What do you think?
Rate this book
Der Matroschka-Mörder
Ein cleverer Kurzthriller des preisgekrönten internationalen Bestsellerautors Jeffery Deaver. Angst und Schrecken in einem idyllischen Ein Serienkiller geht um. Am blutigen Tatort hinterlässt er stets Hammer, Blumendraht, ein Küchenmesser – und eine russische Matroschka-Puppe. Detective Ernest Neville und seine SoKo stehen vor einem Rätsel, mit viel zu wenigen Hinweisen und Nevilles Karriere auf dem Spiel. Schließlich greift der Detective zu einer riskanten List. Doch während die Einwohner weiter tyrannisiert werden, muss Neville sich fragen, ob er zu hoch gepokert hat. Enden seine Ermittlungen in einer Katastrophe – für ihn selbst, seine Familie und die Menschen, die er geschworen hat zu beschützen?
86 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2021
2366 people are currently reading
868 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
526 books11.8k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews
January 17, 2021
This is a short, if action packed, crime story from popular thriller author, Jeffery Deaver, set in the Midwestern suburb of Handleman County. This is a great tale, where beware nothing is as it appears, with some great characters, and darkly twisty, although you will have to suspend your sense of disbelief. A nasty serial killer referred to as the Russian Doll Killer (RDK) as he leaves a Russian Doll at the scene of the crime, is running rings around law enforcement. At the County Sheriff's Office, led by Jimbo Rawlins, senior Detective Ernest Neville is getting desperate and is willing to consider any offbeat ideas to nail the killer. This is a entertaining and engaging short story that showcases Deaver's talents, a highlight of which is a particularly obnoxious, rude and unpleasant character, and how a charity donation comes to be made and appreciated by the Sheriff's Office. Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories for an ARC.
October 23, 2023
Kurzkrimis zu schreiben, ist auch eine Kunst. Zu Beginn war es okay, aber nichts Besonderes. Doch zum Ende hin konnte mich Jeffery Deaver wieder einmal überraschen. Es gab ein paar Wendungen in der Geschichte, die ich so nicht habe kommen sehen. Ein kurzer, aber sehr unterhaltsamer Kriminalroman!
August 31, 2021
A major snooze-fest especially for a short story.
(Prime Reading)
(Prime Reading)
August 20, 2022
This short story seems so absurd that you just have to love it! The protagonist is hilariously rude and obnoxious, although I'm not sure I would agree with the premise of the title. I really enjoyed this action-packed story and would recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, thrillers or just a good laugh.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
July 16, 2021
4.5★
“The month was November and at this latitude in this midwestern clime the evening was chill, so the cap was not suspicious, nor the gloves, though they were thin cloth; leather would have been warmer, but would interfere with his dexterity.”
This is a short story, so Deaver takes us straight into it. Michael Stendhal is in the back of an old-fashioned taxi rather than use his own car or even an Uber. Not “for something like this”, we’re told. “He was presently unemployed but that didn’t mean he didn’t work.”
He’s a pretty unpleasant guy who revels in insulting everyone – taxi drivers, mums with kids, a homeless man, and a guy who stops to interview him near a crime scene. That’s an interesting exchange!
There has been a serial killer in the area, the police seem to be stumped, and the mayor is nervous because she’s up for re-election and ‘her’ police had better catch this guy quickly. He’s known as RDK, the Russian Doll Killer, because he leaves a Russian nesting doll at each crime scene.
“. . . the delicate and colorful Russian nesting doll, whose face was not unlike Michael’s at the moment: placid and content and more than a little mysterious.”
A fancy police psychologist flies in, has a look, flies back, writes a report and says the dolls mean the guy had an unhappy childhood.
I never read any of French author Stendhal’s works (pen name), but Michael’s name intrigued me, so of course I had to look it up. Here’s what the Goodreads bio says:
“Known for his acute analysis of his characters' psychology,. . . ”
Interesting, because we find ourselves immersed in Michael’s thought patterns, and I suspect the name was chosen with care. He goes on creepy dates and tries to play nice and polite at first. But it’s not long before . . .
I’ll leave you to find the story and see how the investigation pans out, which is not how you'd think.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Originals for the preview copy. I haven’t read Jeffery Deaver before, but I may have to correct that.
“The month was November and at this latitude in this midwestern clime the evening was chill, so the cap was not suspicious, nor the gloves, though they were thin cloth; leather would have been warmer, but would interfere with his dexterity.”
This is a short story, so Deaver takes us straight into it. Michael Stendhal is in the back of an old-fashioned taxi rather than use his own car or even an Uber. Not “for something like this”, we’re told. “He was presently unemployed but that didn’t mean he didn’t work.”
He’s a pretty unpleasant guy who revels in insulting everyone – taxi drivers, mums with kids, a homeless man, and a guy who stops to interview him near a crime scene. That’s an interesting exchange!
There has been a serial killer in the area, the police seem to be stumped, and the mayor is nervous because she’s up for re-election and ‘her’ police had better catch this guy quickly. He’s known as RDK, the Russian Doll Killer, because he leaves a Russian nesting doll at each crime scene.
“. . . the delicate and colorful Russian nesting doll, whose face was not unlike Michael’s at the moment: placid and content and more than a little mysterious.”
A fancy police psychologist flies in, has a look, flies back, writes a report and says the dolls mean the guy had an unhappy childhood.
I never read any of French author Stendhal’s works (pen name), but Michael’s name intrigued me, so of course I had to look it up. Here’s what the Goodreads bio says:
“Known for his acute analysis of his characters' psychology,. . . ”
Interesting, because we find ourselves immersed in Michael’s thought patterns, and I suspect the name was chosen with care. He goes on creepy dates and tries to play nice and polite at first. But it’s not long before . . .
I’ll leave you to find the story and see how the investigation pans out, which is not how you'd think.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Originals for the preview copy. I haven’t read Jeffery Deaver before, but I may have to correct that.
November 9, 2023
This is a brilliant short story with an unexpected outcome. Jeffery Deaver proved again that he is a very gifted writer.
December 19, 2022
4.5 Stars. Popular mystery author Jeffery Deaver has written a well-crafted 79-page novella. It is a twisty crime story packed with humour and a twisty police procedural aimed at apprehending a diabolical serial killer who leaves Russian nesting dolls at the scenes of his crimes. A learned criminal profile expert concludes his theory with psychobabble, declaring that the perpetrator leaves the dolls as a symbol of his warped psychological development. A member of the police team may be targeted, and their task force must come up with a unique, clever plot to capture the criminal. The story features a rude, obnoxious character who takes pleasure in insulting everyone he meets. The story concludes with a surprise charitable gift. Deaver packs a lot of plot and characterization into this twisty, enjoyable novella. Available from Kindle Unlimited.
January 20, 2021
He’s called The Russian Doll Killer: a serial killer who stalks single women, murders them in their homes, and leaves behind his calling card, a Russian nesting doll. The vics are stacking up and Detective Ernest Neville’s under pressure to catch RDK before he strikes again - and that’s when he hatches an ingenious plan. But when a Russian nesting doll shows up on his doorstep, will he be the cat or the mouse?
I’ve never read any Jeffery Deaver before but I’m definitely going to pick up more after this - Turning Point is an excellent crime short story! Looking back at it, the story itself isn’t that original an idea but the brilliance is in the execution of how Deaver tells it so that you never really have a strong grip on where the story’s going or how it’ll play out.
The bulk of the story is pretty good - we see Michael, this obnoxious man, go through his days, putting everyone he comes across down and behaving like a shitweasel, interspersed with scenes of Neville trying to figure out who the killer is - then we get the finale which was totally unpredictable; a reveal worthy of Agatha Christie!
Deaver spends maybe too long on Michael being a dickhead. I wouldn’t expect there to be much fat on a short story so I’m not sure what the point of the date night scene was given that all it did was underline what we already knew about Michael’s personality. That unnecessary padding is the only part of the story that I could’ve done without.
The rest of it though is really great. A tense, exciting, gripping, and cleverly constructed crime story from a writer who’s clearly a master. Turning Point is a highly entertaining, twisty read.
I’ve never read any Jeffery Deaver before but I’m definitely going to pick up more after this - Turning Point is an excellent crime short story! Looking back at it, the story itself isn’t that original an idea but the brilliance is in the execution of how Deaver tells it so that you never really have a strong grip on where the story’s going or how it’ll play out.
The bulk of the story is pretty good - we see Michael, this obnoxious man, go through his days, putting everyone he comes across down and behaving like a shitweasel, interspersed with scenes of Neville trying to figure out who the killer is - then we get the finale which was totally unpredictable; a reveal worthy of Agatha Christie!
Deaver spends maybe too long on Michael being a dickhead. I wouldn’t expect there to be much fat on a short story so I’m not sure what the point of the date night scene was given that all it did was underline what we already knew about Michael’s personality. That unnecessary padding is the only part of the story that I could’ve done without.
The rest of it though is really great. A tense, exciting, gripping, and cleverly constructed crime story from a writer who’s clearly a master. Turning Point is a highly entertaining, twisty read.
January 24, 2021
Michael Standhal is a serial killer. His is also one of the best characters Jeffery Deaver has ever created. The way Michael talks to a taxi driver, a homeless person, or indeed anyone is brilliantly written by Deaver. We know Michael's identity from the opening of the story, so this isn't your usual whodunit mystery. However, this is a Jeffery Deaver story, & even in one as short as this he still manages to fit in some twists that I didn't see coming.
January 19, 2021
Turning Point is a scintillating and rapid-fire 66-page serial killer thriller written especially for Amazon by Deaver. It's a short and punchy novella but one that leaves a lasting impression; after all, Deaver is a master of suspense, mystery and twisty-turns plot lines. At around 9pm on Wednesday November 11, in the Midwestern suburbs of Handleman County, a woman renting the house at 12358 Juniper Drive had become the fourth victim of the Russian Doll Killer (RDK), aka Michael Stendhal, named after the calling card he leaves at each scene of brutality - a set of Russian Matryoshka dolls (aka nesting dolls). This time it had only been two weeks between the slayings which indicates the killer is escalating and becoming bolder. In the Detective Division at the County Sheriff's Office, Detective Ernest Neville is becoming increasingly frustrated with the murderers propensity to have them run ragged and ending up being no further to catching him than when they started. Can they apprehend him before another person dies?
This book proves that even if you have little time to read but are a fan of crime thrillers or police procedurals that you can get the same thrills and chills from a short story such as this than a lengthier story. It was entertaining, exciting and full of dangerous moments where you're cheering the Detectives on in the hope they'll catch this vicious psychopath before he can strike again. Full of action, drama, twists, suspense, true to life dialogue and even the characterisation, which often suffers in a shorter book, is pretty great. I also have to mention that the wittiness and banter in some of the characters' conversations really added to the riveting nature of the fast-paced and expertly plotted story. Engaging, enthralling and fun, but be warned: nothing is quite as it seems. Highly recommended to all thriller fans, those who fancy a short, sharp thrill ride and Deaver crime connoisseurs.
This book proves that even if you have little time to read but are a fan of crime thrillers or police procedurals that you can get the same thrills and chills from a short story such as this than a lengthier story. It was entertaining, exciting and full of dangerous moments where you're cheering the Detectives on in the hope they'll catch this vicious psychopath before he can strike again. Full of action, drama, twists, suspense, true to life dialogue and even the characterisation, which often suffers in a shorter book, is pretty great. I also have to mention that the wittiness and banter in some of the characters' conversations really added to the riveting nature of the fast-paced and expertly plotted story. Engaging, enthralling and fun, but be warned: nothing is quite as it seems. Highly recommended to all thriller fans, those who fancy a short, sharp thrill ride and Deaver crime connoisseurs.
June 6, 2022
I rarely read short stories and when I do, it’s rare that I like them. This was a really good police procedural/thriller. It had a couple chuckles, some good drama and a good twist. I highly recommend if you want a quick read by a good author.
April 1, 2024
“Turning Point” is another short story by author Jeffery Deaver. Detective Ernest Neville and his task force face a race against time to stop a serial killer who is terrorising a midwestern suburb. His crimes are gruesome and at every murder scene he leaves behind a chilling calling card, a Russian nesting doll.
I find Jeffery Deaver one of the masters of the short story and manages to put so much detail into so few pages. However I felt this one was a little below his usual high standard and although I did enjoy it was never fully absorbed in it. Neville and his team relentlessly follow the leads to try and uncover the killer before he adds to his ever increasing count.
A decent read and although it is a short story there is still plenty of content to get your teeth into.
I find Jeffery Deaver one of the masters of the short story and manages to put so much detail into so few pages. However I felt this one was a little below his usual high standard and although I did enjoy it was never fully absorbed in it. Neville and his team relentlessly follow the leads to try and uncover the killer before he adds to his ever increasing count.
A decent read and although it is a short story there is still plenty of content to get your teeth into.
February 3, 2021
The book took a turnn
A serial killer book with a twist and some humor at the end. What more can you want? Loved this story. Thank you Jeffrey Deaver for this free kindle book through Amazon.
A serial killer book with a twist and some humor at the end. What more can you want? Loved this story. Thank you Jeffrey Deaver for this free kindle book through Amazon.
January 19, 2021
Turning Point is a short story by award-winning American author, Jeffery Deaver. At the press briefing outside the home of the latest victim, Detective Ernest Neville wonders if the killer will be in the crowd. He is.
The Russian Doll Killer, as he has been dubbed because he leaves matryoshka dolls behind at each scene, is the cause of a major headache that has the Handleman County Sheriff on his back and the Mayor demanding results. The Washington profiler’s report is no help. Perhaps an unconventional approach is needed…
Dressed in running gear, his car parked far enough away, Michael Stendahl watches the cop fielding questions, and he is confident nothing will give him away: this fourth victim won’t be pinned on him.
With this short fiction, Deaver again proves he’s a master at crime: this is a cleverly-plotted tale that starts off chilling, has twists and red herrings, and turns out to be very entertaining, especially the insults. A quick dose of Deaver excellence.
The Russian Doll Killer, as he has been dubbed because he leaves matryoshka dolls behind at each scene, is the cause of a major headache that has the Handleman County Sheriff on his back and the Mayor demanding results. The Washington profiler’s report is no help. Perhaps an unconventional approach is needed…
Dressed in running gear, his car parked far enough away, Michael Stendahl watches the cop fielding questions, and he is confident nothing will give him away: this fourth victim won’t be pinned on him.
With this short fiction, Deaver again proves he’s a master at crime: this is a cleverly-plotted tale that starts off chilling, has twists and red herrings, and turns out to be very entertaining, especially the insults. A quick dose of Deaver excellence.
January 19, 2021
A serial killer is loose .. and creating havoc wherever he goes. He stalks an unwitting victim, follows her home, taking with him a backpack holding hammer, screwdrivers, knives .. and a set of Russian Nesting Dolls. He's earned the name of RDK - Russian Doll Killer.
Detective Ernest Neville goes from crime scene to crime scene, searching for whatever clues he can find ... which rarely exists.
With his career in danger, citizens in danger, and in one instance his own family in danger .. all he can do is pray that they catch the killer sooner rather than later. But is waiting the answer?
This is a short story by a well-known author. The intricate plot is filled with intriguing characters. Be warned .. there are enough twists and turns to rival the world's faster roller coaster.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Original Stories / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 25, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A fun, interesting short story that captures your attention and has an unpredictable plot twist (in my eyes at least).
A fun, interesting short story that captures your attention and has an unpredictable plot twist (in my eyes at least).
April 27, 2023
Absolutely dreadful. Bored my socks off.
I was excited by the promise of a super serial chiller short story. What I got was anything but. The plot is boring and weak. The characters are flat and almost blend into each other. There is no pace, no thrilling twists and a bland, disappointing ending. I was very surprised at all of this from such a well known author.
When you want to stop reading a short tale halfway through you know it's not up to par. With so few pages this should of built up and up in tension, twists and terrible murders. Nope. Flat as a pancake. This is a very weak delivery that could of and should have had me riveted . To give a very rare one star in my book reviews means that read was poor on every level. Extremely disappointed with this forgettable story.
Thanks for reading my review! Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book!
You will always get very honest reviews from me. Remember..a book a day keeps brain fog away. 😻
I was excited by the promise of a super serial chiller short story. What I got was anything but. The plot is boring and weak. The characters are flat and almost blend into each other. There is no pace, no thrilling twists and a bland, disappointing ending. I was very surprised at all of this from such a well known author.
When you want to stop reading a short tale halfway through you know it's not up to par. With so few pages this should of built up and up in tension, twists and terrible murders. Nope. Flat as a pancake. This is a very weak delivery that could of and should have had me riveted . To give a very rare one star in my book reviews means that read was poor on every level. Extremely disappointed with this forgettable story.
Thanks for reading my review! Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book!
You will always get very honest reviews from me. Remember..a book a day keeps brain fog away. 😻
November 14, 2023
Funny short story with a twist.
July 1, 2022
This short story packed quite a punch! Turning Point is an exciting, suspenseful book written in a James Patterson-esque type fashion (the earlier years). I mean this in a good way. Short chapters, fast pace and hard to put down. Well done, Jeffery Deaver!
August 27, 2023
What a surprisingly sweet and short story, sometimes even funny, and can we see more of that Michael character, Mr Jeffery?
August 8, 2025
We have come to expect that in his short novellas, Jeffrey Deaver will lead the reader through several twists and turns. I thought TURNING POINT was terrific because for once, I was completely misdirected, expecting it to turn left when it turned right. Anything more said would involve adding a spoiler, and this is one story I definitely don't want to spoil.
All I can say is that TURNING POINT involves an attempt to capture a nasty serial killer known as the Russian Doll Killer. I highly recommend it, and hope you will be as dazzled as I was.
All I can say is that TURNING POINT involves an attempt to capture a nasty serial killer known as the Russian Doll Killer. I highly recommend it, and hope you will be as dazzled as I was.
January 16, 2021
You know with certain authors you are seldom going to be disappointed. More so when reading short stories and novellas. There is something quite satisfying to pick up a book and finish it in a couple of hours while knowing you will have been entertained, stimulated and had conventional storytelling ideas challenged.
So as a general note - always pick up a Jeffrey Deaver novel or short story as he writes from a strong base of success and isn’t restricted in just producing formulaic stories.
Turning Point is at least four stories in one. In that it covers a number of interesting concepts.
The mind of a serial killer, the vulnerability of a police officer and their family, the fact that once within the criminal system can you change a person and can people be so rude that in conversations they just shoot from the hip and say it as it is?
Full of tension and twists. You feel never in control of the plot in terms of what is happening or is it appropriate to warm to certain characters. But you feel safe as Deaver will never use cheap tricks or leave you feeling let down.
Consequently the story is fresh and original in its development and resolution. Full of observational humour, he has a great ear for dialogue and character interaction.
I found it a joy from beginning to end, cringingly funny at times and wonderfully brought to a satisfactory conclusion which integrates all these concepts mentioned and makes for a clever story.
So as a general note - always pick up a Jeffrey Deaver novel or short story as he writes from a strong base of success and isn’t restricted in just producing formulaic stories.
Turning Point is at least four stories in one. In that it covers a number of interesting concepts.
The mind of a serial killer, the vulnerability of a police officer and their family, the fact that once within the criminal system can you change a person and can people be so rude that in conversations they just shoot from the hip and say it as it is?
Full of tension and twists. You feel never in control of the plot in terms of what is happening or is it appropriate to warm to certain characters. But you feel safe as Deaver will never use cheap tricks or leave you feeling let down.
Consequently the story is fresh and original in its development and resolution. Full of observational humour, he has a great ear for dialogue and character interaction.
I found it a joy from beginning to end, cringingly funny at times and wonderfully brought to a satisfactory conclusion which integrates all these concepts mentioned and makes for a clever story.
March 12, 2021
Fans of Jeffrey Deaver will not be disappointed by this short story. Detective Ernest Neville works in a small Midwestern town that is beset by a serial killer who leaves a Russian nesting doll at the scene of his crimes. Profilers and the police are baffled by his methods. When the crimes begin to get personal for Neville,he resorts to unorthodox methods to unravel the conundrum.
I am always amazed by Deaver’s mastery of the short story genre. He manages to pack a wealth of characterization , description and humor into his narrative with an economy of words. The element of suspense and surprise are always present until the final sentence.This story is just as satisfying a read as his longer works.
I am always amazed by Deaver’s mastery of the short story genre. He manages to pack a wealth of characterization , description and humor into his narrative with an economy of words. The element of suspense and surprise are always present until the final sentence.This story is just as satisfying a read as his longer works.
September 22, 2025
This was a quick audiobook listen. It kept me intrigued in the beginning but as it went on a quickly lost interest. I was a bit bored.
March 5, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Short, sharp read. What it lacks in length and detail, it makes up for in originality.
Short, sharp read. What it lacks in length and detail, it makes up for in originality.
March 13, 2021
Not a bad read. It just reads a bit humorish at times which is a bit surreal since Deaver usually writes such dark books. I liked his other short story he did a while ago as part of Amazon's Originals, so may try to read one of his Lincoln books again in the future. They just got a bit over the top I had to stop. But honestly the humor and weirdness of one of the characters was why I gave it 4 stars. I don't know if going through life as a jerk is supposed to teach me the meaning of life, but I would beg to differ abou thtat.
"Turning Point" follows two men. One a serial killer and the other a detective doing his best to stop him.
Don't want to give too much away since I didn't see the ending coming, but will say that the set-up was really good and I liked the twists that the book had. The flow didn't work very well though. The transition between the killer and detective felt a bit clumsy the first few times.
"Turning Point" follows two men. One a serial killer and the other a detective doing his best to stop him.
Don't want to give too much away since I didn't see the ending coming, but will say that the set-up was really good and I liked the twists that the book had. The flow didn't work very well though. The transition between the killer and detective felt a bit clumsy the first few times.
Read
January 19, 2021While I don't generally go for novellas or short stories, I was intrigued by the idea of this one, as it's written by one of my all-time favourite crime and thriller authors - and it didn't disappoint! Turning Point is a clever novella that features a perfect mix of intrigue and the classic Deaver bait-and-switch, all with a discomfort-inducing, morally questionable main character (always a bonus, in my book). It's super easy to read in one go, making it perfect reading material for your commute to work and back, or for those precious few minutes before turning out the bedside lamp for the evening.
December 8, 2025
Jeffrey Deaver has always interested me, as I find his writing quite addictive and devoured this short piece to tide me over before my next large read. A serial killer is on the loose with an odd collection of tools, including small Russian nesting dolls, which he leaves at the scene. Detective Ernest Neville has a Russian Doll Killer taskforce, trying to get out ahead of this killer, but nothing is adding up. He takes a risk in order to reorder the pieces of the case, a last-ditch effort to make sense of it all. A casually awkward man, Michael is trolling his way around the city, acting strangely and hoping that no one will take notice of him. With the Russian Doll Killer still on the loose, something has to give and it just might be at the least expected time. Jeffery Deaver delivers an odd and brain-bending thriller here for all to enjoy!
I have come to see Jeffery Deaver as a stellar storyteller. This narrative proved great to keep the reader in the middle of the action from the opening pages, while never entirely sure what was taking place. The story gains some momentum and the reader must race to conclusions before the final page, as they seek clarity with a piece that is completely out of order. Deaver does this on purpose and the attentive reader will discover why in the middle of it all. As things climax, truths emerge and put the story in its place, leaving the reader highly baffled and yet impressed.
Characters work well from the outset and pave the way for a great piece. There are a few memorable ones who grace the pages of this short piece and Deaver knows how to craft them well. Detective Neville is useful enough, but does not prove mentally lasting. Michael does well in the protagonist's seat, though he is never sitting still for long enough to create a strong impression, other than being odd. The reader can make their own conclusions about everyone within the pages of the story, though I am not sure anyone will have a clear idea who they like best.
Plot points work to surprise the reader from the start and Jeffrey Deaver is able to do so with ease in this quasi-mystery that pushes the limits of the reader. There is much going on, with surprises, twists, and even a few revelations that come to the surface by the last pages, a Deaver tactic for sure. I am committed to a longer series by Jeffrey Deaver soon and hope to be impressed once more.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for a great read that left me wondering about so many things.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I have come to see Jeffery Deaver as a stellar storyteller. This narrative proved great to keep the reader in the middle of the action from the opening pages, while never entirely sure what was taking place. The story gains some momentum and the reader must race to conclusions before the final page, as they seek clarity with a piece that is completely out of order. Deaver does this on purpose and the attentive reader will discover why in the middle of it all. As things climax, truths emerge and put the story in its place, leaving the reader highly baffled and yet impressed.
Characters work well from the outset and pave the way for a great piece. There are a few memorable ones who grace the pages of this short piece and Deaver knows how to craft them well. Detective Neville is useful enough, but does not prove mentally lasting. Michael does well in the protagonist's seat, though he is never sitting still for long enough to create a strong impression, other than being odd. The reader can make their own conclusions about everyone within the pages of the story, though I am not sure anyone will have a clear idea who they like best.
Plot points work to surprise the reader from the start and Jeffrey Deaver is able to do so with ease in this quasi-mystery that pushes the limits of the reader. There is much going on, with surprises, twists, and even a few revelations that come to the surface by the last pages, a Deaver tactic for sure. I am committed to a longer series by Jeffrey Deaver soon and hope to be impressed once more.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for a great read that left me wondering about so many things.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
August 10, 2024
Michael may be the most obnoxious person to ever grace the planet. He may also be a serial killer. Ernest Neville is the detective in charge of the Russian Doll serial killer case. Unfortunately, this killer is smart and leaves no evidence and the team is stumped. And now the killer is escalating. In desperation, Neville comes up with a plan that, if it succeeds, will save lives but if it fails, will likely cost him his job. But what choice does he have?
Turning Point is a serial killer thriller short story by Jeffrey Deaver. It’s more character-driven than mystery or action but that’s okay because the characters are interesting. This is a very engrossing read, the kind that’s hard to put down. Definitely a high recommendation for anyone looking for a fast entertaining thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley & Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Turning Point is a serial killer thriller short story by Jeffrey Deaver. It’s more character-driven than mystery or action but that’s okay because the characters are interesting. This is a very engrossing read, the kind that’s hard to put down. Definitely a high recommendation for anyone looking for a fast entertaining thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley & Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
January 17, 2021
I was confused for much of this short story / novella. We're in the head of Michael, who seems like the most inept murderer I've come across - drawing attention to himself at every turn... which (as a seasoned reader of crime fiction and thrillers) I KNOW serial killers who've evaded police shouldn't do.
And, let's face it, he's a prick. (I wrote exactly that in my notes!) He's thoroughly unlikeable, to the extent it seems impossible to believe he could actually leave his apartment without picking a fight with someone. He's spectacularly judgemental, for example.
We go back and forth in time because our other narrator is a detective who we learn has had his family threatened by the killer, so starting to take risks he might otherwise avoid.
This is an Amazon Original story and I note the company has published several by well-known authors (Emma Donoghue, Caroline Kepnes, Roxanne Gay etc). I wouldn't say this is Deaver's best work but there's a little twist that makes it more interesting than it otherwise might have been.
And, let's face it, he's a prick. (I wrote exactly that in my notes!) He's thoroughly unlikeable, to the extent it seems impossible to believe he could actually leave his apartment without picking a fight with someone. He's spectacularly judgemental, for example.
We go back and forth in time because our other narrator is a detective who we learn has had his family threatened by the killer, so starting to take risks he might otherwise avoid.
This is an Amazon Original story and I note the company has published several by well-known authors (Emma Donoghue, Caroline Kepnes, Roxanne Gay etc). I wouldn't say this is Deaver's best work but there's a little twist that makes it more interesting than it otherwise might have been.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews