes tienen personalidad propia. Muy recomendable.
January 26, 2020
Glenn Cooper quando evita romanzi fotocopia di quelli di Dan Brown scrive dei bei libri,come in questo caso. Ha creato un bellissimo personaggio,protagonista della storia, un agente dell'FBI che adora leggere, colto e preparato su svariati argomenti, che cita a memoria i sonetti di Shakespeare. Ha alle spalle un matrimonio finito male ed una bambina malata di cancro al cervello. Sono tutte premesse per una storia toccante e avvincente,come infatti è riuscito a fare a mio avviso. Anche se c'è sempre l'aspetto mistico, se riporta quell'alone di mistero e di ultraterreno,stavolta lo fa in maniera molto più concreta, scientifica, e non sembra tutto campato per aria. E' reale, brutale e per questo molto più vicino a chi legge. Ciò che appare come reale potrebbe davvero accadere, e questo secondo me, in un'opera di fantasia, ha sempre il suo ruolo focale. Provare per credere.
January 10, 2024
Bel libro (anche se inferiore alla serie della "Biblioteca dei morti") dalla trama che non concede un attimo di tregua.
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
February 11, 2020
Lo empecé a leer con ganas, ya que los otros libros que he leído del autor me habían gustado, sobre todo, por su vertiente sobrenatural.
En este caso, se me ha hecho un poco pesado, me ha costado meterme en situación e implicarme con la trama o los personajes. Además, muy repetitivo!!
En este caso, se me ha hecho un poco pesado, me ha costado meterme en situación e implicarme con la trama o los personajes. Además, muy repetitivo!!
October 6, 2022
L' argomento trattato sicuramente è di grande attualità. Difficile non condannare quanto accade e sembra impossibile che così tante persone si facciano manipolare in questo modo. Purtroppo però succede sempre più spesso 😔
October 10, 2021
Si pudiera darle 0 estrellas lo haría.
Libro, super aburrido, con personajes planos y una trama super inverosímil.
No me gustó para nada.
Libro, super aburrido, con personajes planos y una trama super inverosímil.
No me gustó para nada.
November 24, 2025
Thanks to Book Whisperer and Lascaux Media for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.
This is my second Glenn Cooper of the year, I really enjoyed is genre mash up The Physician of Nineveh earlier in the year. This new one is a science-fi thriller with a dash of the supernatural, a la Dan Brown. Secret of Secrets is one of my favorite reads of the year, and this one is a perfect resonant read with that one. Alex is a Harvard neuroscientist who spends his time chasing an understanding of death and the afterlife following a near death experience as a child. He discovers a compound that is produced by the brain as a person lays dying which when taken can initiate an NDE. He will literally stop at nothing to get this compound and try to reach his dead father who he sees in his NDEs. But there on his heels is an FBI agent convinced he's crossed some serious lines to bring this new miracle drug to the world. As the drug becomes more and more popular, the world is thrown into chaos.
I loved the mash up of cutting edge science, spirituality, serial killer thriller and non-stop action. The pursuit for the compound was so interesting to me, along with the ethics of both how it was discovered and what you would do if you knew the afterlife was real. The end brings us a Waco like standoff as the movement grows into a cult. This one checked so many boxes. Love when a book keeps you turning the pages and questioning everything in your life.
This is my second Glenn Cooper of the year, I really enjoyed is genre mash up The Physician of Nineveh earlier in the year. This new one is a science-fi thriller with a dash of the supernatural, a la Dan Brown. Secret of Secrets is one of my favorite reads of the year, and this one is a perfect resonant read with that one. Alex is a Harvard neuroscientist who spends his time chasing an understanding of death and the afterlife following a near death experience as a child. He discovers a compound that is produced by the brain as a person lays dying which when taken can initiate an NDE. He will literally stop at nothing to get this compound and try to reach his dead father who he sees in his NDEs. But there on his heels is an FBI agent convinced he's crossed some serious lines to bring this new miracle drug to the world. As the drug becomes more and more popular, the world is thrown into chaos.
I loved the mash up of cutting edge science, spirituality, serial killer thriller and non-stop action. The pursuit for the compound was so interesting to me, along with the ethics of both how it was discovered and what you would do if you knew the afterlife was real. The end brings us a Waco like standoff as the movement grows into a cult. This one checked so many boxes. Love when a book keeps you turning the pages and questioning everything in your life.
June 28, 2025
Long, répétitif, prévisible, incohérent.
L’idée initiale est intéressante, les 20 premières pages annoncent une super lecture, et puis s’en suivent 430 pages de douleur et de « aller, il faut que je termine », une petite larme de désespoir au coin de l’œil.
Personnages plats, pas de retournements de situation, des recours scénaristiques faciles, des dialogues clichés, aucune prise de risques, une histoire d’amour aussi insipide qu’un verre d’eau tiède.
On sent que Cooper cherche parfois à convoquer le spectaculaire, le grandiloquent pour donner à son intrigue une dimension urgente et menaçante. Mais tout ce que cela provoque c’est un petit froncement de sourcil et un regard furtif vers le nombre de pages restantes, tellement c’est incohérent et mal amené.
(La police dans ce livre est aussi utile que le coiffeur de Philippe Etchebest, et semble être composé de 4 personnes pour un continent entier.)
Certains chapitres sont interminables et semblent être des copié-collé les uns des autres (les articles entiers de presse, les débats pseudo philosophiques niveau Segpa, les expériences de mort imminentes à répétition et identiques…)
En bref, si vous souhaitez tester votre résistance à l’ennui ou rire un peu à la lecture d’un scénario incohérent et décousu (et que vous avez du temps à perdre), n’hésitez pas !
Glenn, je doute que l’on se revoit.
L’idée initiale est intéressante, les 20 premières pages annoncent une super lecture, et puis s’en suivent 430 pages de douleur et de « aller, il faut que je termine », une petite larme de désespoir au coin de l’œil.
Personnages plats, pas de retournements de situation, des recours scénaristiques faciles, des dialogues clichés, aucune prise de risques, une histoire d’amour aussi insipide qu’un verre d’eau tiède.
On sent que Cooper cherche parfois à convoquer le spectaculaire, le grandiloquent pour donner à son intrigue une dimension urgente et menaçante. Mais tout ce que cela provoque c’est un petit froncement de sourcil et un regard furtif vers le nombre de pages restantes, tellement c’est incohérent et mal amené.
(La police dans ce livre est aussi utile que le coiffeur de Philippe Etchebest, et semble être composé de 4 personnes pour un continent entier.)
Certains chapitres sont interminables et semblent être des copié-collé les uns des autres (les articles entiers de presse, les débats pseudo philosophiques niveau Segpa, les expériences de mort imminentes à répétition et identiques…)
En bref, si vous souhaitez tester votre résistance à l’ennui ou rire un peu à la lecture d’un scénario incohérent et décousu (et que vous avez du temps à perdre), n’hésitez pas !
Glenn, je doute que l’on se revoit.
May 11, 2020
Perché non ne posso dare zero di stelle
July 2, 2023
Uhm non so di preciso cos’ho letto, ma non mi è piaciuto poi molto.
November 7, 2025
I Loved this book. From the beginning I was drawn in by the captivating story and
Characters that I could feel empathy for.
A new drug on the streets Bliss, which imitates a near death experience so perfect everyone wants more and to go back to the place of bliss. A detective hot on the pursuit of the drug inventor. Amazing plot line. Loved subject matter of near death experience and how the book invited you into each character"s unique story. 5 stars all the way. I received this ARC from NetGalley and the author in return for my honest review.
Characters that I could feel empathy for.
A new drug on the streets Bliss, which imitates a near death experience so perfect everyone wants more and to go back to the place of bliss. A detective hot on the pursuit of the drug inventor. Amazing plot line. Loved subject matter of near death experience and how the book invited you into each character"s unique story. 5 stars all the way. I received this ARC from NetGalley and the author in return for my honest review.
October 4, 2021
Entre los libros más malos que he leído definitivamente éste ocupa un puesto de honor. Algo que medité y que también alguien más comentó aquí es que el autor es bueno (no me consta, es su primera obra que leo) pero el editor es pésimo. Realmente no se si sea obra del editor, el copyeditor, o el sensibility, pero en todo caso permitir que los errores de este libro salgan impresos, es ya un crímen.
Vamos por partes. Un neurólogo que examina material biológico en un espectómetro de gases que reconoce el líquido como una molécula, que luego el doctorcito pone bajo su lengua sin ningún procedimiento previo de sintetización o naturalización (?), un espectómetro que no arroja resultado de masas o compuestos sino de moléculas (?)... ¿no será que el autor y al editor se confundieron del uso de un espectómetro y el de un secuenciador de ADN? ¿Será que sabía el autor o el editor que un espectómetro de gases destruye toda muestra analizada dado que quema a altísimas temperaturas todo material y que del rastro que dejan sus gases (sólo gases encerrados al vacío) analiza sus compuestos (no sus moléculas)? ¡Claro! Además un líquido que resulta natural del cerebro y que con sólo una jeringa se puede extraer y ponerse bajo la lengua y así disfrutar de un viaje onírico...! En tal caso andaríamos todos cual zombies no comiendo pero sí lamiendo cerebros para hablar con nuestros muertos y encontrar paz.
Ahora, es cierto que desde hace años es harto sabido que el cerebro produce ciertas drogas que son "perfectas", la oxitocina y endorfinas son ejemplo de ello. Hasta el día de hoy no se puedo sino soñar con usos o aplicaciones dado que NO es posible con nuestra tecnología extraer dichos químicos el cerebro y usarlos. Pero ¡obvio! nadie había pensado en meterles un taladro en el craneo, un pitillo y sorber cual piña colada, para disfrutar de los placeres de la química cerebral..
Hablemos ahora de la historia, un asesino neurólogo, que mata por saber más, que su detective perseguidor tiene un hija paciente de él... ¡por favor! La fórmula del batman-joker-padres asesinados-trauma-desarrollo del héroe, ya se ha usado demasiado en la literatura barata para reciclarla aquí con semejente despropósito literario. Esta receta del nemesis al que uno se somete, igualmente es ideal en tramas largas y de mucho twist, tal vez como los cómics en los que en cada episodio cualquier cosa es posible, pero en serio eso del poli bueno con cáncer y el asesino es el mejor experto en cáncer, o el poli bueno con su esposa en coma y el malo es un médico experto en pacientes comatosos, etc, la verdad es más predecible y fantasiosa que un número del Action man.
No sé si realmente llegue a leer otro libro de este autor; si lo hago será con la prevención de este desastroso encuentro previo, pero lo que si me queda claro ya mismo por los otros comentarios que he visto de este libro, es que hay autores demasiado mediocres a los que publican ampliamente, y que en cuestión de libros a quien no sepa de literatura cualquier bodrio novelístico le parece un best-seller.
Vamos por partes. Un neurólogo que examina material biológico en un espectómetro de gases que reconoce el líquido como una molécula, que luego el doctorcito pone bajo su lengua sin ningún procedimiento previo de sintetización o naturalización (?), un espectómetro que no arroja resultado de masas o compuestos sino de moléculas (?)... ¿no será que el autor y al editor se confundieron del uso de un espectómetro y el de un secuenciador de ADN? ¿Será que sabía el autor o el editor que un espectómetro de gases destruye toda muestra analizada dado que quema a altísimas temperaturas todo material y que del rastro que dejan sus gases (sólo gases encerrados al vacío) analiza sus compuestos (no sus moléculas)? ¡Claro! Además un líquido que resulta natural del cerebro y que con sólo una jeringa se puede extraer y ponerse bajo la lengua y así disfrutar de un viaje onírico...! En tal caso andaríamos todos cual zombies no comiendo pero sí lamiendo cerebros para hablar con nuestros muertos y encontrar paz.
Ahora, es cierto que desde hace años es harto sabido que el cerebro produce ciertas drogas que son "perfectas", la oxitocina y endorfinas son ejemplo de ello. Hasta el día de hoy no se puedo sino soñar con usos o aplicaciones dado que NO es posible con nuestra tecnología extraer dichos químicos el cerebro y usarlos. Pero ¡obvio! nadie había pensado en meterles un taladro en el craneo, un pitillo y sorber cual piña colada, para disfrutar de los placeres de la química cerebral..
Hablemos ahora de la historia, un asesino neurólogo, que mata por saber más, que su detective perseguidor tiene un hija paciente de él... ¡por favor! La fórmula del batman-joker-padres asesinados-trauma-desarrollo del héroe, ya se ha usado demasiado en la literatura barata para reciclarla aquí con semejente despropósito literario. Esta receta del nemesis al que uno se somete, igualmente es ideal en tramas largas y de mucho twist, tal vez como los cómics en los que en cada episodio cualquier cosa es posible, pero en serio eso del poli bueno con cáncer y el asesino es el mejor experto en cáncer, o el poli bueno con su esposa en coma y el malo es un médico experto en pacientes comatosos, etc, la verdad es más predecible y fantasiosa que un número del Action man.
No sé si realmente llegue a leer otro libro de este autor; si lo hago será con la prevención de este desastroso encuentro previo, pero lo que si me queda claro ya mismo por los otros comentarios que he visto de este libro, es que hay autores demasiado mediocres a los que publican ampliamente, y que en cuestión de libros a quien no sepa de literatura cualquier bodrio novelístico le parece un best-seller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2015
Check out this and other reviews on my blog:
https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/20...
Having read the Library of the Dead trilogy featuring FBI agent Will Piper a number of years ago (I just read that it’s being made into a movie which I think is fantastic!) and having enjoyed it immensely, I was happy to give Glenn Cooper’s three new books a try, starting with Near Death.
Near Death features FBI agent Cyrus O’Malley, an emotionally drained father caring for his young daughter, Tara, who is dying from an inoperable brain tumor. In the midst of this emotional turmoil, he is also investigating a serial killer that has left a slew of victims in his wake, young women with mysterious drill holes through their skulls.
Agent O’Malley’s nemesis is Alex Weller, a successful, charismatic neuroscientist who experienced a near death experience when he was a young boy. The memory of this experience has haunted him ever since that day and he is obsessed with developing a chemical that will allow him to repeat this experience. Alex will stop at nothing to develop this chemical, crossing the line from benign scientist and researcher to cold blooded killer, putting him squarely in the sights of Cyrus O’Malley.
The concept of near death and the afterlife, although interesting and thought provoking, can be a difficult subject to be tackled in this type of genre but I think that Glenn Cooper has done a great job in dealing with both the ethical and theological issues without making the discussions between the characters too preachy or overburdening the flow and pace of the novel itself.
Personally I felt the pace wane a bit in the second half of the book and I thought that perhaps some of the plot points were a little too convenient. However, on the whole these were just minor things that did not take away from my enjoyment of reading Near Death. Glenn Cooper has once again created a fast paced, page turner that blends thriller, suspense and science fiction all in one neat, tight package.
I give this 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lascaux Media for providing me with an e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/20...
Having read the Library of the Dead trilogy featuring FBI agent Will Piper a number of years ago (I just read that it’s being made into a movie which I think is fantastic!) and having enjoyed it immensely, I was happy to give Glenn Cooper’s three new books a try, starting with Near Death.
Near Death features FBI agent Cyrus O’Malley, an emotionally drained father caring for his young daughter, Tara, who is dying from an inoperable brain tumor. In the midst of this emotional turmoil, he is also investigating a serial killer that has left a slew of victims in his wake, young women with mysterious drill holes through their skulls.
Agent O’Malley’s nemesis is Alex Weller, a successful, charismatic neuroscientist who experienced a near death experience when he was a young boy. The memory of this experience has haunted him ever since that day and he is obsessed with developing a chemical that will allow him to repeat this experience. Alex will stop at nothing to develop this chemical, crossing the line from benign scientist and researcher to cold blooded killer, putting him squarely in the sights of Cyrus O’Malley.
The concept of near death and the afterlife, although interesting and thought provoking, can be a difficult subject to be tackled in this type of genre but I think that Glenn Cooper has done a great job in dealing with both the ethical and theological issues without making the discussions between the characters too preachy or overburdening the flow and pace of the novel itself.
Personally I felt the pace wane a bit in the second half of the book and I thought that perhaps some of the plot points were a little too convenient. However, on the whole these were just minor things that did not take away from my enjoyment of reading Near Death. Glenn Cooper has once again created a fast paced, page turner that blends thriller, suspense and science fiction all in one neat, tight package.
I give this 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lascaux Media for providing me with an e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
A brilliant neuroscientist, obsessed with death since his own childhood near death experience, resorts to drastic measures to prove the existence of the afterlife.
Milan, Italy today. It is the most serious crisis that the world has ever faced. Bewildered, young and old, believers and atheists are asking all the same, distressing questions: What will they do now that the greatest dream of humanity has turned into a nightmare? What will happen when the countdown clock winds to zero?
Boston, a few months before. It is the most complex investigation that Cyrus O'Malley has ever faced. The FBI special agent looks at photos of the victims for the umpteenth time and wonders why, after being strangled, the serial killer has drilled a tiny hole through their skull. For Cyrus, the case becomes an obsession. To solve it, he will be forced to give up everything he holds dear.
England, 1988. It is the most overwhelming feeling that Alex Weller has ever had. In ecstasy, at the pivot point between life and death, the boy sees a river of light flowing in front of him and on the other side there is his father, joyfully urging him to join him. But Alex cannot move, and suddenly he is back at the site of the terrible car accident that has just killed his parents.
Since that time, Alex has had only one goal: to understand and relive that experience. Even if he is forced to kill.
Hmmm...this was sadly disappointing. I really did enjoy the "Library of the Dead" trilogy but this is nothing at all like them. It was a little slow getting going and, once it was moving along at a decent pace, everything really did become just a little too predictable for my tastes. Some of the plot points also seemed to be just a little too convenient to be taken seriously. Finally, the religious component of the story was a little overwhelming and detracted from the suspense (for me, at least.)
If you want to read a great book from Glenn Cooper, I suggest you go and read the Library of the Dead series featuring FBI agent Will Piper. They are fantastic and much more enjoyable.
Paul
ARH
A brilliant neuroscientist, obsessed with death since his own childhood near death experience, resorts to drastic measures to prove the existence of the afterlife.
Milan, Italy today. It is the most serious crisis that the world has ever faced. Bewildered, young and old, believers and atheists are asking all the same, distressing questions: What will they do now that the greatest dream of humanity has turned into a nightmare? What will happen when the countdown clock winds to zero?
Boston, a few months before. It is the most complex investigation that Cyrus O'Malley has ever faced. The FBI special agent looks at photos of the victims for the umpteenth time and wonders why, after being strangled, the serial killer has drilled a tiny hole through their skull. For Cyrus, the case becomes an obsession. To solve it, he will be forced to give up everything he holds dear.
England, 1988. It is the most overwhelming feeling that Alex Weller has ever had. In ecstasy, at the pivot point between life and death, the boy sees a river of light flowing in front of him and on the other side there is his father, joyfully urging him to join him. But Alex cannot move, and suddenly he is back at the site of the terrible car accident that has just killed his parents.
Since that time, Alex has had only one goal: to understand and relive that experience. Even if he is forced to kill.
Hmmm...this was sadly disappointing. I really did enjoy the "Library of the Dead" trilogy but this is nothing at all like them. It was a little slow getting going and, once it was moving along at a decent pace, everything really did become just a little too predictable for my tastes. Some of the plot points also seemed to be just a little too convenient to be taken seriously. Finally, the religious component of the story was a little overwhelming and detracted from the suspense (for me, at least.)
If you want to read a great book from Glenn Cooper, I suggest you go and read the Library of the Dead series featuring FBI agent Will Piper. They are fantastic and much more enjoyable.
Paul
ARH
dnf
November 24, 2014Because most of the reviews on Goodreads of the book Near Death by Glenn Cooper are oddly in Italian, I felt contrary and decided to bust out my first-year Italian and write a review. Everybody else was doing it. I now subject you to horrid vocabulary, the sentence structure of a six year old, and conjugations that I may have made up using French rules instead of Italian ones (eh, Romance languages).
Ho ricevuto una copia del libro nuovo di Glenn Cooper, che ha scritto La biblioteca dei morti. L'ho leggo qualchi anni fa, e mi ricorda solamente l'idea ch'era un monaco con i capelli rossi che aveva degli poteri da vedere il futuro--precisamente, lui sapeva le date del morte di tutta umanità. Perché ... eh, perché lo scrittore ha voluto scrivere una scena di stupro, il monaco mette una monaca incinta dei suoi figli, e loro avranno i poteri de loro padre. Queste monachi si dedicaranno a scrivere tutte le date nel libro delle morte. Questo libro era bizarro ed un po' inquietante.
Allora, non so precisamente perché ho richiesto una copia del libro "L'ultimo giorno" (en. Near Death), ma e possibile che ho voluto sapere se S. Cooper poteva scrivere qualcosa un po' più credibile.
Lui non possa.
Oggi, ho letto solamente tre capitoli, e non voglio continuare. Queste libro parla di un uomo che ha vissuto il suo morte e ha visto qualcosa di miracolosa, ma i paramedico l'hanno rianimato prima lui può passare per l'altra riva. Questo uomo cerca tornare al condizione tra la vita e la morte da fare un'iniezione direttamente dopo il momento della morte. E non so perché, ma quest'iniezione scatenerà la fine del mondo.
Se Lei è appassionato de questo scrittore, tenti questo libro, ma ho troppo a leggere per passare il tempo con questo qui.
Ho ricevuto questo libro da Netgalley.
tl;dr I didn't like it.
Ho ricevuto una copia del libro nuovo di Glenn Cooper, che ha scritto La biblioteca dei morti. L'ho leggo qualchi anni fa, e mi ricorda solamente l'idea ch'era un monaco con i capelli rossi che aveva degli poteri da vedere il futuro--precisamente, lui sapeva le date del morte di tutta umanità. Perché ... eh, perché lo scrittore ha voluto scrivere una scena di stupro, il monaco mette una monaca incinta dei suoi figli, e loro avranno i poteri de loro padre. Queste monachi si dedicaranno a scrivere tutte le date nel libro delle morte. Questo libro era bizarro ed un po' inquietante.
Allora, non so precisamente perché ho richiesto una copia del libro "L'ultimo giorno" (en. Near Death), ma e possibile che ho voluto sapere se S. Cooper poteva scrivere qualcosa un po' più credibile.
Lui non possa.
Oggi, ho letto solamente tre capitoli, e non voglio continuare. Queste libro parla di un uomo che ha vissuto il suo morte e ha visto qualcosa di miracolosa, ma i paramedico l'hanno rianimato prima lui può passare per l'altra riva. Questo uomo cerca tornare al condizione tra la vita e la morte da fare un'iniezione direttamente dopo il momento della morte. E non so perché, ma quest'iniezione scatenerà la fine del mondo.
Se Lei è appassionato de questo scrittore, tenti questo libro, ma ho troppo a leggere per passare il tempo con questo qui.
Ho ricevuto questo libro da Netgalley.
tl;dr I didn't like it.
March 19, 2015
I have previously read one of Glenn Coopers books and I didn't enjoy it much which put me off his writing, but when another reviewer called Maxine reviewed this from Netgalley and raved about it I thought I would give it a shot. And I am glad I did. This is a cracking read. I think the best part in general was that the subject was so different from what I normally read, ok, there are FYI as part as the main characters , which is so popular and nothing new or different really.
