What do you think?
Rate this book
Inspector Reis #1
The Colours of Death
'Breathtakingly original, and a captivating sense of place' Val McDermid, bestselling author of Still Life
'Compelling and original, this glints with freshness' Daily Mail
'A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale' Claire McGowan, bestselling author of The Push
'A good detective story . . . intriguing' Guardian
' A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut' Mari Hannah, multi-award winning author of Without a Trace
The Murder
In the Gare do Oriente, a body sits, slumped, in a stationary train. A high-profile man appears to have died by throwing himself repeatedly against the glass. But according to witnesses, he may not have done this of his own accord.
The City
Lisbon 2021. A small percentage of the population are diagnosed as Gifted. Along with the power comes stigma and suspicion.
The Detective
In a prejudiced city, Gifted Inspector Isabel Reis is hiding her own secrets while putting her life on the line to stop an ingenious killer.
A violent and mysterious crime. Suspected Gifted involvement. A city baying for blood. And a killer who has only just begun . . .
'A bold, compelling police drama a step beyond the ordinary with writing to match' Helen Fields, bestselling author of The Shadow Man
'This is crime fiction with a twist . . . This was a gripping and highly invented thrill ride. I can't wait for more' Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man
'An amazing genre-bending debut' David Jackson, bestselling author of The Resident
'Compelling and original, this glints with freshness' Daily Mail
'A brilliantly inventive and twisty tale' Claire McGowan, bestselling author of The Push
'A good detective story . . . intriguing' Guardian
' A distinctive, intriguing, immersive debut' Mari Hannah, multi-award winning author of Without a Trace
The Murder
In the Gare do Oriente, a body sits, slumped, in a stationary train. A high-profile man appears to have died by throwing himself repeatedly against the glass. But according to witnesses, he may not have done this of his own accord.
The City
Lisbon 2021. A small percentage of the population are diagnosed as Gifted. Along with the power comes stigma and suspicion.
The Detective
In a prejudiced city, Gifted Inspector Isabel Reis is hiding her own secrets while putting her life on the line to stop an ingenious killer.
A violent and mysterious crime. Suspected Gifted involvement. A city baying for blood. And a killer who has only just begun . . .
'A bold, compelling police drama a step beyond the ordinary with writing to match' Helen Fields, bestselling author of The Shadow Man
'This is crime fiction with a twist . . . This was a gripping and highly invented thrill ride. I can't wait for more' Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man
'An amazing genre-bending debut' David Jackson, bestselling author of The Resident
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2021
40 people are currently reading
833 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Marques
5 books51 followersHalf-Angolan and half-Portuguese, Patricia was born in Portugal but moved to England when she was eight. As well as the MA in Creative Writing from City she holds a BA in Creative Writing from Roehampton. She lives in London and The Colours of Death was her first novel. House of Silence is her second.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
May 8, 2021
Patricia Marques's sci-fi crime thriller is set in the present day in an alternative Lisbon in Portugal, featuring a world of the stigmatised 'gifted', with either telekinetic or telepathic abilities, too often feared and hated by the 'regulars', with the PNP, the right wing political party, leading the anti-gifted agenda under the powerful Bento Soares. In the Policia Judiciara, Inspector Isabel Reis is a telepathic gifted, having to operate with her new partner, Inspector Aleksandr Voronov, a regular, there to ensure she sticks to the rigid regulations imposed on the gifted in the police. The two find themselves at the Gare do Oriente, where they find the oddest death in a railway carriage that has alarm bells ringing. It appears the victim had bashed their head repeatedly until they died, but terrified witness reports suggest this might be a crime committed by a telekinetic gifted with levels of powers that are unheard of.
Matters become exacerbated when it becomes clear the murder victim is Gil Dos Santos, one of the heads of the National Testing Institute (NTI) that oversees the gifted, compiling a registry, the level of power an individual might have, providing guides, and carrying out the critical role of monitoring, rumours swirl of disappearances, secret experimentation and militarisation of the gifted. Reis, a woman with her own secrets, knows she has a high profile and a political nightmare of a case where her role will be under particular scrutiny, she is going to need her partner to have her back, and Vonorov has a past that raises concerns. With Julio Soares, the son of Bento, having connections with the dead man, he becomes an integral part of the police inquiry, along with the other head of the NTI, Celia Armindas. Reis finds herself facing further murders, dangers, obstacles and obfuscations, in a complex investigation, with the public increasingly baying for blood.
Marques's debut novel was a joy to read, it was well plotted, beautifully written, atmospheric and engaged my interest from beginning to end. Isabel Reis made for a fascinating central protagonist, we are given her back story as a child, losing a father that loved her but died too soon, and a mother that rejected her when it became clear she was gifted. She has a brother in the church, Sebastiao, whom she has a close relationship with, and a sister, Rita, more under her mother's influence. Isabel has lived under the constant pressure of wanting to hide and control her telepathy, not seeing the below the radar celebration and acceptance of the gifted in Lisbon. This is a riveting and entertaining crime read with some original aspects that I think many readers will love. I am hoping this evolves into a series, it shows so much promise. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
Matters become exacerbated when it becomes clear the murder victim is Gil Dos Santos, one of the heads of the National Testing Institute (NTI) that oversees the gifted, compiling a registry, the level of power an individual might have, providing guides, and carrying out the critical role of monitoring, rumours swirl of disappearances, secret experimentation and militarisation of the gifted. Reis, a woman with her own secrets, knows she has a high profile and a political nightmare of a case where her role will be under particular scrutiny, she is going to need her partner to have her back, and Vonorov has a past that raises concerns. With Julio Soares, the son of Bento, having connections with the dead man, he becomes an integral part of the police inquiry, along with the other head of the NTI, Celia Armindas. Reis finds herself facing further murders, dangers, obstacles and obfuscations, in a complex investigation, with the public increasingly baying for blood.
Marques's debut novel was a joy to read, it was well plotted, beautifully written, atmospheric and engaged my interest from beginning to end. Isabel Reis made for a fascinating central protagonist, we are given her back story as a child, losing a father that loved her but died too soon, and a mother that rejected her when it became clear she was gifted. She has a brother in the church, Sebastiao, whom she has a close relationship with, and a sister, Rita, more under her mother's influence. Isabel has lived under the constant pressure of wanting to hide and control her telepathy, not seeing the below the radar celebration and acceptance of the gifted in Lisbon. This is a riveting and entertaining crime read with some original aspects that I think many readers will love. I am hoping this evolves into a series, it shows so much promise. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
July 18, 2023
The review: read it, liked it quite a bit though it was a slow burner. It was remarkable for the lead, Isabel Reis, being a female and a detective, for being set in Lisbon, and for the unusual elements being telepathy and telekinesis. Characters eventually get somewhat developed, and Isabel shows some nice emotional change. Would recommend it for people who like more procedural-based urban fantasy. Stephen has a thorough overview with some nice quotes.
Now, onto an aside. It’s very curious here that the supernatural is broken down into telepathy and telekinesis, more broadly described by her characters as a mental versus physical dichotomy. Intersections are very interesting to me and when a clear dividing line is posited, it’s usually clear that an author is going to find some kind of space between. All good stuff, totally on board. But what I kept thinking about is how Marques thinks about thinking. You see, I’ve spent a lot of time on cognition as an undergrad, and since 2020, on meditation and neuroregulation.
Marques’ view about telepathy seems to be a very surface-level idea of what thought is, conflating our internal thinking with an internal ‘voice.’ The challenge is, the more I learn about brains, the less I think that’s what’s happening inside our heads. Our brains are complex processing systems, operating on a core system created 500 million years ago (if you go with the vertebrate operating system, 2 million if you go with the H. erectus upgrade), patched somewhat infrequently since then. The science on how many thoughts we might have a day is in its infancy (such terms as ‘thought’ being subject to debate), but a recent study using fMRI suggests at least 6000. Buddhism has long known this and calls it the ‘monkey mind,’ devoting an area of study to working with our busy, busy brains. Now, the more you work with that monkey mind, or the more you work with a therapist and work towards understanding behavior patterns, the more you probably start to realize that you are responding to programing laid down when your own software was being written, in those crucial years before 7 or so. How much of this is conscious? How much of those 6000 thoughts get individual attention?
Not much and not many.
My own monkey mind kept thinking about poor Isabel trying to suppress the intruding thoughts of others. I just don’t think that’s how telepathy would work. I think the noise of others around us would sound a lot like a badly tuned radio, or a radio that couldn’t stop scanning through the channels–snatches of thoughts, but not whole sentences. I think trying to pick up a particular thought from a particular person would be like turning on a radio and hoping to hear Feeling Good by Nina Simone. Think about it: how often have you read complaints about books that characters narrate their circumstances? Because people rarely do such things–their brains already know that. ‘Eavesdropping’ on their thoughts is a convention, not reality.
I know, I know: it’s science fiction. I get it. Except it is talking a bit about genetics and pharmaceuticals and such, and the humans are probably still humans (no aliens so far). I suppose these are mostly used as figurative crutches (“advanced technology is the same as magic,” and pharma and genetics probably are to most people). But it is the kind of thing that keeps it from being a five star book for me, because it doesn’t have a congruent world view, or an underlying understanding of the science it is trying to work with.
Two cents and all that. Interesting story, interesting setting. But my monkey mind was distracted with the world-building.
So, not in the mood for GR linkages. Check my citations and interesting mind-stuff from here: https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2023/...
Now, onto an aside. It’s very curious here that the supernatural is broken down into telepathy and telekinesis, more broadly described by her characters as a mental versus physical dichotomy. Intersections are very interesting to me and when a clear dividing line is posited, it’s usually clear that an author is going to find some kind of space between. All good stuff, totally on board. But what I kept thinking about is how Marques thinks about thinking. You see, I’ve spent a lot of time on cognition as an undergrad, and since 2020, on meditation and neuroregulation.
Marques’ view about telepathy seems to be a very surface-level idea of what thought is, conflating our internal thinking with an internal ‘voice.’ The challenge is, the more I learn about brains, the less I think that’s what’s happening inside our heads. Our brains are complex processing systems, operating on a core system created 500 million years ago (if you go with the vertebrate operating system, 2 million if you go with the H. erectus upgrade), patched somewhat infrequently since then. The science on how many thoughts we might have a day is in its infancy (such terms as ‘thought’ being subject to debate), but a recent study using fMRI suggests at least 6000. Buddhism has long known this and calls it the ‘monkey mind,’ devoting an area of study to working with our busy, busy brains. Now, the more you work with that monkey mind, or the more you work with a therapist and work towards understanding behavior patterns, the more you probably start to realize that you are responding to programing laid down when your own software was being written, in those crucial years before 7 or so. How much of this is conscious? How much of those 6000 thoughts get individual attention?
Not much and not many.
My own monkey mind kept thinking about poor Isabel trying to suppress the intruding thoughts of others. I just don’t think that’s how telepathy would work. I think the noise of others around us would sound a lot like a badly tuned radio, or a radio that couldn’t stop scanning through the channels–snatches of thoughts, but not whole sentences. I think trying to pick up a particular thought from a particular person would be like turning on a radio and hoping to hear Feeling Good by Nina Simone. Think about it: how often have you read complaints about books that characters narrate their circumstances? Because people rarely do such things–their brains already know that. ‘Eavesdropping’ on their thoughts is a convention, not reality.
I know, I know: it’s science fiction. I get it. Except it is talking a bit about genetics and pharmaceuticals and such, and the humans are probably still humans (no aliens so far). I suppose these are mostly used as figurative crutches (“advanced technology is the same as magic,” and pharma and genetics probably are to most people). But it is the kind of thing that keeps it from being a five star book for me, because it doesn’t have a congruent world view, or an underlying understanding of the science it is trying to work with.
Two cents and all that. Interesting story, interesting setting. But my monkey mind was distracted with the world-building.
So, not in the mood for GR linkages. Check my citations and interesting mind-stuff from here: https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2023/...
April 2, 2021
Lisbon - present day. A small percentage of the population have telepathic or telekinetic powers who are known as The Gifted and Inspector Isabel Reis is one of them. She is called to a violent death on a train at Gare do Oriente and is accompanied by her non gifted new partner Aleksandr Voronov. The victim proves to be head of Portugal’s National Testing Unit, Gilde Santos. The unit studies, registers and monitors high level gifted like Isabel. The ensuing story is fascinating and compelling.
It’s refreshing to read something that has a different premise from the usual crime fiction, this one is a sort of sci-fi fantasy, dystopian crime thriller! I love the Lisbon setting, we get a good tour of it with visual descriptions and some accompanying mouth watering Portuguese food!! The main characters are good and I enjoy following the changes in the relationship of Isabel and Aleks as the investigation deepens. Isabel is direct, truthful and hardworking and the descriptions of what it’s like to have these powers are excellent. I like that there’s an air of mystery surrounding Voronov who you grow to like as a character. The toll it takes on Isabel as she senses so much of what’s around her is vividly articulated and gripping. For most of the novel the pacing is good, it occasionally drops off as we get some details we don’t really need in order to follow the plot line. In places it’s chilling, very creepy and there are some scary sections that send a freezing cold ripple down the spine. The storyline takes several twists and turns and one direction you don’t see coming. Whilst I do like the intriguing family dynamics that having a gifted member could provoke, I don’t think backtracking to Isabel’s childhood adds a great deal to the unfolding drama as it temporarily suspends the action. The ending is good and it’s fitting although it could have been more dramatic. I really hope there’s a follow up as I love the concept and I want to see what happens next for Isabel and Voronov.
Overall, if you want to read something a bit different then this book fits the bill.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the arc in return for an honest review.
It’s refreshing to read something that has a different premise from the usual crime fiction, this one is a sort of sci-fi fantasy, dystopian crime thriller! I love the Lisbon setting, we get a good tour of it with visual descriptions and some accompanying mouth watering Portuguese food!! The main characters are good and I enjoy following the changes in the relationship of Isabel and Aleks as the investigation deepens. Isabel is direct, truthful and hardworking and the descriptions of what it’s like to have these powers are excellent. I like that there’s an air of mystery surrounding Voronov who you grow to like as a character. The toll it takes on Isabel as she senses so much of what’s around her is vividly articulated and gripping. For most of the novel the pacing is good, it occasionally drops off as we get some details we don’t really need in order to follow the plot line. In places it’s chilling, very creepy and there are some scary sections that send a freezing cold ripple down the spine. The storyline takes several twists and turns and one direction you don’t see coming. Whilst I do like the intriguing family dynamics that having a gifted member could provoke, I don’t think backtracking to Isabel’s childhood adds a great deal to the unfolding drama as it temporarily suspends the action. The ending is good and it’s fitting although it could have been more dramatic. I really hope there’s a follow up as I love the concept and I want to see what happens next for Isabel and Voronov.
Overall, if you want to read something a bit different then this book fits the bill.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the arc in return for an honest review.
June 21, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
The Colours of Death is a beautifully unique book that blends the thriller and sci-fi genres perfectly. Set in present-day Portugal, Lisbon to be precise, but not quite the Portugal you would expect as the country is split between normal people and ‘The Gifted’. These gifted people have one of two ‘gifts’ either telepathic or telekinetic power and on a scale of 1-10.
We meet Inspector Isabel Reis who is gifted with telepathic skills. There is a divide within the country pushed by the right-wing PNP a political party wanting anti-gifted laws and rules in place headed by Bento Soares.
When Isabel is called to Gare do Oriente (train station), after a man died from head injuries in one of the carriages, it soon becomes clear that the man, Gil Dos Santos, was one of the heads of the NIT (National Testing Institute), the institute where the gifted are overseen and registered. It is alarming that it would seem that he was killed by a gifted person with off-the-scale telekinetic powers.
With the country already fearing the gifted how are they going to react when it would seem one with powers never seen before has killed and may kill again. It is up to Isabel and her new partner Inspector Voronov to work the case and bring their killer to justice before blood is spilled on the streets.
I’m not sure why the people with these unique skills are called ‘gifted’ given the reactions that they have on the individuals. Remember the scene in the movie ‘What Women Want’ where Mel Gibson can hear all the thoughts from the women near him? Well, this is what it is like for Inspector Isabel. To silence the noise she has to take a tablet that leaves her with a blinding headache that she has to work with and a need for food to fuel her body. Doesn’t sound like much of a gift to me!
I found The Colours of Death a real joy to read. I loved the unusualness of the plot being set in the present day, but not like we know it. I adored that the scenes took place in a location I hadn’t read before in a thriller and the combination of the two genres worked well. The characters, especially Isabel, you could emphasise with and came across as realistic.
This is a book I enjoyed from beginning to end. It kept me entertained the whole way through. It had me wanting to keep on turning those pages to not only see the case being built but to watch the team put the complex puzzle together, but to learn more about these gifted people and the lives of Isabel and Voronov too.
The Colours of Death is a beautifully unique book that blends the thriller and sci-fi genres perfectly. Set in present-day Portugal, Lisbon to be precise, but not quite the Portugal you would expect as the country is split between normal people and ‘The Gifted’. These gifted people have one of two ‘gifts’ either telepathic or telekinetic power and on a scale of 1-10.
We meet Inspector Isabel Reis who is gifted with telepathic skills. There is a divide within the country pushed by the right-wing PNP a political party wanting anti-gifted laws and rules in place headed by Bento Soares.
When Isabel is called to Gare do Oriente (train station), after a man died from head injuries in one of the carriages, it soon becomes clear that the man, Gil Dos Santos, was one of the heads of the NIT (National Testing Institute), the institute where the gifted are overseen and registered. It is alarming that it would seem that he was killed by a gifted person with off-the-scale telekinetic powers.
With the country already fearing the gifted how are they going to react when it would seem one with powers never seen before has killed and may kill again. It is up to Isabel and her new partner Inspector Voronov to work the case and bring their killer to justice before blood is spilled on the streets.
I’m not sure why the people with these unique skills are called ‘gifted’ given the reactions that they have on the individuals. Remember the scene in the movie ‘What Women Want’ where Mel Gibson can hear all the thoughts from the women near him? Well, this is what it is like for Inspector Isabel. To silence the noise she has to take a tablet that leaves her with a blinding headache that she has to work with and a need for food to fuel her body. Doesn’t sound like much of a gift to me!
I found The Colours of Death a real joy to read. I loved the unusualness of the plot being set in the present day, but not like we know it. I adored that the scenes took place in a location I hadn’t read before in a thriller and the combination of the two genres worked well. The characters, especially Isabel, you could emphasise with and came across as realistic.
This is a book I enjoyed from beginning to end. It kept me entertained the whole way through. It had me wanting to keep on turning those pages to not only see the case being built but to watch the team put the complex puzzle together, but to learn more about these gifted people and the lives of Isabel and Voronov too.
May 30, 2021
It’s a strange thing; people are often afraid of everyone that is not exactly as themselves. They are afraid of people with a different skin colour, a different culture, a different language and so on. The list is long. Too long.
So when you are born with telepathic or telekinetic abilities, you either end up in a circus or an institution. At least, that is what used to happen. Nowadays, people with such abilities are not hunted down anymore. That is, except in this well-written story about Isabel Reis, a police woman with telepathic abilities. Nothing to be happy with, in her society. She is one of many, and there seem to be as many people with telekinetic abilities too. They call them Gifted but the general public sees them not as ‘Gifted’ but as ‘dangerous freaks’. Every child that shows some ability has to be tested and is forced to live under constant surveillance.
Isabel is a five on a scale that ranges from one to ten. And is she happy? Mostly not. Her mother hates her for her ability, her father died too soon, her sister is not very good in making contact. Only her brother really loves her and looks out for her. And as for the fact that she is working for the police? She has to be very careful and always, always be on edge because she is not allowed to use her powers. On the contrary, she is even taking pills to suppress them.
So when one day a man dies, and it looks like he is murdered by someone with telekinetic abilities, Isabel is sent our to solve this gruesome murder, partnered with Alex Vosonov, who is a ‘regular’.
The story is original and well-written although it is not so that I couldn’t stop reading. There is a lot of politics going on and this slows down the story in certain parts. The most interesting parts of the story are those where Isabel tries to come to terms with herself and her ability. She has to battle against the killer, her partner, some of her colleagues, the general public but most of all with herself Not so easy, to say the least. Luckily Isabel is clever, determined and fierce, and not even afraid to admit she is not perfect (but who is).
I liked the fact that this story is set against a city I’ve never been, where people speak a language I hardly know, except for the usual words for ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’. Isabel greets people in her own language instead that it was translated to English. And there are more words, especially for the food! I had to look it up and so I’ve learned about some new dishes. And how to cook special teas 😉.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
So when you are born with telepathic or telekinetic abilities, you either end up in a circus or an institution. At least, that is what used to happen. Nowadays, people with such abilities are not hunted down anymore. That is, except in this well-written story about Isabel Reis, a police woman with telepathic abilities. Nothing to be happy with, in her society. She is one of many, and there seem to be as many people with telekinetic abilities too. They call them Gifted but the general public sees them not as ‘Gifted’ but as ‘dangerous freaks’. Every child that shows some ability has to be tested and is forced to live under constant surveillance.
Isabel is a five on a scale that ranges from one to ten. And is she happy? Mostly not. Her mother hates her for her ability, her father died too soon, her sister is not very good in making contact. Only her brother really loves her and looks out for her. And as for the fact that she is working for the police? She has to be very careful and always, always be on edge because she is not allowed to use her powers. On the contrary, she is even taking pills to suppress them.
So when one day a man dies, and it looks like he is murdered by someone with telekinetic abilities, Isabel is sent our to solve this gruesome murder, partnered with Alex Vosonov, who is a ‘regular’.
The story is original and well-written although it is not so that I couldn’t stop reading. There is a lot of politics going on and this slows down the story in certain parts. The most interesting parts of the story are those where Isabel tries to come to terms with herself and her ability. She has to battle against the killer, her partner, some of her colleagues, the general public but most of all with herself Not so easy, to say the least. Luckily Isabel is clever, determined and fierce, and not even afraid to admit she is not perfect (but who is).
I liked the fact that this story is set against a city I’ve never been, where people speak a language I hardly know, except for the usual words for ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’. Isabel greets people in her own language instead that it was translated to English. And there are more words, especially for the food! I had to look it up and so I’ve learned about some new dishes. And how to cook special teas 😉.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
April 1, 2024
A crime thriller with more than a dash of urban fantasy. It's certainly well written, and I liked Isabel, the main character . The book was a bit of a slow burn, and as a result, I wasn't gripped by it and found it easy to put down.
I'd still happily recommend it, though, as there was still a lot to like.
I'd still happily recommend it, though, as there was still a lot to like.
December 25, 2025
“It’s as if she’s standing at a door between her and all these thoughts, hands pressed to its surface and against her palms … the door vibrates under her fingertips with the thrum of all the voices clamouring to flood in.”
Imagine a future world in which a small number of people - labeled as “gifted” but marginalized, despised, feared, and treated as anything but - who have been born with telepathy or telekinesis to varying degrees.
At first blush, a surface reading of THE COLOURS OF DEATH takes the reader through the investigation of a rather offbeat and definitely brutal murder in a hypothetical future world. But, it’s definitely more than that. Taking a step farther and a plunge deeper into the disturbing type of world first imagined by John Wyndham in the classic sci-fi novel THE CHRYSALLIDS, Patricia Marques’ THE COLOURS OF DEATH is a thought-provoking noir urban sci-fi/fantasy that examines the prejudices that would arise against such gifted individuals, the legal ramifications of their existence, the changes (of necessity) to notions of human rights, and how crime, crime detection, and law enforcement might evolve in a world that contained telepaths and telekinetics.
On a different note, readers who have visited Lisbon in their tourist travels will be pleased to read about such a marvelous world class city. THE COLOURS OF DEATH is not set in Lisbon as a matter of necessity to the plot but it uses the beauty and features of a world class city to full advantage. If you’ve been to Lisbon in your travels, you’ll definitely be put in mind of some of your favourite destinations within this very hilly city!
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
Imagine a future world in which a small number of people - labeled as “gifted” but marginalized, despised, feared, and treated as anything but - who have been born with telepathy or telekinesis to varying degrees.
At first blush, a surface reading of THE COLOURS OF DEATH takes the reader through the investigation of a rather offbeat and definitely brutal murder in a hypothetical future world. But, it’s definitely more than that. Taking a step farther and a plunge deeper into the disturbing type of world first imagined by John Wyndham in the classic sci-fi novel THE CHRYSALLIDS, Patricia Marques’ THE COLOURS OF DEATH is a thought-provoking noir urban sci-fi/fantasy that examines the prejudices that would arise against such gifted individuals, the legal ramifications of their existence, the changes (of necessity) to notions of human rights, and how crime, crime detection, and law enforcement might evolve in a world that contained telepaths and telekinetics.
On a different note, readers who have visited Lisbon in their tourist travels will be pleased to read about such a marvelous world class city. THE COLOURS OF DEATH is not set in Lisbon as a matter of necessity to the plot but it uses the beauty and features of a world class city to full advantage. If you’ve been to Lisbon in your travels, you’ll definitely be put in mind of some of your favourite destinations within this very hilly city!
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
June 17, 2021
The Colours of Death is the first instalment in a proposed new series set in an alternative present-day Lisbon, Portugal, and an original and skilful amalgam of the science fiction and crime thriller genres. It features a world where a small percentage of the population has been diagnosed as Gifted - having telepathic or telekinetic powers. Along with the power comes a stigma, fear and suspicion that Gifted Inspector Isabel Reis knows only too well, as those not bestowed the talent, known as regulars, tend to resent and terrorise the Gifted with Portugal’s right-wing political party PNP instigating the ill-feeling using their anti-Gifted agenda, spearheaded by the party leader, Bento Soares, which has taken a strong hold with the Portuguese people. Isabel is employed by the Police Judiciaria in Lisbon where she is partnered by a regular, Inspector Aleksandr Voronov, who will ensure she adheres to the stringent rules and regulations imposed on the gifted within the police force. When the pair are called to investigate a mysterious and violent death in a railway carriage at the Gare do Oriente, they find the victim, Mr Gil dos Santos, had suddenly risen and begun repeatedly smashing his head against the window on a packed train causing hysteria from other passengers.
It had apparently been reported as a crime hinting at Gifted involvement and may have been caused by omnipotent telekinesis. The release of his name sparks further unrest when the news spreads that the murder victim was one of the heads of the National Institute of Testing, an organisation that oversees every inch of the lives of the Gifted minorities. They keep a registry of those who are Gifted as well as details of their powers and maintain oversight of those on the list. But there have also been unsubstantiated yet unrelenting rumours of oppression against the Gifted in society including carrying out clandestine experiments on them and strange disappearances. Reis knows it's more than just her personal reputation on the line. In a society where Gifted individuals are already viewed with mistrust, Isabel is hiding her own secret and knows she has to tread carefully as a conspiracy emerges and the body count rises. This is a compulsive and captivating debut novel with a beautifully woven plot, superb writing and a rich atmosphere, all of which held me captive from the outset. It's thoroughly original and has a glittering freshness to it, all the while introducing us to a cast of characters who will likely return in book two.
Wonderfully inventive, it has the pace of a thriller, the feel of a procedural and a unique, speculative twist on our world that completely sets it apart. Reis is a complex, intriguing and three-dimensional protagonist and her backstory really allows you to get to know her and her motivations, her family and her upbringing. The intense pressure the Gifted ones feel when it comes to trying to keep their gift under wraps and maintain control is felt throughout the pages; it is certainly made to feel like a type of discrimination. It's a scintillating and utterly entertaining supernatural-tinged crime thriller, and it'll be interesting to see what direction Marques takes it in for the second instalment. Highly recommended.
It had apparently been reported as a crime hinting at Gifted involvement and may have been caused by omnipotent telekinesis. The release of his name sparks further unrest when the news spreads that the murder victim was one of the heads of the National Institute of Testing, an organisation that oversees every inch of the lives of the Gifted minorities. They keep a registry of those who are Gifted as well as details of their powers and maintain oversight of those on the list. But there have also been unsubstantiated yet unrelenting rumours of oppression against the Gifted in society including carrying out clandestine experiments on them and strange disappearances. Reis knows it's more than just her personal reputation on the line. In a society where Gifted individuals are already viewed with mistrust, Isabel is hiding her own secret and knows she has to tread carefully as a conspiracy emerges and the body count rises. This is a compulsive and captivating debut novel with a beautifully woven plot, superb writing and a rich atmosphere, all of which held me captive from the outset. It's thoroughly original and has a glittering freshness to it, all the while introducing us to a cast of characters who will likely return in book two.
Wonderfully inventive, it has the pace of a thriller, the feel of a procedural and a unique, speculative twist on our world that completely sets it apart. Reis is a complex, intriguing and three-dimensional protagonist and her backstory really allows you to get to know her and her motivations, her family and her upbringing. The intense pressure the Gifted ones feel when it comes to trying to keep their gift under wraps and maintain control is felt throughout the pages; it is certainly made to feel like a type of discrimination. It's a scintillating and utterly entertaining supernatural-tinged crime thriller, and it'll be interesting to see what direction Marques takes it in for the second instalment. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2021
I loved this. Speculative crime fiction with some superb writing and an eclectic, engaging group dynamic of characters who you invest in very early on.
In a world where a portion of the population are gifted, monitored and often facing prejudice, one detective who is gifted herself, gets embroiled in some odd and violent murders..
This plot is so addictive and the world building has you believing every word. As an allegory it also works beautifully allowing exploration of social issues within a vibrant and ever shifting perspective.
The Colours of Death is also wildly entertaining and a right old page turner. I didn't want it to end and I'm hoping for plenty more to come.
Highly Recommended.
In a world where a portion of the population are gifted, monitored and often facing prejudice, one detective who is gifted herself, gets embroiled in some odd and violent murders..
This plot is so addictive and the world building has you believing every word. As an allegory it also works beautifully allowing exploration of social issues within a vibrant and ever shifting perspective.
The Colours of Death is also wildly entertaining and a right old page turner. I didn't want it to end and I'm hoping for plenty more to come.
Highly Recommended.
July 30, 2021
Mystery with a touch of fantasy elements is something unique and not something that I read often.
So while it did take me some time to actually get into the plot, once I figured out what was going on, it was quite enjoyable, The writing and all the descriptions were excellent, which is in fact the main highlight of the book.
There’s a hint at a sequel which will be interesting to look forward too!
Thank You NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!
So while it did take me some time to actually get into the plot, once I figured out what was going on, it was quite enjoyable, The writing and all the descriptions were excellent, which is in fact the main highlight of the book.
There’s a hint at a sequel which will be interesting to look forward too!
Thank You NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!
April 4, 2025
The Colours Of Death‘ is the first of three books set in an alternative version of contemporary Lisbon where it has been known since the beginning of the twentieth century that a percentage of the population, referred to as ‘The Gifted’ in polite society, is born with telekinetic or telepathic abilities. Inspector Isabel Reis is Gifted and a homicide detective in Lisbon. She’s also very aware that the Gifted are treated as more of a threat than a treasure: assessed as children monitored throughout their lives and increasingly distrusted by ‘regular’ people. So, when a murder occurs that seems to involve the use of telekinetic powers, Reis understands the risk of backlash. A risk that increases when she finds out who was killed.
The pace of the book is unhurried, with Reis’ personality and history being revealed slowly as she investigates the secrets and lies that are wrapped around a murder apparently committed by an unknown and very powerful Gifted. If you're looking for an action-packed techno-thriller, this book will disappoint you. If you want to get inside the head of a complex character in a world that is recognisable, believable but different in crucial respects, then this is a book to relax into,
I loved how well thought through this book was. The murder mystery worked as an intriguing puzzle that escalated into a tense thriller but the plot also delved deeply into how the Gifted were treated. In the minds of the general public, the distinguishing feature of the Gifted is that they are abnormal, unnatural and potentially dangerous. In the minds of governments around the world, they are a threat to be contained, controlled and possibly weaponised. Neither mindset sees the Gifted as properly human.
I liked how Patricia Marques used Isabel Reis’s fears of losing control of her power and of being 'disappeared' in the night if the powers that be perceive her as an unacceptable threat and her childhood memories of being marked as different, of being tested and tagged, of losing her mother's love and of being made to feel that her own abilities needed to be guarded against, to make the world of the Gifted feel real.
For me the middle section of the book ran a little too slowly. The final twenty per cent of so more than made up for that. It was tense, action-packed, surprising and satisfying. ,
I've already brought the next book in the series, 'House Of Silence' to the top of my TBR pile.
The pace of the book is unhurried, with Reis’ personality and history being revealed slowly as she investigates the secrets and lies that are wrapped around a murder apparently committed by an unknown and very powerful Gifted. If you're looking for an action-packed techno-thriller, this book will disappoint you. If you want to get inside the head of a complex character in a world that is recognisable, believable but different in crucial respects, then this is a book to relax into,
I loved how well thought through this book was. The murder mystery worked as an intriguing puzzle that escalated into a tense thriller but the plot also delved deeply into how the Gifted were treated. In the minds of the general public, the distinguishing feature of the Gifted is that they are abnormal, unnatural and potentially dangerous. In the minds of governments around the world, they are a threat to be contained, controlled and possibly weaponised. Neither mindset sees the Gifted as properly human.
I liked how Patricia Marques used Isabel Reis’s fears of losing control of her power and of being 'disappeared' in the night if the powers that be perceive her as an unacceptable threat and her childhood memories of being marked as different, of being tested and tagged, of losing her mother's love and of being made to feel that her own abilities needed to be guarded against, to make the world of the Gifted feel real.
For me the middle section of the book ran a little too slowly. The final twenty per cent of so more than made up for that. It was tense, action-packed, surprising and satisfying. ,
I've already brought the next book in the series, 'House Of Silence' to the top of my TBR pile.
March 30, 2024
Absolutely enjoyed this read!
Offering a captivating blend of speculative crime fiction, the book boasts impeccable writing and a diverse, compelling ensemble cast that hooks you from the start.
Set in a world where a segment of the population possesses unique gifts, closely monitored and often marginalized, the narrative follows a gifted detective entangled in a series of bizarre and violent murders.
The storyline is utterly addictive, drawing readers in with its intricate plot and immersive world-building that feels utterly believable.
As an allegory, it masterfully delves into social issues, providing a dynamic and thought-provoking perspective."The Colours of Death" is not only immensely entertaining but also a gripping page-turner that keeps you hooked till the very end.
I found myself reluctant to part ways with it, eagerly anticipating more from the author in the future.
Highly recommended for fans of thrilling, socially conscious fiction.
Offering a captivating blend of speculative crime fiction, the book boasts impeccable writing and a diverse, compelling ensemble cast that hooks you from the start.
Set in a world where a segment of the population possesses unique gifts, closely monitored and often marginalized, the narrative follows a gifted detective entangled in a series of bizarre and violent murders.
The storyline is utterly addictive, drawing readers in with its intricate plot and immersive world-building that feels utterly believable.
As an allegory, it masterfully delves into social issues, providing a dynamic and thought-provoking perspective."The Colours of Death" is not only immensely entertaining but also a gripping page-turner that keeps you hooked till the very end.
I found myself reluctant to part ways with it, eagerly anticipating more from the author in the future.
Highly recommended for fans of thrilling, socially conscious fiction.
September 6, 2021
This was a completely new style of book for me. I love my thrillers but I'd never read one with a sci-fi edge before and I absolutely loved it. I'm shocked that this is Patricia Marques' debut novel as it is so well-written with complex character development and a detailed, exciting plot.
Not only is the crime-thriller plot of the novel so well-detailed and riveting, keeping me guessing up until the end, but the development of the main character, Isabel, is a compelling story in its own right. I loved seeing her grow throughout the novel as we learned more about her while she learned more about herself and her Gift.
The ending suggests this may be the first instalment in a series and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get part two soon because I need to know what is next for Isabel and her partner, Voronov.
Not only is the crime-thriller plot of the novel so well-detailed and riveting, keeping me guessing up until the end, but the development of the main character, Isabel, is a compelling story in its own right. I loved seeing her grow throughout the novel as we learned more about her while she learned more about herself and her Gift.
The ending suggests this may be the first instalment in a series and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get part two soon because I need to know what is next for Isabel and her partner, Voronov.
March 23, 2021
This is crime fiction with a twist. Dectective Inspector Reis is in pursuit of a killer. Nothing new there but the murders take place in an alternative Lisbon, Portugal where the population is split into gifted or non-gifted and Inspector Reis is registered as gifted due to her being a telepath. Without revealing any spoilers, this was a gripping and highly invented thrill ride. I can't wait for more.
July 8, 2025
Quick notes so my not-sick brain has something to go on later.
Alt-modern murder mystery with telepathic mc. Very enjoyable. Good pacing. Feels like comfort-food reading. Might reread again later when I'm feeling better.
Alt-modern murder mystery with telepathic mc. Very enjoyable. Good pacing. Feels like comfort-food reading. Might reread again later when I'm feeling better.
January 29, 2022
I enjoyed some of the ingredients of this crime novel but was underwhelmed. Descriptions are lovely and the mix of gifted versus non gifted imaginative. The rest of it was pretty ordinary, especially the detective who had the ability to read minds but never seemed to really raise above the think so and so is upset. In parts the language is very clunky and the plot meandering. Future books by the author maybe a lot better than this debut.
February 15, 2022
The first time I learned about Patricia and this book was some weeks ago when I watched a YouTube video where she was interviewed by a fellow Portuguese author, Filipe Faria, for his channel. And I liked what I heard, so decided to give it a try.
I liked the story well enough and definitely couldn’t guess who was behind the whole thing. I also thought the characters were well built and developed, as well as their relationships. I must say it pained me a lot to read about Isabel’s relationship with her mother.
Being Portuguese myself, and living in the outskirts of Lisbon, it was great to have the winter weather depicted correctly. It’s not just mild weather all year round. It can get really cold in January and, when it rains, the city becomes quite dreary. I’m only stating this because Patricia doesn’t live here and it’s possible that, where she lives, she gets worse weather. Still, she doesn’t sugar the pill and I think that’s great.
So I will most definitely be reading the next instalment, because I’m so curious to find out what will inspector Isabel Reis be up against.
I liked the story well enough and definitely couldn’t guess who was behind the whole thing. I also thought the characters were well built and developed, as well as their relationships. I must say it pained me a lot to read about Isabel’s relationship with her mother.
Being Portuguese myself, and living in the outskirts of Lisbon, it was great to have the winter weather depicted correctly. It’s not just mild weather all year round. It can get really cold in January and, when it rains, the city becomes quite dreary. I’m only stating this because Patricia doesn’t live here and it’s possible that, where she lives, she gets worse weather. Still, she doesn’t sugar the pill and I think that’s great.
So I will most definitely be reading the next instalment, because I’m so curious to find out what will inspector Isabel Reis be up against.
October 26, 2023
Wow! I am definitely in the minority here. I found this sooooo slow! Might have in part been the narration. But the story just dragged for me. I even sped the narration up to x2 and found it slow. Would have been 1.5 stars but bumped it up for the adorable puppy parts.
You knew who the killer was right off. It was interesting with the “gift” piece…..but I didn’t like any of the characters. Found the mother scenes very over done and the sister piece was weird. Just felt clunky and needed to be edited down by about 100 pages.
You knew who the killer was right off. It was interesting with the “gift” piece…..but I didn’t like any of the characters. Found the mother scenes very over done and the sister piece was weird. Just felt clunky and needed to be edited down by about 100 pages.
May 26, 2022
Wow. This was brilliant in everyway. Detectives with a little bit of tension, a super captivating mystery, amazing concept. Read it now.
August 6, 2023
I consumed this in barely two sittings. I thought it was suspenseful, with good characterization and an engaging central mystery.
June 26, 2021
The story is set in present-day Lisbon, but not as we know it. There is a small part of the population that are gifted, slotting into either being telepathic or telekinetic, neither is good news. Gifts are something that can develop at different times in life, so some try to hide them. If they are gifted, they have to be tested by law, to measure how developed their gifts are. The very gifted never come home. It is more of a curse than a gift, as families turn their backs on them.
The gifted people that remain in society have to make their gift be known, as it is illegal to invade minds, without consent. Inspector Isabel Reis is gifted while her partner Aleksandr Voronov is not. They have been asked to investigate the brutal death of a man travelling on a train. Witnesses’ tell them of a man that seemed to be brutally smashed into a train window over and over, but no one had touched him. Had he done this himself? or were other forces involved?
It isn’t long before Isabel’s gift is being used, to look into the minds of witnesses, to see if they have seen anything that they are not recalling themselves. It is a sort of meld, which is at times frustrating, as she can only see the things in their vision, she can not turn them round to see things from another angle. Some of the witnesses are more cooperative than others, but none of them is happy about it.
I liked Isabel as she not only had her gift but that gut feeling of how she feels about people too. I liked how the story built and became a race against time as more people were brutally killed, with an unseen force. Isabel has an internal battle brewing but feels that she can not trust anyone to talk to about it.
It is a strange world of prejudice, secrets, shame and betrayal. A brilliant believable storyline. Different but not far from reality either.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the Publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
The gifted people that remain in society have to make their gift be known, as it is illegal to invade minds, without consent. Inspector Isabel Reis is gifted while her partner Aleksandr Voronov is not. They have been asked to investigate the brutal death of a man travelling on a train. Witnesses’ tell them of a man that seemed to be brutally smashed into a train window over and over, but no one had touched him. Had he done this himself? or were other forces involved?
It isn’t long before Isabel’s gift is being used, to look into the minds of witnesses, to see if they have seen anything that they are not recalling themselves. It is a sort of meld, which is at times frustrating, as she can only see the things in their vision, she can not turn them round to see things from another angle. Some of the witnesses are more cooperative than others, but none of them is happy about it.
I liked Isabel as she not only had her gift but that gut feeling of how she feels about people too. I liked how the story built and became a race against time as more people were brutally killed, with an unseen force. Isabel has an internal battle brewing but feels that she can not trust anyone to talk to about it.
It is a strange world of prejudice, secrets, shame and betrayal. A brilliant believable storyline. Different but not far from reality either.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the Publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
April 13, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of The Colours of Death, a thriller set in Lisbon in the present day, featuring Detective Inspector Isabel Reis.
A man dies on a train by repeatedly hurling himself against the glass and while the witnesses know what they saw they’re not entirely sure that it was voluntary. Gifted detective Isabel Reis is asked to investigate. Gifted, however, has a particular meaning in this world, the Gifted have special powers are are closely monitored.
I was invited to read The Colours of Death and I hummed and hawed about it before taking the plunge, because superpowers and the inexplicable are not really my thing. I’m glad I did as it is a great read that held my attention from start to finish.
It doesn’t take long to get into Isabel’s world and once settled into this new normal the reader can enjoy a twisted investigation with strong characters. It is told from Isabel’s point of view so the reader can identify with her and her struggles with her Gift, while living a mystifying investigation. No, I’m not equally gifted and had no idea of where the novel was taking me or who the perpetrator was or, up until the reveal, why. I found it totally absorbing and it was as fast as I could get back to it when I had to put it down. I liked the way the author built her story, bit by bit, and the imaginative use of the Gifts to bring it to a resolution. I also liked the writing which is clear, concise and lively.
So, the novel has a good, absorbing plot but it’s not just about plot. It’s about discrimination and the effect it has on individuals’ every day life. Isabel is ashamed of being Gifted and tries to hide it, but this isn’t easy when she has to declare it at every turn and get tested regularly. It also isn’t easy when public opinion is whipped up against them. It’s the constant onslaught of small indignities that is so powerful. It is a stroke of genius to make the discriminated something outside our collective lived experience as it avoids unconscious prejudice and allows the reader to see it clearly.
The Colours of Death is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A man dies on a train by repeatedly hurling himself against the glass and while the witnesses know what they saw they’re not entirely sure that it was voluntary. Gifted detective Isabel Reis is asked to investigate. Gifted, however, has a particular meaning in this world, the Gifted have special powers are are closely monitored.
I was invited to read The Colours of Death and I hummed and hawed about it before taking the plunge, because superpowers and the inexplicable are not really my thing. I’m glad I did as it is a great read that held my attention from start to finish.
It doesn’t take long to get into Isabel’s world and once settled into this new normal the reader can enjoy a twisted investigation with strong characters. It is told from Isabel’s point of view so the reader can identify with her and her struggles with her Gift, while living a mystifying investigation. No, I’m not equally gifted and had no idea of where the novel was taking me or who the perpetrator was or, up until the reveal, why. I found it totally absorbing and it was as fast as I could get back to it when I had to put it down. I liked the way the author built her story, bit by bit, and the imaginative use of the Gifts to bring it to a resolution. I also liked the writing which is clear, concise and lively.
So, the novel has a good, absorbing plot but it’s not just about plot. It’s about discrimination and the effect it has on individuals’ every day life. Isabel is ashamed of being Gifted and tries to hide it, but this isn’t easy when she has to declare it at every turn and get tested regularly. It also isn’t easy when public opinion is whipped up against them. It’s the constant onslaught of small indignities that is so powerful. It is a stroke of genius to make the discriminated something outside our collective lived experience as it avoids unconscious prejudice and allows the reader to see it clearly.
The Colours of Death is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 4, 2021
In this unusual combination of a police procedural and alternate reality, the action is set in a contemporary Portugal – in a society not unlike ours, but one where a small proportion of the population are ‘Gifted’, either with telepathy or telekinesis.
Inspector Isabel Reis is one such telepath, shunned by her own family and struggling to understand the changes going on with her Gift. She’s been self-medicating with unlicensed drugs to keep her rapidly evolving abilities under wraps. She’s a diligent and effective police officer who should be able to use her Gift to enhance her investigative aptitude… but frequently it does more harm than good at the moment.
While this is an interesting concept, it’s far from original (see the opening paragraph…) and the author’s writing wasn’t sharp enough to give a real edge to proceedings. Nor did her version of Lisbon feel particularly authentic or exotic; it felt lightly-sketched as if penned after a weekend’s city break rather than imbued with lifelong experience of the society.
Equally, Isabel Reis isn’t an easy protagonist to latch on to. Much of the book is devoted to her insecurity and emotional instability, and there are a fair few irrelevant detours which slow the pace and do little to enhance the character. The whole ‘societal prejudice against a minority’ felt a lot like jumping on the latest ‘lives matter’ bandwagon – with the Gifts being used as a very thin metaphor for race, sexuality or gender discrimination.
The most interesting aspects of the larger story are left dangling at the end, no doubt to entice us to pick up the next book which will inevitably roll along next year, but I doubt it’ll tempt me. An unexceptional police procedural, mildly spiced by the psychic side of things.
7/10
There's more detail about this book and many other crime novels over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
Inspector Isabel Reis is one such telepath, shunned by her own family and struggling to understand the changes going on with her Gift. She’s been self-medicating with unlicensed drugs to keep her rapidly evolving abilities under wraps. She’s a diligent and effective police officer who should be able to use her Gift to enhance her investigative aptitude… but frequently it does more harm than good at the moment.
While this is an interesting concept, it’s far from original (see the opening paragraph…) and the author’s writing wasn’t sharp enough to give a real edge to proceedings. Nor did her version of Lisbon feel particularly authentic or exotic; it felt lightly-sketched as if penned after a weekend’s city break rather than imbued with lifelong experience of the society.
Equally, Isabel Reis isn’t an easy protagonist to latch on to. Much of the book is devoted to her insecurity and emotional instability, and there are a fair few irrelevant detours which slow the pace and do little to enhance the character. The whole ‘societal prejudice against a minority’ felt a lot like jumping on the latest ‘lives matter’ bandwagon – with the Gifts being used as a very thin metaphor for race, sexuality or gender discrimination.
The most interesting aspects of the larger story are left dangling at the end, no doubt to entice us to pick up the next book which will inevitably roll along next year, but I doubt it’ll tempt me. An unexceptional police procedural, mildly spiced by the psychic side of things.
7/10
There's more detail about this book and many other crime novels over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
March 23, 2021
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley
The debut novel of Patricia Marques is set in one of my favourite cities in Europe, namely Lisbon.
I liked the description the author used because I could travel in my imagination in the exact places in Lisbon and all transmitted the vibe and energy of the city. From my point of view it is a dystopic novel presenting the Lisbon in times where the human population evolved and a small percentage of people could be classified either as a telepathic or a telekinetic person. Since all was still new, these persons had a target on their back and were stigmatized and criticized by those who were scared and could not explain this type of abilities/power.
The main character, Isabel Reis is a strong woman, with a tormented past (I liked that we could have some short chapters that explained some situations from her childhood and some glimpse to see from where she had developed those feelings for her mom). The association with her new partner at work – a Russian guy Aleks Voronov – a “muggle” with no gifts but wanting to help her – is like the salt and pepper for the action of the novel.
I will not give 5 stars out of 5 because the ending was a little too much. I would have expected to be given some cliffhanger for the following novel, but I would have preferred some clarity for the closed case.
The debut novel of Patricia Marques is set in one of my favourite cities in Europe, namely Lisbon.
I liked the description the author used because I could travel in my imagination in the exact places in Lisbon and all transmitted the vibe and energy of the city. From my point of view it is a dystopic novel presenting the Lisbon in times where the human population evolved and a small percentage of people could be classified either as a telepathic or a telekinetic person. Since all was still new, these persons had a target on their back and were stigmatized and criticized by those who were scared and could not explain this type of abilities/power.
The main character, Isabel Reis is a strong woman, with a tormented past (I liked that we could have some short chapters that explained some situations from her childhood and some glimpse to see from where she had developed those feelings for her mom). The association with her new partner at work – a Russian guy Aleks Voronov – a “muggle” with no gifts but wanting to help her – is like the salt and pepper for the action of the novel.
I will not give 5 stars out of 5 because the ending was a little too much. I would have expected to be given some cliffhanger for the following novel, but I would have preferred some clarity for the closed case.
June 3, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
In an alternative present-day Lisbon, a small percentage of the population have been diagnosed as Gifted - having telepathic or telekinetic powers. Along with the power comes stigma and suspicion that Gifted Inspector Isabel Reis knows only too well. When Isabel is called in to investigate a mysterious and violent death which hints at Gifted involvement, she knows it's more than her personal reputation on the line. Isabel is hiding her own secret and knows she has to tread carefully as a conspiracy emerges and the body count rises.
Isabel Reis is Gifted with telepathic powers. She's working alongside a new partner, Aleksanor Voronov who she is wary of. Then news comes in that there has been a murder on a train, with suspected Gifted involvement.
This is a fast paced thriller with some really good twists, It's told in the third person and set in the present day. I liked the authors writing style and descriptions of the storyline. It's an action packed whodunit. I did feel the ending let the book down but overall, it's a really good and unique read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #PatriciaMarques for my ARC of #TheColoursOfDeath in exchange for an honest review.
In an alternative present-day Lisbon, a small percentage of the population have been diagnosed as Gifted - having telepathic or telekinetic powers. Along with the power comes stigma and suspicion that Gifted Inspector Isabel Reis knows only too well. When Isabel is called in to investigate a mysterious and violent death which hints at Gifted involvement, she knows it's more than her personal reputation on the line. Isabel is hiding her own secret and knows she has to tread carefully as a conspiracy emerges and the body count rises.
Isabel Reis is Gifted with telepathic powers. She's working alongside a new partner, Aleksanor Voronov who she is wary of. Then news comes in that there has been a murder on a train, with suspected Gifted involvement.
This is a fast paced thriller with some really good twists, It's told in the third person and set in the present day. I liked the authors writing style and descriptions of the storyline. It's an action packed whodunit. I did feel the ending let the book down but overall, it's a really good and unique read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderStoughton and the author #PatriciaMarques for my ARC of #TheColoursOfDeath in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2022
Although I have rated The Colours of Death four stars I did struggle with it in places. The story follows a 'gifted' detective Isabel, through modern day Lisbon as she tries to solve a crime with her new partner. The crime seems to have been committed by another Gifted individual and when another body is found the race is on the catch the killer.
* Spoiler* I think on reflection there is quite a large plot hole in this book, and that is that if you were gifted and trying to hide it why would you murder someone in a way that could only have been done by someone gifted. You are just drawing attention to yourself when you have been trying to hide.
I struggled at time with the books pace but despite this and the plot hole issue I did enjoy the book and it just about scrapped four stars and I would consider reading from the author again. It could develop into a very interesting series.
* Spoiler* I think on reflection there is quite a large plot hole in this book, and that is that if you were gifted and trying to hide it why would you murder someone in a way that could only have been done by someone gifted. You are just drawing attention to yourself when you have been trying to hide.
I struggled at time with the books pace but despite this and the plot hole issue I did enjoy the book and it just about scrapped four stars and I would consider reading from the author again. It could develop into a very interesting series.
January 30, 2024
Porque é que a Isabel e o Voronov não ficam juntos no final 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2021
Set in Lisbon, where humans are of two categories — the Gifted and the non-gifted, The Colours of Death follow Inspector Reis of the Lisbon Police Force as she's called to investigate a case that may have a Gifted involvement. A Gifted person falls into one of two categories, Telekinetic or Telepathic.
The story is very descriptive and I was instantly transported to Lisbon. The novel shows us what it's like for families with a Gifted member and the discrimination this group of people face. It also shows the government's methods of ‘helping’ said people and some of the things fear leads to. I liked the relationship between Isabel and her new partner, Voronov, and how they grow to trust each other.
The writing was kind of slow and I did get lost at some points but the story is an interesting one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC which was given in return for an honest review.
The story is very descriptive and I was instantly transported to Lisbon. The novel shows us what it's like for families with a Gifted member and the discrimination this group of people face. It also shows the government's methods of ‘helping’ said people and some of the things fear leads to. I liked the relationship between Isabel and her new partner, Voronov, and how they grow to trust each other.
The writing was kind of slow and I did get lost at some points but the story is an interesting one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC which was given in return for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
Isabel Reis is an Inspector for the Lisbon Police Force but she’s not just your average Inspector. She’s what they class as Gifted. A Gifted individual falls into one of two categories; Telepathic or Telekinetic so when she’s called to a case which may have some Gifted involvement, she knows that there’s a lot more at stake than just her reputation.
First of all, I just have to say how great it was to read a book that was set in a country other than the United Kingdom or the United States. It was truly a breath of fresh air and although I had to translate a few words along the way, that didn’t matter to me. In fact, I loved it even more because it was something new and I liked discovering what the words translated to.
One thing I’ll say about this book is that it was highly descriptive. Probably one of the most descriptive books I’ve read so far. Things such as the scents in an environment or the way a chair felt to the feeling of being in the rain was described so well. It really made you feel immersed in the story.
The overall storyline was unique. I liked the fact that aside from the Gifted, everything else was ‘normal’. By that I mean, it didn’t overuse the Gifted element of the story. Yes, it was a crucial part of the book but it wasn’t dramatic. It was written super well to the point where although it’s classed in the Fantasy genre, it didn’t feel overly fantastical to the point where it was ridiculous. It was just the right amount.
Aside from a few grammatical errors and paragraphing issues (which, all things considered, wasn’t a major surprise as it’s an ARC), I enjoyed this book a lot. The ONLY reason why I’m giving it 4 stars and not 5 is because of the ending but that is a very subjective reason and I definitely wouldn’t let that deter anyone from giving this book a read.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
First of all, I just have to say how great it was to read a book that was set in a country other than the United Kingdom or the United States. It was truly a breath of fresh air and although I had to translate a few words along the way, that didn’t matter to me. In fact, I loved it even more because it was something new and I liked discovering what the words translated to.
One thing I’ll say about this book is that it was highly descriptive. Probably one of the most descriptive books I’ve read so far. Things such as the scents in an environment or the way a chair felt to the feeling of being in the rain was described so well. It really made you feel immersed in the story.
The overall storyline was unique. I liked the fact that aside from the Gifted, everything else was ‘normal’. By that I mean, it didn’t overuse the Gifted element of the story. Yes, it was a crucial part of the book but it wasn’t dramatic. It was written super well to the point where although it’s classed in the Fantasy genre, it didn’t feel overly fantastical to the point where it was ridiculous. It was just the right amount.
Aside from a few grammatical errors and paragraphing issues (which, all things considered, wasn’t a major surprise as it’s an ARC), I enjoyed this book a lot. The ONLY reason why I’m giving it 4 stars and not 5 is because of the ending but that is a very subjective reason and I definitely wouldn’t let that deter anyone from giving this book a read.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
August 1, 2021
Amazing!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews