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Αυτοί που ποτέ δεν κοιμούνται
Το ελικόπτερο που μεταφέρει ένα νεαρό δικαστή του Αρείου Πάγου συντρίβεται. Όμως τα αλλόκοτα τραύματα που φέρουν τα πτώματα του δικαστή και της συζύγου του έχουν προκληθεί από ανθρώπινο χέρι και είναι τόσο σοβαρά που η αναγνώριση των νεκρών είναι σχεδόν αδύνατη - το δε πτώμα της μικρής κόρης του δικαστή έχει εξαφανιστεί. Ο πραγματογνώμονας Μάικλ Ρίαρντον προσπαθεί να εξιχνιάσει το μυστήριο - και πολύ σύντομα εύχεται να μην το είχε κάνει. Κι αυτό γιατί ανακαλύπτει τη σχέση που ενώνει το θάνατο του δικαστή με τις αποτρόπαιες δολοφονίες πολλών νεαρών κοριτσιών, μια ανατριχιαστική και ανίερη συνωμοσία. Και τελικά ανακαλύπτει αυτούς που ποτέ δεν κοιμούνται. . .
380 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
28 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
422 books1,967 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 20, 2024
Masterton is my comfort author. If I want some strong story telling and neatly woven horror I know who to pick up and The Sleepless continues that trend.
A young insurance investigator is asked to look into the plane crash which killed a Supreme Court Judge. As he starts his investigation he stumbles across alot more than he bargained for with political corruption, torture and ancient beings from before the birth of Christ influencing the world around us. The horror in this is quite good and there are some scenes involving torture and death which are horrific, descriptive and hard to read. The plot keeps you guessing as you are finding out the information at the same time as the protagonist making the mystery seep from the page. There is some sex scenes nearing the end of the book which were also very explicit but written well which kinda shook me as I didnt expect that from Masterton.
Overall this is a strong novel with plenty of mystery, gore, terror and a plot which is interesting and engaging.
A young insurance investigator is asked to look into the plane crash which killed a Supreme Court Judge. As he starts his investigation he stumbles across alot more than he bargained for with political corruption, torture and ancient beings from before the birth of Christ influencing the world around us. The horror in this is quite good and there are some scenes involving torture and death which are horrific, descriptive and hard to read. The plot keeps you guessing as you are finding out the information at the same time as the protagonist making the mystery seep from the page. There is some sex scenes nearing the end of the book which were also very explicit but written well which kinda shook me as I didnt expect that from Masterton.
Overall this is a strong novel with plenty of mystery, gore, terror and a plot which is interesting and engaging.
August 20, 2023
"Cuando uno ha visto lo que hay dentro de la gente, resulta difícil mantener cualquier tipo de relación física con las personas."
Este es un libro brutal en muchos aspectos, mezcla el misterio, el terror, lo viceral, la intriga, lo erótico y sexual de una forma muy interesante y para nada suave. Pero me ha gustado, y es que la prosa del autor, personalmente, no defrauda. Es un maestro en su campo.
Con respecto a la trama, atrapa desde el inicio, toca temas conspirativos que entretienen y generan un nivel de intriga que hace querer seguir y seguir leyendo, a pesar de esos extremos episodios y escenas que nos describe.
Por último, es importante mencionar la existencia de unos seres que salen de lo conocido y que funcionan muy bien a medida que avanza todo, porque al inicio sí que se hacen muy extraños, pero de a poco el autor le va dando "sentido" a todo.
Este es un libro brutal en muchos aspectos, mezcla el misterio, el terror, lo viceral, la intriga, lo erótico y sexual de una forma muy interesante y para nada suave. Pero me ha gustado, y es que la prosa del autor, personalmente, no defrauda. Es un maestro en su campo.
Con respecto a la trama, atrapa desde el inicio, toca temas conspirativos que entretienen y generan un nivel de intriga que hace querer seguir y seguir leyendo, a pesar de esos extremos episodios y escenas que nos describe.
Por último, es importante mencionar la existencia de unos seres que salen de lo conocido y que funcionan muy bien a medida que avanza todo, porque al inicio sí que se hacen muy extraños, pero de a poco el autor le va dando "sentido" a todo.
April 26, 2010
Some writers write stories that grab you by the throat.
Graham Masterton tears out your thyroid, reaches down your esophagus, rips out your stomach, liver and some intestines, stomps on them and sets the remains on fire.
"The Sleepless" is a story which begins with a helicopter crash. Aboard was a young Supreme Court Justice with his wife and daughter. An insurance investigator tries to solve the mystery but he discovers much more that he bargained for...the men who never sleep.
"The Sleepless" is an extremely gory book, Graham has such a perverted mind. He also includes some graphic sexual scenes in the middle of the horror which are rather funny but what the hell, it's pulp right ? His writing is average and simplistic which makes this book an ideal one for 13 year old boys who just discovered blood and semen.
It's a very fast read, though; the pages turn themselves automatically. There are several Polish accents which I loved (Graham likes Poland) and the ending is totally cool, so if you sutmble upon it you might give it a try, though don't expect any greatness.
You'll find a bucketfull of human hearts instead.
Graham Masterton tears out your thyroid, reaches down your esophagus, rips out your stomach, liver and some intestines, stomps on them and sets the remains on fire.
"The Sleepless" is a story which begins with a helicopter crash. Aboard was a young Supreme Court Justice with his wife and daughter. An insurance investigator tries to solve the mystery but he discovers much more that he bargained for...the men who never sleep.
"The Sleepless" is an extremely gory book, Graham has such a perverted mind. He also includes some graphic sexual scenes in the middle of the horror which are rather funny but what the hell, it's pulp right ? His writing is average and simplistic which makes this book an ideal one for 13 year old boys who just discovered blood and semen.
It's a very fast read, though; the pages turn themselves automatically. There are several Polish accents which I loved (Graham likes Poland) and the ending is totally cool, so if you sutmble upon it you might give it a try, though don't expect any greatness.
You'll find a bucketfull of human hearts instead.
January 30, 2018
Κινήθηκε στο ίδιο μοτίβο με τον άρχοντα του ψεύδους αλλά αυτό, μπορώ να πω ότι μου άρεσε λίγο περισσότερο. Δυνατή και γλαφυρή γραφή, πολύ έντονες σκηνές και αρκετές περιγραφές που προσωπικά δε με κούρασαν καθόλου. Masterpiece...
January 9, 2025
Definitely not my favorite Masterton. Full of his usual violence, sex and gore, but this reads more like a crime/thriller and is tedious at times. Still an intriguing story which kept me reading to the end.
May 24, 2016
There's usually a scene in a Masterton book that gets to me, gives me the creeps yet makes me want to keep reading. But I didn't get that this time, so I consider this a minor Masterton in that regard. It's also a tad too much in love with its own sadism for my liking -a matter of personal taste as I know a lot of people like the more gory of his works. As ever, the man knows how to tell a story and move it forward, but this one isn't up to his usual high standard.
November 17, 2016
I have read a good few books from Masterton now, he is certainly one of my personal favourite horror/thriller authors. I did think that this may have been another horror tale like some of his other books, but it was actually quite more like an urban crime thriller with elements of supernatural horror here and there. Also unlike some of his other books, this one was much longer, closer in length to many Stephen King size books, and in some ways quite similar.
I did enjoy this book, even if not exactly what I may have expected to begin with. It perhaps could have been trimmed by around sixty pages or so, but as ever he writes good characters, dialogue and the story moves along at a good speed.
This is not absolute all-out horror like some of his more well known books, though it does have a good few gruesome scenes and moments throughout the story. Masterton also seemed to attempt to develop with this book, more along the lines of authors such as Peter Straub and King. It is successful in that way, but maybe not what you go to a Masterton book to read. Still a chilling but interesting supernatural crime thriller.
I did enjoy this book, even if not exactly what I may have expected to begin with. It perhaps could have been trimmed by around sixty pages or so, but as ever he writes good characters, dialogue and the story moves along at a good speed.
This is not absolute all-out horror like some of his more well known books, though it does have a good few gruesome scenes and moments throughout the story. Masterton also seemed to attempt to develop with this book, more along the lines of authors such as Peter Straub and King. It is successful in that way, but maybe not what you go to a Masterton book to read. Still a chilling but interesting supernatural crime thriller.
July 10, 2013
Μου αρέσει όταν η πλοκή αργεί και η ... λύση του μυστηρίου δεν γίνεται αντιληπτή από τις πρώτες σελίδες ή ακόμα και στην μέση ενός βιβλίου. Σε αυτό το βιβλίο {που είναι αρκετά σκληρό και δεν το συνιστώ σε όσους δεν αρέσκονται στον ατόφιο, ωμό τρόμο} σε κάθε σελίδα που γυρνούσα ο Γκράχαμ Μάστερτον με έκανε να αναρωτιέμαι τί στο καλό συνέβαινε, ανεβάζοντας φυσικά την έξαψη στα ύψη. Έφερνα στο μυαλό μου πεποιθήσεις άλλων πολιτισμών, θρησκειών κ.λπ. μήπως και έβρισκα κάτι που να ταίριαζε με τα στοιχεία που έδινε, μα τελικά το ταλέντο του με νίκησε. Η αποκάλυψη ήρθε στην ώρα της και ήταν λυτρωτική.
November 24, 2016
Graham Masterton knows how to write a thriller and he knows how to write a horror story and The Sleepless is a combination of the two. A psychologically damaged former insurance investigator is persuaded to help out in the case of a VIP helicopter crash that doesn't quite add up. As you would expect, the deeper he digs the bigger the can of worms gets, until he realises that he's in over his head. Masterton keeps things moving at a fast pace and never lets up until the very end. It goes without saying that coming Masterton's pen it's not for the faint-hearted, but for anyone else it's an excellent tale.
March 9, 2020
An excellent book. Absolutely loved it. Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
May 27, 2017
"La pesadilla" mezcla elementos de thriller, conspiraciones y terror puro y duro en un cóctel extraño y masificado con muchos personajes pero totalmente adictivo. El no saber hacia dónde va ni lo que va a pasar la convierte en una lectura de "montaña rusa" absoluta. Conspiraciones de magnicidio se juntan con torturas, hipnoterapia, sexo salvaje y ensoñaciones surrealistas. Por lo visto Masterton tiene una gran habilidad al mezclar géneros y crear amenazas terroríficas con trasfondos muy originales.
July 6, 2015
Είχα ακούσει τόσα πολλά για τον συγκεκριμένο συγγραφέα και αυτό το βιβλίο που το αγόρασα με πολύ ενθουσιασμό! Το πρώτο κεφάλαιο πραγματικά ήταν πολλά υποσχόμενο. Με μεγάλη θλίψη διαπίστωσα πως ήταν, ίσως, το μόνο που άξιζε. Όλο το βιβλίο ήταν γεμάτο με ένα απίστευτο πλάτιασμα και άσκοπους διαλόγους αλά "Καλημέρα ζωή". Το δε τέλος ήταν πολύ κατώτερο των περιστάσεων. Θα πρέπει, μάλλον, να δώσω κι άλλη ευκαιρία στον Masterton.
January 15, 2017
Bloody, gorey, and very original
I was glued to this book it haunted my dreams. When people talk about horror, some say king while I say Masterson. I haven't read alot of him maybe five books but all were original. The way he writes about American life is awesome. If you haven't read this you should but beware nightmares are ahead.
I was glued to this book it haunted my dreams. When people talk about horror, some say king while I say Masterson. I haven't read alot of him maybe five books but all were original. The way he writes about American life is awesome. If you haven't read this you should but beware nightmares are ahead.
January 20, 2015
Wow, what a roller coaster of suspense, this book had me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter, it had a fantastic plot, good characters and kept you guessing right till the end, I highly recommend it :)
May 12, 2021
Греъм Мастертън е наричан един от най-плашещите разказвачи на нашето време и в това едва ли ще остане и капка съмнение, ако прочетете The Sleepless, смразяващ кръвта окултен трилър, смесващ в зловещо цяло историите за световна конспирация, демонологията и острата социална проза.
Цялото ревю - на линка:
https://citadelata.com/the-sleepless/
Цялото ревю - на линка:
https://citadelata.com/the-sleepless/
September 14, 2013
I started this as soon as I finished Flesh and Blood--once you have the taste of Graham Masterton in your mouth, it's hard to enjoy anything else. This was very good--took a bit more getting into than Flesh and Blood but I am a sucker for the mythology based horror and Flesh was heavy on that. The mythology here is more biblical but also touches on a subject I love--fallen angels and other biblical scaries. Typical of Masterton, there is lots of suspense, lots of gore and explicit sex and a take no prisoners death list. As always, the research was done well and a fascinating idea was expanded upon to center the blood and gore show. My only complaint with Masterton is not being able to find all of his work. These last 2 were ebooks (and very good deals) on Barnes and Noble, but finding his work in libraries can be quite hard. I probably have one of the more complete Masterton collections (most are in paperback but I ain't snobby) and I am still lacking so many. Highly recommend.
July 22, 2015
μια αλήθεια, διαβάζοντας λίγο από το πρώτο κεφαλαιο στο βιβλιοπωλείο μου έφερε στο μυαλό Πολλανικ και άφησα να θεριεψουν μέσα μου φρουδες ελπίδες... Καμία σχέση. κατά διαστήματα μου κράτησε το ενδιαφέρον . Ώς και επί το πλείστον ένιωθα ένα τύπο που προσπαθεί πολύ μέσα από την υπερβολή του σεναρίου του να σε πείσει πως αυτό που διαβάζεις είναι καλό. μόνο που αυτό που διαβάζεις είναι τουλάχιστον μέτριο. μπήκα στον πειρασμό να το αφήσω αλλά δεν υπέκυψα. Φυσικά... γούστα είναι αυτά.
September 22, 2010
A terrific and terrifying story.
June 12, 2017
Well written and a good concept. Original, although one scene at the end nods towards Masterton's Night Stalkers.
April 25, 2014
While the premise of this book was a good one (mysterious sleepless white-faced men are somehow linked to violent crimes, high political office and the nightmares of an insurance investigator), I actually thought it was pretty terrible, misogynistic and a bit racist.
The plot is promising at first; you do find yourself wondering what is linking the events and wondering who the white-faced people are etc. But it quickly derails and I found myself 3/4 of the way through wondering when we were going to get anywhere (in terms of a lack of a story arc or build to climax). There's murders, encounters with slightly demonic white faced men, murders, random sex scenes, murders, then suddenly some bibical references are thrown in, and it ends.
I found that the sexual murder descriptions were pointlessly gratuitous and not very plausible. No matter what I do, I can't see how you could shove a cat wrapped in barbed wire up someone's bum? And the murder/torture was always of women- yes they murdered two of the male characters but not in the overtly sexual way. I was also disappointed that one of the key characters who was also black, was always referred to as a "black man".
All in all, a good idea but not meeting the potential of this, by a long shot.
The plot is promising at first; you do find yourself wondering what is linking the events and wondering who the white-faced people are etc. But it quickly derails and I found myself 3/4 of the way through wondering when we were going to get anywhere (in terms of a lack of a story arc or build to climax). There's murders, encounters with slightly demonic white faced men, murders, random sex scenes, murders, then suddenly some bibical references are thrown in, and it ends.
I found that the sexual murder descriptions were pointlessly gratuitous and not very plausible. No matter what I do, I can't see how you could shove a cat wrapped in barbed wire up someone's bum? And the murder/torture was always of women- yes they murdered two of the male characters but not in the overtly sexual way. I was also disappointed that one of the key characters who was also black, was always referred to as a "black man".
All in all, a good idea but not meeting the potential of this, by a long shot.
September 18, 2017
Un libro que va de más a menos. La idea es original (casi una reinvención de un mito archiconocido que no desvelaré por no destripar la historia) y el libro mantiene la atención mediante un ritmo endiablado durante los primeros 2/3. Sin embargo, el último tercio creo que no sólo es precipitado, si no que el elemento fantástico mezclado con unas teorías de la conspiración hace que la intriga y en cierto modo el argumento, pierda fuerza. No obstante, el libro entretiene y engancha, teniendo entre sus hojas algunas de las escenas más duras que he leído nunca. No es un libro apto para todos los estómagos, pues tiene pasajes que se podrían catalogar directamente como "Gore", algo que alejará a determinados lectores y atraerá a otros. A mi personalmente me sobran algunos de estos pasajes, pues creo que en ocasiones están de más, mientras que otros están logrados y encajan bien con la historia y lo que el autor pretende transmitir. En resumen: una historia de acción e intriga con ingradientes fantásticos.
October 2, 2012
This is typical Masterton, namely bloody and violent with erotica thrown in for good measure. I found the racial tension a little hard for my head to get around and a little frustrating - but then that is good writing if that was its intent. I'm getting a bit over the undue voilence, but I think teenagers who love gory horror would enjoy it.
Plot ***Spoilers***
A helicopter crashes with a young judge on board. The wreckage reveals his and his wife's mutilated bodies - but not their daughter's. An insurance investigator attempts to resolve this bizarre case - and to his cost discovers a merciless race of beings who never sleep...
Fast-moving and highly readable, this features some very graphic violence and is definitely not for the squeamish. Masterton utilises the American setting well, managing to conjure up a genuinely scary portrait of an alien-like race which should - quite literally - get your adrenaline pumping.
Plot ***Spoilers***
A helicopter crashes with a young judge on board. The wreckage reveals his and his wife's mutilated bodies - but not their daughter's. An insurance investigator attempts to resolve this bizarre case - and to his cost discovers a merciless race of beings who never sleep...
Fast-moving and highly readable, this features some very graphic violence and is definitely not for the squeamish. Masterton utilises the American setting well, managing to conjure up a genuinely scary portrait of an alien-like race which should - quite literally - get your adrenaline pumping.
October 28, 2020
Good book, I like the story and it's fast paced and has plenty of graphic horror, yet it is just lacking a little something to make it great. Very much worth a read and I recommend it to horror fans. It didn't leave me wanting more which the really good books do but it was fast enough paced to keep you turning pages.
December 27, 2014
Λίγο βιαστικό τελος αλλά γενικά πολύ δυνατο
November 4, 2015
Δεν ήταν τόσο καλό όσο τα προηγούμενα .... 3 αστεράκια για τους "άυπνους"
July 6, 2018
Interesting take on the vampire theme. Well done.
August 11, 2019
ένα από τα καλά του μάστερτον
μετά από καιρό πέτυχα ένα που με κράτησε
το τέλος με ξενέρωσε, μα αυτό πλέον είναι αναμενόμενο από τον γκράχαμ μας
μετά από καιρό πέτυχα ένα που με κράτησε
το τέλος με ξενέρωσε, μα αυτό πλέον είναι αναμενόμενο από τον γκράχαμ μας
July 9, 2017
*Inhalt*
"Sie sind alt wie die Zeit, und sie leben immer noch ...
Nach einem Hubschrauberabsturz werden aus dem Wrack die Leichen von einem Richter und seiner Frau geborgen. Jemand hat sie grauenvoll verstümmelt. Und von ihrer erwachsenen Tochter fehlt jede Spur.
Michael Reardon, der im Auftrag einer Versicherung ermittelt, ist sich sicher, dass man die tatsächliche Todesursache der Opfer vertuschen will. Er lässt nicht locker und ist bald auf der Spur einer Gruppe unheimlicher Männer, die vor nichts zurückschrecken, um ihre Identität geheim zu halten ..." (Quelle: Amazon)
*Erster Satz des Buches*
"John O´Brien stand im reflektierten Sonnenlicht vor dem Spiegel in seinem Ankleideraum und rückte seine rot geblümte Armani-Krawatte zurecht."
*Infos zum Buch*
Seitenzahl: 608 Seiten
Verlag: Festa Verlag
ISBN: 978-3865525468
Preis: 13,95 € (Taschenbuch) / 4,99 € (E-Book)
*Infos zum Autor*
"Graham Masterton ist einer der erfolgreichsten Autoren moderner Spannungsromane. Er schreibt Thriller, Horrorromane und erotische Ratgeber. 1975 erschien mit DER MANITOU sein erster unheimlicher Roman, der sofort zum Bestseller wurde und mit Tony Curtis and Susan Strasberg in den Hauptrollen verfilmt wurde. Inzwischen sind etwa 50 Romane erschienen, deren verkaufte Auflage bei über 20 Millionen liegt. »Leute zu erschrecken, hat mir schon als kleiner Junge Spaß gemacht«, erklärt er vergnügt. »Als ich 11 war, schrieb ich eine Story über einen Mann ohne Kopf, der aber immer noch singen konnte und der ständig Tiptoe through the tulips (Auf Zehenspitzen durch die Tulpen) trällerte. Vor kurzem traf ich einen Schulfreund, der sich immer noch sehr gut an diese Geschichte erinnert. Er gestand mir, dass ihm heute noch, sobald er einen Topf mit Tulpen sieht, ein Schauder über den Rücken läuft.«." (Quelle: Amazon)
*Fazit*
-> Wieso wollte ich dieses Buch lesen?
Nachdem ich von "Irre Seelen" des Autors so unglaublich begeistert war, war ich natürlich neugierig, ob mir seine anderen Bücher auch so gut gefallen würden - und entschied mich für das neueste "Die Schlaflosen".
-> Cover:
Das Cover ist für ein Cover des Festa-Verlages meines Erachtens relativ "harmlos", passt aber unglaublich gut zur Geschichte - der bleiche Mann im Anzug könnte nämlich durchaus einer der weiß-weißen Männer sein, um die es in diesem Roman geht - einzig die weißen Augen passen nicht, denn laut der Beschreibung müssten diese eher blutrot sein.
-> Story + Charaktere:
Mit "Die Schlaflosen" schafft der "Großmeister der Angst" wieder einmal einen spannungsgeladenen Roman, den man kaum noch aus der Hand legen kann. Mit einer fein durchdachten Story kann uns Masterton von der ersten Seite an mitnehmen und uns glauben lassen, dass "Die Schlaflosen" tatsächlich unter uns weilen - und wer weiß, vielleicht gibt es sie ja wirklich?
Die Charaktere, die wir über knapp 600 Seiten bestens kennenlernen gefallen mir unglaublich gut, denn sie sind fantastisch ausgearbeitet und haben eine Charaktertiefe, wie man es bei Horror-/Thrillerromanen nur selten erlebt. Durch den Verlauf der Story tauchen wir ganz tief in die Seelen der Menschen ab, ganz besonders in jene von Versicherungsvertreter Michael Reardon. Dieser entwickelte sich nach und nach (neben Gerichtsmediziner Victor) zu einem meiner Lieblingscharaktere, da ich mich mit ihm am ehesten identifizieren und in sein Leiden hineinfühlen konnte.
Zu Beginn jongliert der Autor mit vielen Handlungssträngen, deren Verknüpfung ihm zwar später gut gelingt, mich persönlich jedoch ein wenig überforderte. Auch wenn ich nicht sagen würde, dass ich mich an einem Punkt des Buches gelangweilt habe, so empfand ich es doch an manchen Stellen etwas langwierig und hätte mir ein eheres "Vorankommen" der Ermittlungsbeamten, bzw. Michael Reardons gewünscht.
-> Schreibstil:
Der Roman wurde in der Vergangenheitsform aus Sicht eines Erzählers verfasst. Masterton's Schreibstil ist angenehm, sehr bildgewaltig und überaus fesselnd, einzig die sehr langen Kapitel fand ich stellenweise ein wenig störend.
-> Gesamt:
Insgesamt konnte mich Graham Masterton mit "Die Schlaflosen" mit einer tollen Story und fantastischen Charakteren überzeugen, bereitete mir jedoch mit den vielen Handlungssträngen und den weit ausufernden Ermittlungen der Polizei / den Entdeckungen von Michael Reardon ein paar kleine Schwierigkeiten.
Wertung: 4 von 5 Sterne!
"Sie sind alt wie die Zeit, und sie leben immer noch ...
Nach einem Hubschrauberabsturz werden aus dem Wrack die Leichen von einem Richter und seiner Frau geborgen. Jemand hat sie grauenvoll verstümmelt. Und von ihrer erwachsenen Tochter fehlt jede Spur.
Michael Reardon, der im Auftrag einer Versicherung ermittelt, ist sich sicher, dass man die tatsächliche Todesursache der Opfer vertuschen will. Er lässt nicht locker und ist bald auf der Spur einer Gruppe unheimlicher Männer, die vor nichts zurückschrecken, um ihre Identität geheim zu halten ..." (Quelle: Amazon)
*Erster Satz des Buches*
"John O´Brien stand im reflektierten Sonnenlicht vor dem Spiegel in seinem Ankleideraum und rückte seine rot geblümte Armani-Krawatte zurecht."
*Infos zum Buch*
Seitenzahl: 608 Seiten
Verlag: Festa Verlag
ISBN: 978-3865525468
Preis: 13,95 € (Taschenbuch) / 4,99 € (E-Book)
*Infos zum Autor*
"Graham Masterton ist einer der erfolgreichsten Autoren moderner Spannungsromane. Er schreibt Thriller, Horrorromane und erotische Ratgeber. 1975 erschien mit DER MANITOU sein erster unheimlicher Roman, der sofort zum Bestseller wurde und mit Tony Curtis and Susan Strasberg in den Hauptrollen verfilmt wurde. Inzwischen sind etwa 50 Romane erschienen, deren verkaufte Auflage bei über 20 Millionen liegt. »Leute zu erschrecken, hat mir schon als kleiner Junge Spaß gemacht«, erklärt er vergnügt. »Als ich 11 war, schrieb ich eine Story über einen Mann ohne Kopf, der aber immer noch singen konnte und der ständig Tiptoe through the tulips (Auf Zehenspitzen durch die Tulpen) trällerte. Vor kurzem traf ich einen Schulfreund, der sich immer noch sehr gut an diese Geschichte erinnert. Er gestand mir, dass ihm heute noch, sobald er einen Topf mit Tulpen sieht, ein Schauder über den Rücken läuft.«." (Quelle: Amazon)
*Fazit*
-> Wieso wollte ich dieses Buch lesen?
Nachdem ich von "Irre Seelen" des Autors so unglaublich begeistert war, war ich natürlich neugierig, ob mir seine anderen Bücher auch so gut gefallen würden - und entschied mich für das neueste "Die Schlaflosen".
-> Cover:
Das Cover ist für ein Cover des Festa-Verlages meines Erachtens relativ "harmlos", passt aber unglaublich gut zur Geschichte - der bleiche Mann im Anzug könnte nämlich durchaus einer der weiß-weißen Männer sein, um die es in diesem Roman geht - einzig die weißen Augen passen nicht, denn laut der Beschreibung müssten diese eher blutrot sein.
-> Story + Charaktere:
Mit "Die Schlaflosen" schafft der "Großmeister der Angst" wieder einmal einen spannungsgeladenen Roman, den man kaum noch aus der Hand legen kann. Mit einer fein durchdachten Story kann uns Masterton von der ersten Seite an mitnehmen und uns glauben lassen, dass "Die Schlaflosen" tatsächlich unter uns weilen - und wer weiß, vielleicht gibt es sie ja wirklich?
Die Charaktere, die wir über knapp 600 Seiten bestens kennenlernen gefallen mir unglaublich gut, denn sie sind fantastisch ausgearbeitet und haben eine Charaktertiefe, wie man es bei Horror-/Thrillerromanen nur selten erlebt. Durch den Verlauf der Story tauchen wir ganz tief in die Seelen der Menschen ab, ganz besonders in jene von Versicherungsvertreter Michael Reardon. Dieser entwickelte sich nach und nach (neben Gerichtsmediziner Victor) zu einem meiner Lieblingscharaktere, da ich mich mit ihm am ehesten identifizieren und in sein Leiden hineinfühlen konnte.
Zu Beginn jongliert der Autor mit vielen Handlungssträngen, deren Verknüpfung ihm zwar später gut gelingt, mich persönlich jedoch ein wenig überforderte. Auch wenn ich nicht sagen würde, dass ich mich an einem Punkt des Buches gelangweilt habe, so empfand ich es doch an manchen Stellen etwas langwierig und hätte mir ein eheres "Vorankommen" der Ermittlungsbeamten, bzw. Michael Reardons gewünscht.
-> Schreibstil:
Der Roman wurde in der Vergangenheitsform aus Sicht eines Erzählers verfasst. Masterton's Schreibstil ist angenehm, sehr bildgewaltig und überaus fesselnd, einzig die sehr langen Kapitel fand ich stellenweise ein wenig störend.
-> Gesamt:
Insgesamt konnte mich Graham Masterton mit "Die Schlaflosen" mit einer tollen Story und fantastischen Charakteren überzeugen, bereitete mir jedoch mit den vielen Handlungssträngen und den weit ausufernden Ermittlungen der Polizei / den Entdeckungen von Michael Reardon ein paar kleine Schwierigkeiten.
Wertung: 4 von 5 Sterne!
August 13, 2022
This felt like a book that had so much potential but was strung out a little too far and lost its footing at the end.
It was a slog to get through, quite honestly. A lot of talking about things that often seemed to be covering the same bits of information with different wording, and some threads that seemed to go nowhere.
It's not badly written. There are some engaging descriptions and some of them are very visceral and deliver on the promise of horror, but the plot itself just didn't really engage me.
Even overlooking my change of fixation and the length of the book, this was slow going, and whilst I wanted to see how it concluded most of the time reading it I was looking forward to picking up something else.
The main handful of characters are multi-layered and interesting. The trauma the true protagonist, Michael, is going through really makes him someone we can connect to.
But secondary and background characters felt a little bland in comparison for me. I can't remember many of them, and sometimes they would reappear in the story later and I'd have no idea who they were.
The intrigue was cool, but nothing groundbreaking to me, and the villain wasn't a particularly imposing presence for me once he really came into the story. He was set up in one way and was a bit of a disappointment when he arrived.
And though I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone interested in reading, I thought it was wrapped up a little too conveniently and without adequate set-up for what happened. Plus, the villain became rather pathetic in this sequence, and went out in a way that felt inconsistent with how he was established.
I was disappointed, but I finished it, and I wouldn't say it's a bad book. I'm not a "one and done" reader, though, and aim to give Masterton another chance to engage me with his work.
It was a slog to get through, quite honestly. A lot of talking about things that often seemed to be covering the same bits of information with different wording, and some threads that seemed to go nowhere.
It's not badly written. There are some engaging descriptions and some of them are very visceral and deliver on the promise of horror, but the plot itself just didn't really engage me.
Even overlooking my change of fixation and the length of the book, this was slow going, and whilst I wanted to see how it concluded most of the time reading it I was looking forward to picking up something else.
The main handful of characters are multi-layered and interesting. The trauma the true protagonist, Michael, is going through really makes him someone we can connect to.
But secondary and background characters felt a little bland in comparison for me. I can't remember many of them, and sometimes they would reappear in the story later and I'd have no idea who they were.
The intrigue was cool, but nothing groundbreaking to me, and the villain wasn't a particularly imposing presence for me once he really came into the story. He was set up in one way and was a bit of a disappointment when he arrived.
And though I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone interested in reading, I thought it was wrapped up a little too conveniently and without adequate set-up for what happened. Plus, the villain became rather pathetic in this sequence, and went out in a way that felt inconsistent with how he was established.
I was disappointed, but I finished it, and I wouldn't say it's a bad book. I'm not a "one and done" reader, though, and aim to give Masterton another chance to engage me with his work.
April 13, 2022
Entiendo que este autor, por otro lado con cierto renombre, tendrá obras bastante más inspiradas que esta. Puede que a otros no les resulte raro, pero para mi es extremadamente extraño dejar un libro sin leer, por muy flojo que me parezca; y este ha sido uno de los únicos dos que recuerdo haber cerrado sin terminar. De hecho, lo tiré físicamente a la basura.
Porque lo que me pareció es puramente eso: basura. Un argumento deslavazado (aunque puede ser mi culpa por no llegar hasta el final para entenderlo) y, sobre todo, unas descripciones absolutamente repulsivas y gráficas de torturas que no terminaban de venir demasiado a cuento. Entiendo que la incapacidad de generar horror inteligente lleve al sadismo explícito para cumplir el expediente, pero desde luego para mi no habla bien de un autor tener que diseccionar minuciosamente cada cortes, cada quemadura y cada golpe. Me pareció desagradable, no desasosegante.
Como digo, igual me perdí una conclusión brillante, pero no fui capaz de llegar. La violencia extrema dentro de un esquema con sentido me puede parecer hasta correcta; la violencia gratuita sin más intención que estomagar al lector, me parece un recurso de mierda. Fatal.
Porque lo que me pareció es puramente eso: basura. Un argumento deslavazado (aunque puede ser mi culpa por no llegar hasta el final para entenderlo) y, sobre todo, unas descripciones absolutamente repulsivas y gráficas de torturas que no terminaban de venir demasiado a cuento. Entiendo que la incapacidad de generar horror inteligente lleve al sadismo explícito para cumplir el expediente, pero desde luego para mi no habla bien de un autor tener que diseccionar minuciosamente cada cortes, cada quemadura y cada golpe. Me pareció desagradable, no desasosegante.
Como digo, igual me perdí una conclusión brillante, pero no fui capaz de llegar. La violencia extrema dentro de un esquema con sentido me puede parecer hasta correcta; la violencia gratuita sin más intención que estomagar al lector, me parece un recurso de mierda. Fatal.
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