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Commandant Martin Servaz #3
Verduistering
Wat doe je als dat wat je het meest vertrouwt, je eigen leven in gevaar brengt? Dat vraagt radiopresentatrice Christine Steinmeyer zich af als ze op kerstavond een onheilspellende brief ontvangt. Was die brief wel voor haar bestemd? De inhoud wijst maar in een richting: de afzender heeft het op Christine's leven gemunt.
Ook ex-commandant Martin Servaz ontvangt ijzingwekkende post: een envelop met de sleutel van de hotelkamer waar een jaar eerder een gruwelijke moord werd gepleegd. Is de boodschap, dat het moorden nog niet voorbij is en Servaz zijn oude werk weer moet oppakken?
Na het daverende succes van Een kille rilling en Huivering neemt Minier je mee in een zenuwslopende psychologische thriller waarin obsessie en manipulatie de hoofdrol spelen, en je ergste nachtmerries moeiteloos tot leven komen.
Ook ex-commandant Martin Servaz ontvangt ijzingwekkende post: een envelop met de sleutel van de hotelkamer waar een jaar eerder een gruwelijke moord werd gepleegd. Is de boodschap, dat het moorden nog niet voorbij is en Servaz zijn oude werk weer moet oppakken?
Na het daverende succes van Een kille rilling en Huivering neemt Minier je mee in een zenuwslopende psychologische thriller waarin obsessie en manipulatie de hoofdrol spelen, en je ergste nachtmerries moeiteloos tot leven komen.
612 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2016
119 people are currently reading
2288 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Minier
46 books632 followersBernard Minier grew up in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. He had a career as a customs official before publishing his first novel, The Frozen Dead, in 2011. The novel has been translated into a dozen languages and has garnered critical acclaim as well as several literary prizes in France. Minier lives in the Essonne, south of Paris.
(source www.bookbrowse.com)
(source www.bookbrowse.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
August 21, 2018
Continuing with another Bernard Minier novel, I noticed a distinct change in this series. Whereas the first two novels were definitely crime thrillers, this one has morphed into something psychological, but still holds a strong story to keep the reader fully engaged. Christine Steinmeyer is prepared to go out on Christmas Eve when she noticed an unmarked letter in her post box. Opening it, she discovers a letter expressing that the writer intends on killing themselves and that she, the reader, is to blame. Baffled, Christine seeks to learn if she received this letter in error, but no one else seems able to determine the intended recipient. During her Christmas Day radio broadcast, a caller reaches Christine on-air to ask how she could have let someone die. Spooked, Christine is more determined to find out who is behind this and how she can stop the game. Meanwhile, Martin Servaz is on leave from the Toulouse Police, having checked himself into a facility to handle some traumatic events in his recent past. He is haunted by horrible nightmares, though is sure that he will be able to overcome them, given the time to process. He receives a random envelop one day, in which he finds a hotel key card from a high-end establishment. With little to do, Servaz follows the message left for him and makes his way to the hotel, only to learn that the room associated with the card has an ominous past. An artist took her life the year before, but there is no suspicions or foul play. Still, for many who know Servaz, he does not let this go lightly, beginning an exploration into this woman and what might have led to her demise. As Christine continues to probe her own mystery, messages begin appearing at work and by email, attributed to her. She hears things and cannot sleep, sure that someone is following her. The deeper she probes, the less things make sense and those around her have given up on her. When she finds herself in the crosshairs of the police, she knows that she is being toyed with, but cannot finger the culprit. Servaz’s off the books investigation soon finds a thread that brings Christine into his own probing. Might there be a correlation between these two cases? Minier branches out with a wonderful novel that takes readers down many a dark corridor and leaves them guessing until the final page, when the closing paragraph is left to resonate. Perfect for those who enjoyed the first two novels and readers who enjoy a dark, psychological thrillers that develop at their own pace.
Those who follow my reviews will know that I find foreign language thrillers to differ greatly from my usual English reading fare. They tend to be much darker and use characters whose angst pushes the story into odd directions. Bernard Minier is one author whose novels meet this criteria, particularly as they take the reader into the struggles of Commandant Martin Servaz. However, in this case, it is processing the horrible reality of what he has come to presumed followed the closing of the previous novel. Servaz is back, though plays a secondary role in this piece, at least in its central focus and drive. He seeks to come to terms with the likely death of a past lover who was kidnapped by a killer he put away years before. While not actively working, his mind seeks a mystery that he can solve which is why the ‘hotel key curiosity’ is right up his alley. The reader plunges into this investigation with him, keeping him occupied enough not to think of the past. That said, he does have a brief encounter with his daughter, who brings stunning news and permits the reader to witness some of the Commandant’s character development. The primary focus of the novel is Christine Steinmeyer, whose fall from glory is documented through a spiral of intensifying acts and revelations , hinting that the mental health struggles from her youth may have resurfaced. Additionally, the reader learns much about this woman’s past and how the death of her older sister may have been a long path full of red flags that no one noticed. As Christine professes her sanity, the reader can only wonder who is pulling the strings of these seemingly inexplicable actions that see her lose the trust of many. With a number of other characters who push the story along, Minier has crafted a strong collection of entities to propel this novel of a differing genre into being success. Minier does well to individualise this story without leaving the series fan feeling cheated or out of sorts. The slow advancement of the overall plot works well, as Minier is never one to get to the point in short order. Peppering the narrative with both operatic and space references, the reader can learn a great deal while trying to solve these parallel mysteries that seem to have a similar thread. By the end, the reader can breathe a sigh of relief, only to be pushed over with new information in the epilogue to stun them and pray that the fourth novel will soon be on hand.
Kudos, Monsieur Minier, for another great piece. I am eager to get my hands on the next in the series when it has been translated!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Those who follow my reviews will know that I find foreign language thrillers to differ greatly from my usual English reading fare. They tend to be much darker and use characters whose angst pushes the story into odd directions. Bernard Minier is one author whose novels meet this criteria, particularly as they take the reader into the struggles of Commandant Martin Servaz. However, in this case, it is processing the horrible reality of what he has come to presumed followed the closing of the previous novel. Servaz is back, though plays a secondary role in this piece, at least in its central focus and drive. He seeks to come to terms with the likely death of a past lover who was kidnapped by a killer he put away years before. While not actively working, his mind seeks a mystery that he can solve which is why the ‘hotel key curiosity’ is right up his alley. The reader plunges into this investigation with him, keeping him occupied enough not to think of the past. That said, he does have a brief encounter with his daughter, who brings stunning news and permits the reader to witness some of the Commandant’s character development. The primary focus of the novel is Christine Steinmeyer, whose fall from glory is documented through a spiral of intensifying acts and revelations , hinting that the mental health struggles from her youth may have resurfaced. Additionally, the reader learns much about this woman’s past and how the death of her older sister may have been a long path full of red flags that no one noticed. As Christine professes her sanity, the reader can only wonder who is pulling the strings of these seemingly inexplicable actions that see her lose the trust of many. With a number of other characters who push the story along, Minier has crafted a strong collection of entities to propel this novel of a differing genre into being success. Minier does well to individualise this story without leaving the series fan feeling cheated or out of sorts. The slow advancement of the overall plot works well, as Minier is never one to get to the point in short order. Peppering the narrative with both operatic and space references, the reader can learn a great deal while trying to solve these parallel mysteries that seem to have a similar thread. By the end, the reader can breathe a sigh of relief, only to be pushed over with new information in the epilogue to stun them and pray that the fourth novel will soon be on hand.
Kudos, Monsieur Minier, for another great piece. I am eager to get my hands on the next in the series when it has been translated!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 3, 2024
A page-turner, but too brutal for me at times ... Had to skip pages, especially those regarding animal abuse ..
November 25, 2016
Christine Steinmeyer received a suicide note on Christmas Eve. It was written by a woman, but Christine is convinced the note was delivered her by mistake. But during her radio show, she receives a call from a man who states she had let this woman die because she did nothing.
And from there, everything gets even worse. Drugs are found in her desk drawers. Someone is getting into her home and leaving CDs of operas for her to find ...they all have to do with suicide. Her co-workers are inventing horrible lies about her. There are threatening emails sent to a woman who is interested in Christine's boyfriend. And the boyfriend doesn't believe her.
Who hates her enough to want to destroy her life? Wants her to take her own life?
Martin Servaz is on leave, spending time in a clinic especially for depressed police. A reference to the first or second book in this series shows that Martin's girlfriend was murdered; the murderer still free.
Someone sends Martin a key to a hotel room ... a room where an artist committed suicide the year before. It seems that someone wants him investigating, although he is still on medical leave.
When his investigation bumps up against what Christine is going through and on the verge of suicide herself, the nightmare becomes a reality.
(Book Blurb) What if the people closest to us are not what they seem? What happens when someone takes control of your life and your relationships? And what is hiding in the darkness? In Bernard Minier's Don't Turn Out the Lights, you won’t see who’s coming after you.
This is a terrifying psychological terror. It was so hard putting this book down for any length of time. There are twists and turns I absolutely did not see coming. Not everyone is who you think they are.
I love the character of Martin Servaz. I am definitely going to get the first two books in this series ... I want to know much more about what makes him the way he is. I liked Christine, even though she was a little naive in the beginning. I really enjoyed her change of personality. There are several secondary characters that are quite interesting and add so much to this story.
Highly Recommended! Many thanks to Shailyn Tavella, Publicist, Minatour Books. The opinions here are unbiased and entirely my own.
And from there, everything gets even worse. Drugs are found in her desk drawers. Someone is getting into her home and leaving CDs of operas for her to find ...they all have to do with suicide. Her co-workers are inventing horrible lies about her. There are threatening emails sent to a woman who is interested in Christine's boyfriend. And the boyfriend doesn't believe her.
Who hates her enough to want to destroy her life? Wants her to take her own life?
Martin Servaz is on leave, spending time in a clinic especially for depressed police. A reference to the first or second book in this series shows that Martin's girlfriend was murdered; the murderer still free.
Someone sends Martin a key to a hotel room ... a room where an artist committed suicide the year before. It seems that someone wants him investigating, although he is still on medical leave.
When his investigation bumps up against what Christine is going through and on the verge of suicide herself, the nightmare becomes a reality.
(Book Blurb) What if the people closest to us are not what they seem? What happens when someone takes control of your life and your relationships? And what is hiding in the darkness? In Bernard Minier's Don't Turn Out the Lights, you won’t see who’s coming after you.
This is a terrifying psychological terror. It was so hard putting this book down for any length of time. There are twists and turns I absolutely did not see coming. Not everyone is who you think they are.
I love the character of Martin Servaz. I am definitely going to get the first two books in this series ... I want to know much more about what makes him the way he is. I liked Christine, even though she was a little naive in the beginning. I really enjoyed her change of personality. There are several secondary characters that are quite interesting and add so much to this story.
Highly Recommended! Many thanks to Shailyn Tavella, Publicist, Minatour Books. The opinions here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 3, 2021
Güzel bir psikolojik, gerilimdi ancak Servaz figüran gibi bir şeydi kitapta. Çok az sahnesi vardı. Ziegler hiç yoktu.
January 5, 2024
El libro se me ha hecho pesado al principio (para mi gusto sobran pag). Mucha descripción, datos que no aportan nada…
La parte de saña con el perro tampoco la he entendido, que necesidad tiene este autor de torturar animales.
La trama en la segunda parte del libro se vuelve más interesante y con mucha acción. Tiene una historia original. Giros y mas giros para un final correcto.
La parte de saña con el perro tampoco la he entendido, que necesidad tiene este autor de torturar animales.
La trama en la segunda parte del libro se vuelve más interesante y con mucha acción. Tiene una historia original. Giros y mas giros para un final correcto.
November 20, 2016
"Don't Turn Out the Lights" is an intense psychological thriller. Christine, a radio personality, receives a suicide note without a name or address on Christmas Eve. She is supposed to be meeting her fiancé Gerald's parents, so she is forced to do very little and mostly ignores it. On Christmas, while on the radio, a caller accuses her of letting someone die. Although she takes the letter to the police, they believe that she created it herself. As her life turns into a downward spiral, Christine is slowly isolated, frightened, and destroyed by an unknown attacker.
At the same time, Servaz, who is out on sick leave from the police department, begins to receive clues which are tied to the death of an artist named Celia. As he begins to put together the clues of Celia's apparent suicide, he finds links which tie back to Christine's case (of which he was unaware at the time). Servaz and Christine's stories are juxtaposed in the book as we flip back and forth between the two. The policeman to which Christine reports the odd occurrences around her serves as a foil to the competent and sympathetic Servaz, who she meets much later in the book.
What is perhaps the most frightening part of the book is how isolated Christine becomes. She is persecuted by her former friends, colleagues, fiancé, and the police. Everyone seems to believe that she is doing all this herself and writes her off as a crazy without a second look at the illogicality of her doing these things. And from their point of view, the occurrences do seem as though she could be crazy/doing them herself. Why would someone break into your email to send those messages? Why would someone do these terrible things? It would make more sense for her just to be crazy. This is perhaps the scariest part of the book because then this could also happen to you- you think your friends and colleagues would see your side, but would they when faced with these odd events?
The book is masterfully and terrifyingly written, gripping the reader from the beginning and never allowing for a breath. Christine is an interesting character, as she finds strength from within when abandoned by others, undergoing a unique transformation. She also intersperses events from her childhood which add another layer of intrigue/mystery about her sister. This book definitely needs some content warnings for statutory rape, multiple drugged rapes, animal cruelty, suicides, and sexual harassment. It is not for the faint of heart.
Servaz is a fantastic detective and clearly breaks the mold in the book. This is part of a series about him, and we get tastes of this from an ongoing case about his lover Marianne's death. Aside form these few mentions, the book is entirely a stand-alone. I have not read the past books in this series and never felt lost in the story/book. My favorite character was Max, the homeless man who lives across the street from Christine, and who finds himself drawn into the plot. He was such an interesting mix of drug addict and opera-lover, plus he provided support to Christine, and was just a really fascinating character all-around.
Overall, it's an incredible thriller which will keep you locked in your seat and biting your nails all the way until the end. Please note that I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
At the same time, Servaz, who is out on sick leave from the police department, begins to receive clues which are tied to the death of an artist named Celia. As he begins to put together the clues of Celia's apparent suicide, he finds links which tie back to Christine's case (of which he was unaware at the time). Servaz and Christine's stories are juxtaposed in the book as we flip back and forth between the two. The policeman to which Christine reports the odd occurrences around her serves as a foil to the competent and sympathetic Servaz, who she meets much later in the book.
What is perhaps the most frightening part of the book is how isolated Christine becomes. She is persecuted by her former friends, colleagues, fiancé, and the police. Everyone seems to believe that she is doing all this herself and writes her off as a crazy without a second look at the illogicality of her doing these things. And from their point of view, the occurrences do seem as though she could be crazy/doing them herself. Why would someone break into your email to send those messages? Why would someone do these terrible things? It would make more sense for her just to be crazy. This is perhaps the scariest part of the book because then this could also happen to you- you think your friends and colleagues would see your side, but would they when faced with these odd events?
The book is masterfully and terrifyingly written, gripping the reader from the beginning and never allowing for a breath. Christine is an interesting character, as she finds strength from within when abandoned by others, undergoing a unique transformation. She also intersperses events from her childhood which add another layer of intrigue/mystery about her sister. This book definitely needs some content warnings for statutory rape, multiple drugged rapes, animal cruelty, suicides, and sexual harassment. It is not for the faint of heart.
Servaz is a fantastic detective and clearly breaks the mold in the book. This is part of a series about him, and we get tastes of this from an ongoing case about his lover Marianne's death. Aside form these few mentions, the book is entirely a stand-alone. I have not read the past books in this series and never felt lost in the story/book. My favorite character was Max, the homeless man who lives across the street from Christine, and who finds himself drawn into the plot. He was such an interesting mix of drug addict and opera-lover, plus he provided support to Christine, and was just a really fascinating character all-around.
Overall, it's an incredible thriller which will keep you locked in your seat and biting your nails all the way until the end. Please note that I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
April 8, 2022
Una prosa inteligente pero le sobran muchas páginas y, sobre todo, las torturas y asesinatos de los perros.
February 6, 2017
I was actually not looking forward to Don't Turn Out the Lights, only because it looked long and wordy. I enjoyed the first two books but I didn't love it.
But I was surprised...in a good way!
The third book in the Commandant Martin Servaz series was a surprise because it had less to do with the formidable detective and more to do with the main character, Christine Steinmeyer. She is being stalked and harassed with strange letters, threatening phone calls and mind games determined to send her spiraling into a vortex of self loathing and depression.
Her story intertwines with Commandant Martin Servas with the POVs shifting back and forth as he is recuperating in a rest home from a devastating loss delivered by his arch enemy, Hirtmann, while at the same time he is lured into investigating a strange death that strangely parallels the troubles that are disrupting Christine's life. Neither of them meet until nearly at the end and the fact that the readers knows more than they do ratchets up the tension.
There are multiple characters, some shady, others their motives undetermined, as Christine tries to decipher and follow the clues as to who may be trying to ruin her life. Mr. Minier takes his sweet time in detailing Christine's background (which explains the long prose), but for good reason. He is setting up the double twist of an ending, one which I saw coming and the other, the best part, I have to say, I did not see until I read it.
A multitude of topics is covered in the novel including the themes of stalking (the thriller trend of 2017, I suspect), obsession, depression, suicide, astronauts, space exploration, endurance, love, and my personal favorite, vengeance.
Don't Turn Out the Lights is an unusual mystery in that it takes a turn for the unexpected. The women take the lead, not the men. Christine starts out as a passive, almost docile woman but as the appalling events that you imagine might ruin or destroy her continue to cause her despair and anguish, instead, do the opposite. She turns into someone else, darker, harsher, a survivor, despite the tragic loss of her naivete and innocence and in turn, becomes the hunter, no longer the prey.
Once this happens, the mood and tone of the book shifts dramatically and pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. In the beginning, I did not like Christine. I thought she was going to turn into the tragic heroine, the damsel in distress in need of Commandant Servaz's help, like how most of these female characters turn into.
But I was wrong. And damnnnn, was I happy about that!
I can't wait to read the next book!
But I was surprised...in a good way!
The third book in the Commandant Martin Servaz series was a surprise because it had less to do with the formidable detective and more to do with the main character, Christine Steinmeyer. She is being stalked and harassed with strange letters, threatening phone calls and mind games determined to send her spiraling into a vortex of self loathing and depression.
Her story intertwines with Commandant Martin Servas with the POVs shifting back and forth as he is recuperating in a rest home from a devastating loss delivered by his arch enemy, Hirtmann, while at the same time he is lured into investigating a strange death that strangely parallels the troubles that are disrupting Christine's life. Neither of them meet until nearly at the end and the fact that the readers knows more than they do ratchets up the tension.
There are multiple characters, some shady, others their motives undetermined, as Christine tries to decipher and follow the clues as to who may be trying to ruin her life. Mr. Minier takes his sweet time in detailing Christine's background (which explains the long prose), but for good reason. He is setting up the double twist of an ending, one which I saw coming and the other, the best part, I have to say, I did not see until I read it.
A multitude of topics is covered in the novel including the themes of stalking (the thriller trend of 2017, I suspect), obsession, depression, suicide, astronauts, space exploration, endurance, love, and my personal favorite, vengeance.
Don't Turn Out the Lights is an unusual mystery in that it takes a turn for the unexpected. The women take the lead, not the men. Christine starts out as a passive, almost docile woman but as the appalling events that you imagine might ruin or destroy her continue to cause her despair and anguish, instead, do the opposite. She turns into someone else, darker, harsher, a survivor, despite the tragic loss of her naivete and innocence and in turn, becomes the hunter, no longer the prey.
Once this happens, the mood and tone of the book shifts dramatically and pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. In the beginning, I did not like Christine. I thought she was going to turn into the tragic heroine, the damsel in distress in need of Commandant Servaz's help, like how most of these female characters turn into.
But I was wrong. And damnnnn, was I happy about that!
I can't wait to read the next book!
August 22, 2019
It's been four years since I read The Circle, and while I've enjoyed this Don't Turn Out the Lights, I didn't like it as much as the previous ones.
The plot twist about Commandant Servaz being on leave due to the gift he recieved from Hirtman is interesting but it keeps Martin out of the spotlight and we know the story through Christine, and that sometimes is too much. Despite that, this is a good book, the story is interesting once you get used to the level of anguish and the narrative pace.
The plot twist about Commandant Servaz being on leave due to the gift he recieved from Hirtman is interesting but it keeps Martin out of the spotlight and we know the story through Christine, and that sometimes is too much. Despite that, this is a good book, the story is interesting once you get used to the level of anguish and the narrative pace.
December 22, 2016
An Intense and Complex Thriller. This suspense novel is not to be missed. It is well thought out, easy to read and it keeps your attention.
Don't Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier is a mystery suspense involving returning character, Detective Martin Servaz, whose past haunts him; and Christine, a woman who receives a mysterious note in her mailbox on Christmas Eve, which sounds an awful lot like a suicide note. Thereafter, Christine is harassed, and then terrorized on a daily basis and begins to fear for her life, though no one believes her. Christine, however, fights back and figures out who is terrorizing her. Detective Servaz works to investigate a different angle of related cases, while fighting his own demons.
This book captivates from the first chapter and won't let go. The character of Martin Servaz, his angst and his pain, consume the reader. The character of Christine is very real. She exudes fear, exasperation, and anger at her situation. The author, Bernard Minier does a fantastic job of writing characters that the readers really care about. This is one where the ending was surprising and complex and kept the reader guessing until the last moment. It is not to be missed. Note that while this book is part of a series, I did not read the first two installments and was able to get the gist of what happened previously and follow along quite well.
This is a phenomenal mystery/suspense and I highly recommend it. Further, I can't wait to read Bernard Minier's other novels in the series about Martin Servaz!
Thank you to Shailyn Tavella, Associate Publicist of Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 12/20/16.
Don't Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier is a mystery suspense involving returning character, Detective Martin Servaz, whose past haunts him; and Christine, a woman who receives a mysterious note in her mailbox on Christmas Eve, which sounds an awful lot like a suicide note. Thereafter, Christine is harassed, and then terrorized on a daily basis and begins to fear for her life, though no one believes her. Christine, however, fights back and figures out who is terrorizing her. Detective Servaz works to investigate a different angle of related cases, while fighting his own demons.
This book captivates from the first chapter and won't let go. The character of Martin Servaz, his angst and his pain, consume the reader. The character of Christine is very real. She exudes fear, exasperation, and anger at her situation. The author, Bernard Minier does a fantastic job of writing characters that the readers really care about. This is one where the ending was surprising and complex and kept the reader guessing until the last moment. It is not to be missed. Note that while this book is part of a series, I did not read the first two installments and was able to get the gist of what happened previously and follow along quite well.
This is a phenomenal mystery/suspense and I highly recommend it. Further, I can't wait to read Bernard Minier's other novels in the series about Martin Servaz!
Thank you to Shailyn Tavella, Associate Publicist of Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Goodreads and Amazon on 12/20/16.
February 7, 2017
Absolutely brilliant. This was just one twist on another and even though I'm not entirely sure why the 2 DNA samples are important, I do know that Servaz is gonna find Marianne. Hopefully. And kill Hirtmann maybe?
Also, thank goodness Christine is still alive. But did Mila even realise that she did something wrong?!
Also, thank goodness Christine is still alive. But did Mila even realise that she did something wrong?!
November 13, 2019
Vēl viens aizraujošs psiholiģisks trilleris. Kā radīts šādam lietainam laikam, lai pēc grāmatas izlasīšanas tiešām būtu bail izslēgt gaismu, jo kad pieķērsieties šai grāmatai, kad to pabeigsiet, noteikti, būs jau iestājusies tumsa, nav iespējams to nolikt malā.
Kaut kā biju palaidusi garām, ka šī ir trešā grāmata, grāmatu sērijā par izmeklētāju Servazu, bet noteikti nav obligāti jāizlasa pirmās divas, lai varētu ķerties pie šīs, bet es noteikti izlasīšu arī tās.
Grāmata savā varā jau paņem ar pirmajām lapaspusēm, jau pats ievads iedveš bailes, kas ir lielisks ievads vēl asins stindzinošākam un aizraujošākam stāstam.
Autoram ir apbrīnojams talants tik meistarīgi savērpt sižetu, kas neļauj garlaikoties. Stāsta pagriezana punktus un sarežģījumus, es vienkārši nespēju uzminēt, katra jauna nodaļa, man bija kā pārsteigums un īsto vainīgo nemaz nav iespējams izskaitļot, nu vismaz man neizdevās.
Kaut kā biju palaidusi garām, ka šī ir trešā grāmata, grāmatu sērijā par izmeklētāju Servazu, bet noteikti nav obligāti jāizlasa pirmās divas, lai varētu ķerties pie šīs, bet es noteikti izlasīšu arī tās.
Grāmata savā varā jau paņem ar pirmajām lapaspusēm, jau pats ievads iedveš bailes, kas ir lielisks ievads vēl asins stindzinošākam un aizraujošākam stāstam.
Autoram ir apbrīnojams talants tik meistarīgi savērpt sižetu, kas neļauj garlaikoties. Stāsta pagriezana punktus un sarežģījumus, es vienkārši nespēju uzminēt, katra jauna nodaļa, man bija kā pārsteigums un īsto vainīgo nemaz nav iespējams izskaitļot, nu vismaz man neizdevās.
November 17, 2020
Lielisks un baiss gabals. Tik vienkārši, izrādās, ir cilvēku iznīcināt, salauzt, izolēt, radīt baumas, apsūdzēt. Ticēt - neticēt? Un ja nu tā ir patiesība? Un ja nav?
December 16, 2023
Tercera novela de la serie Servaz y para mí desde luego la mejor, Minier se va superando en casa una. La ambientación es muy buena, el caso engancha desde el principio y se desarrolla sin prisa pero sin pausa y el final redondo, me ha encantado. A por la cuarta!
July 31, 2017
When did it become de rigueur to try to manipulate your reader's sensibilities by depicting the torture, maiming and death of beloved pets?
Disturbingly, I have encountered this with increasing frequency lately. So, I almost stopped reading this book on something like page two when the man consigns his dog to being ripped apart by wolves. Doesn't just put the dog out there, though. The writer makes sure you understand the animal's loyal heart and devotion that are so betrayed by his owner. Now...I only continued reading because it was a dream sequence. The dog was okay in 'real' life.
I actually threw the book across the room and vowed never to read anything more by this person at the maiming of the little dog Iggy. Again, portrayed in a way that plays on the reader's emotions in the cheapest, most tawdry way a writer can dredge up.
Minier, are you really so bankrupt in the talent department that this is all you know how to write when you want to elicit horror and sympathy? Or are you just lazy?
This is a DNF for me, and I would give it negative stars, if that were possible.
Disturbingly, I have encountered this with increasing frequency lately. So, I almost stopped reading this book on something like page two when the man consigns his dog to being ripped apart by wolves. Doesn't just put the dog out there, though. The writer makes sure you understand the animal's loyal heart and devotion that are so betrayed by his owner. Now...I only continued reading because it was a dream sequence. The dog was okay in 'real' life.
I actually threw the book across the room and vowed never to read anything more by this person at the maiming of the little dog Iggy. Again, portrayed in a way that plays on the reader's emotions in the cheapest, most tawdry way a writer can dredge up.
Minier, are you really so bankrupt in the talent department that this is all you know how to write when you want to elicit horror and sympathy? Or are you just lazy?
This is a DNF for me, and I would give it negative stars, if that were possible.
June 11, 2016
The first 300 pages left me breathless and, well, not wanting to put out the light! Unfortunately, there were well over 300 pages after that, and at some point I longed for an editor. I noticed that the vocabulary/writing is somewhat repetitive- this is great for a language student like me and I felt that my contemporary French was definitely improved by reading this book. However that's the sort of thing that I imagine would be less enchanting for a native speaker!
October 8, 2018
Vond deze ietsje minder dan zijn voorganger (maar nog steeds heel goed). Mede doordat het eigenlijk meer een psycholigische thriller is en dus anders van opzet dan de vorige 2 delen. Christine speelt de hoofdrol en Servaz is veel minder aanwezig. Toch heb ik genoten van het boek. Leest makkelijk weg ondanks dat het een dikke pil is.
July 13, 2025
Thriller incroyable !!
L’histoire est complètement folle et m’a retourné le cerveau, le plot twist m’a vraiment surprise je m’y attendais pas du tout ??!
Et l’enchaînement des évènements après la révélation du stalker était tout aussi surprenant !!
Le livre est super prenant et nous tient en haleine jusqu’a la fin, impossible de le lâcher,
j’aime trop ce genre de thriller
L’histoire est complètement folle et m’a retourné le cerveau, le plot twist m’a vraiment surprise je m’y attendais pas du tout ??!
Et l’enchaînement des évènements après la révélation du stalker était tout aussi surprenant !!
Le livre est super prenant et nous tient en haleine jusqu’a la fin, impossible de le lâcher,
j’aime trop ce genre de thriller
June 7, 2020
“Bernard Minier - Verduistering”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wauw! Eerlijk gezegd vind ik dit boek tot nu toe het beste boek van de serie. Het slaat een lichtjes andere weg in & is écht een psychologische mindfuck! Ik hou van psychologische spelletjes 🙊😂
Topper dit! Op naar het 4e boek!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wauw! Eerlijk gezegd vind ik dit boek tot nu toe het beste boek van de serie. Het slaat een lichtjes andere weg in & is écht een psychologische mindfuck! Ik hou van psychologische spelletjes 🙊😂
Topper dit! Op naar het 4e boek!
July 5, 2022
4,25⭐
Tercera entrega de la serie del comandante Martín Servaz. De las tres que llevo leídas, esta es a mi juicio la mejor.
En esta ocasión nos vamos a encontrar con que Minier desarrolla de forma paralela dos subtramas principales que van a converger.
Servaz está de baja en un centro de reposo recuperándose de una fuerte depresión. Un día recibe por correo la llave electrónica de una habitación de hotel en la que un año antes una artista se suicidó. Intrigado, decide investigar por su cuenta.
Al mismo tiempo, Christine Steinmeyer, periodista radiofónica, encuentra en su buzón lo que en un primer momento cree la carta anónima de una suicida. A partir de ese momento comenzará a sufrir un acoso implacable, una pesadilla que atenta contra su cordura.
Mis impresiones
Como ya he comentado en otras reseñas de sus libros, Minier no es un autor de negra al uso. Su prosa es uno de sus puntos fuertes. Leerlo es toda una experiencia.
La trama del libro es inteligente, está muy bien desarrollada y engancha. Comienza fuerte y no decae. No es una autor de ritmo frenético, pero con cada capítulo aporta una nueva escalada en la tensión. Es un enganche creciente que, al menos en mi caso, se mantuvo de principio a fin. Por un lado vamos a asistir al gradual desmoronamiento de Christine, por otro a la investigación que lleva a cabo Servaz. Las piezas las iremos encajando a medida que a su vez las encaja el comandante. Cada vez que parece que ya tenemos todas las claves, Minier da una nueva vuelta de tuerca. Así hasta llegar a un final al que no tengo un pero que ponerle.
Aunque en menor medida que en novelas anteriores, vamos a volver a encontrarnos con el equipo de Servaz, Esperandieu y Samira. Irene Ziegler, en cambio, no aparece en esta novela. Lo he sentido ya que era de mis personajes preferidos. Christine, la otra protagonista de la novela, es un personaje muy complejo. Marcada por un suceso de su infancia, tiene una personalidad frágil y resiliente al tiempo. Se hunde en los abismos, pero nunca del todo. Se levanta, resurge de sus cenizas y resulta creíble porque busca apoyos, no lo hace sola. Minier es muy de cuidar ese tipo de detalles en un género en el que la credibilidad de tramas tan elaboradas dependen de ello.
Junto con ellos secundarios como Mila, Marcus, Gerald, Denise y Cordelia. Estamos hablando de negra, pero le han bastado tres trazos para caracterizarlos.
La ambientación en el invierno pirenaico sigue siendo de nota. La nieve y el frío que parece que se sienten. Los paisajes se visualizan igual que las rutas y la ciudad de Toulouse. La documentación en torno al acoso y la aventura espacial igualmente notable.
El final a la altura. Bien el desenlace principal y mejor esos remates a modo de estampas cortas, que nos muestran lo que ha sido o va a ser de cada personaje.
En conclusión, una novela negra que mantiene en vilo al lector. Inteligente y bien resuelta. Recomendable.
Tercera entrega de la serie del comandante Martín Servaz. De las tres que llevo leídas, esta es a mi juicio la mejor.
En esta ocasión nos vamos a encontrar con que Minier desarrolla de forma paralela dos subtramas principales que van a converger.
Servaz está de baja en un centro de reposo recuperándose de una fuerte depresión. Un día recibe por correo la llave electrónica de una habitación de hotel en la que un año antes una artista se suicidó. Intrigado, decide investigar por su cuenta.
Al mismo tiempo, Christine Steinmeyer, periodista radiofónica, encuentra en su buzón lo que en un primer momento cree la carta anónima de una suicida. A partir de ese momento comenzará a sufrir un acoso implacable, una pesadilla que atenta contra su cordura.
Mis impresiones
Como ya he comentado en otras reseñas de sus libros, Minier no es un autor de negra al uso. Su prosa es uno de sus puntos fuertes. Leerlo es toda una experiencia.
La trama del libro es inteligente, está muy bien desarrollada y engancha. Comienza fuerte y no decae. No es una autor de ritmo frenético, pero con cada capítulo aporta una nueva escalada en la tensión. Es un enganche creciente que, al menos en mi caso, se mantuvo de principio a fin. Por un lado vamos a asistir al gradual desmoronamiento de Christine, por otro a la investigación que lleva a cabo Servaz. Las piezas las iremos encajando a medida que a su vez las encaja el comandante. Cada vez que parece que ya tenemos todas las claves, Minier da una nueva vuelta de tuerca. Así hasta llegar a un final al que no tengo un pero que ponerle.
Aunque en menor medida que en novelas anteriores, vamos a volver a encontrarnos con el equipo de Servaz, Esperandieu y Samira. Irene Ziegler, en cambio, no aparece en esta novela. Lo he sentido ya que era de mis personajes preferidos. Christine, la otra protagonista de la novela, es un personaje muy complejo. Marcada por un suceso de su infancia, tiene una personalidad frágil y resiliente al tiempo. Se hunde en los abismos, pero nunca del todo. Se levanta, resurge de sus cenizas y resulta creíble porque busca apoyos, no lo hace sola. Minier es muy de cuidar ese tipo de detalles en un género en el que la credibilidad de tramas tan elaboradas dependen de ello.
Junto con ellos secundarios como Mila, Marcus, Gerald, Denise y Cordelia. Estamos hablando de negra, pero le han bastado tres trazos para caracterizarlos.
La ambientación en el invierno pirenaico sigue siendo de nota. La nieve y el frío que parece que se sienten. Los paisajes se visualizan igual que las rutas y la ciudad de Toulouse. La documentación en torno al acoso y la aventura espacial igualmente notable.
El final a la altura. Bien el desenlace principal y mejor esos remates a modo de estampas cortas, que nos muestran lo que ha sido o va a ser de cada personaje.
En conclusión, una novela negra que mantiene en vilo al lector. Inteligente y bien resuelta. Recomendable.
May 1, 2019
this book is a mess!!!!
June 3, 2020
Dieser dritte Band der Martin-Servaz-Reihe hinterlässt einen etwas merkwürdigen Eindruck – vor allem weil er sich nicht wie ein Martin-Servaz-Krimi anfühlt. Der charismatische Kommissar spielt zwar auch diesmal insgesamt betrachtet eine bedeutende Rolle, taucht aber in mindestens der Hälfte dieser Geschichte überhaupt nicht auf, sodass sich "Wolfsbeute" für Fans der Figur und der Reihe möglicherweise wie eine kleine Mogelpackung anfühlen könnte.
Dabei fängt der Thriller zunächst vielversprechend an: Servaz hat die Jagd nach dem entflohenen Serienkiller und seinem Erzrivalen Julian Hirtmann an die Grenzen der Belastbarkeit geführt, sodass er sich nun in einem Sanatorium für Polizisten im Rahmen einer anstrengenden Reha wieder zurück ins Leben arbeiten muss. Doch selbst da taucht Hirtmann noch in seinen Träumen auf und führt zu albtraumhaften Bildern, die Servaz kaum aus dem Kopf bekommt. Dann erhält er jedoch plötzlich ein anonym abgeschicktes Paket mit einem Schlüssel, der ihn in das Zimmer eines renommierten Hotels führt – in das Zimmer, wo eine Künstlerin vor einigen Jahren Suizid begangen hat.
Die eigentliche Hauptfigur dieses Buches ist aber die Radiomoderatorin Christine Steinmeyer, die ausgerechnet am Weihnachtsabend ebenfalls eine unliebsame Überraschung von einem unbekannten Absender erhält. In einem anonymen Brief droht der Verfasser nämlich mit Selbstmord und Christine weiß nicht, wie sie mit dieser Botschaft umgehen soll. Handelt es sich hier nur um einen dummen Scherz oder tatsächlich um einen echten Hilferuf, dem sie nachgehen muss? Doch wie soll sie überhaupt herausfinden, wer diesen Brief geschrieben hat?
Trotz der interessanten ersten Szenen braucht "Wolfsbeute" eine Weile, um in die Gänge zu kommen. Das liegt zum einen daran, dass beide Fälle anfangs etwas aufgezwungen wirken, aber auch an den Figuren dieses Buches. Servaz taucht nämlich wie erwähnt kaum auf und die Figuren in Christines Umfeld (inklusive Christine selbst) wirken vorsichtig formuliert alle etwas unnahbar, man könnte allerdings auch "arrogant" und "unsympathisch" sagen. Das führt dazu, dass einem das Schicksal der Protagonistin, welches sich im Verlauf der Geschichte durchaus sehr dramatisch entwickelt, vielleicht nicht unbedingt egal ist, es fällt aber auch schwer, mit ihr Mitleid zu haben, selbst wenn ihr Verhalten nicht immer Ursache ihrer Probleme ist.
So plätschert die Handlung in der ersten Hälfte vor sich hin, spitzt sich im zweiten Teil dann jedoch immer mehr zu und enthüllt dabei auch verblüffende Zusammenhänge, die man so nicht erwartet hätte. Allerdings nimmt dies manchmal auch regelrecht absurd wirkende Ausmaße an (Stichwort: Weltraum) und ist zwar stellenweise wirklich sehr spannend, aber auch nicht gerade glaubwürdig, vor allem was so manche Wendung zum Ende des Buches betrifft.
In anderer Besetzung wäre "Wolfsbeute" vermutlich ein richtig guter Thriller, als Teil der Martin-Servaz-Reihe wirkt dieser Band aber irgendwie unpassend und fügt sich nicht gut an die vorherigen beiden Bände an, sondern wirkt eher wie ein Zwischenspiel, in dem zufällig auch die gleiche Hauptfigur vorbeischaut. Von der einzigartigen und auch durch die jeweiligen Rahmenbedingungen (im ersten Band die eisige Bergwelt der Pyrenäen, im zweiten die brutale Hitze Südfrankreichs) geprägte Atmosphäre ist nicht viel zu spüren und als Fan wartet man eigentlich auch darauf, dass das Duell mit Serienkiller Hirtmann in die nächste Runde geht – doch dieser Aspekt wird leider nur am Anfang und am Ende dieses Buches kurz thematisiert. So wirkt Servaz in "Wolfsbeute" letztlich komplett austauschbar und es scheint ein bisschen so, als hätte Bernard Minier gerne einen Thriller außerhalb der Reihe geschrieben, der Verlag aber auf der Hauptfigur bestanden – und herausgekommen ist dann eben dieser Roman.
Dabei fängt der Thriller zunächst vielversprechend an: Servaz hat die Jagd nach dem entflohenen Serienkiller und seinem Erzrivalen Julian Hirtmann an die Grenzen der Belastbarkeit geführt, sodass er sich nun in einem Sanatorium für Polizisten im Rahmen einer anstrengenden Reha wieder zurück ins Leben arbeiten muss. Doch selbst da taucht Hirtmann noch in seinen Träumen auf und führt zu albtraumhaften Bildern, die Servaz kaum aus dem Kopf bekommt. Dann erhält er jedoch plötzlich ein anonym abgeschicktes Paket mit einem Schlüssel, der ihn in das Zimmer eines renommierten Hotels führt – in das Zimmer, wo eine Künstlerin vor einigen Jahren Suizid begangen hat.
Die eigentliche Hauptfigur dieses Buches ist aber die Radiomoderatorin Christine Steinmeyer, die ausgerechnet am Weihnachtsabend ebenfalls eine unliebsame Überraschung von einem unbekannten Absender erhält. In einem anonymen Brief droht der Verfasser nämlich mit Selbstmord und Christine weiß nicht, wie sie mit dieser Botschaft umgehen soll. Handelt es sich hier nur um einen dummen Scherz oder tatsächlich um einen echten Hilferuf, dem sie nachgehen muss? Doch wie soll sie überhaupt herausfinden, wer diesen Brief geschrieben hat?
Trotz der interessanten ersten Szenen braucht "Wolfsbeute" eine Weile, um in die Gänge zu kommen. Das liegt zum einen daran, dass beide Fälle anfangs etwas aufgezwungen wirken, aber auch an den Figuren dieses Buches. Servaz taucht nämlich wie erwähnt kaum auf und die Figuren in Christines Umfeld (inklusive Christine selbst) wirken vorsichtig formuliert alle etwas unnahbar, man könnte allerdings auch "arrogant" und "unsympathisch" sagen. Das führt dazu, dass einem das Schicksal der Protagonistin, welches sich im Verlauf der Geschichte durchaus sehr dramatisch entwickelt, vielleicht nicht unbedingt egal ist, es fällt aber auch schwer, mit ihr Mitleid zu haben, selbst wenn ihr Verhalten nicht immer Ursache ihrer Probleme ist.
So plätschert die Handlung in der ersten Hälfte vor sich hin, spitzt sich im zweiten Teil dann jedoch immer mehr zu und enthüllt dabei auch verblüffende Zusammenhänge, die man so nicht erwartet hätte. Allerdings nimmt dies manchmal auch regelrecht absurd wirkende Ausmaße an (Stichwort: Weltraum) und ist zwar stellenweise wirklich sehr spannend, aber auch nicht gerade glaubwürdig, vor allem was so manche Wendung zum Ende des Buches betrifft.
In anderer Besetzung wäre "Wolfsbeute" vermutlich ein richtig guter Thriller, als Teil der Martin-Servaz-Reihe wirkt dieser Band aber irgendwie unpassend und fügt sich nicht gut an die vorherigen beiden Bände an, sondern wirkt eher wie ein Zwischenspiel, in dem zufällig auch die gleiche Hauptfigur vorbeischaut. Von der einzigartigen und auch durch die jeweiligen Rahmenbedingungen (im ersten Band die eisige Bergwelt der Pyrenäen, im zweiten die brutale Hitze Südfrankreichs) geprägte Atmosphäre ist nicht viel zu spüren und als Fan wartet man eigentlich auch darauf, dass das Duell mit Serienkiller Hirtmann in die nächste Runde geht – doch dieser Aspekt wird leider nur am Anfang und am Ende dieses Buches kurz thematisiert. So wirkt Servaz in "Wolfsbeute" letztlich komplett austauschbar und es scheint ein bisschen so, als hätte Bernard Minier gerne einen Thriller außerhalb der Reihe geschrieben, der Verlag aber auf der Hauptfigur bestanden – und herausgekommen ist dann eben dieser Roman.
August 6, 2023
Lielisks kriminālstāsts ar neparedzamu notikumu attīstību. Vietām notiek tik baisas lietas, kādas pēdējā laikā citos stāstos nav lasītas, bet laikam jau reizēm vajag arī tādas. Gluži neizprotu grāmatas nosaukuma saistību ar tajā aprakstīto stāstu, bet tas nav šķērslis dod šim romānam piecas zvaigznes.
May 26, 2025
Lai arī piecinieciņš nav pilnīgs, bet, šķiet, ka ar trešo grāmatu Miņjē beidzot ir pa īstam ieskrējies! Brīdinu - daudz vardarbības, t.sk, seksuālas un pret dzīvniekiem, taču pirmā Miņjē grāmata, ko, neskatoties uz lappušu skaitu, izlasīju divās dienās, jo aizrāva, nevis “marinēju” 4-5 dienas, jo priekšroku devu brīvā laika aizpildīšanai ar interesantākiem sīkumiem.
January 7, 2024
Het is een boek met veel plottwisten en immens veel spanning! Je wordt meegesleurd in de denkwijzen van alle karakters en zodra je denkt het door te hebben, kom je er achter dat dit niet zo is. Het verhaal houdt je in zijn greep en laat je niet los.
October 8, 2020
3.5* Začiatok dobrý ale koniec nič moc 😕
November 5, 2021
È nella top5 dei libri che più mi hanno spaventato. Una storia dinamica, ricca di suspense e colpi di scena; si entra facilmente in sintonia con i personaggi, soprattutto con la protagonista, la cui paura diventa anche la tua. Un’ottima penna in grado di rendere scorrevolissime le parole del romanzo. Spero vivamente che la casa editrice decida di pubblicare anche gli altri suoi romanzi non ancora tradotti in Italia.
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