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Jack Caffery #6
Poppet
The Beechway High Secure Unit in Bristol, England, has a storied past—first as a nineteenth-century workhouse, then a poorhouse for the homeless, and now as a psychiatric hospital. With that troubled history come superstitions like the Maude, believed to be the ghost of a sadistic workhouse matron.
But while some of the patients and staff think the Maude is behind a series of unexplained episodes of self-harm amongst the ward’s patients, nursing coordinator AJ LeGrande thinks they might be the work of an all too human horror—a homicidal patient who was released back into the public in error.
Calling on Det. Jack Caffery, LeGrande hopes his investigation will reveal what’s truly been going on inside and outside the hospital’s walls. But what Caffery discovers about former patient Isaac Handel is beyond anyone’s imagining.
“Enough evil to keep readers awake long after the cases are solved . . . Rich psychological portraits [and] a compelling mystery.” —
“Dipping into when the house was silent and the rain was spattering against the windows probably wasn’t a good idea: The book oozes sinisterness from the first page . . . [Its] high-wire tension . . . never wavers.” —
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
400 people are currently reading
4892 people want to read
About the author
Mo Hayder
21 books2,549 followersMo Hayder left school at fifteen. She worked as a barmaid, security guard, film-maker, hostess in a Tokyo club, educational administrator and teacher of English as a foreign language in Asia. She had an MA in film from The American University in Washington DC and an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University UK.
Mo lived in Bath with her daughter Lotte-Genevieve. She was also the actress Candy Davis, who was most known as the blonde secretary on “ Are You Being Served?”
Series:
* Jack Caffery
Mo lived in Bath with her daughter Lotte-Genevieve. She was also the actress Candy Davis, who was most known as the blonde secretary on “ Are You Being Served?”
Series:
* Jack Caffery
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 939 reviews
August 26, 2024
Truly Amazing!
I read this book five and a half years ago and I loved it. That’s what I remember. I’m sorry. I can’t remember all the details of this book because it has been so long ago.
But I do remember that our anti-hero, Jack Caffery (he is actually our hero), was summoned to a psychiatric hospital to take control of a search for a mental patient who escaped from the institution.
I remember that the patients and some of the staff believe that the place is haunted by a ghost who used to be a former nurse in the building. Her name was Maude and she is referred to as The Maude by everyone.
When the patient escaped from the hospital he was assumed to have had help from The Maude. Jack Caffery is not convinced he believes that the help he received came from someone human and alive.
He gets the records of the patient and discovers that he is extremely violent and dangerous and he is determined to capture him one way or another and he knows his work is going to be very hard to do.
Five stars. ✨✨✨✨✨
I read this book five and a half years ago and I loved it. That’s what I remember. I’m sorry. I can’t remember all the details of this book because it has been so long ago.
But I do remember that our anti-hero, Jack Caffery (he is actually our hero), was summoned to a psychiatric hospital to take control of a search for a mental patient who escaped from the institution.
I remember that the patients and some of the staff believe that the place is haunted by a ghost who used to be a former nurse in the building. Her name was Maude and she is referred to as The Maude by everyone.
When the patient escaped from the hospital he was assumed to have had help from The Maude. Jack Caffery is not convinced he believes that the help he received came from someone human and alive.
He gets the records of the patient and discovers that he is extremely violent and dangerous and he is determined to capture him one way or another and he knows his work is going to be very hard to do.
Five stars. ✨✨✨✨✨
July 2, 2013
ETA. As a fan of Mo Hayder in general (The Treatment is my favorite by her and really, really great), I am always excited to see another installment in her Jack Caffery series. This one has been a bit of a disappointment, though; the narrative felt a bit disjointed and even though it moved along quickly with short chapters, at times seemed vague and rushed. I found there wasn’t much of a mystery to begin with, the resolution was rather naïve/simplistic/weak and Flea’s storyline felt like shoehorned into a story that didn't have enough room for her. The same goes for Jack, in a way, who appears as a secondary character without much to do and comes off as uninteresting and bland (I can’t believe what I am saying, lol). Also, and it pains me to say it, I am getting rather bored with Jack and Flea’s relationship –the more I read, the more annoying she’s becoming. All in all, I am left with the feeling that this novel would have worked much better as a standalone.
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Oooooh, I had no idea that Mo is releasing another Jack Caffery novel in 2013! This is very exciting.
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Oooooh, I had no idea that Mo is releasing another Jack Caffery novel in 2013! This is very exciting.
June 4, 2015
The cover of this book is creepy, but the book really isn't. There is a nasty character that is revealed at the end. There are some really nice, pleasant, kind characters that might be too lovable. Then there's Jack and Flea, sorting things out, making progress, actually talking to each other! Finally!
The chapters are short in this book and it was easy to tell myself, one more chapter, one more, OK, one more.
Something that irked me was the use, or overuse, of the word pad. She padded to the bathroom, padded downstairs, padded to the kitchen. Someone should have padded to their library for a thesaurus.
The chapters are short in this book and it was easy to tell myself, one more chapter, one more, OK, one more.
Something that irked me was the use, or overuse, of the word pad. She padded to the bathroom, padded downstairs, padded to the kitchen. Someone should have padded to their library for a thesaurus.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2013
Ever since the publicaton of Birdman, still in the top 10 list of my favourite crime reads ever, I always await the next Mo Hayder title with bated breath. Poppet is the latest in the the DI Jack Caffrey series and fear not if you have not dipped into these before as there is a cogent covering of back story for the new reader. In this new book, Caffrey is drawn into a series of mysterious deaths at a pyschiatric unit, but are lives being lost by human or supernatural hand? Are the patients and staff being manipulated by the supernatural figure of the Maude said to walk the corriders of the hospital, or is there the more frightening possibility that they are meeting their demise from one of their own number? There is the normal assured ratcheting up of terrifying tension that Hayder is renowned for, and by employing the motif of the sinister little dolls called poppets, and the legend of the Maude, there are more than enough shocks to get even the bravest amongst you checking under the bed before lights out.
The characterisation is superb as always as the continuing tensions between Caffrey and his police colleague Flea Marley ebb and flow through the course of the book, with their personal and professional loyalties continuing to be tested as an old investigation, and their actions in conjunction with this, comes back to haunt them. Aside from our two familiar friends, Hayder introduces a wide spectrum of other characters as the setting of the psychiatric unit allows her to present to us the very different mental rationales of those existing within it. Her portrayal of the patients including the brilliant Monster Mother and Isaac Handel, delve deep into the effects of mental illness on the human psyche, and this is counterbalanced extremely well with the mental effects on the staff themselves who seek to treat and care for them. AJ LeGrande is a stand out character in this regard, as his position as a Senior Nursing Coordinator within the unit allows us to see the demands of the profession on him as an incredibly likeable man who becomes deeply affected by the strange goings-on, with serious repercussions in his life outside his work. I would also highlight Patience, AJ’s aunt who is an absolute gem of a character who does not suffer fools gladly, but has an absolute devotion to him despite her brash exterior. The synergy between all these characters, be they police, patients or mental health workers, make for an interesting, and at times, disturbing read with the issues and demands of mental illness handled in a sympathetic and compassionate way throughout, whilst not detracting from the central murder plot.
If you’re a long standing fan of the Jack Caffrey series you will not be disappointed as this is another accomplished instalment, and likewise if I’ve tempted you enough for this to be your first Mo Hayder, I think you will enjoy your first foray into Caffrey’s world. An excellent character driven thriller that will keep you hooked...but beware the Maude- she may be coming to get you...
The characterisation is superb as always as the continuing tensions between Caffrey and his police colleague Flea Marley ebb and flow through the course of the book, with their personal and professional loyalties continuing to be tested as an old investigation, and their actions in conjunction with this, comes back to haunt them. Aside from our two familiar friends, Hayder introduces a wide spectrum of other characters as the setting of the psychiatric unit allows her to present to us the very different mental rationales of those existing within it. Her portrayal of the patients including the brilliant Monster Mother and Isaac Handel, delve deep into the effects of mental illness on the human psyche, and this is counterbalanced extremely well with the mental effects on the staff themselves who seek to treat and care for them. AJ LeGrande is a stand out character in this regard, as his position as a Senior Nursing Coordinator within the unit allows us to see the demands of the profession on him as an incredibly likeable man who becomes deeply affected by the strange goings-on, with serious repercussions in his life outside his work. I would also highlight Patience, AJ’s aunt who is an absolute gem of a character who does not suffer fools gladly, but has an absolute devotion to him despite her brash exterior. The synergy between all these characters, be they police, patients or mental health workers, make for an interesting, and at times, disturbing read with the issues and demands of mental illness handled in a sympathetic and compassionate way throughout, whilst not detracting from the central murder plot.
If you’re a long standing fan of the Jack Caffrey series you will not be disappointed as this is another accomplished instalment, and likewise if I’ve tempted you enough for this to be your first Mo Hayder, I think you will enjoy your first foray into Caffrey’s world. An excellent character driven thriller that will keep you hooked...but beware the Maude- she may be coming to get you...
July 3, 2019
2,5/5 αστεράκια
«Η κούκλα» τιτλοφορείται το έκτο βιβλίο της συγγραφέως Mo Hayder, στο οποίο ο επιθεωρητής Τζακ Κάφερι καλείται να λύσει άλλη μια ζοφερή υπόθεση.
Σε μια ψυχιατρική κλινική υψίστης ασφαλείας συμβαίνουν μερικά παράξενα περιστατικά. Ορισμένοι ασθενείς και μέλη του προσωπικού έχουν επηρεαστεί από τον θρύλο ενός… φαντάσματος, που λέγεται ότι στοίχειωνε παλιότερα το μέρος. Οι πιο πραγματιστές αρνούνται να το πιστέψουν. Ο προϊστάμενος του νοσηλευτικού τμήματος πιστεύει ότι ένοχος είναι ένας από τους τροφίμους, ο Άιζακ Χάντελ. Όμως ο Χάντελ έχει μόλις πάρει εξιτήριο, καθώς θεωρήθηκε ότι έχει θεραπευτεί. Τότε ο προϊστάμενος αποφασίζει να απευθυνθεί στην αστυνομία, και η υπόθεση καταλήγει στα χέρια του Τζακ Κάφερι.
Ο Τζακ έχει να αντιμετωπίσει τα δικά του προβλήματα. Η υπόθεση της Μίστι Κίτσον, το σώμα της οποίας παραμένει άφαντο, έρχεται ξανά στην επικαιρότητα και ο ίδιος βρίσκεται σε πολύ δύσκολη θέση, αφού ξέρει τι έχει συμβεί πραγματικά αλλά δεν το έχει ομολογήσει σε κανέναν. Η συνείδησή του και το καθήκον από τη μία και τα αισθήματά του για τη Φλι Μάρλι από την άλλη, τον κάνουν να αμφιταλαντεύεται.
Αναλαμβάνοντας την υπόθεση που αφορά την κλινική, ο Κάφερι ξεκινά να ψάχνει το παρελθόν του Χάντελ, ώστε να ανακαλύψει τι ακριβώς συνέβη τη μοιραία μέρα που σκότωσε τους γονείς του. Κι έτσι θα έρθει σε επαφή με ανθρώπους που τον γνωρίζουν, αλλά και με μερικά παράξενα ευρήματα: μια μακάβρια συλλογή από κούκλες που θυμίζουν βουντού, που ο Χάντελ έφτιαχνε από κουρέλια και αντικείμενα που ανήκαν σε διάφορους ανθρώπους. Άραγε ο τύπος αυτός επιθυμεί να εκδικηθεί ορισμένους ανθρώπους για δικούς του λόγους; Τα περιστατικά που έχουν σημειωθεί οφείλονται πράγματι στο άρρωστο μυαλό του; Ή μήπως κάτι άλλο, ένα σχέδιο πιο επικίνδυνο και μακιαβελικό, κρύβεται πίσω απ’ όλα αυτά;
Το έκτο βιβλίο της σειράς οπωσδήποτε δεν θυμίζει τη δυναμική των πρώτων. Η γραφή της Hayder παραμένει ενδιαφέρουσα, το ταλέντο της στην πλοκή το ίδιο, η αφήγηση ρέει γρήγορα -τα μικρά κεφάλαια βοηθούν πολύ σε αυτό-, όμως απουσιάζει η εμβάθυνση σε χαρακτήρες και γεγονότα που συναντά κανείς σε προηγούμενα βιβλία της. Είναι λες και η συγγραφέας είχε στη διάθεσή της ένα επιτρεπόμενο όριο σελίδων και, προσπαθώντας να «στριμώξει» εκεί όλα όσα ήθελε να πει, δεν αφιέρωσε ιδιαίτερο χρόνο στο να αποτυπώσει ολοκληρωμένα τις εξελίξεις που έλαβαν χώρα σε αυτές, με το αποτέλεσμα να μοιάζει επιφανειακό. Απουσιάζουν επίσης οι έντονα μακάβριες περιγραφές δολοφονιών, σκηνών εγκλήματος κτλ. που χαρακτηρίζουν τα πρώτα βιβλία της. Αυτό από τη μία ίσως ξενίζει όσους είχαν συνηθίσει το αρχικό της ύφος, από την άλλη πιθανόν να ανακουφίζει όσους δεν διαθέτουν τόσο γερό στομάχι.
Οι εφιάλτες του παρελθόντος δεν φαίνεται να επηρεάζουν τόσο πολύ πια τον Τζακ Κάφερι· αυτό που τον στοιχειώνει τώρα είναι μια υπόθεση που δεν επιλύθηκε ποτέ και στην οποία εμπλέκεται η Φλι Μάρλι, μια γυναίκα που φαίνεται πως έχει ξυπνήσει το ενδιαφέρον του. Ο Τζακ νιώθει διχασμένος ανάμεσα σε αυτό που οφείλει να κάνει και σ’ αυτό που η καρδιά του θέλει να κάνει. Όμως η αλήθεια είναι πως η όλη υπόθεση με τη Μίστι, την κάλυψη του Τζακ προς τη Φλι, τη δική της αδυναμία να παραδεχτεί το λάθος της και την πεισματάρικη απροθυμία της να αντιμετωπίσει τις συνέπειες, απλά οδηγούν την πλοκή στο να διαγράφει κύκλους γύρω από τον εαυτό της, χωρίς ουσιαστικά καμία εξέλιξη, κανένα αποτέλεσμα και καμία ανατροπή. Έτσι, φτάνει σε σημείο να κουράζει υπερβολικά. Το ίδιο έχει καταντήσει να κουράζει και ο χαρακτήρας της Φλι, που δεν έχει κυριολεκτικά τίποτα να προσφέρει σε αυτό το βιβλίο. Όσο για τον Κάφερι, η προσκόλλησή του σε αυτή την υπόθεση τον κάνει να μοιάζει σαν άβουλο πιόνι και να έχει εδώ τον ρόλο του δευτεραγωνιστή, αφήνοντας χώρο ώστε να «λάμψει» ο χαρακτήρας του προϊσταμένου της κλινικής.
Ουσιαστικά, η πλοκή μοιράζεται ανάμεσα στις δύο αυτές υποθέσεις: στα περίεργα περιστατικά στην ψυχιατρική κλινική και στην υπόθεση της εξαφάνισης της Μίστι Κίτσον, που παραμένει άλυτη και ταλαιπωρεί τον επιθεωρητή Κάφερι και την αστυνομία. Τα γεγονότα εξελίσσονται παράλληλα, με την αφήγηση να μοιράζεται ισορροπημένα ανάμεσα στις δύο υποθέσεις. Όμως, παρόλο που οι σελίδες τρέχουν, και οι δύο τους αποδεικνύονται αδύναμες και «λίγες». Η πρώτη γιατί είναι άνευρη και επίπεδη, χωρίς κορυφώσεις και εντάσεις που οξύνουν το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη, και η δεύτερη γιατί απλά δεν έχει καμία ουσία, αφού οι ήρωες ανασκαλεύουν γνωστά γεγονότα χωρίς να κάνουν ουσιαστικά ούτε ένα βήμα προόδου. Το τέλος, δε, δεν στάθηκε επ’ ουδενί αντάξιο του Κάφερι και της εικόνας που έχουμε σχηματίσει οι αναγνώστες γι’ αυτόν. Επιπλέον, η συνήθεια της Hayder να αφήνει πάντα ανοιχτά ενδεχόμενα για μια επερχόμενη συνέχεια στο τέλος κάθε βιβλίου, εδώ φανερώνει ακόμα περισσότερο τη γενικότερη αδυναμία της πλοκής να κρατήσει το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον.
Για τους αναγνώστες που ακολουθούν εξαρχής την πορεία της συγγραφέως, «Η κούκλα» αποτελεί -με τα δυνατά και αδύνατα σημεία της- μία επιπλέον συνέχεια στο σύμπαν του πρωταγωνιστή της. Ως αυτόνομο αστυνομικό ανάγνωσμα, όμως, σαφώς είναι υποδεέστερο πολλών άλλων βιβλίων του συγκεκριμένου είδους.
Η κριτική μου για το βιβλίο και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Η κούκλα
«Η κούκλα» τιτλοφορείται το έκτο βιβλίο της συγγραφέως Mo Hayder, στο οποίο ο επιθεωρητής Τζακ Κάφερι καλείται να λύσει άλλη μια ζοφερή υπόθεση.
Σε μια ψυχιατρική κλινική υψίστης ασφαλείας συμβαίνουν μερικά παράξενα περιστατικά. Ορισμένοι ασθενείς και μέλη του προσωπικού έχουν επηρεαστεί από τον θρύλο ενός… φαντάσματος, που λέγεται ότι στοίχειωνε παλιότερα το μέρος. Οι πιο πραγματιστές αρνούνται να το πιστέψουν. Ο προϊστάμενος του νοσηλευτικού τμήματος πιστεύει ότι ένοχος είναι ένας από τους τροφίμους, ο Άιζακ Χάντελ. Όμως ο Χάντελ έχει μόλις πάρει εξιτήριο, καθώς θεωρήθηκε ότι έχει θεραπευτεί. Τότε ο προϊστάμενος αποφασίζει να απευθυνθεί στην αστυνομία, και η υπόθεση καταλήγει στα χέρια του Τζακ Κάφερι.
Ο Τζακ έχει να αντιμετωπίσει τα δικά του προβλήματα. Η υπόθεση της Μίστι Κίτσον, το σώμα της οποίας παραμένει άφαντο, έρχεται ξανά στην επικαιρότητα και ο ίδιος βρίσκεται σε πολύ δύσκολη θέση, αφού ξέρει τι έχει συμβεί πραγματικά αλλά δεν το έχει ομολογήσει σε κανέναν. Η συνείδησή του και το καθήκον από τη μία και τα αισθήματά του για τη Φλι Μάρλι από την άλλη, τον κάνουν να αμφιταλαντεύεται.
Αναλαμβάνοντας την υπόθεση που αφορά την κλινική, ο Κάφερι ξεκινά να ψάχνει το παρελθόν του Χάντελ, ώστε να ανακαλύψει τι ακριβώς συνέβη τη μοιραία μέρα που σκότωσε τους γονείς του. Κι έτσι θα έρθει σε επαφή με ανθρώπους που τον γνωρίζουν, αλλά και με μερικά παράξενα ευρήματα: μια μακάβρια συλλογή από κούκλες που θυμίζουν βουντού, που ο Χάντελ έφτιαχνε από κουρέλια και αντικείμενα που ανήκαν σε διάφορους ανθρώπους. Άραγε ο τύπος αυτός επιθυμεί να εκδικηθεί ορισμένους ανθρώπους για δικούς του λόγους; Τα περιστατικά που έχουν σημειωθεί οφείλονται πράγματι στο άρρωστο μυαλό του; Ή μήπως κάτι άλλο, ένα σχέδιο πιο επικίνδυνο και μακιαβελικό, κρύβεται πίσω απ’ όλα αυτά;
Το έκτο βιβλίο της σειράς οπωσδήποτε δεν θυμίζει τη δυναμική των πρώτων. Η γραφή της Hayder παραμένει ενδιαφέρουσα, το ταλέντο της στην πλοκή το ίδιο, η αφήγηση ρέει γρήγορα -τα μικρά κεφάλαια βοηθούν πολύ σε αυτό-, όμως απουσιάζει η εμβάθυνση σε χαρακτήρες και γεγονότα που συναντά κανείς σε προηγούμενα βιβλία της. Είναι λες και η συγγραφέας είχε στη διάθεσή της ένα επιτρεπόμενο όριο σελίδων και, προσπαθώντας να «στριμώξει» εκεί όλα όσα ήθελε να πει, δεν αφιέρωσε ιδιαίτερο χρόνο στο να αποτυπώσει ολοκληρωμένα τις εξελίξεις που έλαβαν χώρα σε αυτές, με το αποτέλεσμα να μοιάζει επιφανειακό. Απουσιάζουν επίσης οι έντονα μακάβριες περιγραφές δολοφονιών, σκηνών εγκλήματος κτλ. που χαρακτηρίζουν τα πρώτα βιβλία της. Αυτό από τη μία ίσως ξενίζει όσους είχαν συνηθίσει το αρχικό της ύφος, από την άλλη πιθανόν να ανακουφίζει όσους δεν διαθέτουν τόσο γερό στομάχι.
Οι εφιάλτες του παρελθόντος δεν φαίνεται να επηρεάζουν τόσο πολύ πια τον Τζακ Κάφερι· αυτό που τον στοιχειώνει τώρα είναι μια υπόθεση που δεν επιλύθηκε ποτέ και στην οποία εμπλέκεται η Φλι Μάρλι, μια γυναίκα που φαίνεται πως έχει ξυπνήσει το ενδιαφέρον του. Ο Τζακ νιώθει διχασμένος ανάμεσα σε αυτό που οφείλει να κάνει και σ’ αυτό που η καρδιά του θέλει να κάνει. Όμως η αλήθεια είναι πως η όλη υπόθεση με τη Μίστι, την κάλυψη του Τζακ προς τη Φλι, τη δική της αδυναμία να παραδεχτεί το λάθος της και την πεισματάρικη απροθυμία της να αντιμετωπίσει τις συνέπειες, απλά οδηγούν την πλοκή στο να διαγράφει κύκλους γύρω από τον εαυτό της, χωρίς ουσιαστικά καμία εξέλιξη, κανένα αποτέλεσμα και καμία ανατροπή. Έτσι, φτάνει σε σημείο να κουράζει υπερβολικά. Το ίδιο έχει καταντήσει να κουράζει και ο χαρακτήρας της Φλι, που δεν έχει κυριολεκτικά τίποτα να προσφέρει σε αυτό το βιβλίο. Όσο για τον Κάφερι, η προσκόλλησή του σε αυτή την υπόθεση τον κάνει να μοιάζει σαν άβουλο πιόνι και να έχει εδώ τον ρόλο του δευτεραγωνιστή, αφήνοντας χώρο ώστε να «λάμψει» ο χαρακτήρας του προϊσταμένου της κλινικής.
Ουσιαστικά, η πλοκή μοιράζεται ανάμεσα στις δύο αυτές υποθέσεις: στα περίεργα περιστατικά στην ψυχιατρική κλινική και στην υπόθεση της εξαφάνισης της Μίστι Κίτσον, που παραμένει άλυτη και ταλαιπωρεί τον επιθεωρητή Κάφερι και την αστυνομία. Τα γεγονότα εξελίσσονται παράλληλα, με την αφήγηση να μοιράζεται ισορροπημένα ανάμεσα στις δύο υποθέσεις. Όμως, παρόλο που οι σελίδες τρέχουν, και οι δύο τους αποδεικνύονται αδύναμες και «λίγες». Η πρώτη γιατί είναι άνευρη και επίπεδη, χωρίς κορυφώσεις και εντάσεις που οξύνουν το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη, και η δεύτερη γιατί απλά δεν έχει καμία ουσία, αφού οι ήρωες ανασκαλεύουν γνωστά γεγονότα χωρίς να κάνουν ουσιαστικά ούτε ένα βήμα προόδου. Το τέλος, δε, δεν στάθηκε επ’ ουδενί αντάξιο του Κάφερι και της εικόνας που έχουμε σχηματίσει οι αναγνώστες γι’ αυτόν. Επιπλέον, η συνήθεια της Hayder να αφήνει πάντα ανοιχτά ενδεχόμενα για μια επερχόμενη συνέχεια στο τέλος κάθε βιβλίου, εδώ φανερώνει ακόμα περισσότερο τη γενικότερη αδυναμία της πλοκής να κρατήσει το αναγνωστικό ενδιαφέρον.
Για τους αναγνώστες που ακολουθούν εξαρχής την πορεία της συγγραφέως, «Η κούκλα» αποτελεί -με τα δυνατά και αδύνατα σημεία της- μία επιπλέον συνέχεια στο σύμπαν του πρωταγωνιστή της. Ως αυτόνομο αστυνομικό ανάγνωσμα, όμως, σαφώς είναι υποδεέστερο πολλών άλλων βιβλίων του συγκεκριμένου είδους.
Η κριτική μου για το βιβλίο και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Η κούκλα
May 22, 2013
Quite frankly, Mo Hayder scares the bejesus out of me. The first page of her latest book Poppet grabbed me and just never let go. (and check out that creepy cover....)
Poppet is the sixth book featuring Detective Inspector Jack Caffery of Bristol, England's Major Crime Investigation Team. "His unit is the one that gets all the murders and difficult cases. The cases that need high-level attention."
The opening chapter takes us to a mental institution. Each and every resident is afraid of The Maude - who will sit on your chest and ......Is this a mass delusion? Or is someone targeting some of the unlikeable and bothersome residents of the ward. None of the patients will even say the name aloud....And now the staff is afraid as well.
Isaac, a young resident deemed 'cured', is released back into society. Caffery is called in when Isaac is found to have connections to the deaths on the ward. A bag of little human effigies, also known as 'poppets' is found hidden in Isaac's old room.....and he's disappeared.
Jack is also working on the disappearance of a young woman named Misty - but Caffery knows much more about the case than he's letting on.
"But truth is stranger than fiction and the world is never what it seems: for over a year Caffery's been hopscotching over the issue, he's been guarding the case like a hound, appearing to be working on it while simultaneously leading the unit away from what he really knows about Misty's disappearance, - which is more, much more than any cop has a right. It's a big fat secret he's been hiding. Something he can't do anything about."
I've loved the Jack Caffery character since Hayder's first book Birdman. He's an enigma - flawed, fearless, full of secrets but a dedicated cop - who plays by his own rules. Police diver Flea Marley returns. The back and forth of her personal and professional relationship with Caffery is far from over. I'm torn on what I think about her. Jack shares the lead role in Poppet with A.J., the psychiatric ward supervisor. He's a great character, innocent, likable and fearless in his own way. His empathy and caring of the patients struck a note. He starts his own investigation into the case.
Hayder plumbs the depths of the human psyche in both her characters and her crimes. Poppet is full of twists, turns and lots of tension. Did I mention deliciously dark and creepy?
Be prepared to stay up late with this one. Poppet could be read as a stand alone, but do yourself a favour - start from the beginning of the series - you'll be hooked. You can find Mo Hayder on Facebook.
Poppet is the sixth book featuring Detective Inspector Jack Caffery of Bristol, England's Major Crime Investigation Team. "His unit is the one that gets all the murders and difficult cases. The cases that need high-level attention."
The opening chapter takes us to a mental institution. Each and every resident is afraid of The Maude - who will sit on your chest and ......Is this a mass delusion? Or is someone targeting some of the unlikeable and bothersome residents of the ward. None of the patients will even say the name aloud....And now the staff is afraid as well.
Isaac, a young resident deemed 'cured', is released back into society. Caffery is called in when Isaac is found to have connections to the deaths on the ward. A bag of little human effigies, also known as 'poppets' is found hidden in Isaac's old room.....and he's disappeared.
Jack is also working on the disappearance of a young woman named Misty - but Caffery knows much more about the case than he's letting on.
"But truth is stranger than fiction and the world is never what it seems: for over a year Caffery's been hopscotching over the issue, he's been guarding the case like a hound, appearing to be working on it while simultaneously leading the unit away from what he really knows about Misty's disappearance, - which is more, much more than any cop has a right. It's a big fat secret he's been hiding. Something he can't do anything about."
I've loved the Jack Caffery character since Hayder's first book Birdman. He's an enigma - flawed, fearless, full of secrets but a dedicated cop - who plays by his own rules. Police diver Flea Marley returns. The back and forth of her personal and professional relationship with Caffery is far from over. I'm torn on what I think about her. Jack shares the lead role in Poppet with A.J., the psychiatric ward supervisor. He's a great character, innocent, likable and fearless in his own way. His empathy and caring of the patients struck a note. He starts his own investigation into the case.
Hayder plumbs the depths of the human psyche in both her characters and her crimes. Poppet is full of twists, turns and lots of tension. Did I mention deliciously dark and creepy?
Be prepared to stay up late with this one. Poppet could be read as a stand alone, but do yourself a favour - start from the beginning of the series - you'll be hooked. You can find Mo Hayder on Facebook.
August 20, 2023
Fans of the recent TV adaptation of Wolf 🐺 and who haven't yet read the books should dive into Mo Hayders ' twisted world as soon as possible.
Poppet was another excellent instalment in the Jack Caffrey series : gripping, creepy, and atmospheric ; just what you want from a crime thriller set in a metal institution.
Poppet was another excellent instalment in the Jack Caffrey series : gripping, creepy, and atmospheric ; just what you want from a crime thriller set in a metal institution.
October 30, 2015
Well, I think that's it for me.
The Jack Caffrey series has yet to return to the punch-in-the-gut intensity as the first two novels, Birdman and The Treatment. I may have mentioned in those reviews that the crime fiction genre has become so saturated that it takes something very special to stand out from the rest. Those two novels did that in spades. In fact, they were so disturbing that I was very selective in who I would recommend them to (yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition. Leave me alone).
Throughout the rest of the series, Jack's personal struggles have since been resolved somewhat, and we have been left with a typical crime detective series that, unfortunately, fails to stand out from the crowd. This has caused increasing disappointment for me because that aspect is what has kept me in the series. I don't think she plans on ever going back, nor do I think there is a reason to at this point. And for that reason I'm out.
Also, in this novel she seems to have taken a page from James Patterson's playbook and that is the use of maddeningly short chapters. I used to really enjoy this format (see Patterson's Kiss the Girls for a harrowing example), but in this novel it served to disrupt my reading momentum rather than fuel it.
Don't get me wrong, Mo Hayder has fine writing chops and a deviously clever mind and I wouldn't hesitate recommending her to anyone looking for a good thriller. And this is a good thriller setting a backdrop of an institution for the criminally insane that may or may not be haunted...
I'll still go back to Ms. Hayder, she has shown that she can rise above the rest and be special, but this series is getting thin, for me at least. Thanks for the first two brilliant ones though, Mo.
The Jack Caffrey series has yet to return to the punch-in-the-gut intensity as the first two novels, Birdman and The Treatment. I may have mentioned in those reviews that the crime fiction genre has become so saturated that it takes something very special to stand out from the rest. Those two novels did that in spades. In fact, they were so disturbing that I was very selective in who I would recommend them to (yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition. Leave me alone).
Throughout the rest of the series, Jack's personal struggles have since been resolved somewhat, and we have been left with a typical crime detective series that, unfortunately, fails to stand out from the crowd. This has caused increasing disappointment for me because that aspect is what has kept me in the series. I don't think she plans on ever going back, nor do I think there is a reason to at this point. And for that reason I'm out.
Also, in this novel she seems to have taken a page from James Patterson's playbook and that is the use of maddeningly short chapters. I used to really enjoy this format (see Patterson's Kiss the Girls for a harrowing example), but in this novel it served to disrupt my reading momentum rather than fuel it.
Don't get me wrong, Mo Hayder has fine writing chops and a deviously clever mind and I wouldn't hesitate recommending her to anyone looking for a good thriller. And this is a good thriller setting a backdrop of an institution for the criminally insane that may or may not be haunted...
I'll still go back to Ms. Hayder, she has shown that she can rise above the rest and be special, but this series is getting thin, for me at least. Thanks for the first two brilliant ones though, Mo.
August 25, 2019
It was good but not as good as I predicted whoopsie! Oh well so far I have rated 4 out of 6 with a 5 star so can't be that sad about it. I hope the last book will end the series on such a high note as the series started!
April 29, 2014
"You don't know what it's like, not to have a body to bury.'
Something is scaring the staff and patients of Beechway High Secure Unit in the West Country. There is talk of The Maude, a dwarfish creature who sits on chests, whispering poison into vulnerable ears and hearts. Is The Maude responsible for several deaths and self-maimings, or is such behavior to be expected in a place that houses the dangerously insane?
AJ, head psychiatric nurse, wonders if the mischief might be human in origin. He can’t help but wonder why the power seems to fail every time there’s an incident, meaning nothing ever gets captured on CCTV. Despite the misgivings of his new girlfriend, Melanie, he contacts DI Jack Caffrey with his fears. When Isaac Handel is released into the community, supposedly rehabilitated after brutally killing both his parents a few years before; and when he vanishes shortly afterwards, tension rises.
Jack, meanwhile, is still preoccupied by Misty Kitson, the supermodel who disappeared after wandering out of a rehab clinic just over a year ago. Jack, unfortunately for him, knows exactly what happened to Misty, it’s just one more dark secret he’s forced to carry.
I love Mo Hayder’s books, especially her more recent stories, in which she appears to be deliberately toning down and even avoiding the more brutally shocking scenes that marked her early work. These days, she seems to be aiming for suspense rather than a gore fest and to my mind, her books are all the stronger for it. I love the fact that her plots are refreshingly original and endlessly interesting. I love her sparkling, vivid characters. Flea Marley, the tortured dive sergeant is a particular favourite of mine but Jack is as brooding and sexy as ever in this. I love the Gothic atmosphere that washes over so much of her writing like a dank mist. I particularly loved the poppets, in this one, spooky little voodoo dolls of stolen clothes and body parts.
I’m not a great fan of classic crime novels, of the standard police procedurals. To be honest, I find them rather dull. So thank goodness for writers like Hayder, who can make them shine, albeit with a rather dark and sinister gleam.
I was given a copy of Poppet by my editor, who is also Mo's.
Something is scaring the staff and patients of Beechway High Secure Unit in the West Country. There is talk of The Maude, a dwarfish creature who sits on chests, whispering poison into vulnerable ears and hearts. Is The Maude responsible for several deaths and self-maimings, or is such behavior to be expected in a place that houses the dangerously insane?
AJ, head psychiatric nurse, wonders if the mischief might be human in origin. He can’t help but wonder why the power seems to fail every time there’s an incident, meaning nothing ever gets captured on CCTV. Despite the misgivings of his new girlfriend, Melanie, he contacts DI Jack Caffrey with his fears. When Isaac Handel is released into the community, supposedly rehabilitated after brutally killing both his parents a few years before; and when he vanishes shortly afterwards, tension rises.
Jack, meanwhile, is still preoccupied by Misty Kitson, the supermodel who disappeared after wandering out of a rehab clinic just over a year ago. Jack, unfortunately for him, knows exactly what happened to Misty, it’s just one more dark secret he’s forced to carry.
I love Mo Hayder’s books, especially her more recent stories, in which she appears to be deliberately toning down and even avoiding the more brutally shocking scenes that marked her early work. These days, she seems to be aiming for suspense rather than a gore fest and to my mind, her books are all the stronger for it. I love the fact that her plots are refreshingly original and endlessly interesting. I love her sparkling, vivid characters. Flea Marley, the tortured dive sergeant is a particular favourite of mine but Jack is as brooding and sexy as ever in this. I love the Gothic atmosphere that washes over so much of her writing like a dank mist. I particularly loved the poppets, in this one, spooky little voodoo dolls of stolen clothes and body parts.
I’m not a great fan of classic crime novels, of the standard police procedurals. To be honest, I find them rather dull. So thank goodness for writers like Hayder, who can make them shine, albeit with a rather dark and sinister gleam.
I was given a copy of Poppet by my editor, who is also Mo's.
July 3, 2021
I know I said this about Gone, but this book feels completely different. It is almost like two intertwined books forming together to create one book.
There is the main story line which focuses on AJ and Beechway Psychiatric Unit and then the other story line focusing on Flea and Jack. The two don’t intertwine until quite late on in the novel. It feels like Mo Hayder has undertaken a completely different writing style for this book in the series!!
I didn’t think the issue was as taboo as her other books and although some parts are gruesome and descriptive you don’t need as strong of a stomach.
I have still given 5* as I was racing to turn the pages and finish the book. But it definitely isn’t my favourite of the series.
Slightly sad as I think that Wolf is the last book but I have just ordered her standalone novels to read!!
There is the main story line which focuses on AJ and Beechway Psychiatric Unit and then the other story line focusing on Flea and Jack. The two don’t intertwine until quite late on in the novel. It feels like Mo Hayder has undertaken a completely different writing style for this book in the series!!
I didn’t think the issue was as taboo as her other books and although some parts are gruesome and descriptive you don’t need as strong of a stomach.
I have still given 5* as I was racing to turn the pages and finish the book. But it definitely isn’t my favourite of the series.
Slightly sad as I think that Wolf is the last book but I have just ordered her standalone novels to read!!
March 15, 2013
Intensely creepy, compelling and beautifully written, with a truly surprising twist. Nice to see the continuation of the Caffery/Flea story from Gone too. The poppets that feature in the book (I don't want to give anything away) are a truly inspired creation. It's my favourite Mo Hayder novel since The Treatment. Everyone who's waiting for it is in for a real treat.
June 25, 2013
There's a palpable sense that this is the book Mo Hayder has been building to with her Jack Caffery series. It's at once darker and creepier than the rest of the series, but it ends on two notes of ineffable beauty and optimism, as though Hayder's offering some relief after spending six novels examining humanity's bleakness. Set in and around a mental hospital whose patients and staff seem to be experiencing something decidedly supernatural, Poppet follows the pattern of Hayder's other books by burying the lead. The dark secret at the center of Jack Caffery and Flea Marley's relationship continues to curdle, and the central crime reveals itself to be less about ghosts and more about the lies we tell each other. It's just a masterful piece of storytelling, and if this turns out to be Hayder's last Caffery novel – the end certainly leaves that possibility open – it's a satisfying end to the series.
May 21, 2015
Six installments into the Jack Caffery series....and I'm plenty hooked, but unsure if it's more a guilty pleasure or genuinely a good read. As always, the back story (between Jack and MisPer diver Flea Marley) is by far more compelling than the main story (in this case, centering onr a young adult man in a mental hospital accused of killing his parents, and diving his fellow hospital residents to kill themselves.). As always, the usual caveat applies: THESE ABSOLUTELY MUST BE READ IN ORDER! Ms. Hayder is definitely worth reading, but this British police procedural series is only as good as the sum of its parts.
August 1, 2014
So I started out with this book as an audiobook, which did not do it any favors. The narrator made all his female characters sound vapid and whiny, and it realllly annoyed me. I did get to read about the last hundred pages or so after I gave up on the audiobook and checked the book out of the library.
I have not read the previous books in the series, so the proto-romance between Caffery and the police diver Flea wasn't really convincing. There was mostly talk of Caffery's limbic system going all male and protective and possessive of Flea, but until the last page of the book I didn't see any reciprocity from Flea at all. Flea's also about 20 years younger than Caffery, I believe, which didn't help my opinion of their relationship. I also couldn't agree with Caffery's act of concealing a vehicular homicide for 18 months because he knew Flea was involved somehow, to the point that the mother of the victim is following him around drunkenly and holding news conferences asking the police to do something to find her daughter. I couldn't get behind the shadiness and lack of ethics for no good reason (it turns out that Flea does have a reason for her behavior, but Caffery doesn't know that.)
Next, the setting. Our real protagonist is AJ (Average Joe, a derogatory nickname bestowed upon him that he's just gotten used to now) a director at a mental health facility for dangerous criminals. We never really see the dangerousness of any of these patients except to themselves, and procedures for the place just seem ludicrous. AJ himself has decided that he will not read the files of any of his patients in case he prejudices himself toward them, so has no idea what any of them are in for. This is so ridiculous to me- there's no way to treat a patient if you don't know their history, especially if the point is to eventually rehabilitate them. It's negligent and dangerous to AJ and to others around him. AJ gets involved with his boss, Melanie, and their relationship just grated on me too. At first AJ thinks of Melanie as an "ice queen" because she is professional, not because she's particularly abrupt or high-handed. Then, he realizes that she's just a woman after all, who can be cute and silly and insecure- what a revelation!! Of course, AJ is oblivious to a lot of things about Melanie, but he's pretty much oblivious to what every person around him is like, so this should be no surprise. Melanie is all about her job, and how difficult it is to be a woman in a man's world. Yes, it can be difficult, but it feels like a flashback to 1982, how this issue is harped on over and over again. Having females in management positions in the mental health profession should not be that big of a surprise at this point, considering the gender balance in the field in general.
I was never really creeped out by anything- I don't have a fear of dolls or dwarves sitting on my chest, and while the cases of self- harm we see are certainly horrific, they aren't explained well enough in the end for my satisfaction. It all felt a bit old-fashioned, the attempts at horror. The pace of the book is extremely slow- it takes 150 pages of a 300 page book for AJ to actually meet Caffery and get any investigation started.
So on to the end- I've marked this review for spoilers, right? Melanie ends up being some sort of criminal mastermind who somehow manages, in the middle of a mental health facility, to secretly manipulate dangerous criminals into harming themselves or even killing themselves, with no one on staff having any idea what's going on. Why? Because Melanie had a rough upbringing (all the backstory she gets is that she grew up in a rough part of town) and acts out when she's stressed or her boyfriends break up with her. Yes. It's the stereotypical man-eating female who has achieved power and uses it to manipulate and destroy others- watch out! The creepy guy who killed his parents and dismembered them and made creepy poppets resembling them when he was 14- the big red herring? He's just upset because he knows what Melanie is doing and has a big thing for justice. He makes poppets to represent people and how they should be punished, but except for killing his parents and running away from his halfway house after being let out (due to Melanie's machinations for some... reason) and buying the exact same tools that he used to mutilate and murder his parents, and watching creepily outside people's windows, the author ends up trying to paint him sympathetically.
Oh, and in the end the creepy serial killer guy turns out to have made poppets of AJ and of the nice earth mother type who makes jam (who has a random storyline in the book that takes forever to match up with the rest of the story) so that they will, by an amazing coincidence, meet each other just as the poppets are unearthed and realize that creepy serial killer guy sees them as his ideal mother and father, so clearly they are meant to be together. Talk about contrived. Talk about creepy. Talk about throwing AJ a bone of the perfect nurturing female just after he's escaped from man-eating Melanie. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I could not stand the way that females are portrayed in this book and it really surprises me that it's a female author who has written this.
I have not read the previous books in the series, so the proto-romance between Caffery and the police diver Flea wasn't really convincing. There was mostly talk of Caffery's limbic system going all male and protective and possessive of Flea, but until the last page of the book I didn't see any reciprocity from Flea at all. Flea's also about 20 years younger than Caffery, I believe, which didn't help my opinion of their relationship. I also couldn't agree with Caffery's act of concealing a vehicular homicide for 18 months because he knew Flea was involved somehow, to the point that the mother of the victim is following him around drunkenly and holding news conferences asking the police to do something to find her daughter. I couldn't get behind the shadiness and lack of ethics for no good reason (it turns out that Flea does have a reason for her behavior, but Caffery doesn't know that.)
Next, the setting. Our real protagonist is AJ (Average Joe, a derogatory nickname bestowed upon him that he's just gotten used to now) a director at a mental health facility for dangerous criminals. We never really see the dangerousness of any of these patients except to themselves, and procedures for the place just seem ludicrous. AJ himself has decided that he will not read the files of any of his patients in case he prejudices himself toward them, so has no idea what any of them are in for. This is so ridiculous to me- there's no way to treat a patient if you don't know their history, especially if the point is to eventually rehabilitate them. It's negligent and dangerous to AJ and to others around him. AJ gets involved with his boss, Melanie, and their relationship just grated on me too. At first AJ thinks of Melanie as an "ice queen" because she is professional, not because she's particularly abrupt or high-handed. Then, he realizes that she's just a woman after all, who can be cute and silly and insecure- what a revelation!! Of course, AJ is oblivious to a lot of things about Melanie, but he's pretty much oblivious to what every person around him is like, so this should be no surprise. Melanie is all about her job, and how difficult it is to be a woman in a man's world. Yes, it can be difficult, but it feels like a flashback to 1982, how this issue is harped on over and over again. Having females in management positions in the mental health profession should not be that big of a surprise at this point, considering the gender balance in the field in general.
I was never really creeped out by anything- I don't have a fear of dolls or dwarves sitting on my chest, and while the cases of self- harm we see are certainly horrific, they aren't explained well enough in the end for my satisfaction. It all felt a bit old-fashioned, the attempts at horror. The pace of the book is extremely slow- it takes 150 pages of a 300 page book for AJ to actually meet Caffery and get any investigation started.
So on to the end- I've marked this review for spoilers, right? Melanie ends up being some sort of criminal mastermind who somehow manages, in the middle of a mental health facility, to secretly manipulate dangerous criminals into harming themselves or even killing themselves, with no one on staff having any idea what's going on. Why? Because Melanie had a rough upbringing (all the backstory she gets is that she grew up in a rough part of town) and acts out when she's stressed or her boyfriends break up with her. Yes. It's the stereotypical man-eating female who has achieved power and uses it to manipulate and destroy others- watch out! The creepy guy who killed his parents and dismembered them and made creepy poppets resembling them when he was 14- the big red herring? He's just upset because he knows what Melanie is doing and has a big thing for justice. He makes poppets to represent people and how they should be punished, but except for killing his parents and running away from his halfway house after being let out (due to Melanie's machinations for some... reason) and buying the exact same tools that he used to mutilate and murder his parents, and watching creepily outside people's windows, the author ends up trying to paint him sympathetically.
Oh, and in the end the creepy serial killer guy turns out to have made poppets of AJ and of the nice earth mother type who makes jam (who has a random storyline in the book that takes forever to match up with the rest of the story) so that they will, by an amazing coincidence, meet each other just as the poppets are unearthed and realize that creepy serial killer guy sees them as his ideal mother and father, so clearly they are meant to be together. Talk about contrived. Talk about creepy. Talk about throwing AJ a bone of the perfect nurturing female just after he's escaped from man-eating Melanie. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I could not stand the way that females are portrayed in this book and it really surprises me that it's a female author who has written this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2014
For the first time since being on Goodreads I wish we had a half star. This book is probably more of a 3.5 rating than 3 but no where near a 4. The story starts again with some familiar characters and the relationship between them. I love the two main characters in this book and their relationship and dynamic is what keeps me reading the series. I have to say if you are reading this as a standalone you will not have this connection and may find this a tedious part of the story. There is a nice conclusion of what happened to Flea after the last novel which I greatly enjoyed.
The problem with this book is you have to read half way through it before the crime starts being investigated. It then feels that the story is rushed into the last 100 pages. The rest of the book is really just padding and this makes the story slow to start. Once however, it gets started it really goes with a bang. The last 100 pages are really fast paced and in one place I found myself gasping out loud to something that was written. There are parts when this book is plain gruesome which really adds to the story.
At the conclusion of the novel both the main crime and the characters stories seems to come to an end. However, there is just enough left to make me want to read the next story to see where the characters take their relationship. Not as good as the others but doesn't put me off the series.
The problem with this book is you have to read half way through it before the crime starts being investigated. It then feels that the story is rushed into the last 100 pages. The rest of the book is really just padding and this makes the story slow to start. Once however, it gets started it really goes with a bang. The last 100 pages are really fast paced and in one place I found myself gasping out loud to something that was written. There are parts when this book is plain gruesome which really adds to the story.
At the conclusion of the novel both the main crime and the characters stories seems to come to an end. However, there is just enough left to make me want to read the next story to see where the characters take their relationship. Not as good as the others but doesn't put me off the series.
August 31, 2019
Πολύ ωραία ιστορία(αποδείχθηκε τελικά),μου έδωσε σε αρκετά κεφάλαια όμως την εντύπωση ότι γίνεται παράθεση γεγονότων,και όχι αφήγηση μιας ιστορίας με ειρμό.Βεβαίως η ψυχογράφηση των ηρώων ήταν το δυνατό σημείο του βιβλίου,ενώ έλειπαν οι εξαιρετικά βίαιες περιγραφές που είναι το κύριο χαρακτηριστικό της Hayder-για καλό ή για κακό δεν ξέρω,θα περιμένω και το επόμενο για να δω πώς εξελίσσεται η γραφή της.Ένιωσα πως μου έλειψε η ένταση και η αγωνία των προηγούμενων βιβλίων της σειράς,χωρίς όμως αυτό να σημαίνει πως δεν το ευχαριστήθηκα μέχρι την τελευταία λέξη.4⭐
December 17, 2025
A mispers is a cool-sounding abbreviation for a missing person, and two of them drive Mo Hayders artfully twisted novel, Poppet.
Isaac Handel, an inmate in the Beechway High Secure Unit, has a bizarre predilection for creating freakishly-lifelike hand puppets of people in his life. He’s released from the Unit after fifteen years of good behavior, a decision all quickly come to regret.
The other misper is Misty Kitson, a celebrity that vanished a year ago leaving not a trace. The funny thing is that our protagonists, DI Jack Caffery and Flea Marley, both know that Misty was hit by Flea's drunk brother and her corpse was deposited in a watery cave-grave 150 feet below water. Caffery receives increasing pressure to find or reveal Misty's location, but once Isaac gets to work being freaky he grab the force's full attention.
Hayder composes novel's with parallel plots as good as any thriller writer. Her gift is in creating perceptive dialogue and weaving together scenes that move with incredible authenticity. Some of her entries in this series are ultra-grizzly, but Poppet is more implied/psychological fear than actual prickliness. Readers are rewarded with a very clever twist and fantastic finale.
A well-done book, but sadly, the second to last in this brilliant series. Recommended - it would work as a stand-alone but do yourself a favor and begin with Birdman. It kicks off the ‘Caffery Books’ and is on par with Red Dragon and other top examples of the genre.
Isaac Handel, an inmate in the Beechway High Secure Unit, has a bizarre predilection for creating freakishly-lifelike hand puppets of people in his life. He’s released from the Unit after fifteen years of good behavior, a decision all quickly come to regret.
The other misper is Misty Kitson, a celebrity that vanished a year ago leaving not a trace. The funny thing is that our protagonists, DI Jack Caffery and Flea Marley, both know that Misty was hit by Flea's drunk brother and her corpse was deposited in a watery cave-grave 150 feet below water. Caffery receives increasing pressure to find or reveal Misty's location, but once Isaac gets to work being freaky he grab the force's full attention.
Hayder composes novel's with parallel plots as good as any thriller writer. Her gift is in creating perceptive dialogue and weaving together scenes that move with incredible authenticity. Some of her entries in this series are ultra-grizzly, but Poppet is more implied/psychological fear than actual prickliness. Readers are rewarded with a very clever twist and fantastic finale.
A well-done book, but sadly, the second to last in this brilliant series. Recommended - it would work as a stand-alone but do yourself a favor and begin with Birdman. It kicks off the ‘Caffery Books’ and is on par with Red Dragon and other top examples of the genre.
October 1, 2020
Αρχίζω να πιστεύω ότι μου αρέσει αυτή η αλλαγή πλεύσης της Mo. Το παρατήρησα και σχολίασα ήδη, από το προηγούμενο βιβλίο της, "Το μάτι στο σκοτάδι" αλλά στην Κούκλα είναι πια απόλυτα εμφανές ότι αλλάζει "στρατόπεδο" και ξεφεύγει από τα αγωνιώδη splatters. Πλέον βαδίζει με σίγουρα βήματα, στο μονοπάτι του ψυχολογικού θρίλερ. Για καλό ή για κακό δε ξέρω, αυτό όμως που μπορώ να πω με σιγουριά, είναι ότι εμένα μου αρέσει.
Στο συγκεκριμένο πόνημα της Hayder είχαμε δύο ιστορίες να "τρέχουν" παράλληλα. Η μία σε συνέχεια των προηγούμενων βιβλίων της Hayder κι η άλλη μια νέα περιπέτεια. Η αλήθεια είναι πως κάποια στιγμή ένοιωσα ότι η παλιά ιστορία έρχεται να "κουκουλώσει" τη νέα. Ωστόσο, στην πορεία αυτή έλαβε τη θέση που της αρμόζει και αναδύθηκε στην επιφάνεια.
"Αν περπατάει σαν πάπια, κρώζει σαν πάπια και κολυμπάει σαν πάπια, τότε είναι πάπια."
Η νέα αυτή ιστορία της Mo Hayder βασίζεται τόσο στην "τέχνη της παρατήρησης", όσο και στην αστυνομική έρευνα. Μια ακόμα νέα εισαγωγή, στο συγγραφικό ημερολόγιο της συγγραφέα. Εκτός από τους δύο γνωστούς μας ερευνητές, τον Τζακ και τη Φλι, κάνει την εμφάνιση του και ο φροντιστής της ψυχιατρικής κλινικής, όπου εκτυλίσσεται μεγάλο μέρος της ιστορίας. Ενδιαφέρων χαρακτήρας που θα μπορούσε πιθανόν να σταθεί επικουρικά, σαν σύμβουλος ή κάτι τέτοιο, σε μελλοντικές ιστορίες της Hayder .
Σαφέστατα και δεν έχουμε την ένταση και το σασπένς που είχαμε στα πρώτα της βιβλία και φυσικά λείπουν και τα ειδεχθή φονικά. Για την ακρίβεια, πιο ανατριχιαστικό είναι το εξώφυλλο, παρά το ίδιο το βιβλίο. Σε αντίθεση όμως έχουμε, εξαιρετικά ψυχογραφήματα και όμορφες αναλύσεις χαρακτήρων. Τα μικρούλια με αλλά περιεκτικά δε κεφάλαια, εναλλάσσονται γρήγορα και κοφτά και χαρίζουν γρήγορο ρυθμό ανάγνωσης. Σημειώστε ότι αν και κοντά 500 σελίδες, το ολοκλήρωσα σε μόλις δύο ημέρες. Όσον αφορά στη λύση του μυστηρίου, προσωπικά την είδα να έρχεται σχετικά νωρίς, ωστόσο αυτό δε μείωσε την αξία της ανάγνωσης αλλά ούτε και την απόλαυσή μου. Επίσης, να επισημάνω ότι δεν έγινε καθόλου ή έγινε ελάχιστη αναφορά στον Πλανόβιο και την εξαφάνιση του αδελφού του Κάφερι. Και ναι, το παραδέχομαι, δε μου έλειψαν καθόλου. Είχαν αρχίσει να καταντούν σαν τσιχλόφουσκα που τη μασάς ώρες κι έχει χάσει τη γλύκα της.
Τέλος, έχουμε πρόοδο στη σχέση μεταξύ του Τζακ και της Φλι. Μετά τη "στείρα" και γεμάτη ένταση περίοδο που πέρασαν, τους βλέπουμε να επαναπροσδιορίζουν τη σχέση τους, να παραδέχονται πράγματα - στους εαυτούς τους κυρίως - και να κάνουν ένα νέο ξεκίνημα, πάνω σε νέα και πολύ πιο ξεκάθαρη βάση.
Έχω στην αναμονή το Λύκο, το οποίο θα το πιάσω σύντομα και θα επανέλθω με άποψη. Μέχρι τότε, όσοι αγαπάτε Μο προσέλθετε! 😉
Δείτε την άποψη στο blog μας: https://bit.ly/2ERnMgc
Στο συγκεκριμένο πόνημα της Hayder είχαμε δύο ιστορίες να "τρέχουν" παράλληλα. Η μία σε συνέχεια των προηγούμενων βιβλίων της Hayder κι η άλλη μια νέα περιπέτεια. Η αλήθεια είναι πως κάποια στιγμή ένοιωσα ότι η παλιά ιστορία έρχεται να "κουκουλώσει" τη νέα. Ωστόσο, στην πορεία αυτή έλαβε τη θέση που της αρμόζει και αναδύθηκε στην επιφάνεια.
"Αν περπατάει σαν πάπια, κρώζει σαν πάπια και κολυμπάει σαν πάπια, τότε είναι πάπια."
Η νέα αυτή ιστορία της Mo Hayder βασίζεται τόσο στην "τέχνη της παρατήρησης", όσο και στην αστυνομική έρευνα. Μια ακόμα νέα εισαγωγή, στο συγγραφικό ημερολόγιο της συγγραφέα. Εκτός από τους δύο γνωστούς μας ερευνητές, τον Τζακ και τη Φλι, κάνει την εμφάνιση του και ο φροντιστής της ψυχιατρικής κλινικής, όπου εκτυλίσσεται μεγάλο μέρος της ιστορίας. Ενδιαφέρων χαρακτήρας που θα μπορούσε πιθανόν να σταθεί επικουρικά, σαν σύμβουλος ή κάτι τέτοιο, σε μελλοντικές ιστορίες της Hayder .
Σαφέστατα και δεν έχουμε την ένταση και το σασπένς που είχαμε στα πρώτα της βιβλία και φυσικά λείπουν και τα ειδεχθή φονικά. Για την ακρίβεια, πιο ανατριχιαστικό είναι το εξώφυλλο, παρά το ίδιο το βιβλίο. Σε αντίθεση όμως έχουμε, εξαιρετικά ψυχογραφήματα και όμορφες αναλύσεις χαρακτήρων. Τα μικρούλια με αλλά περιεκτικά δε κεφάλαια, εναλλάσσονται γρήγορα και κοφτά και χαρίζουν γρήγορο ρυθμό ανάγνωσης. Σημειώστε ότι αν και κοντά 500 σελίδες, το ολοκλήρωσα σε μόλις δύο ημέρες. Όσον αφορά στη λύση του μυστηρίου, προσωπικά την είδα να έρχεται σχετικά νωρίς, ωστόσο αυτό δε μείωσε την αξία της ανάγνωσης αλλά ούτε και την απόλαυσή μου. Επίσης, να επισημάνω ότι δεν έγινε καθόλου ή έγινε ελάχιστη αναφορά στον Πλανόβιο και την εξαφάνιση του αδελφού του Κάφερι. Και ναι, το παραδέχομαι, δε μου έλειψαν καθόλου. Είχαν αρχίσει να καταντούν σαν τσιχλόφουσκα που τη μασάς ώρες κι έχει χάσει τη γλύκα της.
Τέλος, έχουμε πρόοδο στη σχέση μεταξύ του Τζακ και της Φλι. Μετά τη "στείρα" και γεμάτη ένταση περίοδο που πέρασαν, τους βλέπουμε να επαναπροσδιορίζουν τη σχέση τους, να παραδέχονται πράγματα - στους εαυτούς τους κυρίως - και να κάνουν ένα νέο ξεκίνημα, πάνω σε νέα και πολύ πιο ξεκάθαρη βάση.
Έχω στην αναμονή το Λύκο, το οποίο θα το πιάσω σύντομα και θα επανέλθω με άποψη. Μέχρι τότε, όσοι αγαπάτε Μο προσέλθετε! 😉
Δείτε την άποψη στο blog μας: https://bit.ly/2ERnMgc
July 8, 2019
Έκτη περιπέτεια για τον Τζακ Κάφερι, με την υπογραφή πάντα της Mo Hayder, κι ενώ περίμενα πως ίσως να είχε έρθει η στιγμή για να πάρει την κάτω βόλτα, έστω και για λίγο, διαψεύστηκα ολοκληρωτικά και απόλυτα. Για να μην παρεξηγηθώ, δεν υπονοώ σε καμία περίπτωση πως η Hayder και ο αγαπημένος της ντετέκτιβ με έχουν κουράσει, το κάθε άλλο, αλλά η ιστορία έχει αποδείξει πως μακροσκελείς σειρές βιβλίων φτάνουν κάποια στιγμή σε ένα σημείο όπου μετά απ' αυτό είναι δύσκολο να υπάρξει σταθερότητα, πόσο μάλλον άνοδος, με την πτώση να είναι αναπόφευκτο κακό -χωρίς, ωστόσο, αυτό να μπορεί να καταδικάσει επ' αόριστον έναν δημιουργό και το έργο του. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, και παρά που η Hayder σίγουρα δεν είναι για όλους, για μια ακόμα φορά δίνει τον καλύτερό της εαυτό προσφέροντάς μας μία ακόμα καλή ιστορία που μας κάνει να ανατριχιάζουμε όσο τη διαβάζουμε.
Ο Ισα��κ, ο οποίος νοσηλεύεται ως ψυχικά ασθενής σε ψυχιατρικό ίδρυμα, αφήνεται ελεύθερος. Τίποτα δε φαίνεται να πηγαίνει λάθος με την έξοδό του από εκεί, όμως η πραγματικότητα είναι πολύ διαφορετική. Όλοι στο ίδρυμα, τρόφιμοι και υπάλληλοι, φαίνονται τρομοκρατημένοι από τον θρύλο του φαντάσματος της Μοντ, που το 1860 δολοφονούσε παιδιά, και που διάφορα αλλόκοτα περιστατικά, ανάμεσά τους ο αυτοτραυματισμός και ο θάνατος μιας ασθενή, ενισχύουν την πεποίθησή τους πως έχει επιστρέψει συνεχίζοντας το έργο της. Τότε είναι που ο ντετέκτιβ Κάφερι ειδοποιείται να αναλάβει να διερευνήσει τι πραγματικά συμβαίνει, με τις υποψίες του να πέφτουν πάνω στον Ισαάκ, όχι μόνο εξαιτίας των παράξενων κουκλιών που βρίσκονται στον θάλαμό του, αλλά κι επειδή όλοι φαίνονται να έχουν χειραγωγηθεί με τρόπο που οδήγησε στην απελευθέρωσή του κάποιον που δεν έπρεπε και που σύντομα θα σκοτώσει ξανά.
Σίγουρα δεν μπορώ να ισχυριστώ πως η λύση του μυστηρίου παίρνει βραβείο πρωτοτυπίας ή πως έρχεται με τέτοιον τρόπο που μας συγκλονίζει. Αλλά για να είμαι απόλυτα ειλικρινής, τόσο με εσάς όσο και με εμένα, αυτό δεν είναι ένα από τα στοιχεία που έχουν κάνει τη Hayder να ξεχωρίσει στο είδος της. Αυτό που την καθιστά ιδιαίτερη είναι ο περίτεχνος τρόπος με τον οποίο καταφέρνει να χτίσει κάθε ιστορία της και να την "ντύσει" με ένα πέπλο μυστηρίου και αγωνίας, το οποίο ενισχύει όλο και περισσότερο το σασπένς της αφήγησης που με τον έντονο ρυθμό της μας καθηλώνει και μας κόβει την ανάσα, ουκ ολίγες φορές, ενώ παράλληλα δεν διστάζει, παρά που είναι γυναίκα, να γίνει αρκετά σκληρή, έως και ωμή, στις περιγραφές και στις απεικονίσεις της, όχι για να μας σοκάρει, αλλά για να μας δείξει την αλήθεια έτσι ακριβώς όπως είναι, χωρίς ωραιοποιήσεις ή δράματα για το θεαθήναι, αλλά χτυπώντας το μαχαίρι στο κόκαλο.
Σε ό,τι έχει να κάνει με την τελευταία μου παρατήρηση, όπως ακριβώς συνέβη με τα προηγούμενα βιβλία της Hayder, έτσι κι εδώ καταπιάνεται με ένα θέμα αρκετά λεπτό κι ευαίσθητο, στις ξόφθαλμες και μη προεκτάσεις αυτού, το οποίο χειρίζεται έτσι ακριβώς όπως πρέπει. Δηλαδή, σε καμία περίπτωση δεν ωραιοποιεί γεγονότα ή καταστάσεις, παρά τις παρουσιάζει με ωμό ρεαλισμό που ενισχύεται από την διαστροφή πολλών ανθρώπων που -δυστυχώς- ζουν εκεί έξω και ανάμεσά μας τροφοδοτώντας τους εφιάλτες και τις πιο μαύρες σκέψεις μας. Παράλληλα, δίνει αρκετά μεγάλη βαρύτητα στην ανάλυση της διαφοράς -αν κι εφόσον αυτή πράγματι υπάρχει και διαχωρίζει καταστάσεις- ανάμεσα στο να είναι κανείς κοινός εγκληματίας ή να είναι ασθενής εγκληματίας. Τι είναι αυτό που ορίζει τις λεπτές γραμμές ανάμεσα σε αυτά τα δύο; Πώς μπορείς να διακρίνεις την αλήθεια από το ψέμα; Και άραγε, υπάρχουν ελαφρυντικά σε κάποια απ' τις δύο περιπτώσεις ή όχι;
Μέσα από μικρά, σύντομα, αλλά εξαιρετικά περιεκτικά κι ευέλικτα κεφάλαια, η Hayder αφηγείται μία ιστορία που έχει όλα εκείνα τα διακριτικά του χαρακτήρα και τους συγγραφικού της ύφους που κάνουν τα κείμενά της να ξεχωρίζουν ανάμεσα σε πολλά άλλα. Η αφηγηματική ροή είναι συνεχής, χωρίς κενά, με έμφαση στην ένταση της αγωνίας και την ενίσχυση του σασπένς σελίδα τη σελίδα, στέλνοντας ρίγη ανατριχίλας στη ραχοκοκαλιά μας και κάνοντας στιγμές στιγμές το αίμα μας να παγώνει. Επίσης, σε αντίθεση με προηγούμενα βιβλία της σειράς, βλέπουμε δραματικές εξελίξεις και σε ό,τι έχει να κάνει με τους ίδιους τους χαρακτήρες, με τον Τζακ και τη Φλι ν' ανοίγονται περισσότερο -επιτέλους- ο ένας απέναντι στον άλλον, αρχίζοντας να επικοινωνούν και πάλι από την αρχή, χτίζοντας νέες γέφυρες μεταξύ τους που σίγουρα μελλοντικά θα βοηθήσουν και τη σχέση τους, συνολικά, να κινηθεί σε πιο σωστές και ισορροπημένες κατευθύνσεις, πράγμα που ανυπομονώ να συμβεί και να γίνω μάρτυράς του -ελπίζω σύντομα.
Ο Ισα��κ, ο οποίος νοσηλεύεται ως ψυχικά ασθενής σε ψυχιατρικό ίδρυμα, αφήνεται ελεύθερος. Τίποτα δε φαίνεται να πηγαίνει λάθος με την έξοδό του από εκεί, όμως η πραγματικότητα είναι πολύ διαφορετική. Όλοι στο ίδρυμα, τρόφιμοι και υπάλληλοι, φαίνονται τρομοκρατημένοι από τον θρύλο του φαντάσματος της Μοντ, που το 1860 δολοφονούσε παιδιά, και που διάφορα αλλόκοτα περιστατικά, ανάμεσά τους ο αυτοτραυματισμός και ο θάνατος μιας ασθενή, ενισχύουν την πεποίθησή τους πως έχει επιστρέψει συνεχίζοντας το έργο της. Τότε είναι που ο ντετέκτιβ Κάφερι ειδοποιείται να αναλάβει να διερευνήσει τι πραγματικά συμβαίνει, με τις υποψίες του να πέφτουν πάνω στον Ισαάκ, όχι μόνο εξαιτίας των παράξενων κουκλιών που βρίσκονται στον θάλαμό του, αλλά κι επειδή όλοι φαίνονται να έχουν χειραγωγηθεί με τρόπο που οδήγησε στην απελευθέρωσή του κάποιον που δεν έπρεπε και που σύντομα θα σκοτώσει ξανά.
Σίγουρα δεν μπορώ να ισχυριστώ πως η λύση του μυστηρίου παίρνει βραβείο πρωτοτυπίας ή πως έρχεται με τέτοιον τρόπο που μας συγκλονίζει. Αλλά για να είμαι απόλυτα ειλικρινής, τόσο με εσάς όσο και με εμένα, αυτό δεν είναι ένα από τα στοιχεία που έχουν κάνει τη Hayder να ξεχωρίσει στο είδος της. Αυτό που την καθιστά ιδιαίτερη είναι ο περίτεχνος τρόπος με τον οποίο καταφέρνει να χτίσει κάθε ιστορία της και να την "ντύσει" με ένα πέπλο μυστηρίου και αγωνίας, το οποίο ενισχύει όλο και περισσότερο το σασπένς της αφήγησης που με τον έντονο ρυθμό της μας καθηλώνει και μας κόβει την ανάσα, ουκ ολίγες φορές, ενώ παράλληλα δεν διστάζει, παρά που είναι γυναίκα, να γίνει αρκετά σκληρή, έως και ωμή, στις περιγραφές και στις απεικονίσεις της, όχι για να μας σοκάρει, αλλά για να μας δείξει την αλήθεια έτσι ακριβώς όπως είναι, χωρίς ωραιοποιήσεις ή δράματα για το θεαθήναι, αλλά χτυπώντας το μαχαίρι στο κόκαλο.
Σε ό,τι έχει να κάνει με την τελευταία μου παρατήρηση, όπως ακριβώς συνέβη με τα προηγούμενα βιβλία της Hayder, έτσι κι εδώ καταπιάνεται με ένα θέμα αρκετά λεπτό κι ευαίσθητο, στις ξόφθαλμες και μη προεκτάσεις αυτού, το οποίο χειρίζεται έτσι ακριβώς όπως πρέπει. Δηλαδή, σε καμία περίπτωση δεν ωραιοποιεί γεγονότα ή καταστάσεις, παρά τις παρουσιάζει με ωμό ρεαλισμό που ενισχύεται από την διαστροφή πολλών ανθρώπων που -δυστυχώς- ζουν εκεί έξω και ανάμεσά μας τροφοδοτώντας τους εφιάλτες και τις πιο μαύρες σκέψεις μας. Παράλληλα, δίνει αρκετά μεγάλη βαρύτητα στην ανάλυση της διαφοράς -αν κι εφόσον αυτή πράγματι υπάρχει και διαχωρίζει καταστάσεις- ανάμεσα στο να είναι κανείς κοινός εγκληματίας ή να είναι ασθενής εγκληματίας. Τι είναι αυτό που ορίζει τις λεπτές γραμμές ανάμεσα σε αυτά τα δύο; Πώς μπορείς να διακρίνεις την αλήθεια από το ψέμα; Και άραγε, υπάρχουν ελαφρυντικά σε κάποια απ' τις δύο περιπτώσεις ή όχι;
Μέσα από μικρά, σύντομα, αλλά εξαιρετικά περιεκτικά κι ευέλικτα κεφάλαια, η Hayder αφηγείται μία ιστορία που έχει όλα εκείνα τα διακριτικά του χαρακτήρα και τους συγγραφικού της ύφους που κάνουν τα κείμενά της να ξεχωρίζουν ανάμεσα σε πολλά άλλα. Η αφηγηματική ροή είναι συνεχής, χωρίς κενά, με έμφαση στην ένταση της αγωνίας και την ενίσχυση του σασπένς σελίδα τη σελίδα, στέλνοντας ρίγη ανατριχίλας στη ραχοκοκαλιά μας και κάνοντας στιγμές στιγμές το αίμα μας να παγώνει. Επίσης, σε αντίθεση με προηγούμενα βιβλία της σειράς, βλέπουμε δραματικές εξελίξεις και σε ό,τι έχει να κάνει με τους ίδιους τους χαρακτήρες, με τον Τζακ και τη Φλι ν' ανοίγονται περισσότερο -επιτέλους- ο ένας απέναντι στον άλλον, αρχίζοντας να επικοινωνούν και πάλι από την αρχή, χτίζοντας νέες γέφυρες μεταξύ τους που σίγουρα μελλοντικά θα βοηθήσουν και τη σχέση τους, συνολικά, να κινηθεί σε πιο σωστές και ισορροπημένες κατευθύνσεις, πράγμα που ανυπομονώ να συμβεί και να γίνω μάρτυράς του -ελπίζω σύντομα.
April 29, 2013
Anyone who follow my blog would know that I am a huge fan of Mo Hayder. Whenever she has a new release, I'd rush out to get it and read it the moment I receive it. No kidding. So when I knew her latest Jack Caffery thriller, Poppet, is out, I was so excited that I don't even mind the image of the cover, no matter how creepy it looks.
If you have read Mo Hayder's Jack Caffery's series, you'd know that Jack is a brilliant detective of the Bristol Major Crime Investigation Team. What I like about him is his overwhelmed determination in solving the crimes, even though he can be stubborn and don't play by the rules at times. He has his flaws and he knew it but that doesn't diminish my admiration of him; as I feel this has made him to appear more real and human rather than a perfect superhero.
In this latest 6th Jack Caffery Series, Mo Hayder brings her readers to Beechway High Secure Unit, a psychiatric hospital. One of the things I like about reading settings that took place in an asylum is one could never expect what would happen in there. The patients are not reliable and plus the high secured and confidentiality state of the place, you just wouldn't know who to believe. Back to Beechway, a hallucination spread like a virus as some of the patients believe The Maude is back. The Maude is believed to be a little figure which dressed in a nightgown and it'd straddle on one's chest. The terror then heightened to a point when a series of unexplained episodes of self-harm among the ward's patients and especially after the death of a patient. Overnight shift staff began to call in sick and this made AJ LeGrande, the senior nursing coordinator at Beechway very perplexed and not to mention curious.
On the other end, Jack Caffery is looking at a missing person case. Jacqui Kitson is pressing the police to search for her daughter, Misty, a model who disappeared some time ago. It is not that Jack is incompetent, in fact he knew some of the facts about Misty's disappearance but he has chose to keep it silent as he is trying to protect someone. However, that feeling has slowly gnawed at his conscience and now he wants to convince that person to own up.
Jack later is assigned to the Beechway's case after the psychiatric hospital had released a patient in error. According to the records, Isaac Handel brutally killed his parents when he was younger and they are worried what he would do outside given his unstable (and murderous) condition. Suddenly, the hysteria at the hospital doesn't seem to be simple any more and they are wondering if it is supernatural or simply a person's deed.
Mo Hayder is a master in crafting chilling and well-plotted thrillers and I'm glad to say Poppet is no exceptional. In this thriller, she continues her trademark in creating an intense and haunting story of what happened in Beechway's asylum and how Jack resolved the case as well as his struggles in dealing with the case of Misty's disappearance. Though the asylum case is closed, I can't wait to find out what happens to Misty's disappearance case as there is a hint of something is going to happen at the ending. I hope Mo Hayder will write quickly and have her next book release soon!
If you have read Mo Hayder's Jack Caffery's series, you'd know that Jack is a brilliant detective of the Bristol Major Crime Investigation Team. What I like about him is his overwhelmed determination in solving the crimes, even though he can be stubborn and don't play by the rules at times. He has his flaws and he knew it but that doesn't diminish my admiration of him; as I feel this has made him to appear more real and human rather than a perfect superhero.
In this latest 6th Jack Caffery Series, Mo Hayder brings her readers to Beechway High Secure Unit, a psychiatric hospital. One of the things I like about reading settings that took place in an asylum is one could never expect what would happen in there. The patients are not reliable and plus the high secured and confidentiality state of the place, you just wouldn't know who to believe. Back to Beechway, a hallucination spread like a virus as some of the patients believe The Maude is back. The Maude is believed to be a little figure which dressed in a nightgown and it'd straddle on one's chest. The terror then heightened to a point when a series of unexplained episodes of self-harm among the ward's patients and especially after the death of a patient. Overnight shift staff began to call in sick and this made AJ LeGrande, the senior nursing coordinator at Beechway very perplexed and not to mention curious.
On the other end, Jack Caffery is looking at a missing person case. Jacqui Kitson is pressing the police to search for her daughter, Misty, a model who disappeared some time ago. It is not that Jack is incompetent, in fact he knew some of the facts about Misty's disappearance but he has chose to keep it silent as he is trying to protect someone. However, that feeling has slowly gnawed at his conscience and now he wants to convince that person to own up.
Jack later is assigned to the Beechway's case after the psychiatric hospital had released a patient in error. According to the records, Isaac Handel brutally killed his parents when he was younger and they are worried what he would do outside given his unstable (and murderous) condition. Suddenly, the hysteria at the hospital doesn't seem to be simple any more and they are wondering if it is supernatural or simply a person's deed.
Mo Hayder is a master in crafting chilling and well-plotted thrillers and I'm glad to say Poppet is no exceptional. In this thriller, she continues her trademark in creating an intense and haunting story of what happened in Beechway's asylum and how Jack resolved the case as well as his struggles in dealing with the case of Misty's disappearance. Though the asylum case is closed, I can't wait to find out what happens to Misty's disappearance case as there is a hint of something is going to happen at the ending. I hope Mo Hayder will write quickly and have her next book release soon!
May 14, 2013
I have completed Mo Hayder's Poppet and I can't help but wonder where she's been all my life. This is the first book I've read by Hayder but the sixth in her highly acclaimed Jack Caffery series. Jack Caffery is a detective for the Bristol Major Crimes Investigation team and is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a high profile model named Misti. While on the other side of town, an insane asylum is being haunted by something, or someone, named The Maude. A little man that sits on the chest of someone to kill them. Eventually, Caffery is asked to assist in helping the asylum locate a recently released inmate from Beechway Psychiatric unit who's crime resembles those of the unexplained deaths of a recent patient.
Poppet begins with the creepiest scenes read in a long time and I'm sure fans of the macabre will be satisfied. Hayder instantly pulls the reader in and does not let go. Although it eventually turns into more of a crime novel, Poppet does not veer far away from the graphic descriptions that are necessary to maintain the suspense. The best place to sustain the creep factor is throwing the crazy patients into the mix who all have their issues. Serious issues.
There are alternating views in this novel between those of Caffery, AJ, and a couple other central characters. AJ is the senior nursing coordinator and is becoming undone with the haunting that is happening around the psychiatric unit. After some investigating of his own, he asks Caffery to help find the missing inmate who may, or may not, be responsible. AJ is a well developed character and his background story makes him even more endearing.
This being Jack Caffery's sixth appearance, I'm sure there is a lot about him the reader will not know but I do feel that he was still well developed. It's obvious from this novel he cares about his job yet he is also willing to do some shady things to protect the people he cares about. I'm interested in finding more about his past in this series. I want to know what led him to make the hard decision he is faced with regarding the Misti case.
After all, Poppet is a must read for fans of Deborah Crombie or Karin Slaughter. Initally, the weird cover sparked my interest but Hayder's engrossing writing kept me interested. Fans will not be disappointed in Poppet.
Poppet begins with the creepiest scenes read in a long time and I'm sure fans of the macabre will be satisfied. Hayder instantly pulls the reader in and does not let go. Although it eventually turns into more of a crime novel, Poppet does not veer far away from the graphic descriptions that are necessary to maintain the suspense. The best place to sustain the creep factor is throwing the crazy patients into the mix who all have their issues. Serious issues.
There are alternating views in this novel between those of Caffery, AJ, and a couple other central characters. AJ is the senior nursing coordinator and is becoming undone with the haunting that is happening around the psychiatric unit. After some investigating of his own, he asks Caffery to help find the missing inmate who may, or may not, be responsible. AJ is a well developed character and his background story makes him even more endearing.
This being Jack Caffery's sixth appearance, I'm sure there is a lot about him the reader will not know but I do feel that he was still well developed. It's obvious from this novel he cares about his job yet he is also willing to do some shady things to protect the people he cares about. I'm interested in finding more about his past in this series. I want to know what led him to make the hard decision he is faced with regarding the Misti case.
After all, Poppet is a must read for fans of Deborah Crombie or Karin Slaughter. Initally, the weird cover sparked my interest but Hayder's engrossing writing kept me interested. Fans will not be disappointed in Poppet.
September 4, 2013
In het kort even een paar punten waarom ik dit boek niet hoger waardeer:
- De spanning komt te laat op gang. Om en nabij pagina 200 lijkt de auteur pas zin te krijgen in het verhaal, dat deels voortborduurt op een oude zaak met Jack Caffery en Flea Marley.
- Met perspectiefwisselingen is niets mis, integendeel. Maar om dat na elke pakweg anderhalf à twee bladzijden te doen en daar dan ook nog kinderachtige hoofdstuktitels aan te geven is buitengewoon irritant.
- De spanning komt te laat op gang. Om en nabij pagina 200 lijkt de auteur pas zin te krijgen in het verhaal, dat deels voortborduurt op een oude zaak met Jack Caffery en Flea Marley.
- Met perspectiefwisselingen is niets mis, integendeel. Maar om dat na elke pakweg anderhalf à twee bladzijden te doen en daar dan ook nog kinderachtige hoofdstuktitels aan te geven is buitengewoon irritant.
March 23, 2017
The last two Mo Hayder books Gone & Skin were massive let downs. This is so much better, blighted only by the ridiculous ongoing back story involving the ever annoying Flea and the dead body of Misty.
November 20, 2017
I read The Devil of Nanking last year or the year before and it blew me away. I don't think I slept at all the first night I started it. I wasn't expecting as much of this one but I also didn't realize it was part of a series. I knew it took place in and around a high security mental institution which is what hooked me, and after I figured out it was a detective series it was better than I would have thought possible. I definitely saw the "twist" coming, and I pegged the baddies before the middle of the book. But, who cares, Mo Hayder can write.
December 31, 2018
The detective in this novel actually plays a secondary role to the counselor at a hospital for the severely mentally ill. AJ is a wonderful character--compassionate, vulnerable, yet strong. He's the true hero in this mystery that investigates a series of mysterious deaths among the patients. Who's the victim and who's the perpetrator? This one will keep you guessing!
March 3, 2022
3.25 stars. Poppet by Mo Hayder is the 6th in the Jack Caffery series. For me, it's the first and it left me with mixed feelings.
Poppet surrounds strange things occurring at Beechway psychiatric unit. Unusual levels of self-harm followed by a suicide has the residents believing the place to be haunted by a creature/person called the Maude. Staff nurse AJ LeGrande and director Madeline Arrow try to keep operations running normally as things escalate. Eventually, and I do mean eventually, Jack Caffery is brought in. Meanwhile, and prior to being called to investigate, Caffery is caught up in a coverup of a crime involving police diver Flea Marley. Perhaps this is where some history (books 1-5 or at least book 5) would have been helpful.
My main quibble is that the first third of the book (at the very least) is about the psychiatric unit (she has the creep factor dialed high!), a burgeoning love affair, and Caffery trying to convince Flea to do the right thing. It's slow going and occasionally a tad frustrating. Meanwhile, the villain was plain and obvious to me from nearly the very beginning but the characters took a long time to catch up, lol.
Short chapters alternating mainly between AJ and Caffery begin to take root and pick up in the last half, moving at a greater clip. Hayder definitely had me turning the pages faster deeper into the novel. She writes well and the creepy atmosphere was on point. The ending was appropriate and not over the top which I definitely appreciated.
So, overall, a down the middle rating which may have been bumped had I read her prior works. Going forward, I will check out another installment in the series and see where it takes me.
Poppet surrounds strange things occurring at Beechway psychiatric unit. Unusual levels of self-harm followed by a suicide has the residents believing the place to be haunted by a creature/person called the Maude. Staff nurse AJ LeGrande and director Madeline Arrow try to keep operations running normally as things escalate. Eventually, and I do mean eventually, Jack Caffery is brought in. Meanwhile, and prior to being called to investigate, Caffery is caught up in a coverup of a crime involving police diver Flea Marley. Perhaps this is where some history (books 1-5 or at least book 5) would have been helpful.
My main quibble is that the first third of the book (at the very least) is about the psychiatric unit (she has the creep factor dialed high!), a burgeoning love affair, and Caffery trying to convince Flea to do the right thing. It's slow going and occasionally a tad frustrating. Meanwhile, the villain was plain and obvious to me from nearly the very beginning but the characters took a long time to catch up, lol.
Short chapters alternating mainly between AJ and Caffery begin to take root and pick up in the last half, moving at a greater clip. Hayder definitely had me turning the pages faster deeper into the novel. She writes well and the creepy atmosphere was on point. The ending was appropriate and not over the top which I definitely appreciated.
So, overall, a down the middle rating which may have been bumped had I read her prior works. Going forward, I will check out another installment in the series and see where it takes me.
March 22, 2013
The hysteria is rising in the Beechway high security psychiatric unit. A spate of self-harming incidents and the death of a patient had stirred up stories of The Maude, a ghostly dwarf who haunts the halls. Left to cover for absent colleagues, senior nurse AJ starts to piece together some troubling facts, leading him to call the in the police… And DI Jack Caffery’s superior is looking for just the thing to pull him from the fruitless search for the missing Misty Kitson.
I’ve always known Mo Hayder could scare me senseless, but Poppet has one of the most disturbing first chapters I’ve ever read. The thought of a creepy little dwarf running round an asylum, sitting on people’s chests as they sleep, was terrifying and made me hesitant to turn off the lights after reading. Many of the scenes take place in bedrooms of sorts and there is something extra scary about being targeted in somewhere that should be safe. Once AJ and Jack start digging deeper, it loses its horror somewhat, yet remains a tense and gripping read.
The novel alternates between the current case and that of Misty Kitson, the missing model we were introduced to in Skin. I was torn between the two plot-lines, wanting the thrills of the main story but also hating to be torn away from Jack and Flea’s interactions. Jack is determined to bring up you-know-what with Flea and she is determined to keep things buried. For those who haven’t read the series, the lack of context may cause confusion and take away from the enjoyment of the central plot, which is otherwise a strong standalone story.
Without giving too much away, I love how Hayder manages to turn your feelings round, upside down and through the ringer. It started off with fear but ended with a few awwws for me. Little glimpses into characters’ lives make such an impact in her writing. Just brilliant. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next instalment…
I’ve always known Mo Hayder could scare me senseless, but Poppet has one of the most disturbing first chapters I’ve ever read. The thought of a creepy little dwarf running round an asylum, sitting on people’s chests as they sleep, was terrifying and made me hesitant to turn off the lights after reading. Many of the scenes take place in bedrooms of sorts and there is something extra scary about being targeted in somewhere that should be safe. Once AJ and Jack start digging deeper, it loses its horror somewhat, yet remains a tense and gripping read.
The novel alternates between the current case and that of Misty Kitson, the missing model we were introduced to in Skin. I was torn between the two plot-lines, wanting the thrills of the main story but also hating to be torn away from Jack and Flea’s interactions. Jack is determined to bring up you-know-what with Flea and she is determined to keep things buried. For those who haven’t read the series, the lack of context may cause confusion and take away from the enjoyment of the central plot, which is otherwise a strong standalone story.
Without giving too much away, I love how Hayder manages to turn your feelings round, upside down and through the ringer. It started off with fear but ended with a few awwws for me. Little glimpses into characters’ lives make such an impact in her writing. Just brilliant. I hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next instalment…
August 19, 2013
I wasn't actually familiar with Jack Caffery before picking up this book (the creepy blurb enticed me nonetheless) and I wouldn't recommend starting with this book (for reasons discussed before) however I would thoroughly recommend this horror-ride detective tale.
The story starts slightly awkwardly, on the one hand we have Jack pursuing a series spanning plotline, while AJ an institution attendant starts a cute romance with his boss Melanie (their storylines don't cross until almost 1/3 into the book).
The 'mental health' setting is fresh in many ways in that despite being disturbing to the max, Hayder successful writes about a secure ward without delving into the cliche or insensitive rubbish that populates most fiction novels using asylum tropes.
Aside from the reliance on previous books (strangely understandable for a series right?) there is an odd matter I must express. I'm not too sure if this is a criticism or just a comment, but Poppet contains some of the shortest chapters I've ever experienced in novel fiction. It was a commonly occurrence to have suspense built exquisitely only to have the point of view change abruptly.
Of course this is probably intentional, and as mentioned, not really a criticism, more just a 'heads up' that the pace of this piece is somewhat artificially frenetic due to this writing decision.
Overall Poppet delivers on all the things it promises, creepiness, crime, murder and mayhem all wrapped in a surprisingly tender story of a genuine guy just trying to do the right thing.
The story starts slightly awkwardly, on the one hand we have Jack pursuing a series spanning plotline, while AJ an institution attendant starts a cute romance with his boss Melanie (their storylines don't cross until almost 1/3 into the book).
The 'mental health' setting is fresh in many ways in that despite being disturbing to the max, Hayder successful writes about a secure ward without delving into the cliche or insensitive rubbish that populates most fiction novels using asylum tropes.
Aside from the reliance on previous books (strangely understandable for a series right?) there is an odd matter I must express. I'm not too sure if this is a criticism or just a comment, but Poppet contains some of the shortest chapters I've ever experienced in novel fiction. It was a commonly occurrence to have suspense built exquisitely only to have the point of view change abruptly.
Of course this is probably intentional, and as mentioned, not really a criticism, more just a 'heads up' that the pace of this piece is somewhat artificially frenetic due to this writing decision.
Overall Poppet delivers on all the things it promises, creepiness, crime, murder and mayhem all wrapped in a surprisingly tender story of a genuine guy just trying to do the right thing.
September 28, 2015
Poppet reminds me of Skin in many ways.
With Skin I felt as though the actual crime took a backseat to other events, and with Poppet I feel as though a similar thing happened. A lot of the book was given to detailing events which were not directly impacting upon the crime – and even if they were, the details could have been done without as they did not add as much as was probably intended. Due to this, I feel as though the book was longer than it needed to be in regards to some details and not long enough in others. In short, I feel as though some of the attention needed to be shifted elsewhere.
Despite this, as with Skin, the general storyline behind the Jack Caffery novels moves forward in a wonderful way. Events that have been playing out throughout the last few books are brought together in a wonderful way, allowing us to see the development of characters in a new light. It was wonderful to see that aspect of the book played out.
As a whole, Poppet is probably sitting around the midline in terms of where I place it on the Jack Caffery scale. A good read but not the best.
With Skin I felt as though the actual crime took a backseat to other events, and with Poppet I feel as though a similar thing happened. A lot of the book was given to detailing events which were not directly impacting upon the crime – and even if they were, the details could have been done without as they did not add as much as was probably intended. Due to this, I feel as though the book was longer than it needed to be in regards to some details and not long enough in others. In short, I feel as though some of the attention needed to be shifted elsewhere.
Despite this, as with Skin, the general storyline behind the Jack Caffery novels moves forward in a wonderful way. Events that have been playing out throughout the last few books are brought together in a wonderful way, allowing us to see the development of characters in a new light. It was wonderful to see that aspect of the book played out.
As a whole, Poppet is probably sitting around the midline in terms of where I place it on the Jack Caffery scale. A good read but not the best.
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