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Matt Wells #2
White Devil: Das Grauen Kehrt Zurück
Brutally targeted by the "White Devil" serial killer, crime writer Matt Wells knows what it's like to look evil in the face and survive. He's rebuilt his life—but with a disciple of his tormentor still at large, he has never stopped looking over his shoulder.
When mystery writers start dying and his friend is found murdered, Matt's paranoia appears well-founded. Now he must use all his resources to orchestrate the psychopath's end. But as cryptic clues to the next victims mock him, it is chillingly clear that his dance with the devil has only just begun.…
When mystery writers start dying and his friend is found murdered, Matt's paranoia appears well-founded. Now he must use all his resources to orchestrate the psychopath's end. But as cryptic clues to the next victims mock him, it is chillingly clear that his dance with the devil has only just begun.…
Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
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About the author
Paul Johnston
90 books88 followersPaul Johnston was born in Edinburgh, studied Greek at Oxford, and now divides his time between the UK and a small Greek island. His highly-acclaimed Quintilian Dalrymple series won the John Creasey Memorial Dagger for best first crime novel.
Series:
* Quint Dalrymple
* Alex Mavros
* Matt Wells
Series:
* Quint Dalrymple
* Alex Mavros
* Matt Wells
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 6, 2019
Es una novela negra. Este libro es la segunda parte del libro "Lista mortal" de este mismo autor.
Al leer la sinopsis no pensé que tenía una bilogia o saga. Igual no fue necesario leer el primero ya que el autor contaba en detalle todo sobre los personajes, para los que abran leído el primer libro seguro que les resultará tedioso.
La trama se centra en Matt Wells, escritor de una novela negra, ha sobrevivido al Diablo Blanco. Pero su vida comienza a complicarse cuando comienzan a morir algunos escritores conocidos y su mejor amigo es uno de los que aparece asesinado. A partir de ese momento comenzará a utilizar todos sus recursos para terminar con la psicópata pero no será tan fácil, pues el asesino conseguirá burlarlo con pistas crípticas sobre la identidad de las siguientes víctimas... ¿Logra atraparlo/a?
Sentí que los últimos capítulos pasaron volando y la historia no me terminó de cerrar.
En cuanto a los personajes, me resultaron muchísimos. Un lío realmente. Además de sentir que eran los típicos personajes cliché. Los malos que no dejan pistas y los buenos que siempre encuentran todo sin la necesidad de la policía.
La historia no me pareció del todo realista, si bien es ciencia ficción, esperaba un poco más de él.
Al leer la sinopsis no pensé que tenía una bilogia o saga. Igual no fue necesario leer el primero ya que el autor contaba en detalle todo sobre los personajes, para los que abran leído el primer libro seguro que les resultará tedioso.
La trama se centra en Matt Wells, escritor de una novela negra, ha sobrevivido al Diablo Blanco. Pero su vida comienza a complicarse cuando comienzan a morir algunos escritores conocidos y su mejor amigo es uno de los que aparece asesinado. A partir de ese momento comenzará a utilizar todos sus recursos para terminar con la psicópata pero no será tan fácil, pues el asesino conseguirá burlarlo con pistas crípticas sobre la identidad de las siguientes víctimas... ¿Logra atraparlo/a?
Sentí que los últimos capítulos pasaron volando y la historia no me terminó de cerrar.
En cuanto a los personajes, me resultaron muchísimos. Un lío realmente. Además de sentir que eran los típicos personajes cliché. Los malos que no dejan pistas y los buenos que siempre encuentran todo sin la necesidad de la policía.
La historia no me pareció del todo realista, si bien es ciencia ficción, esperaba un poco más de él.
January 29, 2022
DISCONTINUED
February 14, 2023
Lo encuentro fascinante.
Buenisimo👍!
Buenisimo👍!
January 1, 2026
I read this but I got frustrated with the length of the chapters.
March 17, 2011
Having read The Death List (the first book of this series) I was really looking forward to The Soul Collector, however, whilst I enjoyed it, I would have to say that it didn’t quite measure up to its predecessor . Perhaps it’s a case of ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ but the action was more muddled and less straightforward, with the protagonists operating out on the fringes, whereas, in The death List the action was ‘upfront and personal’!
In addition, there is a sub story running along with the main event here and it all seemed a bit unnecessary, only serving to confuse but perhaps that was the intention. In essence, the heroes were less heroic and the villains less villainous and the denouement appeared very rapidly. Although, as I read all my books electronically these days, it is a bit harder to see when the end is just around the corner!
Don’t let this put you off reading The Soul Collector as it is well written and the characters are an interesting assortment of individuals who keep the pace moving along satisfactorily. Perhaps I was left a tad deflated because I was comparing the two books rather than taking each as a new step along the intriguing path that Matt Wells (the main character) is journeying!
In addition, there is a sub story running along with the main event here and it all seemed a bit unnecessary, only serving to confuse but perhaps that was the intention. In essence, the heroes were less heroic and the villains less villainous and the denouement appeared very rapidly. Although, as I read all my books electronically these days, it is a bit harder to see when the end is just around the corner!
Don’t let this put you off reading The Soul Collector as it is well written and the characters are an interesting assortment of individuals who keep the pace moving along satisfactorily. Perhaps I was left a tad deflated because I was comparing the two books rather than taking each as a new step along the intriguing path that Matt Wells (the main character) is journeying!
September 13, 2011
The Soul Collector is the second installment in a fun crime saga following writer Matt Wells. What isn't so fun is the antics of his former girlfriend, Sara, who is now following in the footsteps of her brother - the White Devil serial killer from the first book in the series.
Matt Wells is pretty savvy for a writer, going up against nasty bad guys, and solves some intricate puzzles along the way that had me scratching my head. I enjoyed the fact that this time I was surprised by the identities of the sidekicks, which I had figured out early on in the first book. I usually figure that stuff out early on, so I didn't count it against the author, but I do give him major kudos for fooling me this time!
The author also gets accolades from me for managing to conjure up an atmosphere of fear and horror without being overly graphic with the bloody gore. I don't like gratuitous nastiness that just turns mey stomach, and Johnston walks the fine line between making it authentic and frightening without just turning it gross.
Matt Wells is pretty savvy for a writer, going up against nasty bad guys, and solves some intricate puzzles along the way that had me scratching my head. I enjoyed the fact that this time I was surprised by the identities of the sidekicks, which I had figured out early on in the first book. I usually figure that stuff out early on, so I didn't count it against the author, but I do give him major kudos for fooling me this time!
The author also gets accolades from me for managing to conjure up an atmosphere of fear and horror without being overly graphic with the bloody gore. I don't like gratuitous nastiness that just turns mey stomach, and Johnston walks the fine line between making it authentic and frightening without just turning it gross.
November 23, 2009
Matt Wells is still worried about the aftereffects of the White Devil serial killer, after all the sister of the White Devil, and ex-girlfriend of Matt is still at large. Matt and his friends have taken things in their own hands and have plans for if things go wrong.
When they do, and notes left with the body refer to Matt, things start to spiral out of control. However it doesn't look like the work of one person, so who is doing this. It also doesn't look good for Matt when it's other mystery writers dying.
For me this wasn't as good as the first one. Interesting, yes, but there were bits that seemed to detract from the story. Also at 5'1", 15 stones isn't quite as morbidly obese as the author would suggest from the text, particularly if the character had a Hippo nickname in school.
When they do, and notes left with the body refer to Matt, things start to spiral out of control. However it doesn't look like the work of one person, so who is doing this. It also doesn't look good for Matt when it's other mystery writers dying.
For me this wasn't as good as the first one. Interesting, yes, but there were bits that seemed to detract from the story. Also at 5'1", 15 stones isn't quite as morbidly obese as the author would suggest from the text, particularly if the character had a Hippo nickname in school.
March 17, 2011
When reading the blurb on the back of the book while at the library I didn't realise I had actually read this before. It wasn't until is at down to read it properly I recognised it. I enjoyed it enough to want to read it a second time around but it hadn't been good enough to stick in my memory. It is certainly fast paced with a lot of action and uninteresting story but somehow it doesn't quite grab the attention. And I thought the ending was simply a device to get people to read the next book in the series.
October 29, 2012
SO freaking disappointed in this one. The first one was crazy with LOADS of characters and things going on but you could still follow it. This one had WAY WAY WAY WAY too much fucking stuff going on. If they kept it along ONE of the story lines with a few different groups it would have been MUCH better. Now, I don't even know if I want to read the rest of the series, which I HAD been looking forward to.
April 21, 2016
Paul Johnston is a very good writer but personally I feel that this book is a bit too dark for my liking.
If you want a dark, violent, vicious serial killer story then this is for you but I suspect I am over the genre.
The writing is descriptive though the supporting characters can be a bit cliché in particular Karen Oaten the love interest. The sidekicks of the main character are also a bit to helpful to the plot but you do feel that there is enough character and individuality in them.
If you want a dark, violent, vicious serial killer story then this is for you but I suspect I am over the genre.
The writing is descriptive though the supporting characters can be a bit cliché in particular Karen Oaten the love interest. The sidekicks of the main character are also a bit to helpful to the plot but you do feel that there is enough character and individuality in them.
February 4, 2013
Paul Johnston has a way with words. He makes the scenes come alive that I could almost see the victims lying in the pool of blood and feel the anxiety of Matt Wells. I actually expected that Dave was the friend of Matt who was gonna die but I couldn't believe that he did die.
The Soul Collector is a good sequel. It's not as great as the Death List but it's good nonetheless.
The Soul Collector is a good sequel. It's not as great as the Death List but it's good nonetheless.
October 20, 2011
Enjoyed this one much better than the first one. Looking forward to the next in the series now.
June 21, 2010
Very dark!!
September 6, 2010
Certainly fast paced and keeps you guessing, a great sequel to "The Death List" which needs to be read first.
February 17, 2011
Gruesome but good.
January 25, 2012
Johnston writes elegant, fast, thrillers, with superb characterisation and plots. This was excellent.
October 17, 2015
I enjoyed this second book of The White Devil Series, but not as much as the first,
November 23, 2013
As good as the first one!!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews