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Twisted
BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:
1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.
After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:
1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.
After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...
339 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2019
975 people are currently reading
33329 people want to read
About the author
Steve Cavanagh
30 books10.7k followersSteve Cavanagh is a critically acclaimed, Sunday Times best-selling author of the Eddie Flynn series which has sold a million copies in the UK. His third novel, The Liar, won the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the year 2018. Thirteen won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime novel of the year 2019. FIFTY FIFTY was a Richard and Judy Book club choice, and the BBC Between The Covers book club choice. All of his novels have been nominated for major awards. He is a consistent International bestseller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,990 reviews
April 4, 2019
**4.5 stars **
Twisted’ is a novel that certainly lives up to its name!
I think it’s best if I don’t go into detail with this one - the less you know the more you’ll enjoy it. Suffice to say though that this psychological thriller had me turning the pages rapidly to see what happened next. The writing here is absolutely first rate and takes us into the dark world of an obsessive, where any rationale is entirely his, not ours; where the central figure’s view of his actions leave room for little else. The pace is relentless - a bumpy ride down a long road, and when the main protagonists are drawn ever closer together, the outcome may not be so great! Excellent!
*My thanks to Netgalley and Orion for my ARC, I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
Twisted’ is a novel that certainly lives up to its name!
I think it’s best if I don’t go into detail with this one - the less you know the more you’ll enjoy it. Suffice to say though that this psychological thriller had me turning the pages rapidly to see what happened next. The writing here is absolutely first rate and takes us into the dark world of an obsessive, where any rationale is entirely his, not ours; where the central figure’s view of his actions leave room for little else. The pace is relentless - a bumpy ride down a long road, and when the main protagonists are drawn ever closer together, the outcome may not be so great! Excellent!
*My thanks to Netgalley and Orion for my ARC, I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
February 18, 2023
“From here on in, don’t believe a single word you read.”, and it’s not until the author wraps up this mind bender of a book that you finally understand what sits behind this sound bite.
Psychologically twisted so you question everything, mentally demanding because you have to concentrate on the plot to solve the riddle and wonderfully inviting because it is written by an author who knows how to write the ultimate killer thriller.
I don’t know how to the write this plot summary without giving too much away.
Let’s just say all is not what it seems, duplicity is at the core, the people in your life are not what they seem, the author J.T. LEBEAU is as much a mystery as his books, and then there is that huge question of who owns the £20M.
I am a huge fan of mind bending thrillers where most of the enjoyment comes from solving the riddle or puzzle before its revealed. However, this was a little bit too convoluted hence the 3/4 stars, or maybe it’s because I didn’t work it out. :)
It is also good for an author to try something different, but when you have created so much success on the back of a fascinating fictional detective like Eddie Flynn (from the Eddie Flynn series) – why change it. So we missed Eddie who was on sabbatical reflecting on life, whilst his fans pined over his return.
If this is the first book you have read by Steve Cavanagh and you weren't raving about it then my recommendation is to try a book from the Eddie Flynn series. They are amazing thrillers. If you loved this one then you are in for a real treat because his other books are even better.
Overall though, a great book and a very twisty plot with tons of suspense and thrill, but just not my favourite Steve Cavanagh book.
Psychologically twisted so you question everything, mentally demanding because you have to concentrate on the plot to solve the riddle and wonderfully inviting because it is written by an author who knows how to write the ultimate killer thriller.
I don’t know how to the write this plot summary without giving too much away.
Let’s just say all is not what it seems, duplicity is at the core, the people in your life are not what they seem, the author J.T. LEBEAU is as much a mystery as his books, and then there is that huge question of who owns the £20M.
I am a huge fan of mind bending thrillers where most of the enjoyment comes from solving the riddle or puzzle before its revealed. However, this was a little bit too convoluted hence the 3/4 stars, or maybe it’s because I didn’t work it out. :)
It is also good for an author to try something different, but when you have created so much success on the back of a fascinating fictional detective like Eddie Flynn (from the Eddie Flynn series) – why change it. So we missed Eddie who was on sabbatical reflecting on life, whilst his fans pined over his return.
If this is the first book you have read by Steve Cavanagh and you weren't raving about it then my recommendation is to try a book from the Eddie Flynn series. They are amazing thrillers. If you loved this one then you are in for a real treat because his other books are even better.
Overall though, a great book and a very twisty plot with tons of suspense and thrill, but just not my favourite Steve Cavanagh book.
February 10, 2019
The award winning crime thriller writer, Steve Cavanagh, manages to both gently satirise the genre of psychological thrillers, demand for which has exploded sky high amongst readers and publishers alike in recent years, whilst at the same time paying homage to it by going on to incorporate as many twists as he possibly can. This is a standalone novel with the tongue in cheek and rather apt title 'Twisted', although Cavanagh just cannot resist slipping in a reference to Eddie Flynn, the hot shot lawyer from his ongoing series. JT LeBeau is a thriller writer with a huge following and sales for his books, only no-one knows who he is, despite numerous attempts to discover who he is by the media, publishers and others. LeBeau's fame and notoriety revolve around his ability to write and plot killer twists that no-one ever sees coming. The novel kick starts with LeBeau's tantalising statement:
'BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:
1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.
After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...'
Paul Cooper, a sales management consultant is married to Maria, and the couple moved to Port Lonely to live. Paul is a man with secrets who has maintained a distance from his wife, which has led to her feeling increasingly lonely and isolated in this tiny wealthy community. Maria has assuaged her inner need for human connection by taking a lover, Daryl, an impoverished country club instructor and waiter. As her feelings for Daryl grow, Maria teeters on the brink of making the momentous decision to either stay with Paul for financial security or to settle for Daryl and poverty. She feels an inner rage when she accidentally finds evidence that Paul has been concealing huge secrets that make her feel she barely knows her husband. She begins to concoct plans to make him pay for his deceit and consolidate her future with Daryl.
When Sheriff Abraham Dole, and his Deputy of very few words, Melissa Bloch, are called in to a break in at the Coopers home, they can feel something is off, particularly when nothing is taken. This turns out to be the beginning of an investigation for them that is to test them to their limits as it spirals in completely unexpected directions, and begins to take in a long ago case that involved the murder of a woman who was never identified in Port Lonely, a case Dole has never forgotten. This is a story of a rising body count in murders, of characters that are nothing as they appear, unreliable memories, and two authors in the process of writing their latest books, one a murderous predator, the other trying merely to survive.
Steve Cavanagh takes us on a emotional thrill ride of a read, with twists popping up left, right and centre, where you are going to need suspend your sense of disbelief time after time, as you enter the dangerous and warped world of JT LeBeau and what happens to anyone who finds out his real identity. A fabulously entertaining and fun read, full of suspense and tension, from an author who obviously enjoyed writing and plotting this compelling thriller. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
'BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:
1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.
After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...'
Paul Cooper, a sales management consultant is married to Maria, and the couple moved to Port Lonely to live. Paul is a man with secrets who has maintained a distance from his wife, which has led to her feeling increasingly lonely and isolated in this tiny wealthy community. Maria has assuaged her inner need for human connection by taking a lover, Daryl, an impoverished country club instructor and waiter. As her feelings for Daryl grow, Maria teeters on the brink of making the momentous decision to either stay with Paul for financial security or to settle for Daryl and poverty. She feels an inner rage when she accidentally finds evidence that Paul has been concealing huge secrets that make her feel she barely knows her husband. She begins to concoct plans to make him pay for his deceit and consolidate her future with Daryl.
When Sheriff Abraham Dole, and his Deputy of very few words, Melissa Bloch, are called in to a break in at the Coopers home, they can feel something is off, particularly when nothing is taken. This turns out to be the beginning of an investigation for them that is to test them to their limits as it spirals in completely unexpected directions, and begins to take in a long ago case that involved the murder of a woman who was never identified in Port Lonely, a case Dole has never forgotten. This is a story of a rising body count in murders, of characters that are nothing as they appear, unreliable memories, and two authors in the process of writing their latest books, one a murderous predator, the other trying merely to survive.
Steve Cavanagh takes us on a emotional thrill ride of a read, with twists popping up left, right and centre, where you are going to need suspend your sense of disbelief time after time, as you enter the dangerous and warped world of JT LeBeau and what happens to anyone who finds out his real identity. A fabulously entertaining and fun read, full of suspense and tension, from an author who obviously enjoyed writing and plotting this compelling thriller. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
November 12, 2020
SC is the king of courtroom dramas - his eddie flynn series is some of the best crime novels i have ever read. so i was super excited to see what kind of standalone he could create.
unfortunately, the topic of this story nearly bored me to death. i really dont want to give anything away, because the synopsis is the vaguest thing ever, but the story revolves around a subject that i personally find so incredibly dull. its a motive thats quite cliché and a little anticlimactic.
regardless, the writing is good, the characters are interesting, and the plot is well developed - so i cant find any faults there. i just wish i had enjoyed the content more.
↠ 3 stars
unfortunately, the topic of this story nearly bored me to death. i really dont want to give anything away, because the synopsis is the vaguest thing ever, but the story revolves around a subject that i personally find so incredibly dull. its a motive thats quite cliché and a little anticlimactic.
regardless, the writing is good, the characters are interesting, and the plot is well developed - so i cant find any faults there. i just wish i had enjoyed the content more.
↠ 3 stars
April 18, 2025
“Author’s Note: (from J.T. LeBeau)
This will be my last book. I won’t write another. The reason should be clear by the time you come to the end of the story. That’s an interesting word-story. Is this a true story? Is it a memoir? Or fiction? I can’t say… There are only two things you need to know:
1. On my specific instructions my publisher have not edited this text. There have been no editorial notes, structural edits or other outside interference.
It’s just you and me.
2. From here on in, don’t believe a single word you read.
J. T. LeBeau
California, 2018”
Who is author J.T. LeBeau?
And, is this manuscript really going to be his last book?
If so-WHY?
We know that J.T. could be pseudonym for a very reclusive author who ALWAYS writes a KILLER TWIST-and that his murders seem SO real, it’s UNCANNY….
And, we are told that if he thinks you know who he is -he will be coming for you next.
I was excited to read this ENTICING stand-alone from Steve Cavanagh, who is one of my favorite “legal thriller” writers, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite as good as the Eddie Flynn series.
The book started strong BUT the plot lost steam about halfway, and started to drag, dumping information to try and explain the complicated TWIST.
One POSITIVE however is that we are introduced to a young deputy Melissa Bloch, and we learned about the case that motivated her to move into Private Investigation work, eventually leading her to a job with Eddie Flynn-
It’s always nice to get more background on a character who features in a series you are reading!
The second positive is that my copy of “The Accomplice” (Eddie Flynn #7) is on its way to me from the U.K. So I am completely caught up and ready for what’s next! Can’t wait!
A buddy read with those who are reading the Eddie Flynn series with me! Check out the amazing reviews of Ceecee, Pat, DeAnn, and Mary Beth to see if they were more enamored with J.T. than I was…
This will be my last book. I won’t write another. The reason should be clear by the time you come to the end of the story. That’s an interesting word-story. Is this a true story? Is it a memoir? Or fiction? I can’t say… There are only two things you need to know:
1. On my specific instructions my publisher have not edited this text. There have been no editorial notes, structural edits or other outside interference.
It’s just you and me.
2. From here on in, don’t believe a single word you read.
J. T. LeBeau
California, 2018”
Who is author J.T. LeBeau?
And, is this manuscript really going to be his last book?
If so-WHY?
We know that J.T. could be pseudonym for a very reclusive author who ALWAYS writes a KILLER TWIST-and that his murders seem SO real, it’s UNCANNY….
And, we are told that if he thinks you know who he is -he will be coming for you next.
I was excited to read this ENTICING stand-alone from Steve Cavanagh, who is one of my favorite “legal thriller” writers, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite as good as the Eddie Flynn series.
The book started strong BUT the plot lost steam about halfway, and started to drag, dumping information to try and explain the complicated TWIST.
One POSITIVE however is that we are introduced to a young deputy Melissa Bloch, and we learned about the case that motivated her to move into Private Investigation work, eventually leading her to a job with Eddie Flynn-
It’s always nice to get more background on a character who features in a series you are reading!
The second positive is that my copy of “The Accomplice” (Eddie Flynn #7) is on its way to me from the U.K. So I am completely caught up and ready for what’s next! Can’t wait!
A buddy read with those who are reading the Eddie Flynn series with me! Check out the amazing reviews of Ceecee, Pat, DeAnn, and Mary Beth to see if they were more enamored with J.T. than I was…
February 17, 2019
What a cleverly written book this was. This is definitely written for readers. And most definitely for those that love deeper twists in books that they think they’ve worked out.......but I beg to differ.
This was a puzzled within a puzzle.
Just who is this writer, no face, no identity?
Really made me sit up and take notice!
I do own one of his other books. Not read.....yet. But this sure is an eye opener to talent.
June 16, 2019
There's a lot of bad people in this book - liars, cheaters, blackmailers, and murderers. But, the worst atrocity:
At a diner:
Maria asked for cream and sugar, and it came a lot later than it should have. No tip for Sandy, thought Maria.
That's right. She's one of those people who look for any excuse not to tip. A monster.
Not only that, but this is her car in the parking lot:
Some people just deserve to be hit in the head with a hammer to knock some sense in them. No, that's not an overreaction, you saw the evidence.
Okay, so this book is marketed as having twists, and it does. The only negative I can say is that when you tell everyone to expect twists, they are reading looking for twists. I was never very surprised when something was revealed because I spent my whole time reading thinking about what twist would happen next. I was like a loser at the beach with a metal detector.
Maybe if Maria had one of these she could tip like a decent human being.
I can't tell you too much about this book because the twisty thing. I don't want to spoil you. Of course, I have been known to spoil accidentally (and not accidentally) before so.... maybe I already have.
Fun book!
At a diner:
Maria asked for cream and sugar, and it came a lot later than it should have. No tip for Sandy, thought Maria.
That's right. She's one of those people who look for any excuse not to tip. A monster.
Not only that, but this is her car in the parking lot:
Some people just deserve to be hit in the head with a hammer to knock some sense in them. No, that's not an overreaction, you saw the evidence.
Okay, so this book is marketed as having twists, and it does. The only negative I can say is that when you tell everyone to expect twists, they are reading looking for twists. I was never very surprised when something was revealed because I spent my whole time reading thinking about what twist would happen next. I was like a loser at the beach with a metal detector.
Maybe if Maria had one of these she could tip like a decent human being.
I can't tell you too much about this book because the twisty thing. I don't want to spoil you. Of course, I have been known to spoil accidentally (and not accidentally) before so.... maybe I already have.
Fun book!
May 2, 2019
5☆ A Fast Paced, Suspenseful, Must Read!
Now the blurb for Twisted really doesn't give anything away and it's what intrigued me the most.
Then I got to chapter 1 and I was hooked!
This book is exactly what the title says.... TWISTED!
Nothing is as it seems, it's perfectly twisty and thrilling and will keep you on your toes.
It's a fast paced, roller coaster will keep you turning the pages.
It's full of gritty secrets, lies, deceit, hidden identity, red herrings, and just when you think you found the puzzle piece, think again!
I'm not going to discuss the plot as I don't want to risk giving out spoilers.
But if like me the snappy blurb caught your attention then believe me the plot is even better!
The Characters are complex and flawed which fits this genre and plot perfectly.
I loved being just on the outside of what was going on as it kept me hooked.
Twisted is a compulsive psychological thriller that is completely enthralling, suspenseful and Taut.
If you enjoy thrillers to keep you dangling for answers whilst ramping up the pace then you definitely need to read TWISTED!
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
Now the blurb for Twisted really doesn't give anything away and it's what intrigued me the most.
Then I got to chapter 1 and I was hooked!
This book is exactly what the title says.... TWISTED!
Nothing is as it seems, it's perfectly twisty and thrilling and will keep you on your toes.
It's a fast paced, roller coaster will keep you turning the pages.
It's full of gritty secrets, lies, deceit, hidden identity, red herrings, and just when you think you found the puzzle piece, think again!
I'm not going to discuss the plot as I don't want to risk giving out spoilers.
But if like me the snappy blurb caught your attention then believe me the plot is even better!
The Characters are complex and flawed which fits this genre and plot perfectly.
I loved being just on the outside of what was going on as it kept me hooked.
Twisted is a compulsive psychological thriller that is completely enthralling, suspenseful and Taut.
If you enjoy thrillers to keep you dangling for answers whilst ramping up the pace then you definitely need to read TWISTED!
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
March 10, 2019
Recently started reading Steve Cavanagh novels after reading his recent book 'Thirteen'. The Publishers do need a massive pat on the back for their excellent splurge about his books. That was what got me reading this unknown author when I first read one of his novels and they have done it again with this one. If the following introduction doesn't make you want to read more I don't know what will:
BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:
1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.
And this book does not fail with its promises of twists, there are so many I lost count. If like me you love Crime thrillers you will surely enjoy this one. Quickly becoming a firm favourite author of mine.
After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...
I would like to thank Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying this novel in exchange for an honest review.
BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THREE THINGS:
1. The police are looking to charge me with murder.
2. No one knows who I am. Or how I did it.
3. If you think you've found me. I'm coming for you next.
And this book does not fail with its promises of twists, there are so many I lost count. If like me you love Crime thrillers you will surely enjoy this one. Quickly becoming a firm favourite author of mine.
After you've read this book, you'll know: the truth is far more twisted...
I would like to thank Net Galley and Orion Publishing Group for supplying this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2019
‘Twisted’ is a stand alone, very original in plot and idea and with a completely different ‘concept’ to anything I have read begore
J.T.Le Beau ( living as Paul ) is one of the worlds most successful authors, he is also a recluse, putting it mildly, anyone who finds out who he is dies, its as simple as that
well almost everyone
Maria, his wife, has no idea who she is married to and that he is an author!!??!! she is also having an affair and plans to leave Paul, then she discovers who Paul really is and his worth and the story really starts
I found the book hard going and I am soooooo disappointed I did as I loved the authors last book THIRTEEN ( one of my fav’s last year) but although as say its original
and so so different I found it not for me, I didn’t connect with the characters or the writing style this time and thats where I will leave the review!!
August 18, 2025
Very twisted indeed. It was so many twists in there, not just one at the end, and I really enjoyed the fast pace.
July 20, 2022
3.5 rounded down.
Well, Twisted is certainly an apt title for this book!
The book opens with the memorial service for author, J.T. LeBeau, finally identified. LeBeau has been a cipher for years, turning out just one thriller a year. His fame and prestige soaring as his mystique grew. No one knew who he was, at least no one who was still alive. Oddly, his books bore more than a passing resemblance to a number of actual murders.
I don’t know what else to tell you about the plot so I’m not even going to try. I love a twisty, convoluted thriller but this may have had one or two twists too many. Most of the time I didn’t have a clue what was going on or which way was up! Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading this but I do think it was too much.
Maria is married to Paul but in love with Daryl. The poor woman must have been as confused as I was as she was lied to, attacked and, and, and…. I only mention Maria because she has a huge part to play in the finale of the story.
One of the highlights of the book is introduction of Bloch’s character. We learn that she was a cop in New York but for reasons explained in the book she ended up at Lonely Point where the majority of the story is set. After doing something that while ‘right’ was not ‘legal’ she left the force completely and we now have the pleasure of her company as an investigator for Eddie Flynn.
I know this is not one of my better reviews but it’s a really difficult book to review without a) repeating the blurb or b) giving spoilers so it will just have to do. And now, my group of fellow Steve Cavanagh readers - Jayme, Ceecee and DeAnn and Mary Beth are looking to book 7 in the Eddie Flynn series.
Well, Twisted is certainly an apt title for this book!
The book opens with the memorial service for author, J.T. LeBeau, finally identified. LeBeau has been a cipher for years, turning out just one thriller a year. His fame and prestige soaring as his mystique grew. No one knew who he was, at least no one who was still alive. Oddly, his books bore more than a passing resemblance to a number of actual murders.
I don’t know what else to tell you about the plot so I’m not even going to try. I love a twisty, convoluted thriller but this may have had one or two twists too many. Most of the time I didn’t have a clue what was going on or which way was up! Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading this but I do think it was too much.
Maria is married to Paul but in love with Daryl. The poor woman must have been as confused as I was as she was lied to, attacked and, and, and…. I only mention Maria because she has a huge part to play in the finale of the story.
One of the highlights of the book is introduction of Bloch’s character. We learn that she was a cop in New York but for reasons explained in the book she ended up at Lonely Point where the majority of the story is set. After doing something that while ‘right’ was not ‘legal’ she left the force completely and we now have the pleasure of her company as an investigator for Eddie Flynn.
I know this is not one of my better reviews but it’s a really difficult book to review without a) repeating the blurb or b) giving spoilers so it will just have to do. And now, my group of fellow Steve Cavanagh readers - Jayme, Ceecee and DeAnn and Mary Beth are looking to book 7 in the Eddie Flynn series.
June 20, 2020
You know that crooked, one-way block in San Francisco with all of the sharp turns, Lombard Street? That’s a straight shot to the bottom compared to this twister of a book.
Every time you head down one avenue, crafty Mr. Cavanaugh says not so fast and sends you down another. No one and nothing is as it seems, it’s best to just fasten your seat belt and go along for the ride.
This is a book within a book, a puzzle within a maze and a pretzel inside a funnel cake. And a wink wink, nod nod to the thriller genre. Four stars for cunning plotting and an outrageous tale.
Every time you head down one avenue, crafty Mr. Cavanaugh says not so fast and sends you down another. No one and nothing is as it seems, it’s best to just fasten your seat belt and go along for the ride.
This is a book within a book, a puzzle within a maze and a pretzel inside a funnel cake. And a wink wink, nod nod to the thriller genre. Four stars for cunning plotting and an outrageous tale.
June 20, 2020
Wanting a little more of a Steve Cavanagh fix, I turned to this standalone novel that proves to be just as exciting as his Eddie Flynn series. Built on an interesting premise, the story takes the reader through a number of exciting twists, while watching the characters piece together what has been revealed through a tantalising narrative. During one of their afternoon trysts, Maria Cooper and her current beau discover a secret. Maria’s husband, Paul, is sitting on a massive fortune in an off-short bank account. However, there’s more that leave Maria and Daryl gobsmacked. Based on what they discover, it would appear that Paul Cooper is actually the famous (and highly secretive) bestselling author, J.T. LeBeau. Maria cannot believe that her husband, who keeps her on an allowance, has been writing some of the most talked about books and no one has yet identified him. Worried that they will be found out, Maria and Daryl concoct a fake robbery so that Paul is none the wiser to their breaking into his office. When the police become involved, the pressure’s on and Paul panics, fleeing the house before Maria learns the truth, something she has yet to reveal. At the same time, Maria and Daryl devise a plan to ensure that the end of the Cooper marriage does not leave them without a nest egg. Maria’s soon attacked and left for dead. The authorities are called to handle the attack and Paul Cooper is the prime suspect in his wife’s attempted murder. While Maria’s in a coma, Paul has fled out to sea and is rescued from near death by a mysterious fisherman, who helps him recover back on shore. It is only then that Paul discovers the truth about the man who saved him and some of the more sinister things that he’s done. It would seem that the truth about J.T. LeBeau is more complicated than first presumed, something the local police discover as they search for Paul Cooper. His secret is out and he’s wanted for a number of murders and disappearances over the past few years, but Paul remains on the lam. As the race for the truth takes many a turn, the reader learns just how twisted things can be when Cavanagh is at the helm. A wonderful mystery that permits the reader to play an omnipotent role, where truth is an ever-changing commodity. Recommended to those who love a great mystery filled with twists, as well as the reader who is a fan of Steve Cavanagh.
I stumbled upon the work of Steve Cavanagh early this year and have not been able to get enough. While Eddie Flynn is a wonderful protagonist, I enjoyed this standalone that permitted me to see a new and exciting side to this thrill writer. Cavanagh creates a wonderful story with a handful of basic characters, turning a simple reveal into a masterful game of cat and mouse. With a story in which the reader knows all and watches things play out, Cavanagh develops his narrative and takes it in many needed tangents before returning things for the final reveal. Cavanagh uses his strong characters and dialogue to pull the reader in, mixing short and longer chapters to create sustained interest. Once caught in the trap, all the reader can do is ‘read a little more’ to get their fix. I’m now a firm believer that Steve Cavanagh is one of those versatile authors who can turn any plot into a masterful novel. If only I did not have to wait so long for more!
Kudos, Mr. Cavanagh, for another winning book. I hope to gather some more interest in your work, for other readers to discover and add them to their respective tottering To Be Read piles.
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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I stumbled upon the work of Steve Cavanagh early this year and have not been able to get enough. While Eddie Flynn is a wonderful protagonist, I enjoyed this standalone that permitted me to see a new and exciting side to this thrill writer. Cavanagh creates a wonderful story with a handful of basic characters, turning a simple reveal into a masterful game of cat and mouse. With a story in which the reader knows all and watches things play out, Cavanagh develops his narrative and takes it in many needed tangents before returning things for the final reveal. Cavanagh uses his strong characters and dialogue to pull the reader in, mixing short and longer chapters to create sustained interest. Once caught in the trap, all the reader can do is ‘read a little more’ to get their fix. I’m now a firm believer that Steve Cavanagh is one of those versatile authors who can turn any plot into a masterful novel. If only I did not have to wait so long for more!
Kudos, Mr. Cavanagh, for another winning book. I hope to gather some more interest in your work, for other readers to discover and add them to their respective tottering To Be Read piles.
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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 11, 2022
From here on in, don’t believe a single word you read.Maria has been married to Paul Cooper for almost two years, but not very happily. Paul travels a lot, and he’s emotionally distant even when he’s home. So Maria has been having an affair with Daryl for almost five months. But just as she’s preparing to leave Paul, she finds some papers that show he’s been hiding his identity from her this whole time, that Paul is really the secretive, best-selling author J.T. LeBeau. Angry at his deception, Maria decides to stage her discovery as a burglary to try to pressure Paul into telling her the truth. But Paul has more he’s hiding than than just his secret life as an author, and Maria has started a chain reaction that threatens them both ….
…
The excitement took hold, a desperate need to get the words down on the page before they dulled or fizzed away from his consciousness. This was what Paul lived for.
He just liked writing twists good enough to make the reader drop the goddamn book.
And there was one of the way.
…
The truth can be far too brutal.
Twisted is the first standalone novel by Steve Cavanagh, and the first not featuring either a criminal trial or defense attorney Eddie Flynn. But this novel needs neither to take the reader on another wild ride. It’s a cat-and-mouse thriller in which the three main characters trade off until the final page which is the cat and which is the mouse. It’s a well written, very fast read that has as many plot twists as you’d expect from a novel called Twisted. Recommended.
January 14, 2020
There are twists you never see coming!
Who is J.T. LeBeau?
No one has ever met the elusive and successful writer but almost everyone has read his gruesome and twisted novels.
No one has ever seen a photo of him. He has done no interviews or book-signings.
He is a mystery.
He is an enigma and intends to stay anonymous at any price.
Who is J.T. LeBeau?
No one has ever met the elusive and successful writer but almost everyone has read his gruesome and twisted novels.
No one has ever seen a photo of him. He has done no interviews or book-signings.
He is a mystery.
He is an enigma and intends to stay anonymous at any price.
July 28, 2021
Cavanagh is so good
October 15, 2020
2.5 un-twisty STARS ★★✬✩✩
⤐ Overall.
If all of a sudden, we started judging authors based on whichever work of theirs we read first, Steve would not be happy about his ratings. I've seldomly met a book that should not be judged by its cover as much as this one. For a book called Twisted, there's definitely too little content that makes me doubt human instincts.
In my eyes, a thriller should make me so uncomfortable I start looking around corners before actually rounding them and second-guessing everything people do. Is that person just staring at me because their brain got stuck on a thought and they're actually not even looking at me specifically? Or are they plotting to take my life apart because I once skipped ahead of them in the line in the supermarket? Or even for no particular reason at all? I want full-body-chills, involuntary shudders and shadows looking back at me.
Not whatever it is I got with Twisted. Although, despite my criticism, I really must say I enjoyed the story in general. There were certainly some plot twists I didn't see coming, it was just not the sort of twist I expected/wanted. The storyline is somewhat predictable in some cases. Maybe people who are really easily freaked out might enjoy this.
⤐ What’s happening.
Maria leads a quiet life with her semi-secretive husband Paul. She feels unfulfilled in all the ways that matter and thus as an affair with Daryl, with whom she discovers paperwork that leads them to believe her husband Paul is actually an author worth millions. Instead of being upfront about the whole matter they take the low road and get semi-aggressive. To say the least, things get out of hand. Because there is another player in their game they know nothing of.
_____________________
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some things irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
This book is for you if… you're easily scared and freaked out by the idea of trusting anyone. Or are naive enough to think you could actually ever truly know someone. Read this. It’ll maybe make it worse. I suggest looking elsewhere for a more intense thriller, though.
⤐ Overall.
If all of a sudden, we started judging authors based on whichever work of theirs we read first, Steve would not be happy about his ratings. I've seldomly met a book that should not be judged by its cover as much as this one. For a book called Twisted, there's definitely too little content that makes me doubt human instincts.
In my eyes, a thriller should make me so uncomfortable I start looking around corners before actually rounding them and second-guessing everything people do. Is that person just staring at me because their brain got stuck on a thought and they're actually not even looking at me specifically? Or are they plotting to take my life apart because I once skipped ahead of them in the line in the supermarket? Or even for no particular reason at all? I want full-body-chills, involuntary shudders and shadows looking back at me.
Not whatever it is I got with Twisted. Although, despite my criticism, I really must say I enjoyed the story in general. There were certainly some plot twists I didn't see coming, it was just not the sort of twist I expected/wanted. The storyline is somewhat predictable in some cases. Maybe people who are really easily freaked out might enjoy this.
⤐ What’s happening.
Maria leads a quiet life with her semi-secretive husband Paul. She feels unfulfilled in all the ways that matter and thus as an affair with Daryl, with whom she discovers paperwork that leads them to believe her husband Paul is actually an author worth millions. Instead of being upfront about the whole matter they take the low road and get semi-aggressive. To say the least, things get out of hand. Because there is another player in their game they know nothing of.
_____________________
3 STARS. Decent read that I have neither strongly positive nor negative feelings about. Some things irked me and thus it does not qualify as exceptional.
January 13, 2019
A brilliantly twisted and oft unexpected standalone thriller from Steve Cavanagh, probably the most fun you'll have with a book this year.
Bit of a rollercoaster with some insane characters and a terrific finale. Clever and hugely addictive.
Full review to follow for the tour.
Bit of a rollercoaster with some insane characters and a terrific finale. Clever and hugely addictive.
Full review to follow for the tour.
April 21, 2019
Read this and more crime and thriller reviews on CriminOlly.wordpress.com
Who doesn’t love a great twist? ‘Twisted’ is a book that sells itself on the fact that it has great ones. It’s right there in the title and it’s pretty clear that author Steve Cavanagh has spent a lot of time coming up with devious ways to trick and surprise his readers.
The set up is interesting. JT LeBeau is the world’s bestselling crime writer. His work is beloved by millions of fans but nobody knows his real identity. When a woman and her lover discover papers in her husband’s office that suggest he is LeBeau, a mystery kicks off that is filled with as much betrayal and as many twists as the title suggests,
Being a book about a writer, Cavanagh spends some time reflecting on the craft and on what makes a good twist. Reading the book I found myself thinking of truly great twists in novels and movies. Things like ‘Psycho’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘The Crying Game’, ‘The Usual Suspects’, ‘Behind Her Eyes’. It occurred to me that what the twists in those works have in common is that they change your perception of what has gone before. They make the reader or viewer reflect back on the story and characters and replay it with the new knowledge they have gained. That’s a really powerful thing because it makes you obsessively analyse the story. It’s why all the titles I’ve mentioned above are so memorable.
None of the twists in ‘Twisted’ did that for me. They change the direction of the plot, but they didn’t have that kind of revelatory impact. To put it simply, I never had a “whoa!” moment.
The other thing great twists have in common is that you don’t see them coming. You’re so wrapped up in the story that they hit you without warning. Because ‘Twisted’ sells itself on its twists I found myself constantly looking for them, so that when they did come, they weren’t that unexpected. Often, I’d spent so much time thinking about them that I’d already figured out what they were going to be.
The biggest problem though, is that ‘Twisted’ really feels built around the turns in its plot. The characters and events are just there to carry you from one twist to another. As a result, I found myself not caring at all about what happened to the people I was reading about. That is the kiss of death for any book, no matter how good the twists are.
Read more crime and thriller reviews at CriminOlly.wordpress.com
Who doesn’t love a great twist? ‘Twisted’ is a book that sells itself on the fact that it has great ones. It’s right there in the title and it’s pretty clear that author Steve Cavanagh has spent a lot of time coming up with devious ways to trick and surprise his readers.
The set up is interesting. JT LeBeau is the world’s bestselling crime writer. His work is beloved by millions of fans but nobody knows his real identity. When a woman and her lover discover papers in her husband’s office that suggest he is LeBeau, a mystery kicks off that is filled with as much betrayal and as many twists as the title suggests,
Being a book about a writer, Cavanagh spends some time reflecting on the craft and on what makes a good twist. Reading the book I found myself thinking of truly great twists in novels and movies. Things like ‘Psycho’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘The Crying Game’, ‘The Usual Suspects’, ‘Behind Her Eyes’. It occurred to me that what the twists in those works have in common is that they change your perception of what has gone before. They make the reader or viewer reflect back on the story and characters and replay it with the new knowledge they have gained. That’s a really powerful thing because it makes you obsessively analyse the story. It’s why all the titles I’ve mentioned above are so memorable.
None of the twists in ‘Twisted’ did that for me. They change the direction of the plot, but they didn’t have that kind of revelatory impact. To put it simply, I never had a “whoa!” moment.
The other thing great twists have in common is that you don’t see them coming. You’re so wrapped up in the story that they hit you without warning. Because ‘Twisted’ sells itself on its twists I found myself constantly looking for them, so that when they did come, they weren’t that unexpected. Often, I’d spent so much time thinking about them that I’d already figured out what they were going to be.
The biggest problem though, is that ‘Twisted’ really feels built around the turns in its plot. The characters and events are just there to carry you from one twist to another. As a result, I found myself not caring at all about what happened to the people I was reading about. That is the kiss of death for any book, no matter how good the twists are.
Read more crime and thriller reviews at CriminOlly.wordpress.com
February 18, 2019
This is without a doubt where the title of the novel absolutely lives up to it’s name!
What to say about this book. I really don’t know where to start and even then it is actually very hard to say much about it at all without giving anything away. This one will probably be one of my most evasive reviews so far and for that I won’t actually apologise, as believe me when you read this book for yourself you will be glad I didn’t really tell you anything.
Now what I will tell you is that this novel is utterly brilliant. The story line is just phenomenal. So many times I had to go back and re read what I had just read as I struggled to comprehend what I was reading. I really don’t mean that in a bad way either. The twists when they start coming, come thick and fast, of which some totally floored me. It’s one of those books you want your friends to hurry up and read so you can see if they saw any of it coming or if it took them by total surprise also.
Twisted is the most twistiest of books I have ever come across. It totally messed with my head, shocking and surprising me, yet thrilling me all at the same time. There is no other story like it that I for one have ever come across. If you love a story with a good twist, and come on, who doesn’t? Then hands down they don’t come any better than this.
My thanks to Tracy Fenton, NetGalley and Orion publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
What to say about this book. I really don’t know where to start and even then it is actually very hard to say much about it at all without giving anything away. This one will probably be one of my most evasive reviews so far and for that I won’t actually apologise, as believe me when you read this book for yourself you will be glad I didn’t really tell you anything.
Now what I will tell you is that this novel is utterly brilliant. The story line is just phenomenal. So many times I had to go back and re read what I had just read as I struggled to comprehend what I was reading. I really don’t mean that in a bad way either. The twists when they start coming, come thick and fast, of which some totally floored me. It’s one of those books you want your friends to hurry up and read so you can see if they saw any of it coming or if it took them by total surprise also.
Twisted is the most twistiest of books I have ever come across. It totally messed with my head, shocking and surprising me, yet thrilling me all at the same time. There is no other story like it that I for one have ever come across. If you love a story with a good twist, and come on, who doesn’t? Then hands down they don’t come any better than this.
My thanks to Tracy Fenton, NetGalley and Orion publishing for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
September 1, 2025
Има някаква интрига в този роман, обаче на мен ми е скучно и нямам желание да го дочета.
Отделно, книгата не е много добре написана, а героите ѝ кънтят на кухо и не интригуват читателя.
Отделно, книгата не е много добре написана, а героите ѝ кънтят на кухо и не интригуват читателя.
April 8, 2019
Twisted is one of those thrillers that the less you know of the story beforehand, the more thrilling the ride. It’s difficult to go into detail about the plot without giving away spoilers, so this review will be a brief one. I should mention that this is a standalone and although lawyer Eddie Flynn does get a mention, it is not part of that series.
J T LeBeau, the author of Twisted, is a multi-million dollar best-selling author, hiding behind a veil of secrecy. Their publisher doesn’t even know his or her true identity and they will go to any lengths to keep it that way.
Twisted is the perfect title for this book. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, the rug is pulled from under you and you are spun around, again and again. I lost count of how many times I thought I’d worked out the ‘who and the what’ only to then find out that everything had turned completely on its head.
With multiple narrators moving the story along, the book has a slower pace to begin with whilst the scene is set but then reaches a point where there is barely time to pause for breath before each rollercoaster ride begins again.
Twisted is a thoroughly entertaining and addictive read with the suspense just racking up right until the very last page, it will certainly mess with your head until you won’t know which way is up. I think it’s fair to say that the emphasis is more on the plot and the twists than on any depth of character but in this case, that didn’t bother me. To my shame, this is the first book I have read by Steve Cavanagh – I’ve seen so many positive reviews for his previous books and now I can see why.
Twisted was such a fun and suspenseful read. I really enjoyed it.
J T LeBeau, the author of Twisted, is a multi-million dollar best-selling author, hiding behind a veil of secrecy. Their publisher doesn’t even know his or her true identity and they will go to any lengths to keep it that way.
Twisted is the perfect title for this book. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, the rug is pulled from under you and you are spun around, again and again. I lost count of how many times I thought I’d worked out the ‘who and the what’ only to then find out that everything had turned completely on its head.
With multiple narrators moving the story along, the book has a slower pace to begin with whilst the scene is set but then reaches a point where there is barely time to pause for breath before each rollercoaster ride begins again.
Twisted is a thoroughly entertaining and addictive read with the suspense just racking up right until the very last page, it will certainly mess with your head until you won’t know which way is up. I think it’s fair to say that the emphasis is more on the plot and the twists than on any depth of character but in this case, that didn’t bother me. To my shame, this is the first book I have read by Steve Cavanagh – I’ve seen so many positive reviews for his previous books and now I can see why.
Twisted was such a fun and suspenseful read. I really enjoyed it.
October 30, 2019
Εντάξει,ο άνθρωπος ζωγραφίζει.Τι έχουμε εδώ;
•έναν συγγραφέα που παραμένει άγνωστος και απρόσιτος
•μια "χτυπημένη" από τη ζωή γυναίκα που απατά τον άντρα της
• τον γλυκούλη σερβιτόρο-αντικείμενο του πόθου της παραπάνω κυρίας
•τον καημενούλη τον κερατά που έχει τη φωλιά του όμως λερωμένη
•λεφτά να φάνε κι οι κότες
•δυο-τρεις αστυνομικούς που μπορεί να είναι γάτες,μπορεί και να μην είναι
•και έναν (ή περισσότερους) ιδιαιτέρως διεστραμμένους εγκεφάλους.
Μια αστυνομική ιστορία με πολλές ανατροπές,με την καλύτερη αυτή που κλείνει το βιβλίο.
5⭐
•έναν συγγραφέα που παραμένει άγνωστος και απρόσιτος
•μια "χτυπημένη" από τη ζωή γυναίκα που απατά τον άντρα της
• τον γλυκούλη σερβιτόρο-αντικείμενο του πόθου της παραπάνω κυρίας
•τον καημενούλη τον κερατά που έχει τη φωλιά του όμως λερωμένη
•λεφτά να φάνε κι οι κότες
•δυο-τρεις αστυνομικούς που μπορεί να είναι γάτες,μπορεί και να μην είναι
•και έναν (ή περισσότερους) ιδιαιτέρως διεστραμμένους εγκεφάλους.
Μια αστυνομική ιστορία με πολλές ανατροπές,με την καλύτερη αυτή που κλείνει το βιβλίο.
5⭐
February 16, 2021
Δεν μου άρεσε καθόλου! Ήταν μια τελείως αδιάφορη ιστορία, με καμία ανατροπή και εντελώς αδιάφορους- αντιπαθητικούς χαρακτήρες. Οι πράξεις του ήταν αδικαιολόγητες και γενικά δεν υπήρχε καμία σύνδεση των γεγονότων. Κάτι συνέβαινε στο ξαφνικό (μάλλον ο συγγραφέας προσπαθούσε να κάνει την ανατροπή), αλλά όλο αυτό ήταν τελείως "αμήχανο" ή πρόχειρο (δεν ξέρω και πως να χαρακτηρίσω όλο αυτό που διάβασα).
November 19, 2019
Twisted is a great read, keeps you on the edge of your seat with twist after twist, until the author decides to say "fuck logic". At that point he throws in a bunch more twists which do nothing to help the story, but rather just to count as "hur dur I put even more twists in", detracting from what could have been a nicer ending. Instead we end up with a situation where literally half the cast lost all their idiosyncrasies.
Extra details with spoilers:
So the cop goes in guns blazing ... *alone* . The psyco who can feel people's presence didn't notice people coming in through the front door. A civilian was given a gun. She then shot 3 people, two of which where unarmed, but the cop let's her off. Cover story is a fleeing parolee was being chased down, one who had already checked in with the police where he was going, doesn't seem like he needs to be chased down. And the cherry on top, mrs "I'm cheating on my husband so he notices me, wait what he has a secret! He's evil, please marry me other guy, and don't worry I won't tell the cops how we were plotting to kill and exort my husband. Oh wait! You're actually evil? Why does this happen to me ever since my father. Ok I will kill you both and take the millions because i deserve it. I am a new woman who needs no man."
Extra details with spoilers:
So the cop goes in guns blazing ... *alone* . The psyco who can feel people's presence didn't notice people coming in through the front door. A civilian was given a gun. She then shot 3 people, two of which where unarmed, but the cop let's her off. Cover story is a fleeing parolee was being chased down, one who had already checked in with the police where he was going, doesn't seem like he needs to be chased down. And the cherry on top, mrs "I'm cheating on my husband so he notices me, wait what he has a secret! He's evil, please marry me other guy, and don't worry I won't tell the cops how we were plotting to kill and exort my husband. Oh wait! You're actually evil? Why does this happen to me ever since my father. Ok I will kill you both and take the millions because i deserve it. I am a new woman who needs no man."
October 30, 2020
3,5/5 αστεράκια.
Μπαίνει αυτόματα, με δόξα και τιμή, στη λίστα με εκείνα τα βιβλία που απλά θέλω να ΣΚΟΤΩΣΩ την πρωταγωνίστρια. Ένα απόλυτο τίποτα που ένιωθε πως όλοι οι άλλοι όφειλαν να την κάνουν κάτι. Την αντιπάθησα εξαρχής και νομίζω πως στο τέλος δικαιώθηκα! Δεν λέω τίποτα παραπάνω, γιατί δεν θα μπορέσω να αποφύγω τα spoilers!
Ακολουθεί η κριτική μου για το βιβλίο στο site tovivlio.net:
Μετά το συναρπαστικό δικαστικό θρίλερ 13, ο Steve Cavanagh επιστρέφει με ένα ακόμα θρίλερ που ευελπιστεί να καθηλώσει με τον ίδιο τρόπο τους αναγνώστες.
Ο Πολ Κούπερ είναι παντρεμένος με τη Μαρία, όμως της κρύβει ένα μυστικό που αφορά την προσωπική του ζωή και την ταυτότητά του. Νιώθοντας μοναξιά εξαιτίας των συχνών ταξιδιών του Πολ, εκείνη δημιουργεί παράνομο δεσμό με τον Ντάριλ Όουκς. Σ’ ένα από τα ραντεβού τους και με αφορμή ένα τυχαίο συμβάν, η Μαρία ανακαλύπτει το μεγάλο μυστικό του συζύγου της: είναι ο διάσημος συγγραφέας Τ.Τ. Λε Μπο, ένας από τους πιο επιτυχημένους συγγραφείς αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων κι ένας από τους πλουσιότερους ανθρώπους του χώρου, του οποίου την πραγματική ταυτότητα δεν γνωρίζει κανείς – ούτε καν οι εκδότες του. Αυτό που χαρακτηρίζει τα έργα του είναι η αιματοβαμμένη πλοκή και οι συναρπαστικές τους ανατροπές που καθηλώνουν το αναγνωστικό κοινό.
Νιώθοντας προδομένη και πικραμένη, η Μαρία αποφασίζει να εκδικηθεί τον σύζυγό της όχι μόνο επειδή της έκρυψε ένα τέτοιο γεγονός, αλλά και επειδή σύμφωνα με την ίδια δεν της έχει προσφέρει τη ζωή που θα έπρεπε, όντας τόσο πλούσιος. Έτσι αποφασίζει να τον εκβιάσει, απειλώντας να αποκαλύψει την ταυτότητά του στα ΜΜΕ αν δεν της δώσει ένα σεβαστό ποσό. Με συνεργό τον Ντάριλ, λοιπόν, καταστρώνουν το σχέδιό τους.
Όμως τίποτα δεν θα πάει όπως το υπολογίζουν. Και τότε αρχίζει μια αληθινή κούρσα δρόμου, στην οποία εκτός από το παράξενο αυτό τρίο εμπλέκεται και η αστυνομία, που καλείται να διερευνήσει μια ��πόπειρα φόνου. Παραξενεμένος, ο σερίφης της πόλης ανακαλύπτει ότι ίσως αυτή η υπόθεση σχετίζεται με μια άλυτη παλιότερη υπόθεση, η οποία τον έχει στοιχειώσει και που ίσως τώρα καταφέρει να εξιχνιάσει. Ο Πολ είναι πλέον ένας φυγάς που αγωνίζεται να αποδείξει τι έχει συμβεί στην πραγματικότητα, όμως όλα τα στοιχεία δείχνουν να είναι εναντίον του. Η γυναίκα του δεν μπορεί -ή δεν θέλει- να τον βοηθήσει και ένας άκρως επικίνδυνος εχθρός από το παρελθόν του βρίσκεται στο κατόπι του, αποφασισμένος να κάνει τα πάντα ώστε να προστατέψει το δικό του ένοχο μυστικό. Ποιος είναι τελικά ο περίφημος συγγραφέας Τ.Τ. Λε Μπο και ποια η λύση αυτού του περίεργου γρίφου; Και πού μπορεί να φτάσει ένας παρανοϊκός αλλά τετραπέρατος νους, προκειμένου να προστατέψει όσα θεωρεί κεκτημένα του;
Ένα μυθιστόρημα με καταιγιστική πλοκή, απανωτές εξελίξεις και ευφυείς ανατροπές που μηδενίζουν το κοντέρ των θεωριών και τις ξαναπιάνουν από την αρχή, κάτω από διαφορετική οπτική κάθε φορά, διαθέτει ήδη τα εχέγγυα για να τραβήξει το ενδιαφέρον των αναγνωστών. Όταν επιπλέον είναι καλογραμμένο, καλοδουλεμένο και άρτια δομημένο, η… συνταγή γίνεται ακόμα πιο πετυχημένη! Το συγκεκριμένο είναι ένα τέτοιο μυθιστόρημα και επίσης διαθέτει έναν επιπλέον «μαγνήτη» για τους βιβλιόφιλους: κεντρικός ήρωάς του είναι έναν διάσημος μυστηριώδης συγγραφέας, του οποίου τα βιβλία είναι όχι απλά best seller, αλλά και εμπνευσμένα από αληθινές υποθέσεις δολοφονιών. Ακόμα και το μυστήριο γύρω από την αληθινή του ταυτότητα προσδίδει έξτρα σασπένς στο όλο «πακέτο».
Ο Cavanagh κατορθώνει να σε κάνει να αμφιβάλλεις κάθε στιγμή γι’ αυτό που διαβάζεις. Σε κάνει να ανατρέχεις στις προηγούμενες σελίδες για να σιγουρευτείς για αυτό που είναι γραμμένο εκεί, γιατί ανατρέπεται με τέτοιον τρόπο αργότερα που μοιάζει σαν επιτυχημένο, αλλά αλλόκοτο μαγικό τρικ. Χτίζει μια θεωρία και τη θρέφει για λίγο, απλά για να έρθει λίγο μετά και να την καταρρίψει πανηγυρικά, ορθώνοντας στη θέση της μια άλλη. Ξανά και ξανά… μέχρι το τέλος. Οπωσδήποτε ο αναγνώστης χρειάζεται πολλή υπομονή και προσήλωση στην αφήγηση, όπως και διάθεση για ένταση και σκέψη, ώστε να τα βγάλει πέρα σ’ αυτό το επικίνδυνο και ιδιοφυές παιχνίδι της γάτας με το ποντίκι που παίζει μαζί του ο συγγραφέας, αλλά και οι ήρωες μεταξύ τους.
Αν η πλοκή είναι το ένα δυνατό σημείο του βιβλίου, αναμφισβήτητα το άλλο είναι οι ήρωές του. Χαρακτήρες εντελώς διαφορετικοί και αταίριαστοι μεταξύ τους, που καλούνται να διαδραματίσουν διαφορετικούς ρόλους σ’ αυτό τον ιστό παράνοιας που εξυφαίνεται και τους μπλέκει όλο και περισσότερο στα δίχτυα του. Ανθρώπινοι μεν, αδίστακτοι με έναν εντελώς λογοτεχνικό τρόπο δε, αποφασισμένοι να κάνουν ό,τι περνά από το χέρι τους ώστε να επιβιώσουν, να ξεχωρίσουν ή να διαφυλάξουν όσα θεωρούν πως τους ανήκουν. Όλοι κουβαλούν σημάδια κι έχουν ρωγμές, απ’ όπου το εσωτερικό σκοτάδι τους ξεχύνεται και τους κατακλύζει. Κάποιοι απ’ αυτούς είναι εκνευριστικοί, κάποιοι συμπαθητικοί, κάποιοι άλλοι υπερβολικά περίπλοκοι στο να τους αναλύσεις. Η αλήθεια είναι πως σε ορισμένα σημεία οι τρεις κύριοι χαρακτήρες (Πολ, Μαρία και Ντάριλ) μοιάζουν υπερβολικοί· από την άλλη όμως, εκτός από τους σκοπούς του συγγραφέα που εξυπηρετούνται έτσι, οπωσδήποτε υπάρχουν τέτοιοι άνθρωποι και στον πραγματικό κόσμο. Σε αυτά τα σημεία, την υπερβολική ένταση έρχεται να αποσβέσει η «προσγειωμένη» και ρεαλιστική φιγούρα του σερίφη Ντόουλ, ενός ανθρώπου πιστού στο καθήκον και αφοσιωμένου στη δουλειά του, που αντιπροσωπεύει εδώ την κανονικότητα μέσα σε ένα πολλές φορές παρανοϊκό περιβάλλον.
Από την πρώτη κιόλας σελίδα, το Χωρίς όνομα παγιδεύει τον αναγνώστη στις καθηλωτικές ανατροπές του και δεν τον αφήνει να πάρει ανάσα μέχρι το τέλος. Ό,τι συναισθήματα και να σχηματίσει τότε εκείνος, ασχέτως αν συμφωνήσει ή όχι με την εν γένει συμπεριφορά των ηρώων και την κατάληξή τους, θα παραδεχτεί πως τουλάχιστον το ταξίδι του μέχρι εκεί άξιζε σίγουρα τον κόπο.
Μπαίνει αυτόματα, με δόξα και τιμή, στη λίστα με εκείνα τα βιβλία που απλά θέλω να ΣΚΟΤΩΣΩ την πρωταγωνίστρια. Ένα απόλυτο τίποτα που ένιωθε πως όλοι οι άλλοι όφειλαν να την κάνουν κάτι. Την αντιπάθησα εξαρχής και νομίζω πως στο τέλος δικαιώθηκα! Δεν λέω τίποτα παραπάνω, γιατί δεν θα μπορέσω να αποφύγω τα spoilers!
Ακολουθεί η κριτική μου για το βιβλίο στο site tovivlio.net:
Μετά το συναρπαστικό δικαστικό θρίλερ 13, ο Steve Cavanagh επιστρέφει με ένα ακόμα θρίλερ που ευελπιστεί να καθηλώσει με τον ίδιο τρόπο τους αναγνώστες.
Ο Πολ Κούπερ είναι παντρεμένος με τη Μαρία, όμως της κρύβει ένα μυστικό που αφορά την προσωπική του ζωή και την ταυτότητά του. Νιώθοντας μοναξιά εξαιτίας των συχνών ταξιδιών του Πολ, εκείνη δημιουργεί παράνομο δεσμό με τον Ντάριλ Όουκς. Σ’ ένα από τα ραντεβού τους και με αφορμή ένα τυχαίο συμβάν, η Μαρία ανακαλύπτει το μεγάλο μυστικό του συζύγου της: είναι ο διάσημος συγγραφέας Τ.Τ. Λε Μπο, ένας από τους πιο επιτυχημένους συγγραφείς αστυνομικών μυθιστορημάτων κι ένας από τους πλουσιότερους ανθρώπους του χώρου, του οποίου την πραγματική ταυτότητα δεν γνωρίζει κανείς – ούτε καν οι εκδότες του. Αυτό που χαρακτηρίζει τα έργα του είναι η αιματοβαμμένη πλοκή και οι συναρπαστικές τους ανατροπές που καθηλώνουν το αναγνωστικό κοινό.
Νιώθοντας προδομένη και πικραμένη, η Μαρία αποφασίζει να εκδικηθεί τον σύζυγό της όχι μόνο επειδή της έκρυψε ένα τέτοιο γεγονός, αλλά και επειδή σύμφωνα με την ίδια δεν της έχει προσφέρει τη ζωή που θα έπρεπε, όντας τόσο πλούσιος. Έτσι αποφασίζει να τον εκβιάσει, απειλώντας να αποκαλύψει την ταυτότητά του στα ΜΜΕ αν δεν της δώσει ένα σεβαστό ποσό. Με συνεργό τον Ντάριλ, λοιπόν, καταστρώνουν το σχέδιό τους.
Όμως τίποτα δεν θα πάει όπως το υπολογίζουν. Και τότε αρχίζει μια αληθινή κούρσα δρόμου, στην οποία εκτός από το παράξενο αυτό τρίο εμπλέκεται και η αστυνομία, που καλείται να διερευνήσει μια ��πόπειρα φόνου. Παραξενεμένος, ο σερίφης της πόλης ανακαλύπτει ότι ίσως αυτή η υπόθεση σχετίζεται με μια άλυτη παλιότερη υπόθεση, η οποία τον έχει στοιχειώσει και που ίσως τώρα καταφέρει να εξιχνιάσει. Ο Πολ είναι πλέον ένας φυγάς που αγωνίζεται να αποδείξει τι έχει συμβεί στην πραγματικότητα, όμως όλα τα στοιχεία δείχνουν να είναι εναντίον του. Η γυναίκα του δεν μπορεί -ή δεν θέλει- να τον βοηθήσει και ένας άκρως επικίνδυνος εχθρός από το παρελθόν του βρίσκεται στο κατόπι του, αποφασισμένος να κάνει τα πάντα ώστε να προστατέψει το δικό του ένοχο μυστικό. Ποιος είναι τελικά ο περίφημος συγγραφέας Τ.Τ. Λε Μπο και ποια η λύση αυτού του περίεργου γρίφου; Και πού μπορεί να φτάσει ένας παρανοϊκός αλλά τετραπέρατος νους, προκειμένου να προστατέψει όσα θεωρεί κεκτημένα του;
Ένα μυθιστόρημα με καταιγιστική πλοκή, απανωτές εξελίξεις και ευφυείς ανατροπές που μηδενίζουν το κοντέρ των θεωριών και τις ξαναπιάνουν από την αρχή, κάτω από διαφορετική οπτική κάθε φορά, διαθέτει ήδη τα εχέγγυα για να τραβήξει το ενδιαφέρον των αναγνωστών. Όταν επιπλέον είναι καλογραμμένο, καλοδουλεμένο και άρτια δομημένο, η… συνταγή γίνεται ακόμα πιο πετυχημένη! Το συγκεκριμένο είναι ένα τέτοιο μυθιστόρημα και επίσης διαθέτει έναν επιπλέον «μαγνήτη» για τους βιβλιόφιλους: κεντρικός ήρωάς του είναι έναν διάσημος μυστηριώδης συγγραφέας, του οποίου τα βιβλία είναι όχι απλά best seller, αλλά και εμπνευσμένα από αληθινές υποθέσεις δολοφονιών. Ακόμα και το μυστήριο γύρω από την αληθινή του ταυτότητα προσδίδει έξτρα σασπένς στο όλο «πακέτο».
Ο Cavanagh κατορθώνει να σε κάνει να αμφιβάλλεις κάθε στιγμή γι’ αυτό που διαβάζεις. Σε κάνει να ανατρέχεις στις προηγούμενες σελίδες για να σιγουρευτείς για αυτό που είναι γραμμένο εκεί, γιατί ανατρέπεται με τέτοιον τρόπο αργότερα που μοιάζει σαν επιτυχημένο, αλλά αλλόκοτο μαγικό τρικ. Χτίζει μια θεωρία και τη θρέφει για λίγο, απλά για να έρθει λίγο μετά και να την καταρρίψει πανηγυρικά, ορθώνοντας στη θέση της μια άλλη. Ξανά και ξανά… μέχρι το τέλος. Οπωσδήποτε ο αναγνώστης χρειάζεται πολλή υπομονή και προσήλωση στην αφήγηση, όπως και διάθεση για ένταση και σκέψη, ώστε να τα βγάλει πέρα σ’ αυτό το επικίνδυνο και ιδιοφυές παιχνίδι της γάτας με το ποντίκι που παίζει μαζί του ο συγγραφέας, αλλά και οι ήρωες μεταξύ τους.
Αν η πλοκή είναι το ένα δυνατό σημείο του βιβλίου, αναμφισβήτητα το άλλο είναι οι ήρωές του. Χαρακτήρες εντελώς διαφορετικοί και αταίριαστοι μεταξύ τους, που καλούνται να διαδραματίσουν διαφορετικούς ρόλους σ’ αυτό τον ιστό παράνοιας που εξυφαίνεται και τους μπλέκει όλο και περισσότερο στα δίχτυα του. Ανθρώπινοι μεν, αδίστακτοι με έναν εντελώς λογοτεχνικό τρόπο δε, αποφασισμένοι να κάνουν ό,τι περνά από το χέρι τους ώστε να επιβιώσουν, να ξεχωρίσουν ή να διαφυλάξουν όσα θεωρούν πως τους ανήκουν. Όλοι κουβαλούν σημάδια κι έχουν ρωγμές, απ’ όπου το εσωτερικό σκοτάδι τους ξεχύνεται και τους κατακλύζει. Κάποιοι απ’ αυτούς είναι εκνευριστικοί, κάποιοι συμπαθητικοί, κάποιοι άλλοι υπερβολικά περίπλοκοι στο να τους αναλύσεις. Η αλήθεια είναι πως σε ορισμένα σημεία οι τρεις κύριοι χαρακτήρες (Πολ, Μαρία και Ντάριλ) μοιάζουν υπερβολικοί· από την άλλη όμως, εκτός από τους σκοπούς του συγγραφέα που εξυπηρετούνται έτσι, οπωσδήποτε υπάρχουν τέτοιοι άνθρωποι και στον πραγματικό κόσμο. Σε αυτά τα σημεία, την υπερβολική ένταση έρχεται να αποσβέσει η «προσγειωμένη» και ρεαλιστική φιγούρα του σερίφη Ντόουλ, ενός ανθρώπου πιστού στο καθήκον και αφοσιωμένου στη δουλειά του, που αντιπροσωπεύει εδώ την κανονικότητα μέσα σε ένα πολλές φορές παρανοϊκό περιβάλλον.
Από την πρώτη κιόλας σελίδα, το Χωρίς όνομα παγιδεύει τον αναγνώστη στις καθηλωτικές ανατροπές του και δεν τον αφήνει να πάρει ανάσα μέχρι το τέλος. Ό,τι συναισθήματα και να σχηματίσει τότε εκείνος, ασχέτως αν συμφωνήσει ή όχι με την εν γένει συμπεριφορά των ηρώων και την κατάληξή τους, θα παραδεχτεί πως τουλάχιστον το ταξίδι του μέχρι εκεί άξιζε σίγουρα τον κόπο.
March 31, 2019
This was my first Steve Cavanagh book and after hearing about this author all over the social media, I was excited to read this book.
With much ado, over the weekend I opened my kindle to read, the prologue was soo intriguing!! The storyline was twisted and went thus, J. T. LeBeau was this famous bestseller but elusive author whom no one had seen ever. Paul lived with his wife Maria, and she found a bank statement for twenty million dollars credited to her husband from LeBeau Enterprises. And the story rolled on...
My interest rate spiked, my pulse raced initially. And then I got stuck... Not in a good way... I got bored. But I persevered, and the book picked up its plot and its pace. There were many twists and turns, all of them steep and confusing. I could guess the plot easily because there were only 3 characters. The cat and mouse game kinda became obvious. It was still interesting as the author's writing had the power to pull me in.
Then there came a major medical flaw. There were 2 of them but I let go of the first one because miracles happen in the medical field, the second I couldn't let go.
Overall, it was a good read certainly not what I expected.
With much ado, over the weekend I opened my kindle to read, the prologue was soo intriguing!! The storyline was twisted and went thus, J. T. LeBeau was this famous bestseller but elusive author whom no one had seen ever. Paul lived with his wife Maria, and she found a bank statement for twenty million dollars credited to her husband from LeBeau Enterprises. And the story rolled on...
My interest rate spiked, my pulse raced initially. And then I got stuck... Not in a good way... I got bored. But I persevered, and the book picked up its plot and its pace. There were many twists and turns, all of them steep and confusing. I could guess the plot easily because there were only 3 characters. The cat and mouse game kinda became obvious. It was still interesting as the author's writing had the power to pull me in.
Then there came a major medical flaw. There were 2 of them but I let go of the first one because miracles happen in the medical field, the second I couldn't let go.
Overall, it was a good read certainly not what I expected.
October 22, 2019
I’m not going to twist your arm but if you enjoy surprises, suspicions and satisfying suspense give this a go!
November 20, 2020
Ο τρόπος που γράφει ο συγγραφέας μου θύμισε αμυδρά κάτι από King, ή μάλλον για να μιλήσω πιο σωστά, μου θύμισε τα συναισθήματα που μου δημιουργούνταν όταν νεότερη (προ εικοσαετίας) διάβαζα τα βιβλία του King. Η ατμόσφαιρα είναι εξαιρετική και οι χαρακτήρες αναλύονται στον βαθμό που πρέπει, χωρίς να γίνει η παραμικρή προσπάθεια να γίνουν συμπαθείς (παίρνουν όλοι ανεξαιρέτως από εμένα το βραβείο των πιο αντιπαθητικών μυθιστορηματικών ηρώων του 2020). Η πλοκή εξελίσσεται με τεράστια μαεστρία, οι σκέψεις των πρωταγωνιστών και τα όσα διαδραματίζονται περιγράφονται με μεγάλη προσοχή, ενώ οι αποκαλύψεις του παρελθόντος δίνονται ακριβώς τη χρονική στιγμή που πρέπει. Πραγματικά, πολλές φορές αναρωτήθηκα πώς θα καταφέρει να κλείσει αυτήν την ιστορία, αλλά τελικά όλα μπήκαν στη θέση τους χωρίς να μου μείνουν κενά.
Στο οπισθόφυλλο υπάρχει ο χαρακτηρισμός «ανατρεπτικό». Δεν ξέρω αν θα το θεωρήσετε όλοι έτσι (για εμένα σίγουρα ήταν, με εξέπληξε πολλές φορές με την τροπή που πήραν τα γεγονότα, αλλά σίγουρα μάντεψα κάποιες εξελίξεις). Το θέμα είναι ότι είναι καλογραμμένο, δεν κάνει κοιλιά και ακόμη και αν είχα μαντέψει τον τρόπο που τελειώνει όταν ήμουν στην πρώτη σελίδα (που δεν υπάρχει τέτοια περίπτωση) σίγουρα πάλι θα το έβρισκα εξαιρετικό αφού ανήκω στην μερίδα εκείνη των αναγνωστών που διαβάζω ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα για να μπω μέσα στο μυαλό του δολοφόνου, της αστυνομίας ή όποιου άλλου παρουσιάζεται στο βιβλίο και δεν με ενδιαφέρει τόσο το ποιος είναι ο δολοφόνος. Ειδικά ο συγκεκριμένος συγγραφέας, στο άλλο του βιβλίο που κυκλοφορεί στα ελληνικά ( το "13" ), μας δίνει τον δολοφόνο από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες και κανέναν δεν πείραξε αυτό.
(Α, με την ευκαιρία που αναφέρθηκα στο "13", να πω ότι αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι δικαστικού περιεχομένου, είναι ξεκάθαρα αστυνομικό, οπότε όσοι περιμένετε να βρείτε μέσα τον Έντι Φλιν....ε, δεν θα τον βρείτε.)
https://kiallovivlio.blogspot.com/
https://thematofylakes.gr/
Στο οπισθόφυλλο υπάρχει ο χαρακτηρισμός «ανατρεπτικό». Δεν ξέρω αν θα το θεωρήσετε όλοι έτσι (για εμένα σίγουρα ήταν, με εξέπληξε πολλές φορές με την τροπή που πήραν τα γεγονότα, αλλά σίγουρα μάντεψα κάποιες εξελίξεις). Το θέμα είναι ότι είναι καλογραμμένο, δεν κάνει κοιλιά και ακόμη και αν είχα μαντέψει τον τρόπο που τελειώνει όταν ήμουν στην πρώτη σελίδα (που δεν υπάρχει τέτοια περίπτωση) σίγουρα πάλι θα το έβρισκα εξαιρετικό αφού ανήκω στην μερίδα εκείνη των αναγνωστών που διαβάζω ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα για να μπω μέσα στο μυαλό του δολοφόνου, της αστυνομίας ή όποιου άλλου παρουσιάζεται στο βιβλίο και δεν με ενδιαφέρει τόσο το ποιος είναι ο δολοφόνος. Ειδικά ο συγκεκριμένος συγγραφέας, στο άλλο του βιβλίο που κυκλοφορεί στα ελληνικά ( το "13" ), μας δίνει τον δολοφόνο από τις πρώτες κιόλας σελίδες και κανέναν δεν πείραξε αυτό.
(Α, με την ευκαιρία που αναφέρθηκα στο "13", να πω ότι αυτό το βιβλίο δεν είναι δικαστικού περιεχομένου, είναι ξεκάθαρα αστυνομικό, οπότε όσοι περιμένετε να βρείτε μέσα τον Έντι Φλιν....ε, δεν θα τον βρείτε.)
https://kiallovivlio.blogspot.com/
https://thematofylakes.gr/
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