Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Face of Death (Smoky Barrett #2)

4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 · rating details · 2,080 ratings · 184 reviews

In Shadow Man, Cody McFadyen took the suspense thriller where other writers have feared to tread. He introduced readers to a heroine every bit as dark and edgy as the serial killers she hunts: Special Agent Smoky Barrett. Now, in his latest novel, McFadyen brings Agent Barrett back to track down a killer who breaks all the rules. Get ready for a shattering confrontation wi...more

Hardcover, 480 pages

Published May 29th 2007 by Bantam (first published 2007)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Thrillers

318th out of 1,077 books — 1,551 voters

The Goriest Books Ever

77th out of 182 books — 296 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 13, 2009 Debby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-books

I've never read anything by Cody MdFadyen before. WOW!! In my opinion, he is right up there with Harlan Coben, Dennis Lehane, Ridley Pearson to name a few.
I'm generally turned off by boks and movites that have gratuitous violance/blood and guts in them that isn't supported by a great plot and character depth. This book was intriguing to me from the beginning. The antagonist in this book really was evil personified and I think that is what captivated me, to be honest. To see how evil works in a...more

like 5 likes · see review

Jan 14, 2011 Kai rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Che fine hanno fatto i serial killer? Fino a pochi anni orsono imperversavano per le librerie in tutte le salse. Serial killer collezionisti, eleganti, intelligenti, affascinanti, brutali, misticheggianti, viscidi e naturalmente tutti psicopatici…

Il filone d’oro degli anni ‘90 è quasi esclusivamente di provenienza USA, i nomi sono quelli di Jeffery Deaver, Thomas Harris, Michael Connelly , Poppy Z Brite, a suo modo Bret Easton Ellis, ecc. Molti altri autori si sono cimentati nel mettere in scena...more

like · see review

Jan 09, 2011 J rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

like · see review

Apr 09, 2013 Anja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meine Meinung:
Das zweite Buch aus der Reihe des autoren und ich bin genauso begeistert wie von Teil 1. Das Buch war von vorne bis hinten einfach nur krank- genial krank! Alles wieder logisch aufgebaut mit Spannung die manchmal kaum auszuhalten war und den gleichen und einigen neuen unheimlich Sympathischen Protagonisten wie in Teil 1. Es hat einfach Spaß gemacht immer weiter zu lesen auch wenn es manchmal so grausam war das mir die Luft weggeblieben ist und ich einfach nur schockiert war. Die Id...more

like 1 like · see review

Nov 28, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a great thriller set in the Los Angeles area. The main character appeared in an earlier McFadyen book and is a FBI agent dealing with violent criminals. Special Agent Smoky Barrett is still recovering from having her husband and daughter killed as well as being attacked and raped herself by the killer. She has also taken on her best friend's daughter, Bonnie, after her friend Annie was killed.
Now, a sixteen-year-old girl whose adoptive family were violently killed is asking for her. Sara...more

like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Malena rated it 3 of 5 stars

You know those movies and series with lots of superheroes? In the end, it's not the supermen that stand out, but the common bicycle repair man (to quote Monty Python). This book is kind of like that.

I really felt for Sarah, the 16 year old victim who is the artistic creation of a sick killer with his own horrific past. These two characters really stood out and livened up the story. However, all the other significant characters have an equal amount of emotional baggage. They've all experienced s...more

like · see review

Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've never read the first Smoky Barrett novel, titled SHADOW MAN. I suspect it deals even more with Smoky's tragic past. Since I was a first time reader, the beginning moved quickly. I'm not sure it would do so for a returning reader. Cody McFayden spends nearly fifty pages explaining Smoky's past and who the various characters are. It takes that long to reach the main mystery.

In addition to returning readers, newcomers may be put off by the beginning. Smoky's past is grisly. She seems to be cop...more I've never read the first Smoky Barrett novel, titled SHADOW MAN. I suspect it deals even more with Smoky's tragic past. Since I was a first time reader, the beginning moved quickly. I'm not sure it would do so for a returning reader. Cody McFayden spends nearly fifty pages explaining Smoky's past and who the various characters are. It takes that long to reach the main mystery.

In addition to returning readers, newcomers may be put off by the beginning. Smoky's past is grisly. She seems to be coping well, and begins to clean out her dead husband and daughter's things from her home with the help of friends as the novel begins. Then she's suddenly called into work, to view a terrible crime scene where the only survivor asks for her specifically.

THE FACE OF DEATH lies on the darker side of thrillers. If you don't like descriptions of bodies and violent crime, this is not the story for you. Sarah's diary is also disturbing.

Serial killer novels aren't for everyone. I enjoy them when in some moods, but not in all. They examine the darker side of life, what events must occur to twist a normal, or even a good, person into an insatiable killer. THE FACE OF DEATH makes not only lead detective Smoky Barrett into a foil for the killer, but most of the other characters as well. These good guys have horrible pasts, but they manage to keep survive on the side of the law.

While this creates interesting parallels, it leads to some narrative problems. The characters have too much baggage for the book to properly address everyone's issues. As this novel is part of a series, that gives McFadyen the opportunity to address the problems over a number of books, but it still feels like some problems were only brought up when dramatic effect was needed. Either a tighter cast or the same number of characters with less damaged pasts would have given the narrative tighter focus.

Despite being a downer, THE FACE OF DEATH is a fascinating novel that unfolds in an interesting manner. Some of the killer's ultimate plan doesn't make much sense, but I'll give him a pass since he's insane. Perhaps the best part of the novel is the voice McFadyen gave Sarah. Horrors fill her life, but she still possesses an inner lyricism. It makes the brutality more evident, but does the same for the hope.

THE FACE OF DEATH probably isn't for those who dislike violence or the serial killer theme. For those who do enjoy (or not mind) the presence of those things, this is a good book to pick out. I might start with the first, but don't know how essential it is as I haven't read it myself.(less)

like · see review

Feb 21, 2012 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review of "The Face of Death" (German: "Der Todeskünstler")

In Cody McFadyen's second novel protagonist Smoky Barrett is starting to slowly regain a grip on her personal life.
During the process of removing some of the personal belongings of her deceased husband and daughter Smoky is being called to a crime scene. This in itself would not be too unusual, were it not for the fact the sole suvivor of the crime is asking to speak to Smoky in person.
As it turns out that same survivor is as 16 years ol...more Review of "The Face of Death" (German: "Der Todeskünstler")

In Cody McFadyen's second novel protagonist Smoky Barrett is starting to slowly regain a grip on her personal life.
During the process of removing some of the personal belongings of her deceased husband and daughter Smoky is being called to a crime scene. This in itself would not be too unusual, were it not for the fact the sole suvivor of the crime is asking to speak to Smoky in person.
As it turns out that same survivor is as 16 years old Sarah, a girl who confesses to Smoky that the stranger killer who killed her foster parents now, has killed anyone and anything that Sarah ever cared about since her 6th birthday now.
Smoky's hunt for the killer is on.

As with the previous (and first) novel of the Smoky Barrett series, "Shadow Man", and read it front to back in just about a week's time. I felt hard pressed rating this one, because for one I enjoyed reading it quite a bit but at the same time some gut feeling made me subtract a single star from my final verdict.
Hopefully by the end of reading this review my decision will make more sense to you.

I am going to assume that you have read the prequel novel of the series already - if you have not, go do that. Short of the computer science specialist that temporarily was part of Smoky's team all of the other characters on the investigator's side , including still chosing to be a mute foster-daughter of Smoky's, Bonnie, make a reappearance. The aftermath of the previous case is noticable in the way said characters behave now, which was a huge plus for me - it is clearly not only Smoky's character development thast the author focuses on. Indeed Smoky herself seemed to have come a long way of getting back to actually living her life again which makes me happy for the character of Smoky, but the book also loses one of the major draws for me that way. Smoky's constant emotional turmoil, even outright freakishness in the prequel is not such a pivotal aspect of this story anymore. Instead the author chose to involve the reader with the mind and fear of crime victim Sarah in what I found to be a quite fitting and eloquent way. The main "body" of the story is still presented from Smoky's point of view, as a classic first person point of view novel. However, about one third into the book there are longer passages of third-person narration when Smoky reads Sarah's diary.
I found this particular writing style very effective to perceive and "feel" how Smoky manages to delve into Sarah's mindset, and consequently into the killer's mindset as well. Also, this time, unlike with "Shadow Man", I could not put a finger on who the killer is up until the very end - which was also refreshing since I felt like on the edge of my chair all the time. The gruesomeness is not as graphic this time either which to some readers may be a big plus. Instead, I found, the author focues much more on the emotional and spiritual scarring that takes place due to the crimes albeit I personally did not feel AS compassionate towards the victim as I did towards Smoky herself. The sense of urgency that was present in the prequel also is not quite there this time. You certainly do not want any more murders to happen as the ramifications of such are very obvious and very horrifying. However, since another possible murder would not have a direct impact on the safety of Smoky's team there was not as much of a nail-chewing atmosphere.

The killer himself and his motivations were a curious and twisted thing and the further the story went on and more and more of the killer's background was revealed I had a (swiftly twindling) phase of sympathy towards the killer. I like it when a killer is not protrayed as a pure and simple ultimate evil, but instead has some light shed onto his/her progression into said ultimate evilness. The excellent and somewhat clever conclusion of the novel (that is including Bonnie!) also works in favour of that.

Now, what are the reasons to merely give 4 out of 5 stars for "The Face of Death"?
That which made the prequel "Shadow Man" such a huge draw, namely protagonist Smoky Barrett's inner turmoil and fears, was not as much of a prominent theme any longer.
The sense of urgency and very personal endangerment of Smoky's crew was not to be found in this book anymore either. As such the pacing suffered very slightly.
On the plus side we get to experience a very mysterious storyline that features two distinct narrative styles that blend nicely together and we get to learn how the monster of a killer featured in the book is actually "made". (less)

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 10, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who doesn't mind staying up late to finish it

Shelves: read-2011

I was hooked by Cody McFadyen's first novel about Smoky Barrett and her crack team of investigators and this story picks up not long after the first novel ends. Smoky is attempting to move on with her life (after the death of her husband and daughter the year before) and to adjust to living with her new stepdaughter, Bonnie, who still hasn't said a word since her mother's death. In the middle of a tough project, cleaning out her daughter's room and her husband's closet, Smoky is called to the sc...more

like 1 like · see review

May 03, 2010 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I borrowed this book from a friend -- I didn't realize until after I'd started it that it was the middle book of a trilogy. So if you choose to read...don't start with this one. I will say, though, that this book affected me so greatly I won't be reading the others. How's that for a recommendation?

It was very well-written. While some of the character motivations and reactions felt somewhat implausible to me in the canvass of real life, the way those characters dealt with their implausibility lef...more I borrowed this book from a friend -- I didn't realize until after I'd started it that it was the middle book of a trilogy. So if you choose to read...don't start with this one. I will say, though, that this book affected me so greatly I won't be reading the others. How's that for a recommendation?

It was very well-written. While some of the character motivations and reactions felt somewhat implausible to me in the canvass of real life, the way those characters dealt with their implausibility left little room for critique and I found myself just going with it.

However, the subject matter and the no-holes-barred way the author covered death and darkness and the horrible evil that lies within some people actually physically hurt to read. I almost didn't finish after I got a look at the background of the main character, but then, in what could be considered an amusing moment of truth, I needed a book to read at an appointment that would fit in my purse, so I grabbed this one.

I read the last 300 pages or so last night -- mainly because I was too afraid of the images that would dance behind my eyes if I stopped reading at any one point before the end. There is so much...awfulness in this book. So much tragic death. I don't want to imagine that it's real; I like living in my world where a dead bolt and an automatic garage door is the only thing separating my family from the potential evil out there.

"We're okay. We've always been okay. They won't get us."

But this book terrified me with possibility and I've fallen victim to watching too many 'true crime' stories to know that the events depicted in this story -- events of home invasion, of rape, of disfigurement, of a wife being forced to kill her husband and herself while her child watched, of a mother shooting her attacker and killing her child instead, of a child tied to the dead body of her mother for three days -- could be true.

I didn't read about the author to find out if he'd done his research. I didn't need to know that much truth. He crafted the events in such a way that I was reading a train wreck. I didn't so much care about the characters as I just had to know what happened. I was numb to death before I'd read the first 100 pages; he could have killed his main character and I wouldn't have been surprised.

In the end, the case was solved in five days' time, but it felt as if I and the characters had lived for fifty years with this blood and torture and pain. The tragic stories twisted me up and had me in tears. I woke up in the early hours of this morning and climbed in bed with my daughter just to smell her life.

And as soon as we can afford it, I'm investing in a bigger determent for people getting in to us. Because the real villian in this story, as with so many of the stories of the atrocities one human visits up on another, wasn't the killer. It wasn't even his childhood torturer.

It was evil. And the thing that really scares me is how close to the surface it is for so many people.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 05, 2009 Teresa in Ohio rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mcfadden-cory

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Closer to 4.75, 1 thing keeps it from a 5. Most times sequels whether books or movies or not as good as the original. However this book makes the exception rather than the rule. It is six months later and Smoky is examining her life and deciding what the future holds for her and Bonnie. Her friends gather at her house to help pack up the past when the calls comes. Sarah is demanding to see Smoky, has a gun to her head and 3 dead bodies around her. After diffusing the situation Smoky is drawn in...more

like 1 like · see review

Jul 09, 2012 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

While on vacation FBI Agent Smoky Barrett is summoned to the scene of a triple-homicide where the only remaining survivor, a sixteen year-old girl named Sarah, is holding a gun to her head and asking for Smoky. While talking Sarah out of shooting herself, Smoky promises to read Sarah’s diary. The diary tells an account of a man Sarah calls “The Stranger” who has been attempting to destroy Sarah’s life for the last ten years, starting with the murder of her parents which was staged to look like a...more

like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 Tim Warner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am completely impressed with Cody McFadyen. He is a creative writer. I know that the genre of serial killers is kind of a strange thing to enjoy reading, and that there could be a formulaic banality or redundancy. So it is even more satisfying to see someone attempt and succeed at rising above the mediocre and run of the mill thriller. This is his second book and it is brilliant, compelling (I finished it within three days), surprising, deep, rich and intense.

There are aspects of the story whi...more

like 3 likes · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Blood Rose Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in a series, the first book Shadow Man is a fantastic read and really sets the stage for the characters in the second book and really give background on Smokey who she is and why she does the things.

Cody McFayden explores the inner workings of a serial killer whose true victim is the one that he left alive.

Smokey is called away from her time off with Bonnie at the request of a girl, Sarah, whose family has just been murder. Sarah calls the man the Stranger, a man who has...more This is the second book in a series, the first book Shadow Man is a fantastic read and really sets the stage for the characters in the second book and really give background on Smokey who she is and why she does the things.

Cody McFayden explores the inner workings of a serial killer whose true victim is the one that he left alive.

Smokey is called away from her time off with Bonnie at the request of a girl, Sarah, whose family has just been murder. Sarah calls the man the Stranger, a man who has haunted her throughout her life, taking away anything that gave her comfort and made her happy. Sarah is to her breaking point it is either the Stranger or her, and right now the Stranger is winning. Smokey is her last chance. Sarah knows that Smokey has suffered, but is worried that she will not believe her as no one has in the past. Smokey knows she does not have that much time to save Sarah, but the Stranger is like a killer she has never come up against before, completely unique, with a focus on Sarah's life. There is only one thing common in all of Sarah's past, those who have been nice to her have disappeared or been found dead.

This book is fantastic, it has everything that you want in a thriller, with chills that will want you to keep the lights on but also read this book in one sitting.I t is completely different from the first book, in both story, plot line and writing style. We get the perspective from Smokey, but McFayden also delves into Sarah's past by having her journal dictated in the book. Sarah's journal is extremely powerful and an effective way to tell her story. All in all just a really different and interesting storyline and plot that will have you on the edge of your seat, wanting to see what will happen next.

Smokey is one of the most real characters that I have ever read in a book/series. McFayden has made her a three dimensional character, that an individual who has had her exact life would react this way. She knows that she does not have all the answers, is willing to look to others for them, she questions her decisions at work and at home, the same thing that any real person would. This is not to say that Smokey is at all a weak character, she is strong, especially when she is in her element, and would do anything to protect the innocent. I like her interaction with Bonnie throughout the book and I felt that having Bonnie in the story helped Smokey grow as a character. I do hope in future books we do get to know more about her team especially James, as he is a mysterious character that I think would be very interesting to explore.

McFayden has the ability to take me through every emotion both positive and negative but yet still keep me wanting to read more. At points he had me on the verge of tears the next checking to make sure all the doors are locked. There are some disturbing scenes in the book, mainly these are confined to the crime scenes but as I said above Sarah's journal is very powerful and I think some people may have a challenge getting through it because of the content. However, McFayden gives you enough detail, especially through Sarah's story, that will send chills up your spine. I think that McFayden has found a good balance of just giving enough detail to keep his books within the Thriller genre and not venture into Horror.

There are times when serial killer books become typical and you know what it going to happen next; there is nothing typical about McFayden's books. In short, I love this series, author, characters, story everything about it. McFayden is a master when it comes to the serial killer Thriller genre, bring on the next Smokey book, I cannot wait (I have already picked it up, lol).

Enjoy!!!!

Note: Although there is not a great amount of description or detail, the main aspect around this book is a young girl who has had to suffer horrible events in her life, this would include sexual, physical and psychological abuse, therefore, some individuals may find it disturbing.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Ivana S. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, fiction, great-books, i-own, mystery-susp-crime-investig

Wow! This was both exciting and terrifying.

I was hooked after first crime scene description – it was so well done that I was scared (which doesn't happen a lot to me when I read similar books). That's why I just couldn't put this one down.

I really like Smoky. Her own tragedy makes her even better at what she does and I could actually feel her melancholy, her fear, her fight. Her relationship with Bonnie, (her adopted daughter who refuses to talk) is beautiful, full of love and empathy. They un...more
Wow! This was both exciting and terrifying.

I was hooked after first crime scene description – it was so well done that I was scared (which doesn't happen a lot to me when I read similar books). That's why I just couldn't put this one down.

I really like Smoky. Her own tragedy makes her even better at what she does and I could actually feel her melancholy, her fear, her fight. Her relationship with Bonnie, (her adopted daughter who refuses to talk) is beautiful, full of love and empathy. They understand each other so well - it is a thin, but strong thread of hope for both of them.
Smoky is so strong and smart, and what moved me the most about her – she keeps fighting. Every day. She fights everything and everyone and she survives. For herself. For Bonnie. And now for Sarah.

Sarah has a story to tell. Her story is ugly, scary, almost unbelievable. But it's true. Ever since she was six, Stranger keeps showing up in her life and destroys everyone she ever loved. He killed her parents and their family dog, he killed people who wanted to adopt her, he killed every person in her life she ever loved. The trouble is, no one believes her. Until Smoky.
Sarah gives her diary which contains her tragic life, and what is written inside makes Smoky and her team desperate to catch Stranger and keep him out of Sarah's life forever.

Stranger truly is The Face of Death. He is so cruel and violent that it's scary to read about him, but at the same time, it's hard to stop. All of his actions were pure horror. His own story was a horror, but what he did to Sarah was indescribable.

This is one of those books that are not easy to forget. Somehow, this was not just another serial killer story. Because of the way it's written, it seems real. Characters are well developed and each has his own story, which is pretty interesting. Investigation is more than interesting, and crimes are truly terrifying. In short, this is one really good crime/suspense/mystery/horror book.

5 stars from me.
(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 30, 2008 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Amanda by: Dinwiddie

This is the 2nd in the Smokey Barrett series. As captivated as I was by Shadow Man, I just didn't feel the same pull with this one. While it was still very good, and I did read it within a day, I don't think it was as exciting.

I believe the reason is because the newest serial killer focused on someone else out of Smokey's team. A young girl named Sarah. And honestly, I didn't believe Sarah was a great character. Sad, yes. Pitiful, yep. But not someone I really was interested in.

Someone has been...more

like · see review

Feb 13, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nachdem das Buch nach den ersten Seiten aufregend, und die Geschichte immer brutaler, kränker, trauriger und schauriger wurde, war vor allem das Ende enttäuschend. Es ist mir noch nie passiert, dass ich die letzten Seiten eines Buches am liebsten gar nicht mehr gelesen hätte.
Nachdem feststand, wer der Mörder ist, ging es mit der Handlung bergab. Selbst das Stürmen des Hauses hat mich nicht gefesselt.
Es waren mir zu viele, viel zu besondere Charaktere auf einem Haufen. Sodass ich mir bei jedem Su...more

like · see review

Aug 14, 2007 Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Not for the squeemish

Shelves: serial-killers

This is part 2 of Shadow Man and yet another grisly case for Smokey Barrett. This is one of the darkest books I've ever read and just when you think it couldn't get darker....it does. I cried during this one. Excellent writing, took me right into the story right away. Love it. But read with caution.

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 11, 2011 Cyneva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow - this book was just ... wow. It's the 2nd novel in the Smoky Barrett series and it's better than the first. Far better, imo. Not that the first one was bad, but there were a couple annoyances that made me knock a star off the review (such as repeated use of the phrase 'honey love' that about made my head explode in the first book). However, Cody McFadyen has fixed the issues I had with #1 and outdid himself with The Face of Death.

It's not your normal serial-killer-crime story. It's so much...more

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 14, 2013 Damiano Battaglia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Secondo capitolo per l'agente Smoky Barrett, stesso schema del precendente. La squadra di agenti, le famiglie minacciate, l'accecante bontà dei buoni, la rivoltante cattiveria dei cattivi. Il serial killer, poi, stavolta è veramente contorto nel suo operato, e se non fosse per l'empatia indotta dalle indicibili sofferenze delle vittime, ogni tanto verrebbe da ridere.
Indovinatissima, invece, l'idea del racconto nel racconto, con l'esposizione integrale di un diario nel quale la protagonista dei s...more

like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Miryam Amoenitas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ich habe dieses Buch hauptsächlich gelesen, weil ich hungrig nach Lesefutter war, und leichte Kost, einen leichten Thriller gebraucht habe. Nun.. Das Buch ist alles andere, als leichte Kost.
Das Buch ist so intensiv, wie ich selten eines gelesen habe. Das Grauen in diesem Buch berührt einen tief in der Seele und verfolgt einen, lange nach dem man es fertig gelesen hat.
Es ist nicht schwer, den wahren Schuldigen zu hassen, trotzdem kommt man nicht umhin zu denken "was wäre wenn...".
Unzählige Male...more

like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Lilly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013ㅣchallengeㅣtome, 2013ㅣchallengeㅣchaos, favouriteㅣstyle-of-writing, favouriteㅣcharacters, made-me-cry, ohmygosh-i-love-it-so-much, popularㅣjustified, favouriteㅣstory, must-read-before-u-die, real-heros

Meine Meinung über das Buch

Puuuh.
Ich bin ja wirklich abgehärtet was Horror betrifft, für mich kann es gar nicht blutig, mörderisch, grausam und heftig genug sein..aber dieses Buch hat mich zwischendurch wirklich an die Grenzen gebracht. Es ist nicht schrecklich im Sinne von "ekelig", eher im Sinne von "schrecklich, was man einer menschlichen Seele antun kann".

Nach dem Lesen dieses Buches war ich erstmal extrem geflasht. Ich brauchte kurz Zeit um meine Gedanken zu sortieren.
Durch dieses Buch erke...more

like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Šimun Sever rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As for the positive sides of this book I have nothing to add that wasn't said in first few reviews here. If you like crime/mysteries with elements of horror, this is a book for you.
But I would like to point up reasons why I rate it with 4 stars and even thought of giving 3.

What bothers me the most about this book are characters who are like caricatures, totally extremes. We have perfectly good and full of love character, almost all of them are fearless, everyone are perfect in what they do etc....more

like · see review

Apr 16, 2010 Darcy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

Smokey is back and things she is settling into her life as it is. She has come to terms with the death of her husband and daughter. She now faces a new decision her life could take, she has been offered a teaching position in Quantico. There are reasons why this would be good and there are reasons why she should stay where she is. She contemplates this new move while on vacation and packing up Matt and Alexa's things. With the support of her friends she makes quite a dent in the process until sh...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 17, 2009 Quinn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-books, mystery-thriller

WOW!! A truly disturbing and grotesque novel that touches on many taboos that we don’t like to talk about. This novel is well written with many shocking turns that coil and twists up your mind. I really enjoyed this novel, but once again Cody McFadyen writes a book that it is not for the faint of heart. I thought this book had a terrific ending.

Sidenote: I was sitting on my back porch so engrossed in this novel and I started to smell a funny nasty smell. I looked down to the side of my lawn chai...more

like 1 like · see review

Dec 23, 2009 Vanessa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I liked this book and it was an excellent read. However, parts of the book can be very disturbing and may not be for everyone. I don't usually go for this much darkness, but once I started reading, I was hooked. I had to put it down several times, though, because it was so intense. I liked the characters, and the killer's actions are certainly imaginative, but really twisted and sick, and the things that happen to Sarah are so sad, especially when you know the whole story of what's she's gone th...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Magiczna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook

This book made me jump up and down from excitment on my way home. In a train full of people. And I mean jumping up and down before I got to the dead bodies, crazy murderer etc etc part. You know, after Shadow Man the standard was raised high, really high. And while this one wasn't better, it's nearly as good as its predecessor. The plot, wicked and twisted is both frightening and entertaining. The only downside was that I easily guessed the murderer's identity. On the bright side, the insight of...more

like · see review

Oct 26, 2011 Beanse rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: bloody-bad-books

OMG! I have not been that happy to finish a book, since I read Gone With The Wind for English class in the 9th grade.

Way too much "yappy yappy" for me. When I read all the reviews for this book, all I read was praise. No one bothered to say how much insight was in the book.

No one bothered to mention I would be over reading the insight of the lead character. YAP YAP YAP.... I feel this, Honey Love that! Then there was the book with in a book I was forced upon. I feel this, my life sucked that, y...more

like · see review

Mar 27, 2013 Bigd_041555 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh my, definitely not for the faint of heart and most definitely a heart wrenching book - wow, kleenix alert.

Getting more use to first person writing, Smoky Barrett is a very likable and real character (to me), that Cody has managed to portray with ease.

The only fault I find with the book, is that Mr. McFadyen was more verbose in this book than the first one. Yes the storyline was a bit complex and woven with lots of suspense, some action, and still a question of who is the psycho behind all the...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 01, 2010 Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book ! I read Shadow Man and this one back to back, and I thought this follow up book was even better. I was not distracted throughout the book with the constant, cheesy "honey-loves", as the author FINALLY toned it down a great deal. That definitly took away from the story in Shadow Man. This was a compelling, although heartwrenching, story throughout. Fanatastic character developement. This book was nearly impossible to put down. Not for the squeemish, and although the story is a tad...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (34)

More editions...

Genres

Thriller

57 users

Mystery > Crime

27 users

Mystery

19 users

Suspense

17 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

10 users

Horror

6 users

European Literature > German Literature

4 users

Mystery > Detective

2 users

Adventure

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Cody McFadyen

Cody Mcfadyen was born in Texas in 1968. He designed websites before selling his first novel, Shadow Man, in 2005. He has since had a second book – The Face of Death – published. Both were international best sellers. He lives in Southern California with his two black labs, often referred to as ‘The Black Forces of Destruction.’ He drinks coffee (copiously), plays guitar (badly), and reads (voracio...more

More about Cody McFadyen...

Books by Cody McFadyen

Die Blutlinie + Der Todeskünstler : Doppelband

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Ölümün Yüzü

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Face of Death

“His story remains behind, echoing inside me, a tale of impossible choices.” — 4 people liked it

“You can love the ocean, and many do, but don't expect it to love you back. It's too forever” — 4 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Face of Death
avg rating	preview: The Face of Death Goodreads rating: 4.27 (2080 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/184794.The_Face_of_Death?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1172523387l/184794.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/184794.The_Face_of_Death?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Face of Death by Cody McFadyen[/url]

The Face of Death (Smoky Barrett #2)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website