What do you think?
Rate this book
قرار قاتل
عرف فن الرواية ما نسميه الرواية البوليسية منذ زمن طويل، وكانت أغاثا كريستي رائدتها. تطور هذا النمط من الكتابة كثيراً في العقود الأخيرة، وربما أسهمت الكتابة للسينما والتلفزيون في تطويره وانتشاره لما يكتنز من عناصر تشويق تحبس الأنفاس حتى النهاية.
إنها جانب من دراما الحياة الواقعية التي تشدُّ كثيراً من القرّاء والمشاهدين إلى قراءتها ومتابعتها حتى المشهد الأخير من دون شعور بملل، بل بأعصاب مشدودة تريد حلاً يأتي على الأغلب لصالح القارئ والمشاهد، وربما هو جائزته بعد مشوار حافل بالإثارة.
سيرة القارئ في هذه الرواية أنموذجاً لفن يثيره معظم الوقت. سندع الباقي للقارئ يكتشفه بنفسه، وهذا جزء من هدفنا، أن نشجّع القراءة لتغدو عادة. والرواية البوليسية بالإضافة إلى كل شيء آخر، مجرّد أداة مؤالفة؛ فهل تكون؟
إنها جانب من دراما الحياة الواقعية التي تشدُّ كثيراً من القرّاء والمشاهدين إلى قراءتها ومتابعتها حتى المشهد الأخير من دون شعور بملل، بل بأعصاب مشدودة تريد حلاً يأتي على الأغلب لصالح القارئ والمشاهد، وربما هو جائزته بعد مشوار حافل بالإثارة.
سيرة القارئ في هذه الرواية أنموذجاً لفن يثيره معظم الوقت. سندع الباقي للقارئ يكتشفه بنفسه، وهذا جزء من هدفنا، أن نشجّع القراءة لتغدو عادة. والرواية البوليسية بالإضافة إلى كل شيء آخر، مجرّد أداة مؤالفة؛ فهل تكون؟
428 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2014
185 people are currently reading
428 people want to read
About the author
John Greenwood
173 books7 followersJohn Greenwood is the pseudonym of John Buxton Hilton.
Hilton was born in 1921 in Buxton, Derbyshire. After his war service in the army he became an Inspector of schools, before retiring in 1970 to take up full-time writing.
He wrote two books on language teaching as well as being a prolific crime writer - his works include the Superintendent Simon Kenworthy series and the Inspector Thomas Brunt series, as well as the Inspector Mosley series as John Greenwood.
Hilton was born in 1921 in Buxton, Derbyshire. After his war service in the army he became an Inspector of schools, before retiring in 1970 to take up full-time writing.
He wrote two books on language teaching as well as being a prolific crime writer - his works include the Superintendent Simon Kenworthy series and the Inspector Thomas Brunt series, as well as the Inspector Mosley series as John Greenwood.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 15, 2016
Good story, but needed a proofreader, so many spelling and grammatical errors. Could have been a shorter story and tended to drag.
February 5, 2016
This was a book that came up on one of the emails that I receive about new e-books. John Greenwood is a new author to me and I don't know if this is his first book or not.
Imagine getting a call at work from your wife who has gone to pick up your son at school. She tells you that your brother signed your son out of school early and no one knows why or where he is. The roller coaster ride starts here, when in minutes you track down that your brother was in court and has not taken your son. No one has contacted you for ransom yet and you can not determine the motive for why someone would take your son rather than someone who has a lot of money. You have seen enough police shows to know that every hour counts and that the more time that goes by, the less chance you have of getting your child back alive.
This is your only son. The young man who carries all your hopes for the future and without whom your family feels incomplete. Are the police doing all they can after the Amber Alert has been made? Will your tv appeal cause people to be looking for him? Should a reward be offered? You can't just sit. You feel the need to go out and look yourself. Will you find him before time runs out?
The plot was twisted, just the way we like it, with moral dilemmas coming into play. Just how far would you go to get your child back?
Imagine getting a call at work from your wife who has gone to pick up your son at school. She tells you that your brother signed your son out of school early and no one knows why or where he is. The roller coaster ride starts here, when in minutes you track down that your brother was in court and has not taken your son. No one has contacted you for ransom yet and you can not determine the motive for why someone would take your son rather than someone who has a lot of money. You have seen enough police shows to know that every hour counts and that the more time that goes by, the less chance you have of getting your child back alive.
This is your only son. The young man who carries all your hopes for the future and without whom your family feels incomplete. Are the police doing all they can after the Amber Alert has been made? Will your tv appeal cause people to be looking for him? Should a reward be offered? You can't just sit. You feel the need to go out and look yourself. Will you find him before time runs out?
The plot was twisted, just the way we like it, with moral dilemmas coming into play. Just how far would you go to get your child back?
January 26, 2016
This is another of those prematurely-published vanity ebooks. The author had a pretty good idea for a plot; but the rough and unpolished writing style and the total absence of any revision for clarity or editing for accuracy produced many very awkward passages and overall a very inferior novel. The complete lack of effective punctuation was distracting (question marks after numerous statements, few standard-usage commas). Who/whom, they're/there/their, through/threw errors, apostrophes to form plurals, inconsistent verb tenses, misused words and confusing sentences convinced me to give up on this one at about the 45% mark. Oh, and the missing child was thirteen, yet he attended an elementary school and was spoken of as if he were 4 or 5 throughout most of the book.
A few examples of problem passages: "Her face is ringing with stress." "We both can't help but start to cry." "cinder walls" "She nods her head back and forth.""The guy just looks about as much like an officer if there is one." "most missing children are the result of a family member." "Michelle was withering in pain from all the discomforts of pregnancy." "Nothing different from any other hundreds of cases we work on besides the cash." "She quickly releases herself from me." "It is a cul-de-sac, and apparently the largest houses in the neighborhood reside on."
A few examples of problem passages: "Her face is ringing with stress." "We both can't help but start to cry." "cinder walls" "She nods her head back and forth.""The guy just looks about as much like an officer if there is one." "most missing children are the result of a family member." "Michelle was withering in pain from all the discomforts of pregnancy." "Nothing different from any other hundreds of cases we work on besides the cash." "She quickly releases herself from me." "It is a cul-de-sac, and apparently the largest houses in the neighborhood reside on."
February 14, 2016
I chose this book because I thought it sounded interesting, and it was, but it also had its downfalls - I'll get to that soon. A thirteen-year-old boy goes missing, like most parents, like most any parents panic and police become involved. Unbeknownst to police or his wife (the boys mother), the husband receives a series of phone calls from the abductors who taunt him to perform certain (illegal) acts to get the boy back. Finally the boy is returned, but the story doesn't end there.... Although I liked this book, in my opinion, it seemed to drag a little too much and at times I became bored.
One major complaint I have is the fact there seem to be so MANY errors and typos, for example, we're being used when were should have been used. Those sort of things are distracting.
One major complaint I have is the fact there seem to be so MANY errors and typos, for example, we're being used when were should have been used. Those sort of things are distracting.
May 2, 2019
Life or death...
This story is about a father and the decisions he needs to make when he is blackmailed by his sons kidnapper. All those who are close to him, are unaware of what is happening. The police are clueless, and unsuccessful in figuring out who has kidnapped his son- or why. He is fed clues, and is helped by his co workers, who don't know how the computer virus at their job, is linked to his son's disappearance. Many twists, and dead bodies...interesting conclusion.
This story is about a father and the decisions he needs to make when he is blackmailed by his sons kidnapper. All those who are close to him, are unaware of what is happening. The police are clueless, and unsuccessful in figuring out who has kidnapped his son- or why. He is fed clues, and is helped by his co workers, who don't know how the computer virus at their job, is linked to his son's disappearance. Many twists, and dead bodies...interesting conclusion.
May 27, 2017
Good but flawed
The story line was very interesting, kill a man to save your son, but the book was rife with errors, both punctuation and grammatical. I persevered because the story line was interesting, but it was a hard reading.
The story line was very interesting, kill a man to save your son, but the book was rife with errors, both punctuation and grammatical. I persevered because the story line was interesting, but it was a hard reading.
June 5, 2017
So many grammatical errors in this book.
January 28, 2018
Blood
A lot of blood shed in this story. It has both a good ending and a bad ending. Greed is a horrible thing.
A lot of blood shed in this story. It has both a good ending and a bad ending. Greed is a horrible thing.
March 22, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
May 28, 2018
Mind blowing read
Kept me on edge until finished. Couldn't put this book down. Would love to read more books by this author.
Kept me on edge until finished. Couldn't put this book down. Would love to read more books by this author.
January 8, 2019
I was captivated from the beginning and enjoyed this book till the very end. I will agree that the editing is not good but i was willing to overlook this and nust enjoy a good read.
February 1, 2019
Intriguing storyline
A threat to your family,what would you do?
I enjoyed this book with a few twists to keep you interested.
A threat to your family,what would you do?
I enjoyed this book with a few twists to keep you interested.
November 9, 2019
Decaf
The story had intriguing potential but bored me in so many places. Possibly adding a few noisy neighbors during the long kidnapping would have added some interest.😁
The story had intriguing potential but bored me in so many places. Possibly adding a few noisy neighbors during the long kidnapping would have added some interest.😁
February 20, 2021
رواية حلوة ولكن مكررة الاحداث وناقصة من ناحية اخرى ملولة وطويلة ولاشي فيها استثناء ربما فقط شي جديد لتقرأه
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2021
This book kept me guessing up to the end.
I thought it was in some ways rather unlikely that the father would be able to wander Off like he did though.
I thought it was in some ways rather unlikely that the father would be able to wander Off like he did though.
March 31, 2023
Ok read
It was annoying to read due to the many editorial errors. The story did have me going as I tried to figure out who the guilty party was.
It was annoying to read due to the many editorial errors. The story did have me going as I tried to figure out who the guilty party was.
Read
April 23, 2024Readers (and Goodreads) should note that this is not the same John Greenwood as the John Greenwood of Mr. Mosley, whose real name was John Buxton Hilton.
August 1, 2024
حادثة اختطاف توضح إلى أي مدى قد يصل الأب ليستعيد ابنه.
January 13, 2017
very good, could almost feel his pain.
September 23, 2021
what a fab book kept me wanting to not put book down every min I had I was drawn back to book wandering how things would work out and was surprised
July 17, 2023
Page-turner!
A gripping tale of a kidnapping and the lengths a father must go to keep his son alive. Hap me on the edge of my seat from the start!
A gripping tale of a kidnapping and the lengths a father must go to keep his son alive. Hap me on the edge of my seat from the start!
February 28, 2017
Didn't want to put down the book
I got this e book free and choose it by the title. It was a good mystery and once I started I didn't want to stop reading it...... A son is kidnapped at school and the police are led to belive it was the boys uncle. The father is being told he can save his son by following orders. With many twist and turns of events you just don't see the ending coming. There was a couple of times the author used the wrong name for one of the detectives but if you love a good mystery you will want to read this one.
I got this e book free and choose it by the title. It was a good mystery and once I started I didn't want to stop reading it...... A son is kidnapped at school and the police are led to belive it was the boys uncle. The father is being told he can save his son by following orders. With many twist and turns of events you just don't see the ending coming. There was a couple of times the author used the wrong name for one of the detectives but if you love a good mystery you will want to read this one.
March 10, 2017
I have to agree with other reviewers. The plot was great and the characters were good but it really did need some more editing/proofreading. I read it as an ebook and wasn't sure if there were other editions? I decided to overlook the errors and then before I knew it I was hooked and had to finish it.
September 27, 2016
Considering it was one of those free books, I really enjoyed it. It told about a kidnapping of a couple's son. There were many twists and turns, so that was different. However the grammatical errors were so distracting it was difficult to read at times. And why he didn't go to the cops ever even when he had one breathing down his neck really bothered me.
I wouldn't suggest this book to my friends as the errors would also drive them crazy.
I wouldn't suggest this book to my friends as the errors would also drive them crazy.
September 25, 2016
Horrid
Got about 20 or so pages into this book and had to stop. The writing was awful and the characters not believable. And apparently the author didn't bother springing for an editor.
Got about 20 or so pages into this book and had to stop. The writing was awful and the characters not believable. And apparently the author didn't bother springing for an editor.
February 19, 2017
Great!!
It was a very good book.. I would definitely read it again. And I would recommend my friends read it
It was a very good book.. I would definitely read it again. And I would recommend my friends read it
January 14, 2016
Where Have All The Editors Gone?
I am always willing to give independent writers the benefit of the doubt, and have discovered several talented writers as a result. The lack of even the most basic proofreading efforts, however, overrides any talent a writer may have, and swiftly lands a book in my Kindle cemetery. I've never understood why a person would put the time and effort into pounding out a novel, but fail to ensure the final product is free of at least the most rudimentary of errors.
Mr. Greenwood began with a workable plot, but it quickly became bogged down with puzzling detours which seemed to add nothing to the main theme. The absence of punctuation made it difficult to follow dialogue and even the simplest declarative sentences. The book was full of issues such as the use of "there" when it should have been "they're", and similar errors.
I finished this book despite the awkward writing, which is something I rarely do. I wish I could have assigned a higher rating, but a novel isn't finished until it has been thoroughly edited. I truly hope Mr. Greenwood recognizes this very important fact and follows through on future endeavors.
I am always willing to give independent writers the benefit of the doubt, and have discovered several talented writers as a result. The lack of even the most basic proofreading efforts, however, overrides any talent a writer may have, and swiftly lands a book in my Kindle cemetery. I've never understood why a person would put the time and effort into pounding out a novel, but fail to ensure the final product is free of at least the most rudimentary of errors.
Mr. Greenwood began with a workable plot, but it quickly became bogged down with puzzling detours which seemed to add nothing to the main theme. The absence of punctuation made it difficult to follow dialogue and even the simplest declarative sentences. The book was full of issues such as the use of "there" when it should have been "they're", and similar errors.
I finished this book despite the awkward writing, which is something I rarely do. I wish I could have assigned a higher rating, but a novel isn't finished until it has been thoroughly edited. I truly hope Mr. Greenwood recognizes this very important fact and follows through on future endeavors.
January 27, 2016
Fatal Decision is a suspense by John Greenwood. It is a very good book and it keeps you reading. You simply can’t put it down.
Sheldon is an IT manager and he, Jim, and Brian are frantically working to keep the servers from crashing and stop whatever virus that was causing the problems. In the middle of this crisis, Sheldon gets a phone call from his wife, Michelle. Their son Tommy is missing. Someone posing as Sheldon’s brother Lawrence checked him out of school. Sheldon immediately leaves and heads for Tommy’s school. Detective Stanton meets him there and the investigation into Tommy’s disappearance begins.
Sheldon gets a call from the kidnapper and is given tasks to do. If he does what he is told and does not tell anyone, Tommy will be returned unharmed. Can Sheldon follow the instructions or will they prove to be too much for him? Why did they choose Tommy to kidnap? What do they want?
Sheldon is an IT manager and he, Jim, and Brian are frantically working to keep the servers from crashing and stop whatever virus that was causing the problems. In the middle of this crisis, Sheldon gets a phone call from his wife, Michelle. Their son Tommy is missing. Someone posing as Sheldon’s brother Lawrence checked him out of school. Sheldon immediately leaves and heads for Tommy’s school. Detective Stanton meets him there and the investigation into Tommy’s disappearance begins.
Sheldon gets a call from the kidnapper and is given tasks to do. If he does what he is told and does not tell anyone, Tommy will be returned unharmed. Can Sheldon follow the instructions or will they prove to be too much for him? Why did they choose Tommy to kidnap? What do they want?
January 15, 2015
The storyline of the book was pretty good. I have to admit that it kept me reading to see what happened.
However I can not stand books with typing/grammatical errors. There are SO many in this book (kindle version) virtually ever two pages. Surely authors have people who proofread their work??
I also found myself getting infuriated with the main character and why at every opportunity he never went to the police or confided in anyone. I got so annoyed with him, in the end I didn't care whether he lived or died!
However I can not stand books with typing/grammatical errors. There are SO many in this book (kindle version) virtually ever two pages. Surely authors have people who proofread their work??
I also found myself getting infuriated with the main character and why at every opportunity he never went to the police or confided in anyone. I got so annoyed with him, in the end I didn't care whether he lived or died!
December 14, 2015
I really thought this was an interesting read. The story begins when Sheldon and Michelle Smith's son, Tommy is kidnapped from his school. The investigation into the kidnapping begins, but the story twists and turns as Sheldon starts receiving calls and e-mails that show something completely strange is going on. Readers need to hang on tight, because this is a mysterious thrill ride that is going to twist, turn and tantalize the mind. This is a compelling story written in a reader friendly fashion and a definite page turner. Great job
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews