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Blood Men
WINNER OF NEW ZEALAND'S PRESTIGIOUS NGAIO MARSH AWARD FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL OF 2011
'Riveting and all too realistic. Cleave is a writer to watch' Tess Gerritsen
'Cleave uses words like lethal weapons' New York Times Book Review
Edward Hunter has it all - a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future... and a very dark past.
Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in the country's most hellish of penitentiaries. That man was Edward's father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance into his world. Suddenly he's going to need the help of his father, a man he hasn't seen since he was a boy. Is Edward destined to be just like him, to become a man of blood?
A true master of the genre that only comes along once in a generation, Cleave unveils a brutally vivid picture of a killer's mind and of a city of fallen angels captured at the ends of the earth.
'Riveting and all too realistic. Cleave is a writer to watch' Tess Gerritsen
'Cleave uses words like lethal weapons' New York Times Book Review
Edward Hunter has it all - a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future... and a very dark past.
Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in the country's most hellish of penitentiaries. That man was Edward's father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance into his world. Suddenly he's going to need the help of his father, a man he hasn't seen since he was a boy. Is Edward destined to be just like him, to become a man of blood?
A true master of the genre that only comes along once in a generation, Cleave unveils a brutally vivid picture of a killer's mind and of a city of fallen angels captured at the ends of the earth.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
70 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Paul Cleave
44 books860 followersPaul Cleave is an internationally bestselling author who is currently dividing his time between his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where all of his novels are set, and Europe, where none of his novels are set. His work has been translated into fifteen languages. He has won the Ngaio Marsh award for best crime novel in New Zealand, he won the Saint-Maur book festival's crime novel of the year in France, has been shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award in the US, and shortlisted for the Ned Kelly award in Australia. When he's not writing, he spends his time swearing on a golf course, swearing on a tennis court, or trying to add to his list of 25 countries where he's thrown his Frisbee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
July 18, 2016
Jack Edward Hunter, Jr. lost his father when he was 8 years old.
Jack Edward Hunter, Sr. was sentenced to prison for killing 11 prostitutes.
Jr., who legally changed his name to Edward, hates his father and worries that the evil in Sr. has been passed to him. I have to say I hate his father, too.
As the story develops, it's a close call whether Eddie is a grieving husband, a target, or has his own monster inside of him. He's had a lot of heartbreak in his life. There are times I sympathized with him and times I hated him. Or maybe I just hated what he did. Many times I felt his anguish.
There is a LOT of violence and death in this book. That doesn't put me off. It was integral to the story. Detective Schroder is the lead investigator, and Detective Lansing also plays a small part. These cops have appeared in a previous book, so I was familiar with them. Theodore Tate, from the book Cemetery Lake, also has a small role in this book.
I found it hard to put this book down. I even stayed up late reading it. The book leaves me with a feeling of dread, wondering if Eddie appears in a future book. I'll find out soon enough.
Jack Edward Hunter, Sr. was sentenced to prison for killing 11 prostitutes.
Jr., who legally changed his name to Edward, hates his father and worries that the evil in Sr. has been passed to him. I have to say I hate his father, too.
As the story develops, it's a close call whether Eddie is a grieving husband, a target, or has his own monster inside of him. He's had a lot of heartbreak in his life. There are times I sympathized with him and times I hated him. Or maybe I just hated what he did. Many times I felt his anguish.
There is a LOT of violence and death in this book. That doesn't put me off. It was integral to the story. Detective Schroder is the lead investigator, and Detective Lansing also plays a small part. These cops have appeared in a previous book, so I was familiar with them. Theodore Tate, from the book Cemetery Lake, also has a small role in this book.
I found it hard to put this book down. I even stayed up late reading it. The book leaves me with a feeling of dread, wondering if Eddie appears in a future book. I'll find out soon enough.
August 8, 2018
2.5 stars
I was really enjoying this up until 60% of the book & then it just crashed from there for me. I'm a bit disappointed because the other Cleave novels I have read were strong 4*s. Personally, I think I just wanted this to go a different way than what was actually happening & I found a few loose ends on the convenient side. Regardless, like all of Cleave's works, this is well-written & I was completely engrossed. Similarly, there are mentions of events/characters in previous books, so it may be best to start in chronological order for those who are unfamiliar with this author. And of course you will find sly humor & moments of empathy; I usually dislike reading noir but will make an exception for Cleave.
I think one of things that bothered me the most was the way he described Christchurch. Yes, he describes it as bleak in his other books, but this one felt over-the-top, like he was going out of his way to paint an unrealistic scene. Perhaps an attempt to make the scenario more grim? He basically states that the town is like a 'virus', mostly because of the higher crime rates, but it was like he had nothing positive to say about it. Which is fine, you're allowed to dislike whatever you want, but to constantly describe it throughout 300+ pages is too much for me. It felt like he spent more time spewing negatives about Christchurch than fleshing out characters, especially the interaction between Edward & Jack, which was the primary reason why I picked this up. I wanted to see just how much "like father, like son" they really were, & while we do get a bit of it, it wasn't to the extent I was hoping for.
Other minor things that bothered me: are we really supposed to believe that a detective (who has been on the force for decades, mind you) isn't aware of schizophrenia? The stereotypes of the "bad guys" are cliché & a bit laughable for how obvious the pieces start to click together. There were a few toxic comments ("don't be such a pussy, man up") that I didn't care for. Also, the final acts of Edward are hard to believe- I think Cleave tried to tie up his storyline another way, couldn't make it work & then edited it to make it interwoven better. And again, I was underwhelmed by the final moments between Edward & Jack- it just felt like a lot more could have been done to explore the "is it in your genes?" question. ()
Disclaimer: there is a fair amount of death/violence/gore in this book (as with his others), so just be aware of that if you usually like your thrillers on the more "surface-y side".
While this isn't one I will return to, I highly recommend this author & look forward to continuing through his works.
I was really enjoying this up until 60% of the book & then it just crashed from there for me. I'm a bit disappointed because the other Cleave novels I have read were strong 4*s. Personally, I think I just wanted this to go a different way than what was actually happening & I found a few loose ends on the convenient side. Regardless, like all of Cleave's works, this is well-written & I was completely engrossed. Similarly, there are mentions of events/characters in previous books, so it may be best to start in chronological order for those who are unfamiliar with this author. And of course you will find sly humor & moments of empathy; I usually dislike reading noir but will make an exception for Cleave.
I think one of things that bothered me the most was the way he described Christchurch. Yes, he describes it as bleak in his other books, but this one felt over-the-top, like he was going out of his way to paint an unrealistic scene. Perhaps an attempt to make the scenario more grim? He basically states that the town is like a 'virus', mostly because of the higher crime rates, but it was like he had nothing positive to say about it. Which is fine, you're allowed to dislike whatever you want, but to constantly describe it throughout 300+ pages is too much for me. It felt like he spent more time spewing negatives about Christchurch than fleshing out characters, especially the interaction between Edward & Jack, which was the primary reason why I picked this up. I wanted to see just how much "like father, like son" they really were, & while we do get a bit of it, it wasn't to the extent I was hoping for.
Other minor things that bothered me: are we really supposed to believe that a detective (who has been on the force for decades, mind you) isn't aware of schizophrenia? The stereotypes of the "bad guys" are cliché & a bit laughable for how obvious the pieces start to click together. There were a few toxic comments ("don't be such a pussy, man up") that I didn't care for. Also, the final acts of Edward are hard to believe- I think Cleave tried to tie up his storyline another way, couldn't make it work & then edited it to make it interwoven better. And again, I was underwhelmed by the final moments between Edward & Jack- it just felt like a lot more could have been done to explore the "is it in your genes?" question. ()
Disclaimer: there is a fair amount of death/violence/gore in this book (as with his others), so just be aware of that if you usually like your thrillers on the more "surface-y side".
While this isn't one I will return to, I highly recommend this author & look forward to continuing through his works.
December 30, 2016
Even though I predicted most of the twists, I greatly enjoyed this thriller. It's my third Paul Cleave book, and every time, I'm wowed by his ability to drag me into the seedy world of his fictional take on Christchurch in his home country of New Zealand. He can write a thriller like nobody's business!
It's been a while since I read the last one before I read this one... I won't be waiting as long this time to pick up another.
It's been a while since I read the last one before I read this one... I won't be waiting as long this time to pick up another.
April 30, 2020
Avcı avının peşinde! Kitabın adı avcı olunca bayağı bir beklentiye girdim. Aslında orijinal adı Blood Men (Kan adamları) olsa da dedim ki belki iyidir ya, belki rokettir. No.
Bir seri katilin oğlunun dürtüleri falan diye anlatınca aha dedim, süper bir konu. Güzel bir kitap. Bol bol seri katillik ögeleri vardır. Maalesef yoktu.
Kitabın bende uyandırdığı duygu şuydu. Aksiyon. Bol bol aksiyon. Zaten kitabın yarısı konuşma şeklindeydi. Bazen bu kadar diyalog beni sıkıyor. Yıllar önce başka kitabını okumuştum bu yazarın, o hiç böyle değildi.
Genel itibari ile heyecanlı bir kitaptı. Zaman zaman monoton gelip okuma hızım düşse de çok sıkıldım diyemem. Birkaç klişe vardı tabi içinde. Herkese öneririm diyemem bu yüzden Goodreads’te 3 puan vereceğim.
Bir seri katilin oğlunun dürtüleri falan diye anlatınca aha dedim, süper bir konu. Güzel bir kitap. Bol bol seri katillik ögeleri vardır. Maalesef yoktu.
Kitabın bende uyandırdığı duygu şuydu. Aksiyon. Bol bol aksiyon. Zaten kitabın yarısı konuşma şeklindeydi. Bazen bu kadar diyalog beni sıkıyor. Yıllar önce başka kitabını okumuştum bu yazarın, o hiç böyle değildi.
Genel itibari ile heyecanlı bir kitaptı. Zaman zaman monoton gelip okuma hızım düşse de çok sıkıldım diyemem. Birkaç klişe vardı tabi içinde. Herkese öneririm diyemem bu yüzden Goodreads’te 3 puan vereceğim.
December 19, 2015
3.5 stars.
Whew. I'm sitting here, not quite sure what to say about this book. The story starts off the week before Christmas, but let me assure you: this is no feel-good holiday tale!
An event sets Edward Hunter off on a course that is so outrageous at times that I couldn't help but think of those off the charts action films like Die Hard. But you know what? I love me some Die Hard! So I just checked my reality meter at the door and plunged in!
This is a relentless thriller. There is no heart-warming, happy Christmas here folks, though at times my heart was breaking for Edward. A few pages later I would end up furious with him, and then just as quickly I was cheering him along.
I would sum up this book as the story of how easily a good person can feel they have no other recourse but to do bad things.
I held off on a 1/2 star to rate this 4 simply because I was a tad disappointed with the end. I felt there was a spot that would have ended this story perfectly, but then it seemed as if Mr. Cleave decided at the last minute to throw one more curveball at the reader.
In closing, I have to say I haven't been disappointed in any of Paul Cleave's books so far, and will continue to make my way through his works.
Whew. I'm sitting here, not quite sure what to say about this book. The story starts off the week before Christmas, but let me assure you: this is no feel-good holiday tale!
An event sets Edward Hunter off on a course that is so outrageous at times that I couldn't help but think of those off the charts action films like Die Hard. But you know what? I love me some Die Hard! So I just checked my reality meter at the door and plunged in!
This is a relentless thriller. There is no heart-warming, happy Christmas here folks, though at times my heart was breaking for Edward. A few pages later I would end up furious with him, and then just as quickly I was cheering him along.
I would sum up this book as the story of how easily a good person can feel they have no other recourse but to do bad things.
I held off on a 1/2 star to rate this 4 simply because I was a tad disappointed with the end. I felt there was a spot that would have ended this story perfectly, but then it seemed as if Mr. Cleave decided at the last minute to throw one more curveball at the reader.
In closing, I have to say I haven't been disappointed in any of Paul Cleave's books so far, and will continue to make my way through his works.
January 8, 2017
A 4 star read for sure and I'm throwing in 1 more because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Paul Cleave and the way he writes! If you never read a Paul Cleave book- do yourself a favor and start reading! There are many in depth reviews here - so I won't bother- just know that Mr. Cleave is an amazing story teller!
September 24, 2017
4.5*
Edward is living a great life, wife, child and great job. His father is serving time for killing 11 prostitutes and is a well known serial killer. A visit to a bank with his wife creates a whirlwind amount of problems. Very dark and twisted 1st person account of a sons spiral into the dark world. Great writing, twisted story telling with a fast moving plot. Has elements of Dexter to the story but with less humour than those novels/show. This author needs more attention and readers. Cant wait to read his next one.
Edward is living a great life, wife, child and great job. His father is serving time for killing 11 prostitutes and is a well known serial killer. A visit to a bank with his wife creates a whirlwind amount of problems. Very dark and twisted 1st person account of a sons spiral into the dark world. Great writing, twisted story telling with a fast moving plot. Has elements of Dexter to the story but with less humour than those novels/show. This author needs more attention and readers. Cant wait to read his next one.
May 30, 2023
Thriller de 377 páginas, publicado en 2023, en el que el protagonista, hijo de un conocido asesino en serie que permanece en presidio, se encuentra con su mujer en una oficina bancaria que acaba de ser asaltada por un grupo de ladrones profesionales.
La lectura es ágil y sencilla, con uso de frases cortas e impactantes, típicas de la novela negra, y una premisa que te atrapa en un principio. Sin embargo, lo que promete ser una historia de venganza desarrollada por una mente fría y calculadora, acaba derivando en un asesino en serie con buena conciencia, que se debate entre el bien y el mal que forja amistad con el policía. En fin, una novelita veraniega sin mayor repercusión. Recomendada para una sola lectura.
La lectura es ágil y sencilla, con uso de frases cortas e impactantes, típicas de la novela negra, y una premisa que te atrapa en un principio. Sin embargo, lo que promete ser una historia de venganza desarrollada por una mente fría y calculadora, acaba derivando en un asesino en serie con buena conciencia, que se debate entre el bien y el mal que forja amistad con el policía. En fin, una novelita veraniega sin mayor repercusión. Recomendada para una sola lectura.
January 25, 2013
Some books are just wrong. You read them and afterwords you're sitting their numb and feeling empty because the author has done such horrible things to his characters that it's almost too much to bare. Cleave takes you down that bad road, he turns you around corners you don't want him to take, and he leaves you battered and beaten. Trust me when I say that this was a tough book to read, not because it was bad, but because Paul Cleave is too good at making his situations seem too real, too terrifying, and too sad. I'd recommend this book, but it comes with a deep warning that it's a hard read.
April 11, 2011
It always amazes me, how Paul Cleave can start out with a scenario that somehow seems quite normal and "expected" and then make it all go very very good weird, and you don't even notice that it's happening until you finish the book, turn all the lights back on the in house and take a big deep breath. And check the locks.
I'm very very partial to Paul Cleave's books and BLOOD MEN was no exception. Noir doesn't really cut it when you're describing these books, they are dense, intrinsically, fundamentally dark books sure, but there's also always something slightly unexpected, something slight twisty, something just that little bit weird in what is going on that a reader really isn't allowed to get into a comfort zone. But BLOOD MEN is built around a scenario that couldn't possibly make you comfortable - the idea that a happily married family man, the son of a man of blood - a notorious serial killer never to be released. A son who has spent his life denying the father that he then must turn to for help. It somehow seems quite natural that with a family background like Edward's, he'd be worried about his destiny. Is he free of the worst of his father's legacy or is he, Edward, destined to be a man of blood also?
Of course, in a scenario like this, there's going to be some graphic violence, but that's tempered somewhat by a cheeky, sly and clever sense of humour. Having said that the taut plotline and the way that the tension over Edward's future builds was more than enough to make this reader charge through the violence, desperate to get to the end. So desperate that this was a one sitting book. Which, as per usual, means I was reading it in the dark, early morning. Which lead, of course, to that turning on all the lights problem. Which leads to the lack of sleep that I've come to expect when reading a Paul Cleave book. There aren't many authors that make me change my daily routine, but Paul Cleave does it everytime and I can't wait for the next book.
I'm very very partial to Paul Cleave's books and BLOOD MEN was no exception. Noir doesn't really cut it when you're describing these books, they are dense, intrinsically, fundamentally dark books sure, but there's also always something slightly unexpected, something slight twisty, something just that little bit weird in what is going on that a reader really isn't allowed to get into a comfort zone. But BLOOD MEN is built around a scenario that couldn't possibly make you comfortable - the idea that a happily married family man, the son of a man of blood - a notorious serial killer never to be released. A son who has spent his life denying the father that he then must turn to for help. It somehow seems quite natural that with a family background like Edward's, he'd be worried about his destiny. Is he free of the worst of his father's legacy or is he, Edward, destined to be a man of blood also?
Of course, in a scenario like this, there's going to be some graphic violence, but that's tempered somewhat by a cheeky, sly and clever sense of humour. Having said that the taut plotline and the way that the tension over Edward's future builds was more than enough to make this reader charge through the violence, desperate to get to the end. So desperate that this was a one sitting book. Which, as per usual, means I was reading it in the dark, early morning. Which lead, of course, to that turning on all the lights problem. Which leads to the lack of sleep that I've come to expect when reading a Paul Cleave book. There aren't many authors that make me change my daily routine, but Paul Cleave does it everytime and I can't wait for the next book.
April 11, 2011
It always amazes me, how Paul Cleave can start out with a scenario that somehow seems quite normal and "expected" and then make it all go very very good weird, and you don't even notice that it's happening until you finish the book, turn all the lights back on the in house and take a big deep breath. And check the locks.
I'm very very partial to Paul Cleave's books and BLOOD MEN was no exception. Noir doesn't really cut it when you're describing these books, they are dense, intrinsically, fundamentally dark books sure, but there's also always something slightly unexpected, something slight twisty, something just that little bit weird in what is going on that a reader really isn't allowed to get into a comfort zone. But BLOOD MEN is built around a scenario that couldn't possibly make you comfortable - the idea that a happily married family man, the son of a man of blood - a notorious serial killer never to be released. A son who has spent his life denying the father that he then must turn to for help. It somehow seems quite natural that with a family background like Edward's, he'd be worried about his destiny. Is he free of the worst of his father's legacy or is he, Edward, destined to be a man of blood also?
Of course, in a scenario like this, there's going to be some graphic violence, but that's tempered somewhat by a cheeky, sly and clever sense of humour. Having said that the taut plotline and the way that the tension over Edward's future builds was more than enough to make this reader charge through the violence, desperate to get to the end. So desperate that this was a one sitting book. Which, as per usual, means I was reading it in the dark, early morning. Which lead, of course, to that turning on all the lights problem. Which leads to the lack of sleep that I've come to expect when reading a Paul Cleave book. There aren't many authors that make me change my daily routine, but Paul Cleave does it everytime and I can't wait for the next book.
I'm very very partial to Paul Cleave's books and BLOOD MEN was no exception. Noir doesn't really cut it when you're describing these books, they are dense, intrinsically, fundamentally dark books sure, but there's also always something slightly unexpected, something slight twisty, something just that little bit weird in what is going on that a reader really isn't allowed to get into a comfort zone. But BLOOD MEN is built around a scenario that couldn't possibly make you comfortable - the idea that a happily married family man, the son of a man of blood - a notorious serial killer never to be released. A son who has spent his life denying the father that he then must turn to for help. It somehow seems quite natural that with a family background like Edward's, he'd be worried about his destiny. Is he free of the worst of his father's legacy or is he, Edward, destined to be a man of blood also?
Of course, in a scenario like this, there's going to be some graphic violence, but that's tempered somewhat by a cheeky, sly and clever sense of humour. Having said that the taut plotline and the way that the tension over Edward's future builds was more than enough to make this reader charge through the violence, desperate to get to the end. So desperate that this was a one sitting book. Which, as per usual, means I was reading it in the dark, early morning. Which lead, of course, to that turning on all the lights problem. Which leads to the lack of sleep that I've come to expect when reading a Paul Cleave book. There aren't many authors that make me change my daily routine, but Paul Cleave does it everytime and I can't wait for the next book.
August 23, 2017
[Blood Men by Paul Cleave
4.5★'s
What's it About?
Edward Hunter has it all—a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future . . . and a very dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in New Zealand’s most hellish penitentiary. That man was Edward’s father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance in his world. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood?
What Did I Think?
I loved the book ...however it is diffidently not for everyone. Most people that enjoy true-crime type mysteries expect to sometimes find some really graphic and gruesome scenes when it comes to the murders. "Blood Men" had more than it's share and that alone will put a lot of people off.
It lost a half star with me because I lost patience with the police. They were working against a killer's very real time schedule but seemed to drag their feet at every turn. Otherwise the main character... Edward...was pitied...applauded...and encouraged by the reader through out this madhouse adventure as he almost single handed searched the town of Christchurch for his young wife's killer.
Read it with caution...but if you enjoy this type of mystery...by all means read it.
4.5★'s
What's it About?
Edward Hunter has it all—a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future . . . and a very dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in New Zealand’s most hellish penitentiary. That man was Edward’s father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance in his world. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood?
What Did I Think?
I loved the book ...however it is diffidently not for everyone. Most people that enjoy true-crime type mysteries expect to sometimes find some really graphic and gruesome scenes when it comes to the murders. "Blood Men" had more than it's share and that alone will put a lot of people off.
It lost a half star with me because I lost patience with the police. They were working against a killer's very real time schedule but seemed to drag their feet at every turn. Otherwise the main character... Edward...was pitied...applauded...and encouraged by the reader through out this madhouse adventure as he almost single handed searched the town of Christchurch for his young wife's killer.
Read it with caution...but if you enjoy this type of mystery...by all means read it.
July 25, 2019
. Dili akıcı ve basitti bundan dolayı sevdim, ama bir şeyler eksikti diye de hissettirdi bana. Konusu itibariyle güzeldi. Biraz polisiyeden uzaklaşmış anları ve kurguda da gözden kaçan hataları görmezden gelemedim maalesef. Kısacası tekrar okur muyum bu yazarı, evet okurum. Çünkü hatalara rağmen elimden bırakamadan merakla okutturdu kendini.
September 24, 2024
was pretty damn interesting! i’ve not read many crime thriller books so don’t have much to compare this one to. paul cleaves talks about breasts too much though that’s for sure.
January 27, 2016
It's ironic I ended up bringing this won book on a won trip. We had won an all paid for vacation to the Texas Frightmare Movie Convention, courtesy of the amazing Rue Morgue Magazine. Yes, really, we won the grand prize last year! I also won this book, Blood Men, through a Goodreads giveaway. We wanted to bring a book with us for downtime in the hotel room and on the plane trip over.
I made a mistake of bringing such a riveting book with me! Because, folks, it's one of those. The plot is tragic and like watching a train wreck, you don't want to put it down. You're on the edge of your seat wondering, hoping, watching, thinking of all the possibilities that might happen next. You just NEED to keep reading. The bank robbery at the beginning was horrifying and sad, and once you've forgiven the book for some tears, it really grows on you and flys off.
The middle was strongly written and riveting. I was anxious to see what would happen to the main character Edward and find out all the revelations about his father in prison. Cleave takes you step by step through different situations that are either heart-wrenching or heart-stopping. The suspense is brutal and this is why I struggled putting it down.
Characterization clearly worked amazingly well. All characters were very life-like and realistic, making it easy to care about what disasters than ran into, hoping they'd avoid the ultimate meltdown. I even cared about the "bad guys" because they fascinated me so much. Not sympathetic exactly, but you still ended up caring about the events surrounding them. The psychological twisting, growth, and angst was extreme.
I ended up loving this dark, intricate book. It pushes the boundaries of normalcy and sets the reader into a troubled seat, witnessing horrifying but realistic events unfolding. You fall into the minds of the character so well you feel his pain and angst as he struggles to stay above the water line. I'll definitely have to check out more of Cleave's work. I did end up giving four stars rather than five, surprising myself, because at the end the book started letting me down a bit with some of the actions and turnabouts that took place.
Brilliantly written with an addictive pace, amazing characterization and heart-wrenching scenarios, highly recommended for all readers. The darkness will speak to those who like horror, the suspense and thrills are high enough for any suspense fan, even mystery fans should like wondering what will happen next, and there's a high amount of drama infused within to satisfy drama buffs as the story is quite emotional.
I made a mistake of bringing such a riveting book with me! Because, folks, it's one of those. The plot is tragic and like watching a train wreck, you don't want to put it down. You're on the edge of your seat wondering, hoping, watching, thinking of all the possibilities that might happen next. You just NEED to keep reading. The bank robbery at the beginning was horrifying and sad, and once you've forgiven the book for some tears, it really grows on you and flys off.
The middle was strongly written and riveting. I was anxious to see what would happen to the main character Edward and find out all the revelations about his father in prison. Cleave takes you step by step through different situations that are either heart-wrenching or heart-stopping. The suspense is brutal and this is why I struggled putting it down.
Characterization clearly worked amazingly well. All characters were very life-like and realistic, making it easy to care about what disasters than ran into, hoping they'd avoid the ultimate meltdown. I even cared about the "bad guys" because they fascinated me so much. Not sympathetic exactly, but you still ended up caring about the events surrounding them. The psychological twisting, growth, and angst was extreme.
I ended up loving this dark, intricate book. It pushes the boundaries of normalcy and sets the reader into a troubled seat, witnessing horrifying but realistic events unfolding. You fall into the minds of the character so well you feel his pain and angst as he struggles to stay above the water line. I'll definitely have to check out more of Cleave's work. I did end up giving four stars rather than five, surprising myself, because at the end the book started letting me down a bit with some of the actions and turnabouts that took place.
Brilliantly written with an addictive pace, amazing characterization and heart-wrenching scenarios, highly recommended for all readers. The darkness will speak to those who like horror, the suspense and thrills are high enough for any suspense fan, even mystery fans should like wondering what will happen next, and there's a high amount of drama infused within to satisfy drama buffs as the story is quite emotional.
September 15, 2011
I’ve just finished reading the book ‘Blood Men’, by Paul Cleave. I must say that this book was something that I was quite excited about, as after reading his previous books, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his latest creation. Most people, when looking at this type of book, always expect the same ending. I’m not going to ruin the ending of this book for you, but Paul has somehow managed to trick the reader once again, by creating a storyline that’ll never be guessed.
It took me around three sittings to get this one done, and should really have taken less. The first two, I only ended up doing about 50 pages. On the third sitting, I was really only planning to do another 50 pages, give or take, as I had to be up early the next morning. Once I got started though, I just literally couldn’t put the book down, even to the final chapter, I was mesmerised. I know this may sound cliché, as every major book reviewer will put out a one-liner saying ‘I couldn’t put it down’, but in this case it’s true.
My congratulations go out to Paul, as unlike so many other books that I’ve read in the past few weeks (e.g. Breathless – by Dean Koontz), Paul managed to tie up all the loose ends, nothing was left hanging. Yes, I know that sometimes it is good to leave the reader to form their own opinions on what happened, but in Paul’s case, I’m so pleased he did, as it was far more creative and unexpected than what I could have ever dreamed up.
The only thing out of the entire book that I could pick a hole with was him using the phrase ‘Armed defenders squad’, many times in the book. I don’t have a problem with him using this phrase, it just would have been nice if he had of done a little further research into this. I know that most people call them the ‘armed defenders’, but this is not actually their name. They are known as the ‘Armed Offenders Squad’. I know that this is petty and not even worth mentioning, but it was just annoying every time I read those words throughout the book.
I would definitely read this book again and honestly can’t wait to see what Paul releases next. It’s good to see a New Zealand author with so much talent and skill!
It took me around three sittings to get this one done, and should really have taken less. The first two, I only ended up doing about 50 pages. On the third sitting, I was really only planning to do another 50 pages, give or take, as I had to be up early the next morning. Once I got started though, I just literally couldn’t put the book down, even to the final chapter, I was mesmerised. I know this may sound cliché, as every major book reviewer will put out a one-liner saying ‘I couldn’t put it down’, but in this case it’s true.
My congratulations go out to Paul, as unlike so many other books that I’ve read in the past few weeks (e.g. Breathless – by Dean Koontz), Paul managed to tie up all the loose ends, nothing was left hanging. Yes, I know that sometimes it is good to leave the reader to form their own opinions on what happened, but in Paul’s case, I’m so pleased he did, as it was far more creative and unexpected than what I could have ever dreamed up.
The only thing out of the entire book that I could pick a hole with was him using the phrase ‘Armed defenders squad’, many times in the book. I don’t have a problem with him using this phrase, it just would have been nice if he had of done a little further research into this. I know that most people call them the ‘armed defenders’, but this is not actually their name. They are known as the ‘Armed Offenders Squad’. I know that this is petty and not even worth mentioning, but it was just annoying every time I read those words throughout the book.
I would definitely read this book again and honestly can’t wait to see what Paul releases next. It’s good to see a New Zealand author with so much talent and skill!
March 18, 2013
Edward Hunter; a figurative train wreck. Just like the train before the wreck, it had a destination. A purpose. That dedication and purpose was his family and also keeping his dark past from haunting him, He was a devoted family man who deeply loved his wife and daughter. But murderous events of, first, his wife, whom Eddie (my name) loved deeply, was murdered in a bank robbery and then later, by the same people who robbed the bank, his lovely young daughter caused Eddie to derail his destination and completely jump off the tracks. Also, the dark past that entails his father being a serial killer now comes into place and helps the involvement of his derailment. His father, too, was a dedicated family man when Edward was a kid, but was caught for the multiple killings of prostitutes and thrown into jail for life. This book was a definite page turner for me and parts of me, while reading it, was thinking: Yeah, right. This shit would never happen. But, I had to remind myself that this, is of course, a fictional book and is strictly for entertainment purposes. Once I finally convinced myself of such, I thoroughly enjoyed this book till the last paragraph. That last paragraph made me say: Ah, shit, really?! Yup, it was one of those closing paragraphs. Look, the ending fit, but I didn't want it to end that way. Again, it worked, but shit, I wanted, like a crappy movie that is released on DVD, to have an alternate ending. Sadly, it didn't. Ah, hell, I still liked it and the ending didn't defer that whatsoever.
August 26, 2014
I live in Christchurch, New Zealand, where this story is set. Cleave is a good crime writer but I think for me, the portrayal of the city as dark, sinister and Gothic seemed a little strained, as I live here and it doesn't seem that bad! I 've been thinking a lot about the book as I am trying to figure out why I didn't love it outright, as with Paddy Richardson's crime books set in Christchurch.
I think that with Cleave's type of serial-rapist story if it had been set in New York or Los Angeles it would have been a lot more believable for me. maybe other readers who live there would be ok with reading of a far off city which seems steeped in darkness where horrid things happen. Our city is called "The Garden City" and its genteel calmness (others would call it boringness) just doesn't seem to match the story.
In this crime novel a serial rapist's son is caught up in a bad bank robbery where his wife is shot. He spirals out of control and in a matter of days has come to acknowledge that some of the violence he knows is in his father, is coming out in him. He makes contact with his father in hope that he'll know who was involved and then the body count starts to mount. It is mostly resolved but as i turned to the last page I was left with the feeling this was going to lead into a sequel. I hope it's a good one, as I will read it, in support of a local author. But I hope I like it a bit more than this one. It's not a bad read, it's well written, but not as satisfying as Richardson, whom I've read concurrently.
I think that with Cleave's type of serial-rapist story if it had been set in New York or Los Angeles it would have been a lot more believable for me. maybe other readers who live there would be ok with reading of a far off city which seems steeped in darkness where horrid things happen. Our city is called "The Garden City" and its genteel calmness (others would call it boringness) just doesn't seem to match the story.
In this crime novel a serial rapist's son is caught up in a bad bank robbery where his wife is shot. He spirals out of control and in a matter of days has come to acknowledge that some of the violence he knows is in his father, is coming out in him. He makes contact with his father in hope that he'll know who was involved and then the body count starts to mount. It is mostly resolved but as i turned to the last page I was left with the feeling this was going to lead into a sequel. I hope it's a good one, as I will read it, in support of a local author. But I hope I like it a bit more than this one. It's not a bad read, it's well written, but not as satisfying as Richardson, whom I've read concurrently.
April 9, 2013
Enjoyed this...partly because I enjoy grisly, bloody, thriller reads, and partly because it was set in Christchurch. What I didn't enjoy was the insertion of American terminology in a book written by a Christchurch, New Zealand author and set in Christchurch. There were too many references to sidewalks, trash and elevators for my liking! If we have to translate Americanisms into our own vernacular in 99% of the books we read, why can't they translate back the other way occasionally?
Also...since when does a North-West wind blow into Christchurch over the Port Hills?!
A lot of digs about the Christchurch crime rate, length of jail (not gaol!) terms and the crime and poverty 'virus' that is spreading over the city. Hmmm. And all this in a book published BEFORE the earthquakes.
But - a good story, for those of us who like that sort of thing...
Also...since when does a North-West wind blow into Christchurch over the Port Hills?!
A lot of digs about the Christchurch crime rate, length of jail (not gaol!) terms and the crime and poverty 'virus' that is spreading over the city. Hmmm. And all this in a book published BEFORE the earthquakes.
But - a good story, for those of us who like that sort of thing...
August 23, 2017
What's it About?
Edward Hunter has it all—a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future . . . and a very dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in New Zealand’s most hellish penitentiary. That man was Edward’s father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance in his world. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood?
What Did I Think?
I loved the book ...however it is diffidently not for everyone. Most people that enjoy true-crime type mysteries expect to sometimes find some really graphic and gruesome scenes when it comes to the murders. "Blood Men" had more than it's share and that alone will put a lot of people off.
It lost a half star with me because I lost patience with the police. They were working against a killer's very real time schedule but seemed to drag their feet at every turn. Otherwise the main character... Edward...was pitied...applauded...and encouraged by the reader through out this madhouse adventure as he almost single handed searched the town of Christchurch for his young wife's killer.
Read it with caution...but if you enjoy this type of mystery...by all means read it.
Edward Hunter has it all—a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future . . . and a very dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer was caught, convicted, and locked away in New Zealand’s most hellish penitentiary. That man was Edward’s father. Edward has struggled his entire life to put the nightmares of his childhood behind him. But a week before Christmas, violence once again makes an unwelcome appearance in his world. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood?
What Did I Think?
I loved the book ...however it is diffidently not for everyone. Most people that enjoy true-crime type mysteries expect to sometimes find some really graphic and gruesome scenes when it comes to the murders. "Blood Men" had more than it's share and that alone will put a lot of people off.
It lost a half star with me because I lost patience with the police. They were working against a killer's very real time schedule but seemed to drag their feet at every turn. Otherwise the main character... Edward...was pitied...applauded...and encouraged by the reader through out this madhouse adventure as he almost single handed searched the town of Christchurch for his young wife's killer.
Read it with caution...but if you enjoy this type of mystery...by all means read it.
January 14, 2026
8,5/10 Un altre thriller genial de Paul Cleave, com sempre fosc i polèmic. La novel·la submergeix el lector en un món de violència i venjança a través d’Edward Hunter, un home aparentment corrent la vida del qual se’n va en orris quan la seva dona és assassinada.
L’estil de Cleave és directe, brut i sense concessions, perfecte per reflectir la desesperació i el caos mental del protagonista. La prosa és àgil i molt cinematogràfica, amb diàlegs incisius i descripcions que transmeten la foscor moral de la història amb una intensitat que atrapa des de la primera pàgina. Una lectura impactant i addictiva, un thriller psicològic extrem.
No li poso cinc estrelles per la traducció, força millorable: hi ha moments en què sembla que a Nova Zelanda els taxistes responguin en “perfecto español”, un detall que trenca la immersió i et recorda massa que estàs escoltant una traducció.
L’estil de Cleave és directe, brut i sense concessions, perfecte per reflectir la desesperació i el caos mental del protagonista. La prosa és àgil i molt cinematogràfica, amb diàlegs incisius i descripcions que transmeten la foscor moral de la història amb una intensitat que atrapa des de la primera pàgina. Una lectura impactant i addictiva, un thriller psicològic extrem.
No li poso cinc estrelles per la traducció, força millorable: hi ha moments en què sembla que a Nova Zelanda els taxistes responguin en “perfecto español”, un detall que trenca la immersió i et recorda massa que estàs escoltant una traducció.
August 25, 2018
Pretty good, like the title says there is a lot of blood in this book and I mean A LOT!!! If you're sensitive you may want to stay away from this story. If you're brave enough go for it!
I really love the fact that Cleave's books take place in the same place, with the same characters: the main characters and stories from the cleaner and cemetary lake are mentionned here, like some easter eggs for serial killers amateurs. But you can totally read it as a stand alone
I really love the fact that Cleave's books take place in the same place, with the same characters: the main characters and stories from the cleaner and cemetary lake are mentionned here, like some easter eggs for serial killers amateurs. But you can totally read it as a stand alone
June 5, 2018
Paul Cleave is one of my top five favorite writers. His books never, ever disappoint. This book made me cry, literally. An incredibly fast action packed read but one that is also so incredibly heartbreaking. The last few chapters did me in.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
July 12, 2019
Yazardan ilk defa okuma yaptım. Sürükleyici idi. Bir insanın hayatı bir günde nasıl kararır, geçmişi nasıl yakasına yapışır okuyup gördük. Mutlu sonları pek sevmediğim için kitabı sevdim ancak sonu daha farklı bitsin isterdim. Yine de başka kitaplarını da okurum yazarım.
June 20, 2024
Ohhhh I loved this. I only have one complaint but it would be a spoiler. It was just unnecessary. It didn't take away from the book or anything, but it just felt like why was that there? Maybe shock value? Idk.
February 3, 2025
Не е новият Стивън Кинг, не се връзвайте.
April 10, 2018
I finally found a new author/series to read!
June 30, 2014
Before reading this book I had no clue who Paul Cleave was or that Blood Men was part of a series called Christchurch Noir Crime Series. There are eight books in the series and Blood Men is not the first book from the series. That didn't really impact my reading experience since I believe the series revolves more around Christchurch than any one character. Blood Men is able to be read as a stand alone novel if desired and you won't feel like you are missing anything. Having finished Blood Men if the other books in the series live up to the impression Blood Men left on me I will be thrilled to read them.
I thoroughly enjoyed Paul Cleaves writing style for it realistic, modern sounding dialogues and just plain brutal crime elements. I think anytime an author can make their characters sound like real people you'd encounter in life they're going to suck you that much deeper into the world of the novel. I really liked that he didn't use any of the lame cop talk you hear on day time television. There is some normal banter but when everyone involved smells the bull shit they go right to the straight talk like any real person would.
When the talking is done though and it's time for action Paul Cleave doesn't miss a beat and he doesn't pull a single punch. I am a fan of gore in movies and Paul Cleave basically gives the reader the written equivalent. Real crime and real death is ugly and Paul Cleave doesn't try to mask it, he doesn't use innuendo or simplification. He tells you not only how it looks but how it feels, smells and sounds. Horrible things happen to good and bad people and the author insures you can't block out the mental images. I don't know many writers who have made me literally say "OH SHIT!" out loud while wincing sympathetically. Kudos Paul Cleave.
There was so much about this book I liked that I really only have one very minor negative remark. In the beginning of the book the man dressed all funny with suction cups seemed way to ridiculous for the tone of the novel. I understand why he had to die for the story but the method doesn't fit everything else. There was so many more normal ways he could have been killed that would never easily lead back to any of the bad guys. I will say it again though in my opinion its just a minor flaw and almost everything else was great.
While I can't speak for the rest of the series I would at least highly recommend reading Blood Men by Paul Cleave. If you're into brutal revenge stories and can stomach a far from happy ending you will not be disappointed.
I thoroughly enjoyed Paul Cleaves writing style for it realistic, modern sounding dialogues and just plain brutal crime elements. I think anytime an author can make their characters sound like real people you'd encounter in life they're going to suck you that much deeper into the world of the novel. I really liked that he didn't use any of the lame cop talk you hear on day time television. There is some normal banter but when everyone involved smells the bull shit they go right to the straight talk like any real person would.
When the talking is done though and it's time for action Paul Cleave doesn't miss a beat and he doesn't pull a single punch. I am a fan of gore in movies and Paul Cleave basically gives the reader the written equivalent. Real crime and real death is ugly and Paul Cleave doesn't try to mask it, he doesn't use innuendo or simplification. He tells you not only how it looks but how it feels, smells and sounds. Horrible things happen to good and bad people and the author insures you can't block out the mental images. I don't know many writers who have made me literally say "OH SHIT!" out loud while wincing sympathetically. Kudos Paul Cleave.
There was so much about this book I liked that I really only have one very minor negative remark. In the beginning of the book the man dressed all funny with suction cups seemed way to ridiculous for the tone of the novel. I understand why he had to die for the story but the method doesn't fit everything else. There was so many more normal ways he could have been killed that would never easily lead back to any of the bad guys. I will say it again though in my opinion its just a minor flaw and almost everything else was great.
While I can't speak for the rest of the series I would at least highly recommend reading Blood Men by Paul Cleave. If you're into brutal revenge stories and can stomach a far from happy ending you will not be disappointed.
September 11, 2011
Paul Cleave doesn’t write boring stories, that’s for sure. His taut tales told through the eyes of deeply troubled ‘heroes’ have broken the mould when it comes to New Zealand crime and thriller writing, becoming international bestsellers.
In Blood Men, Edward Hunter is a happily-married family man with a great life but a very dark past; he’s the son of a notorious serial killer who’s been in prison for 20 years, and will never be coming out. The son of a man of blood. When tragedy strikes, Edward suddenly needs the help of the man he’s spent his entire life distancing himself from. And as things spiral out of control, Edward fears he’s destined to become a man of blood too.
Cleave’s prose crackles with freshness and energy. Sporadic moments of brutal violence may be too much for some who prefer mysteries of the Christie-esque ‘cosy’ style, but those who can handle grittier crime will uncover a top-notch tale. Cleave masterfully mixes compelling characters, sly humour, a taut plotline with enough tension and twists to keep the pages whirring, and a well-evoked, if somewhat malevolent, version of Christchurch.
With Blood Men, Cleave shows he not only stacks up with, but in fact betters, many of the big-name international bestsellers that Kiwi readers buy in droves. It’s time New Zealanders better recognised the star in our own midst.
In Blood Men, Edward Hunter is a happily-married family man with a great life but a very dark past; he’s the son of a notorious serial killer who’s been in prison for 20 years, and will never be coming out. The son of a man of blood. When tragedy strikes, Edward suddenly needs the help of the man he’s spent his entire life distancing himself from. And as things spiral out of control, Edward fears he’s destined to become a man of blood too.
Cleave’s prose crackles with freshness and energy. Sporadic moments of brutal violence may be too much for some who prefer mysteries of the Christie-esque ‘cosy’ style, but those who can handle grittier crime will uncover a top-notch tale. Cleave masterfully mixes compelling characters, sly humour, a taut plotline with enough tension and twists to keep the pages whirring, and a well-evoked, if somewhat malevolent, version of Christchurch.
With Blood Men, Cleave shows he not only stacks up with, but in fact betters, many of the big-name international bestsellers that Kiwi readers buy in droves. It’s time New Zealanders better recognised the star in our own midst.
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