It all starts of a bit bitty, jumping around from character to character , I found this part frustrating , but I am glad I stuck with it as it doesn't take long for things to fall into place.
I found Alex to be a rather creepy character and I didn't enjoy any of the names the author came up with but there is so much to this book.
The genre was unusual, crime, drugs, death, near death, science (a bit too much).
It is author very cleverly written and different book.
It all starts of a bit bitty, jumping around from character to character , I found this part frustrating , but I am glad I stuck with it as it doesn't take long for things to fall into place.
I found Alex to be a rather creepy character and I didn't enjoy any of the names the author came up with but there is so much to this book.
The genre was unusual, crime, drugs, death, near death, science (a bit too much).
It is author very cleverly written and different book.
April 2, 2016
Glenn Cooper always makes me think with the content of his stories. I am struggling to decide how to review this book without giving anything away. We all wonder what death will bring, whether it is simply the end of an existence on this earth, or if there is something else beyond, and that is a matter of belief rather than knowledge.
Alex Weller has made a discovery, whether his methodology is scientifically or morally acceptable is questionable. Cyrus O’Malley is a detective with a dying daughter, Tara, from whose mother he is separated. Weller’s and O’Malley’s paths cross in such a way as to make this a very interesting story, although the development of a cataclysmic threat is just stretching it a little far for me.
I am still left with questions, questions that now affect my starting on my next book because I am harking back to the problems that Glenn Cooper left me with. Others will need to read this book for themselves to see what I mean.
Alex Weller has made a discovery, whether his methodology is scientifically or morally acceptable is questionable. Cyrus O’Malley is a detective with a dying daughter, Tara, from whose mother he is separated. Weller’s and O’Malley’s paths cross in such a way as to make this a very interesting story, although the development of a cataclysmic threat is just stretching it a little far for me.
I am still left with questions, questions that now affect my starting on my next book because I am harking back to the problems that Glenn Cooper left me with. Others will need to read this book for themselves to see what I mean.
September 12, 2021
Secondo libro che leggo di Cooper, il primo fu La Biblioteca dei Morti, e anche questo come il primo è davvero un bel libro. Avvincente, con uno stile semplice che ti invoglia a leggere ancora ed ancora; personalmente avrei rimosso alcune piccole parti qua e là che avrebbero snellito di poco il libro, ma in generale è un buon libro dal quale potrebbero trarre facilmente un film di tutto rispetto. E' chiara infatti la composizione delle vicende narrate ed è facilmente intuibile come si volgerà a termine la storia. Molto interessanti gli aspetti scientifici e teologici di cui si discute in alcuni frangenti all'interno dell'opera.
January 22, 2020
Sembra di leggere la trasposizione di un telefilm poliziesco. Il libro scorre veloce, leggero, senza dover troppo pensare. Abbastanza stilizzato, schematico (sembra seguire un canovaccio già prestabilito), con un po' di luoghi comuni e colpi di scena senza sussulti, scivola via come deve farlo un libro da ombrellone, da leggere sulla spiaggia mentre il sole è troppo forte per correre sulla battigia. Tutto qui. D'estate servono anche queste storie.
July 22, 2020
Letteralmente incredibile, uno dei migliori scritti da questo fantastico autore. Lo stile di scrittura è scorrevole e non ti rendi neanche conto del numero di pagine che leggi, la storia è geniale e dà molti spunti di riflessione. Lettura perfetta per l'estate, magari sotto l'ombrellone con un bellissimo mare davanti (preferibilmente senza bambini che urlano come indemoniati 😉).
December 17, 2014
Finalmente un romanzo dignitoso :)
La fisiologia e la teologia sono parecchio improbabili, ma nell'economia del racconto sono coerenti e questo è ciò che serve ad un buon racconto.
Personaggi a tre dimensioni.
Trama interessante e ben sviluppata.
La fisiologia e la teologia sono parecchio improbabili, ma nell'economia del racconto sono coerenti e questo è ciò che serve ad un buon racconto.
Personaggi a tre dimensioni.
Trama interessante e ben sviluppata.
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