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Smoky Barrett #4
Abandoned
For FBI Special Agent Smoky Barrett, her colleague’s wedding is cause for celebration. Until a woman staggers down the aisle—incoherent, wearing only a white nightgown. A fingerprint check determines that she’s been missing for nearly eight years. Her coldly efficient captor toyed with her mind and body, imprisoning her, depriving her of any contact with the outside world. As Smoky fits together the pieces of what remains of the victim’s fractured life, a chilling picture emerges of a cerebral psychopath who doesn’t take murder personally, never makes a mistake, follows his own sinister logic, and has set the perfect trap.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2009
319 people are currently reading
3999 people want to read
About the author
Cody McFadyen
36 books1,155 followersCody McFadyen was an international bestselling author of six thrillers. Five of those thrillers are centered around FBI special agent Smoky Barrett, who hunts serial killers. In 2011 his stand alone thriller Der Menschenmacher was published in Germany with no English translation. Before releasing book five in the Smoky Barrett series in 2016, McFadyen took four years off to care for his ailing parents. According to his German publisher he was the father of a daughter and lived in Southern California. Cody McFadyen passed away in May 2023.
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April 6, 2017
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” – Gautama Buddha
When FBI Special Agent Smoky Barrett attends a colleague’s wedding, the last thing she expects to happen when the newlyweds kiss is an interruption from an uninvited guest – courtesy of a psychopath. Abandoned, Cody McFadyen’s fourth book of his dark thriller series, begins with an idyllic vacation scene in Hawaii. The setting quickly shifts back to LA when Smoky and her cohorts gather for the wedding, and a shell-shocked, nearly naked woman is dumped for them to deal with, along with a message that basically says, “Look what I did!” The woman had been deprived of light and freedom for eight long years. Now she appears to be a shell of a human being, timid, unable to speak, traumatized.
As the Barrett’s team digs into the woman’s disappearance – who she was, her marriage and relationships, her job – a frightening picture begins to take shape. This kidnapper is controlled, precise, disciplined, and impersonal. Does he have a soul? As I read the chapters that dealt with “Father” and “Son”, another phrase came to mind: “Nature, or nurture?”
In this book, even more than in the previous three, I think, Smoky wrestles with her inner self over her belief system. She struggles with anger, hatred, and her desire for revenge, even her urge to kill anyone who would harm her loved ones. Yet she knows the depths of love as well. She is also gifted with the ability to ferret out the motives of others. At one point, while acknowledging that Kirby has done some bad things, she tells her, “but you’re not evil.” Can she say the same of the perpetrator of these disturbing acts?
So many deeds in this book are evil. They are vile, greedy, narcissistic, and cruel. That is the darkness. But this is a tale of a child whose father taught about darkness. That child grows up to be a psychopath. The fathers of the others show their children how to overcome the eclipse and find the light. There are very intense scenes of violence. Heart-pounding scenes of impending danger. Terribly heart-breaking endings for some characters. And there is a shocking twist that caught me totally off guard.
But it doesn’t end there. Thank goodness. Smoky and Alan and Tommy have all stepped into the dark places in their hearts, but they are not psychopaths. They come out as richer, more fully human beings in the end, I feel. Scars and all.
The plot drags in places, especially in the early stages of the investigation and when the team sets up the online chat room surveillance. But there is some real meat too – and I’m not just talking about our criminal’s sick perspective. Over, under, around, and through the fear, the pain, and the unknown that this person causes so many people on a primal level there also develops among Smoky Barrett’s team and her family, individually and collectively, a stronger bond than when this whole traumatic trail started.
Smoky herself is tested once again, not just physically, but in a profoundly emotional, moral and spiritual way. I love her sense of duty – to her job, to her daughter, to Tommy, to humanity, and to her very self. Her self-awareness and self-love is growing by leaps and bounds, and she’s not only a fine agent; she’s a remarkable human being.
When FBI Special Agent Smoky Barrett attends a colleague’s wedding, the last thing she expects to happen when the newlyweds kiss is an interruption from an uninvited guest – courtesy of a psychopath. Abandoned, Cody McFadyen’s fourth book of his dark thriller series, begins with an idyllic vacation scene in Hawaii. The setting quickly shifts back to LA when Smoky and her cohorts gather for the wedding, and a shell-shocked, nearly naked woman is dumped for them to deal with, along with a message that basically says, “Look what I did!” The woman had been deprived of light and freedom for eight long years. Now she appears to be a shell of a human being, timid, unable to speak, traumatized.
As the Barrett’s team digs into the woman’s disappearance – who she was, her marriage and relationships, her job – a frightening picture begins to take shape. This kidnapper is controlled, precise, disciplined, and impersonal. Does he have a soul? As I read the chapters that dealt with “Father” and “Son”, another phrase came to mind: “Nature, or nurture?”
In this book, even more than in the previous three, I think, Smoky wrestles with her inner self over her belief system. She struggles with anger, hatred, and her desire for revenge, even her urge to kill anyone who would harm her loved ones. Yet she knows the depths of love as well. She is also gifted with the ability to ferret out the motives of others. At one point, while acknowledging that Kirby has done some bad things, she tells her, “but you’re not evil.” Can she say the same of the perpetrator of these disturbing acts?
So many deeds in this book are evil. They are vile, greedy, narcissistic, and cruel. That is the darkness. But this is a tale of a child whose father taught about darkness. That child grows up to be a psychopath. The fathers of the others show their children how to overcome the eclipse and find the light. There are very intense scenes of violence. Heart-pounding scenes of impending danger. Terribly heart-breaking endings for some characters. And there is a shocking twist that caught me totally off guard.
But it doesn’t end there. Thank goodness. Smoky and Alan and Tommy have all stepped into the dark places in their hearts, but they are not psychopaths. They come out as richer, more fully human beings in the end, I feel. Scars and all.
The plot drags in places, especially in the early stages of the investigation and when the team sets up the online chat room surveillance. But there is some real meat too – and I’m not just talking about our criminal’s sick perspective. Over, under, around, and through the fear, the pain, and the unknown that this person causes so many people on a primal level there also develops among Smoky Barrett’s team and her family, individually and collectively, a stronger bond than when this whole traumatic trail started.
Smoky herself is tested once again, not just physically, but in a profoundly emotional, moral and spiritual way. I love her sense of duty – to her job, to her daughter, to Tommy, to humanity, and to her very self. Her self-awareness and self-love is growing by leaps and bounds, and she’s not only a fine agent; she’s a remarkable human being.
December 27, 2016
I love this series!
November 15, 2017
Wieder ein fantastischer Smoky Barrett Fall - Und mit einem Ende was ich so bis zum Schluss nicht erwartet habe. Der Thriller ist grausam und herzlich zugleich - Immer dann wenn es um Smoky, ihre Familie und ihr Team geht. Nun bin ich mehr als gespannt auf den (bisher) letzten Fall der Smoky Barrett Reihe von Cody McFadyen, der so lange erwartet wurde und dann so vielen nicht gefallen hat....
January 26, 2016
This book was partly a deep philosophical look at the relationship between man and woman, especially men who hate women. The case involved a perpetrator who abducted women as a business. Yes, to earn a living. The main characters are all here, including Leo from the first book, except Elaina is mostly sidelined.
I wasn't really happy when Smoky and her team went undercover in an online chat room. I found that to be a bit boring. Much of the philosophical discussion was by the perp, and I have to believe it is due to insanity. It was really crazy. I just shook my head and didn't even want to think about it or try to understand it.
This is the fourth and last Smoky Barrett book that was published in the U.S. The author wrote a fifth Smoky Barrett book, The Silence of Death (my translation), but it was published only in Germany. A single standalone book, The Innocent Bone, was also published only in Germany. There is a great mystery why Cody McFadyen has disappeared from the publishing world.
These four books contain the most despicable, depraved, criminally insane individuals I've ever encountered in a book. They also provided me an emotionally charged journey like no other. The books let readers look at the dark while hopefully keeping them grounded in the light. I did read a different book between the third and fourth books, and I think I needed that. And I think my next will be a lighter book as well.
I wasn't really happy when Smoky and her team went undercover in an online chat room. I found that to be a bit boring. Much of the philosophical discussion was by the perp, and I have to believe it is due to insanity. It was really crazy. I just shook my head and didn't even want to think about it or try to understand it.
This is the fourth and last Smoky Barrett book that was published in the U.S. The author wrote a fifth Smoky Barrett book, The Silence of Death (my translation), but it was published only in Germany. A single standalone book, The Innocent Bone, was also published only in Germany. There is a great mystery why Cody McFadyen has disappeared from the publishing world.
These four books contain the most despicable, depraved, criminally insane individuals I've ever encountered in a book. They also provided me an emotionally charged journey like no other. The books let readers look at the dark while hopefully keeping them grounded in the light. I did read a different book between the third and fourth books, and I think I needed that. And I think my next will be a lighter book as well.
September 26, 2016
With the fourth book in his Smoky Barrett series, Cody McFadyen is back up to standards. This was dark, disturbing, and heartbreaking. My favourite so far. Smoky and her team are chasing a psychopath who has been abducting women. The perpetrator has developed this into quite a well-organized business. I was surprised by a few of the developments in the storyline. Deeply saddened by one, and definitely haven't forgiven Bonnie quite yet. It was a very intense listen, and while I would recommend the entire series, it is certainly not for the faint of heart.
Looking forward to getting hold of the newly released fifth book in the series now.
Looking forward to getting hold of the newly released fifth book in the series now.
April 8, 2017
A woman stumbles into a wedding that features Smoky's colleagues and her team at a really choice moment. It's clear she is not well and is rushed to hospital. And that's where book four begins as an investigation into who exactly this woman is and what her story could be.
The regular players are present with some having a bigger part than others. But, honestly, there were some aspects of the book that I didn't like. I'm a little tired now of Smoky appearing almost super human. I mean I get that she's good at her job, but some of her actions here just didn't ring true. The story itself is a look at the relationship between men and women and what happens when it all breaks down. But all too often it felt like McFadyen was narrating in a rather preachy way. The same points were revisited again and again which became irritating. Aspects of the plot fell short and implausible and dare I say it, tiresome.
I have loved the previous books, but here it fell short of what has been before. I can't really talk too much about plotline because a lot of it was the author's musings it felt but it still was a read that held my attention until the last page. Even when McFadyen is not totally on form for me, he still writes a cut above. There were some lovely resonant sentences at times that would have me going back to reread and marvel at the structure and composition.
Abandoned does not reach the dizzy heights of the previous books in the series but it's still a book that I'm glad I read. Sadly more of the series doesn't appear in print except in German though I hear it may be available as an ebook in the near future. I may wait a while to read the next and possibly the final instalment - as it appears that McFadyen seems to have disappeared from the literary world - and give Smoky Barrett a break.
I do, though, highly recommend the series. Just be prepared for a lot of depravity and taking a walk into the very bowels of all things hellish.
The regular players are present with some having a bigger part than others. But, honestly, there were some aspects of the book that I didn't like. I'm a little tired now of Smoky appearing almost super human. I mean I get that she's good at her job, but some of her actions here just didn't ring true. The story itself is a look at the relationship between men and women and what happens when it all breaks down. But all too often it felt like McFadyen was narrating in a rather preachy way. The same points were revisited again and again which became irritating. Aspects of the plot fell short and implausible and dare I say it, tiresome.
I have loved the previous books, but here it fell short of what has been before. I can't really talk too much about plotline because a lot of it was the author's musings it felt but it still was a read that held my attention until the last page. Even when McFadyen is not totally on form for me, he still writes a cut above. There were some lovely resonant sentences at times that would have me going back to reread and marvel at the structure and composition.
Abandoned does not reach the dizzy heights of the previous books in the series but it's still a book that I'm glad I read. Sadly more of the series doesn't appear in print except in German though I hear it may be available as an ebook in the near future. I may wait a while to read the next and possibly the final instalment - as it appears that McFadyen seems to have disappeared from the literary world - and give Smoky Barrett a break.
I do, though, highly recommend the series. Just be prepared for a lot of depravity and taking a walk into the very bowels of all things hellish.
May 27, 2016
Some crazy nut job throws a young woman from a car right at a wedding reception where Smokey and her whole elite crew of FBI agents are attending. Obviously this deranged person is trying to get her attention. The despondent, young woman has been held captive in the dark for seven years and the message to Smokey is to not investigate or the rest that they still have imprisoned will end up dead or worse. Of course it is ludicrous to think that Smokey will not be involved, but the case is still considered to be under local police jurisdiction. But it turns into a serial kidnapping case the following week when the young woman's adulterous lover, who has also been missing for seven years, is dropped of at a hospital lobotomized, she and her team are on the case.
I thought this book in the series was as good as the first and hope that the next book comes out soon. I recommend this to those that like crime procedural, but beware it is not for the faint of heart. A gritty, torturous and gripping story that flows at a good pace.
I thought this book in the series was as good as the first and hope that the next book comes out soon. I recommend this to those that like crime procedural, but beware it is not for the faint of heart. A gritty, torturous and gripping story that flows at a good pace.
June 29, 2014
Ridiculous. Absurdly goulish. The alternating present/past thing was cool - but didn't seem to carry through. The Smoky character was confusing and trite - she's tough, she's vulnerable, she's a woman who is acting in a man's role..i don't know...i didn't get it. and the constant, irrelevant references to amazing sex. These people were all having sex all the time. Cut those references out and the book would have been half as long. And the oh-so-perfect-hunky boyfriend for Smoky. Irritating stereotyped character whose inclusion did nothing to drive the story forward. The 'thriller' part itself - well we know who did it and why up front - and not much mystery. Just too long, uninteresting, not worth the time.
August 16, 2015
3.5 bumped down to 3.
What worked?
I thought the writing was competent and the mystery was well done. And though I found the protagonist to be annoying at times, overall she came to life and felt fully flushed out. I also felt that the author tried to explore some deeper issues like gender inequality that gave this substance.
What didn't work?
Much of the sex talk between the women just didn't ring true. Not saying that women are prissy, just saying that "we" (the women I know at least) have different ways of talking about sex. For instance, I don't think I've ever asked a friend if she got "fucked" last night. Too often it sounded like a man trying to sound like a woman but failing.
Several of the supporting characters were more caricatures who were either too over-the-top to be relatable or too cliché to be interesting.
At times, the inner dialogue felt preachy, as if the author was trying to enlighten me. Sometimes I don't mind a little philosophical aside, especially if I feel what the author is saying is worthwhile, but this was too much. As a result, this book was easily 100 pages longer than it needed to be.
The twist at the end was just too much (and actually ruined what I thought was going to be a fairly satisfying wrap-up) and the last two chapters almost felt unnecessary.
This is actually the fourth book in a series. The previous books were alluded to, but I felt this held up as a stand alone.
Final conclusion: Not bad. Some decent writing and a solid story (sans the twist). I would definitely read another series by this author, but I won't go out of my way to read the previous books in this series. The characters just didn't impress me.
What worked?
I thought the writing was competent and the mystery was well done. And though I found the protagonist to be annoying at times, overall she came to life and felt fully flushed out. I also felt that the author tried to explore some deeper issues like gender inequality that gave this substance.
What didn't work?
Much of the sex talk between the women just didn't ring true. Not saying that women are prissy, just saying that "we" (the women I know at least) have different ways of talking about sex. For instance, I don't think I've ever asked a friend if she got "fucked" last night. Too often it sounded like a man trying to sound like a woman but failing.
Several of the supporting characters were more caricatures who were either too over-the-top to be relatable or too cliché to be interesting.
At times, the inner dialogue felt preachy, as if the author was trying to enlighten me. Sometimes I don't mind a little philosophical aside, especially if I feel what the author is saying is worthwhile, but this was too much. As a result, this book was easily 100 pages longer than it needed to be.
The twist at the end was just too much (and actually ruined what I thought was going to be a fairly satisfying wrap-up) and the last two chapters almost felt unnecessary.
This is actually the fourth book in a series. The previous books were alluded to, but I felt this held up as a stand alone.
Final conclusion: Not bad. Some decent writing and a solid story (sans the twist). I would definitely read another series by this author, but I won't go out of my way to read the previous books in this series. The characters just didn't impress me.
August 17, 2020
The smoothness to this author's writing skills just blow me away. He can write of the most horrible things, then transition to deal with the most sensitive and raw emotions. The thing that hits me the most is how genuine and real it all feels. These are characters I can relate too and have come to really care for.
This is a must read series IMHO-I’d bet money you will become addicted as I have.
Only one more left to read...I’m sad already
This is a must read series IMHO-I’d bet money you will become addicted as I have.
Only one more left to read...I’m sad already
April 23, 2016
Considering my review of Shadow Man included an homage to John Connolly (comparing the effects these books had on me), it was brilliant to read a dedication from Cody McFadyen to that same author in his introduction. Sometimes the stars just align that way.
In this, the last of available Smoky Barrett series, the antagonist eschews the usual bloody rituals and locks people alone in the dark. For years. Years! If the idea of that doesn't make you shudder, I don't know what will. I'm particularly freaked out because I just watched a Cold Case episode in which the same thing happened. He bricked people up in small rooms and left them there. Honestly, my dreams are dangerous enough without this input.
I love these books for the same reason I love ones by Connolly: for the incredible characters, the pacing, plotting, and the Evil. Proper Evil. But I also love them for the same reason I love books like those written by Iris Johansen: they're kinda cheesy. Team Good all have their flaws (including being killers themselves) but they're just so darn loveable. And they love each other. And they'll die to protect one another. Nearly everybody gets married/finds a life partner, who they love. New characters who get added to the team, get added into the love. You get the picture. But it contrasts very well with Team Evil. Which is rarely, in fact, a real team. This is why they fail.
I really, really hope McFadyen is going to get that next one out to us. Fingers crossed. There's a lot of stuff going on and James doesn't have a love interest yet.
In this, the last of available Smoky Barrett series, the antagonist eschews the usual bloody rituals and locks people alone in the dark. For years. Years! If the idea of that doesn't make you shudder, I don't know what will. I'm particularly freaked out because I just watched a Cold Case episode in which the same thing happened. He bricked people up in small rooms and left them there. Honestly, my dreams are dangerous enough without this input.
I love these books for the same reason I love ones by Connolly: for the incredible characters, the pacing, plotting, and the Evil. Proper Evil. But I also love them for the same reason I love books like those written by Iris Johansen: they're kinda cheesy. Team Good all have their flaws (including being killers themselves) but they're just so darn loveable. And they love each other. And they'll die to protect one another. Nearly everybody gets married/finds a life partner, who they love. New characters who get added to the team, get added into the love. You get the picture. But it contrasts very well with Team Evil. Which is rarely, in fact, a real team. This is why they fail.
I really, really hope McFadyen is going to get that next one out to us. Fingers crossed. There's a lot of stuff going on and James doesn't have a love interest yet.
May 17, 2017
4,5 *
July 17, 2017
4,5 / 5
December 8, 2010
I heartily dislike McFadyen's style of writing as well as his characters. I had previously read another book featuring the same protagonist and found her irritating as heck. The plot and the hunt for the killer was good, but the ending was a fail.
Strangely enough, I most liked James (an antisocial member of Smoky's team), Alan (another member of her team) and one of the minor antagonists (whose name I can't recall atm). Smoky herself seems a little sex-crazed, over-dramatized, and... too-perfect? I realize that this is something strange to say about a woman whose face was carved up by a rapist, who lost her perfect husband, daughter, and unborn child to said rapist, and has generally had a pretty sh*tty life, all things considered. However, she is remarkably calm, while at the same time being remarkably badass, she has the sexiest, quietest, most perfect new husband, and she is the most hard-ass-but-at-the-same-time-perfect mother to a severely traumatized little girl (with somewhat psychopathic tendencies?) whom she has adopted. And through it all, Smoky regularly manages to interject deep, insightful soliloquies about the moon, evil, and love. Oops, did I say insightful? I meant cliched, over-dramatic, and over-generalized.
The killer's history was quite interesting, but the reason behind the crimes was most certainly not. The Son was brilliant, totally uncaring, and without a hint of narcissism (or any other emotion, really, which gives the impression that the killer is a an android from the distant future). Smoky catches him precisely because he is so... brilliant and... didn't leave any real tracks? ...I didn't really follow how she worked out where the killer would be, but the thrill of the chase was interesting. However, I still hope I'm not fooled by another one of McFadyen's wonderful synopses, because I've been disappointed twice now.
Strangely enough, I most liked James (an antisocial member of Smoky's team), Alan (another member of her team) and one of the minor antagonists (whose name I can't recall atm). Smoky herself seems a little sex-crazed, over-dramatized, and... too-perfect? I realize that this is something strange to say about a woman whose face was carved up by a rapist, who lost her perfect husband, daughter, and unborn child to said rapist, and has generally had a pretty sh*tty life, all things considered. However, she is remarkably calm, while at the same time being remarkably badass, she has the sexiest, quietest, most perfect new husband, and she is the most hard-ass-but-at-the-same-time-perfect mother to a severely traumatized little girl (with somewhat psychopathic tendencies?) whom she has adopted. And through it all, Smoky regularly manages to interject deep, insightful soliloquies about the moon, evil, and love. Oops, did I say insightful? I meant cliched, over-dramatic, and over-generalized.
The killer's history was quite interesting, but the reason behind the crimes was most certainly not. The Son was brilliant, totally uncaring, and without a hint of narcissism (or any other emotion, really, which gives the impression that the killer is a an android from the distant future). Smoky catches him precisely because he is so... brilliant and... didn't leave any real tracks? ...I didn't really follow how she worked out where the killer would be, but the thrill of the chase was interesting. However, I still hope I'm not fooled by another one of McFadyen's wonderful synopses, because I've been disappointed twice now.
November 26, 2019
Again a new great story in the series about Smoku Barrett. This story is solid, creepy and well told.
And again, my only problem with the book is the "writing" (I really dont like how CM uses the "I" perspective)
If you are a fan of authors like Chris Carter, then I will really recommend this series.
And again, my only problem with the book is the "writing" (I really dont like how CM uses the "I" perspective)
If you are a fan of authors like Chris Carter, then I will really recommend this series.
November 19, 2016
Ovo je četvrta knjiga ovog autora koju sam pročitala. U pitanju je serijal pa je najbolje čitati hronološki.
Dakle, za ljubitelje krimića ovo je izuzetna poslastica. Čini mi se, sa svakom sledećom knjigom koju napiše, kvalitet je bolji, strava i užas veći. S obzirom na količinu brutalnosti u četvrtoj knjizi, kada peta dođe na red, čitaću je sa rukom preko očiju, kao kad gledam horor film.
Često sam zahvalna što ne živim u Americi, čini mi se da ovakvi bolesnici koje Cody u svojim knjigama opisuje, ne uspevaju na našem tlu. Ne sumnjam da zaista postoje ovakvi ili slični likovi negde u svetu. Čitajući ovu knjigu, ne možete a da se ne zapitate na šta je neko spreman i koliko daleko je sposoban da ide da bi zaštitio sebe i svoje najdraže. Ako ste tankih živaca, ne počinjite ovu knjigu. Ako pak volite krimiće, imate moju preporuku.
Dakle, za ljubitelje krimića ovo je izuzetna poslastica. Čini mi se, sa svakom sledećom knjigom koju napiše, kvalitet je bolji, strava i užas veći. S obzirom na količinu brutalnosti u četvrtoj knjizi, kada peta dođe na red, čitaću je sa rukom preko očiju, kao kad gledam horor film.
Često sam zahvalna što ne živim u Americi, čini mi se da ovakvi bolesnici koje Cody u svojim knjigama opisuje, ne uspevaju na našem tlu. Ne sumnjam da zaista postoje ovakvi ili slični likovi negde u svetu. Čitajući ovu knjigu, ne možete a da se ne zapitate na šta je neko spreman i koliko daleko je sposoban da ide da bi zaštitio sebe i svoje najdraže. Ako ste tankih živaca, ne počinjite ovu knjigu. Ako pak volite krimiće, imate moju preporuku.
April 2, 2025
A solid 3.5
July 7, 2016
Ich ging ohne Erwartungen an dieses Buch und fand es toll. Ich konnte fast nicht mehr aufhören zu lesen und fand es sehr spannend. Die Auflösung am Schluss gefiel mir leider nicht so und ich fand es dann auch etwas fad. Daher nur 3 Sterne. Ich freue mich aber weitere Bücher von C. McFadyen zu lesen.
September 20, 2016
Darum geht's:
Vor 7 Jahren ist die Polizisten Heather Hollister spurlos verschwunden. Am Tag von Callies und Sams Hochzeit wird sie der Hochzeitsgesellschaft aus einem rollenden Auto mehr oder weniger direkt vor die Füße gekippt und das Fest damit abrupt beendet. Smoky und ihr Team beginnen ihre Ermittlungen. Schnell gerät der Ehemann in Verdacht, doch schon die örtliche Polizei hat ihn kurz nach Heathers Verschwinden durchleuchtet und konnte ihm nichts nachweisen. Ein erneutes Verhör bei ihm zuhause soll endlich Klarheit bringen.
So fand ich's:
Der Einstieg ins Buch brachte mich dazu, gleich ein paar Seiten nur querzulesen. Nach einer kurzen philosophischen Abschweifung über Mond und Sterne im Urlaub, folgt der übliche Abriss über Smokys Vergangenheit. Natürlich wird auch ihr Team wieder mal vorgestellt und auch Tommys Erscheinen auf der Bildfläche und Bonnies Schicksal nicht ausgelassen. Besonders fesselnd fand ich das nicht, weil ich die vergangenen Ereignisse alle miterlebt und auch schon mehrere Zusammenfassungen dazu gelesen habe.
Als dann die Ermittlungen anlaufen, wird es interessanter. Nach bewährtem Schema agiert das Team, analysiert den Tatort und lässt die Szenerie auf sich wirken. Hier haben sich wieder Spannung und Information darüber, wie Smoky und Alan vorgehen und woraus sie was schließen, perfekt die Waage gehalten. Die Verbrechen sind grausam und haben mir diesmal wirklich zu schaffen gemacht, denn es gibt Dinge, die sind schlimmer als der Tod und darum geht es in diesem Band.
Über Realitätsnähe dieser Serie darf man wohl nicht intensiver nachdenken. Ich habe mich an überzeichnete Charaktere voller Superlative und extreme Mordfälle gewöhnt und wundere mich auch nicht mehr darüber, was der armen Smoky in diesem einen Menschenleben alles passiert.
Cody McFadyen erzählt fesselnd eine Geschichte ohne Längen, wenn auch nicht immer unter Volldampf, und er hat es geschafft, mich die ganze Zeit bei der Stange zu halten. Und da mir "Ausgelöscht" wieder um Einiges besser gefallen hat als der Vorgänger "Das Böse in uns", fühlte ich mich gut unterhalten und freue mich auf "Die Stille vor dem Tod", den neuesten und 5. Band, der am 26. September erscheint.
Vor 7 Jahren ist die Polizisten Heather Hollister spurlos verschwunden. Am Tag von Callies und Sams Hochzeit wird sie der Hochzeitsgesellschaft aus einem rollenden Auto mehr oder weniger direkt vor die Füße gekippt und das Fest damit abrupt beendet. Smoky und ihr Team beginnen ihre Ermittlungen. Schnell gerät der Ehemann in Verdacht, doch schon die örtliche Polizei hat ihn kurz nach Heathers Verschwinden durchleuchtet und konnte ihm nichts nachweisen. Ein erneutes Verhör bei ihm zuhause soll endlich Klarheit bringen.
So fand ich's:
Der Einstieg ins Buch brachte mich dazu, gleich ein paar Seiten nur querzulesen. Nach einer kurzen philosophischen Abschweifung über Mond und Sterne im Urlaub, folgt der übliche Abriss über Smokys Vergangenheit. Natürlich wird auch ihr Team wieder mal vorgestellt und auch Tommys Erscheinen auf der Bildfläche und Bonnies Schicksal nicht ausgelassen. Besonders fesselnd fand ich das nicht, weil ich die vergangenen Ereignisse alle miterlebt und auch schon mehrere Zusammenfassungen dazu gelesen habe.
Als dann die Ermittlungen anlaufen, wird es interessanter. Nach bewährtem Schema agiert das Team, analysiert den Tatort und lässt die Szenerie auf sich wirken. Hier haben sich wieder Spannung und Information darüber, wie Smoky und Alan vorgehen und woraus sie was schließen, perfekt die Waage gehalten. Die Verbrechen sind grausam und haben mir diesmal wirklich zu schaffen gemacht, denn es gibt Dinge, die sind schlimmer als der Tod und darum geht es in diesem Band.
Über Realitätsnähe dieser Serie darf man wohl nicht intensiver nachdenken. Ich habe mich an überzeichnete Charaktere voller Superlative und extreme Mordfälle gewöhnt und wundere mich auch nicht mehr darüber, was der armen Smoky in diesem einen Menschenleben alles passiert.
Cody McFadyen erzählt fesselnd eine Geschichte ohne Längen, wenn auch nicht immer unter Volldampf, und er hat es geschafft, mich die ganze Zeit bei der Stange zu halten. Und da mir "Ausgelöscht" wieder um Einiges besser gefallen hat als der Vorgänger "Das Böse in uns", fühlte ich mich gut unterhalten und freue mich auf "Die Stille vor dem Tod", den neuesten und 5. Band, der am 26. September erscheint.
December 28, 2014
WOW!!! I am so happy and sad at the same time. Happy as this was the best of this series and I was lucky to get a copy of it right away without waiting for it. This was a great book, action packed, edge of your seat gripping who-dun-it!! I loved it and what BANG to end this series. Which is why I am sad. This was the last English version of this series... EVER!! :/ Such sad news as I just loved this series.
November 4, 2014
Holey baloey...this book scared the crud outta me. I've read two of his other books about Smokey but for some reason this one gave me the shakes! Great book though..never would have guessed what happened.
May 1, 2018
Smoky Barrett i sajko kileri- uobičajeno odlična kombinacija.
November 7, 2022
‼️TW: Dieses Buch enthält detaillierte Beschreibungen gewalttätiger Angriffe (Lobotomie, Auspeitschen, Ermordungen etc.) sowie das zugerichtete Aussehen von Opfern/Leichen.‼️
„Ich hatte einmal ein Leben. Doch ich erinnere mich nicht mehr daran. Ich hatte eine Familie. Doch ich kenne sie nicht mehr. Ich hatte viele Erinnerungen. Doch jemand war in meinem Gehirn. Er hat alles ausgelöscht. Und ich wünschte, er hätte mich nicht am Leben gelassen.“
Es ist ein sonniger Tag, erfüllt von Freude und Besonderheit. Doch dann übernimmt ein grauenhaftes Bild den prägenden Tag; eine Frau wird aus einem herbeifahrenden Fahrzeug geworfen - vor die Füße von Smoky Barrett und ihren Teammitgliedern.
Heather Hollister - so stellt sich kurz danach heraus - befand sich 8 Jahre lang in Gefangenschaft. Kein Licht, keine sozialen Kontakte, keinerlei Bezug zu Zeit oder Raum, noch eine Einschätzung zu real und nicht real ist möglich. Eingesperrt um verrückt zu werden. Weshalb ist ihr dies geschehen? Wer würde ihr so etwas antun und aus welchen Gründen taucht sie nun nach so langer Zeit wieder auf? Nun, wo jeder der festen Überzeugung war, Heather wäre tot?
Dies und noch eine andere Fragen werden auf den 458 Seiten von Smoky Barrett und ihren Teammitgliedern aufgeklärt. Nachdem ich von dem dritten Teil der Reihe zunächst gelangweilt war, überrascht dieses Werk von Seite 1 bis zum Ende mit einer beinahe zerschneidbaren Spannung. Auf keiner Seite fehlt es an etwas, jedes Kapitel bietet unfassbar viel Kreativität und Vorstellungsreiche Szenarien, was dieses Buch zu einem Unikat der besonderen Sorte macht.
Einmal angefangen kann man das Buch kaum aus den Händen legen, man wird eingesogen von der mitreißenden Geschichte, die einen emotional auf jeder Ebene abholt. Auch hier kann man als Leser*in erneut eine Achterbahn der Gefühle erleben - ob nun Wut, Abscheu, Scham oder Freude - jede Emotion wird durch das Buch angeboten. Es gibt mitreißende Teile in dieser Geschichte, bei dem der/die ein oder andere Leser*in gut und gerne eine Träne verdrücken könnte.
Literarisch ein unfassbar gut gelungenes Buch, welches man mit Sicherheit auch noch ein zweites Mal lesen könnte, weil es einen so überzeugt!
Zum Ende hin folgt ein wahrlich unvorhersehbarer Plottwist, auf den man durch die gelesenen Seiten nicht kommen kann. Außerdem überrascht uns auch der Hauptcharakter Smoky mit Neuigkeiten, auf die man von sich aus nicht schließen könnte. Seid gespannt!
Ich bin begeistert von dem Schreibstil, den Cody McFayden auch hier erneut angewandt - und gelebt - hat. Er bietet einem als Leser*in viel Freiraum in der Szenariengestaltung/Personengestaltung, auch wenn er detailreiche Beschreibungen hinzufügt, um ein gutes Lese - Ambiente/Erlebnis zu schaffen.
Ein wahrer Meister seiner Fähigkeit, die er perfekt nutzt und auslebt!
Schade finde ich jedoch, dass sich auf einigen Seiten Rechtschreibfehler eingeschlichen haben. Aber nun ja; Menschen sind eben keine Maschinen und wer keine Fehler macht ist unmenschlich! 😂☺️
Ich freue mich sehr auf den fünften - und leider letzten - Teil der Smoky Barrett Reihe und bin gespannt, wie er dies umsetzt.
⭐️5/5 - An diesem Buch habe ich wirklich überhaupt nichts auszusetzen!
„Ich hatte einmal ein Leben. Doch ich erinnere mich nicht mehr daran. Ich hatte eine Familie. Doch ich kenne sie nicht mehr. Ich hatte viele Erinnerungen. Doch jemand war in meinem Gehirn. Er hat alles ausgelöscht. Und ich wünschte, er hätte mich nicht am Leben gelassen.“
Es ist ein sonniger Tag, erfüllt von Freude und Besonderheit. Doch dann übernimmt ein grauenhaftes Bild den prägenden Tag; eine Frau wird aus einem herbeifahrenden Fahrzeug geworfen - vor die Füße von Smoky Barrett und ihren Teammitgliedern.
Heather Hollister - so stellt sich kurz danach heraus - befand sich 8 Jahre lang in Gefangenschaft. Kein Licht, keine sozialen Kontakte, keinerlei Bezug zu Zeit oder Raum, noch eine Einschätzung zu real und nicht real ist möglich. Eingesperrt um verrückt zu werden. Weshalb ist ihr dies geschehen? Wer würde ihr so etwas antun und aus welchen Gründen taucht sie nun nach so langer Zeit wieder auf? Nun, wo jeder der festen Überzeugung war, Heather wäre tot?
Dies und noch eine andere Fragen werden auf den 458 Seiten von Smoky Barrett und ihren Teammitgliedern aufgeklärt. Nachdem ich von dem dritten Teil der Reihe zunächst gelangweilt war, überrascht dieses Werk von Seite 1 bis zum Ende mit einer beinahe zerschneidbaren Spannung. Auf keiner Seite fehlt es an etwas, jedes Kapitel bietet unfassbar viel Kreativität und Vorstellungsreiche Szenarien, was dieses Buch zu einem Unikat der besonderen Sorte macht.
Einmal angefangen kann man das Buch kaum aus den Händen legen, man wird eingesogen von der mitreißenden Geschichte, die einen emotional auf jeder Ebene abholt. Auch hier kann man als Leser*in erneut eine Achterbahn der Gefühle erleben - ob nun Wut, Abscheu, Scham oder Freude - jede Emotion wird durch das Buch angeboten. Es gibt mitreißende Teile in dieser Geschichte, bei dem der/die ein oder andere Leser*in gut und gerne eine Träne verdrücken könnte.
Literarisch ein unfassbar gut gelungenes Buch, welches man mit Sicherheit auch noch ein zweites Mal lesen könnte, weil es einen so überzeugt!
Zum Ende hin folgt ein wahrlich unvorhersehbarer Plottwist, auf den man durch die gelesenen Seiten nicht kommen kann. Außerdem überrascht uns auch der Hauptcharakter Smoky mit Neuigkeiten, auf die man von sich aus nicht schließen könnte. Seid gespannt!
Ich bin begeistert von dem Schreibstil, den Cody McFayden auch hier erneut angewandt - und gelebt - hat. Er bietet einem als Leser*in viel Freiraum in der Szenariengestaltung/Personengestaltung, auch wenn er detailreiche Beschreibungen hinzufügt, um ein gutes Lese - Ambiente/Erlebnis zu schaffen.
Ein wahrer Meister seiner Fähigkeit, die er perfekt nutzt und auslebt!
Schade finde ich jedoch, dass sich auf einigen Seiten Rechtschreibfehler eingeschlichen haben. Aber nun ja; Menschen sind eben keine Maschinen und wer keine Fehler macht ist unmenschlich! 😂☺️
Ich freue mich sehr auf den fünften - und leider letzten - Teil der Smoky Barrett Reihe und bin gespannt, wie er dies umsetzt.
⭐️5/5 - An diesem Buch habe ich wirklich überhaupt nichts auszusetzen!
September 15, 2019
This one did a number on my feelings, but I've sort of come to expect that from this series.
I like the development that Smoky has undergone, between the first book and this one. She's still fucked up, but she appears more approachable now.
Callie has consistently been my favorite, but she (and the team) wasn't in this as much as I had hoped.
Still, even though it took me a while to get through (due to circumstances of life, not the quality of the book) I was engaged all the way through.
I like the development that Smoky has undergone, between the first book and this one. She's still fucked up, but she appears more approachable now.
Callie has consistently been my favorite, but she (and the team) wasn't in this as much as I had hoped.
Still, even though it took me a while to get through (due to circumstances of life, not the quality of the book) I was engaged all the way through.
September 10, 2017
Took me a really long time to pick this one up. I just forgot about Cody and Smoky. I feel bad, because I really enjoyed this one as well. Unfortunately, for me the series ends here. The fifth book is, for some weird reason, only available in German. I can read and speak German, but not that good that I am willing to buy it. Last time I tried to find more info about the book and Cody I read multiple times that it looked like the writer just disappeared... does anyone know any news about him and the fifth (maybe future sixth) book in the series?
Anywhoooo, this book was again very easy to read and very interesting. Interesting choice of characters. The only character I felt was a bit fake and unrealistic was Bonnie. The way she talks and thinks, she is traumatized, I know, but she just doesn't feel real to me.
It's a shame that this will be the last one for me, but I enjoyed the entire series thoroughly!
Anywhoooo, this book was again very easy to read and very interesting. Interesting choice of characters. The only character I felt was a bit fake and unrealistic was Bonnie. The way she talks and thinks, she is traumatized, I know, but she just doesn't feel real to me.
It's a shame that this will be the last one for me, but I enjoyed the entire series thoroughly!
June 22, 2024
Plottwist:
Der Kidnapper war die ganze Zeit eine Frau die von ihrem Vater als Junge aufgezogen wurde, da es als Junge im Leben „einfacher“ wäre. Deswegen hatte sie einen gewissen Hass gegenüber Frauen und hat diese getötet.
War sehr packend geschrieben und freue mich auf den letzten Teil👀
Der Kidnapper war die ganze Zeit eine Frau die von ihrem Vater als Junge aufgezogen wurde, da es als Junge im Leben „einfacher“ wäre. Deswegen hatte sie einen gewissen Hass gegenüber Frauen und hat diese getötet.
War sehr packend geschrieben und freue mich auf den letzten Teil👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2023
Не ми е любимата книга от поредицата, но си заслужава прочита.
3.5 ⭐
3.5 ⭐
February 5, 2024
Heftig! Mit Plotttwists, die ich so nicht habe kommen sehen 😢 ein sehr gelungener Teil der Reihe. Ich liebe Smokey, ihre Familie und ihr Team ♡
February 2, 2023
Der vierte und letzte Band in meinem Re-Read der Smoky Barrett Reihe. Der fünfte Band steht zwar auch bereits seit Jahren in meinem Regal, allerdings habe ich ihn nach wenigen Seiten abgebrochen. Er wird dementsprechend nicht in meinen Re-Read zählen.
„Ausgelöscht“ war, wie die anderen Bände der Reihe auch, eine schnelle Lektüre, die Spaß gemacht hat, da der Autor versteht Spannung aufzubauen und die Figuren in fordernden Situationen nicht wie Idioten dastehen zu lassen. Anders als in den vorherigen Bänden, insbesondere Band 1 und 2, war in diesem Teil allerdings das Verhältnis von Gewalt zu Handlung bereits so unverhältnismäßig, dass ich dem Buch keine fünf Sterne geben konnte. Die ausführlichen Beschreibungen von physischer Gewalt und psychischer Misshandlung sind so ausführlich und detailliert, dass es mich an mancher Stelle wirklich angeekelt hat.
Sicher sind sie für den Plot und das Motiv des Täters unerlässlich, aber meiner Meinung nach hätten sie auch mit weniger direkten Gewaltorgien dargestellt werden können.
Die „Erziehung“ des Vaters war besonders grausam und hat mich regelrecht verstört.
Was die Lektüre dennoch zu vier Sternen gemacht hat, ist meine Zuneigung für die Protagonistin Smoky und ihr Team, ganz besonders James und Kirby. Ich vergleiche unwillkürlich diese Buchreihe mit den Werken von Thomas Harris. Ich glaube, dass ohne Hannibal Lecter aus Agent Clarice Starling genauso eine Figur wie Smoky Barrett geworden wäre. Anführerin eines Teams, das sich mit vergleichbaren Verbrechen wie die von Hannibal, dem Roten Drachen und Jame Gumb auseinandersetzten.
Fans der einen Buchreihe, werden bestimmt Gefallen an der anderen finden. Ich weiß, dass es so für mich gewesen ist.
Innerhalb von einem Tag habe ich den Roman ausgelesen und konnte ihn, obwohl ich ihn schon kannte und die Wendungen für mich nichts neues waren, nicht aus der Hand legen.
Ich bin verwundert, dass die Romane noch keine Verfilmung erfahren haben, bin aber auch teilweise dankbar, dass es so ist, da ich mir nicht vorstellen könnte, wie eine Adaption, die unter 18 freigegeben wäre, den Verbrechen der Texte gerecht werden könnte.
„Ausgelöscht“ war, wie die anderen Bände der Reihe auch, eine schnelle Lektüre, die Spaß gemacht hat, da der Autor versteht Spannung aufzubauen und die Figuren in fordernden Situationen nicht wie Idioten dastehen zu lassen. Anders als in den vorherigen Bänden, insbesondere Band 1 und 2, war in diesem Teil allerdings das Verhältnis von Gewalt zu Handlung bereits so unverhältnismäßig, dass ich dem Buch keine fünf Sterne geben konnte. Die ausführlichen Beschreibungen von physischer Gewalt und psychischer Misshandlung sind so ausführlich und detailliert, dass es mich an mancher Stelle wirklich angeekelt hat.
Sicher sind sie für den Plot und das Motiv des Täters unerlässlich, aber meiner Meinung nach hätten sie auch mit weniger direkten Gewaltorgien dargestellt werden können.
Die „Erziehung“ des Vaters war besonders grausam und hat mich regelrecht verstört.
Was die Lektüre dennoch zu vier Sternen gemacht hat, ist meine Zuneigung für die Protagonistin Smoky und ihr Team, ganz besonders James und Kirby. Ich vergleiche unwillkürlich diese Buchreihe mit den Werken von Thomas Harris. Ich glaube, dass ohne Hannibal Lecter aus Agent Clarice Starling genauso eine Figur wie Smoky Barrett geworden wäre. Anführerin eines Teams, das sich mit vergleichbaren Verbrechen wie die von Hannibal, dem Roten Drachen und Jame Gumb auseinandersetzten.
Fans der einen Buchreihe, werden bestimmt Gefallen an der anderen finden. Ich weiß, dass es so für mich gewesen ist.
Innerhalb von einem Tag habe ich den Roman ausgelesen und konnte ihn, obwohl ich ihn schon kannte und die Wendungen für mich nichts neues waren, nicht aus der Hand legen.
Ich bin verwundert, dass die Romane noch keine Verfilmung erfahren haben, bin aber auch teilweise dankbar, dass es so ist, da ich mir nicht vorstellen könnte, wie eine Adaption, die unter 18 freigegeben wäre, den Verbrechen der Texte gerecht werden könnte.
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