Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
On, Off (Carmine Delmonico #1)
"At the heart of this blend of suspense, forensic science, eerie and sadistic sexuality, and good old-fashioned storytelling is a dedicated but lonely detective, Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico. The year is 1965, the setting a university town in Connecticut, and serial killers are still referred to as "multiple murderers." Profiling hasn't even begun, so Delmonico has to go i...more
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
May 23rd 2006
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 2006)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,001)
As a fan of McCullough's _Tim_ (one of my all-time favorite books), and also of _The Thorn Birds_ and _The Ladies of Missalonghi_, I was incredibly surprised to spot this book at the bookstore. That didn't stop me, of course, from buying it immediately.
Briefly, the book takes place in 1965 in Connecticut and follows a detective, Carmine, as he attempts to solve a "multiple murder" case that is closely tied to the heavily endowed neurological research center, the "Hug," in the earliest days of f...more
Briefly, the book takes place in 1965 in Connecticut and follows a detective, Carmine, as he attempts to solve a "multiple murder" case that is closely tied to the heavily endowed neurological research center, the "Hug," in the earliest days of f...more
Jan 13, 2012
Neide Parafitas
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
leituras-2012,
borrowed
Que policial mais intrigante!!
Dou por mim a ver os acontecimentos se desenrolarem, sem que tenha qualquer pista sobre quem possa ser o assassino! Mais para o final do livro lá me deparei com uma situação que me deixou a pensar, mas depressa notei que tinha tido uma intuição errada, pois diante das circunstâncias que eram apresentadas como poderia ser possível??
Mas... Eis que tudo se explica e afinal a minha primeira intuição estava certa! :))
Um policial sem dúvida muito à frente!!
Adorei!! :)
Dou por mim a ver os acontecimentos se desenrolarem, sem que tenha qualquer pista sobre quem possa ser o assassino! Mais para o final do livro lá me deparei com uma situação que me deixou a pensar, mas depressa notei que tinha tido uma intuição errada, pois diante das circunstâncias que eram apresentadas como poderia ser possível??
Mas... Eis que tudo se explica e afinal a minha primeira intuição estava certa! :))
Um policial sem dúvida muito à frente!!
Adorei!! :)
2 likes · like · see review
view all 9 comments
I was totally surprised to see a book by Colleen McCullough in the mystery/thriller section. I love her historical fiction for the breadth and the depth they give to famous people and places in history, and for her lush writing style. I also love mysteries. So I thought I would combine my two loves, and ended up very pleased. So many mystery/thrillers are just packed with unnecessary jolts of suspense or cliffhangers at the end of a chapter just to keep a person reading; the characters are reall...more
I gave this book a high ranking - because the book is really well written and the story is compelling to the last page. But in a way I still hate the book, a weird statement you might think, it isn't though, not to me.
The book is the first book about Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico, set in the 60's, in Connecticut. There is a sadistic serial killer who is raging the city, always leaving the police several steps behind. The murderer is a sexual sadist and is killing young girls at a quick pace - Del...more
The book is the first book about Lieutenant Carmine Delmonico, set in the 60's, in Connecticut. There is a sadistic serial killer who is raging the city, always leaving the police several steps behind. The murderer is a sexual sadist and is killing young girls at a quick pace - Del...more
Sep 21, 2011
Jessica
added it
Terrible. Even for a trashy detective novel this hits a whole new level of low. The plot twists, when they weren't blindingly obvious, were completely preposterous and unbelievable. The final page alone (and I wont spoil) made me snort aloud, and when I read it to those around me they laughed and asked if it was meant to be a spoof.
McCullough attempted to delve into the human side of the story by developing relationships that had no basis or real sense of emotion, that simply sprang up as if she...more
McCullough attempted to delve into the human side of the story by developing relationships that had no basis or real sense of emotion, that simply sprang up as if she...more
My book club was advertising a sequel to this and it sounded quite interesting. But what’s the point in reading a sequel before you’ve read the original? And I wasn’t planning on buying the book anyway, just borrowing it from the library, so it made sense to get the first one first.
This is quite intriguing – the book is published in 2005, but set in 1965. it doesn’t seem long enough ago to be regarded as a historical novel (murder mystery, actually) – though my children and grandchildren might a...more
This is quite intriguing – the book is published in 2005, but set in 1965. it doesn’t seem long enough ago to be regarded as a historical novel (murder mystery, actually) – though my children and grandchildren might a...more
"On, Off" by Colleen McCullough is the first in her series featuring Carmine Delmonico, a Lieutenant in the Holloman Police Department. Let me first say that if I didn't know McCullough had written this book, I would never have guessed she was the author. This novel is very different from what most of us know McCullough for, such as "The Thorn Birds". And I'm not yet sure that's a good thing. I'm still thinking this is very much like an author's first book in a series, where they are just starti...more
When I set this book down after finishing it, all I could say was "Wow!! Just WOW!" and I kept mulling over the ending all day long. This was a classically constructed mystery with lots of characters (and suspects!) and a nice twist at the end. Very satisfying!
I didn't know that Colleen McCullough had written a mystery series until I read a review of "The Prodigal Son", the fourth book in the series: http://www.underagraysky.com/2013/01/... Intrigued, and since I loved McCullough's "The Thorn Bi...more
I didn't know that Colleen McCullough had written a mystery series until I read a review of "The Prodigal Son", the fourth book in the series: http://www.underagraysky.com/2013/01/... Intrigued, and since I loved McCullough's "The Thorn Bi...more
I read 'The Thornbirds' back in high school, but this book is so different that it's hard to believe both came from the same author.
While this book is set in the 1960s, I didn't find it too dated. Sure, some of the technologies were described as new and cutting edge, where we find them commonplace these days, but if you don't know science, it isn't too hard to make the book seem current.
What I most liked about the book was that McCullough kept it straightforward by introducing the cast of charac...more
While this book is set in the 1960s, I didn't find it too dated. Sure, some of the technologies were described as new and cutting edge, where we find them commonplace these days, but if you don't know science, it isn't too hard to make the book seem current.
What I most liked about the book was that McCullough kept it straightforward by introducing the cast of charac...more
To my surprise, I recently discovered that historical fiction expert Colleen McCullough has written more than the Masters of Rome series and Song of Troy, which happen to be the only books by her that I have read. The new crime series featuring veteran cop Carmine Delmonico is worlds apart from those. The result of her crime fiction endeavor is actually quite good. Nevertheless, my final verdict is not without criticism.
First of all, I think that she needed time to get to grips with this new sub...more
First of all, I think that she needed time to get to grips with this new sub...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I haven't read Colleen McCullough since The Thornbirds, so when I picked up this book at the local Library sale, I was surprised that it was a mystery.
There a lot of suspects who might be responsible for placing a mutilated, headless body in the refuse refrigerator at the research center of a small private university in Connecticut. Lieutenant Delmonico has the case and ultimately discovers the responsible party, but not before there are more, similar killings. In all the story convolutions,...more
There a lot of suspects who might be responsible for placing a mutilated, headless body in the refuse refrigerator at the research center of a small private university in Connecticut. Lieutenant Delmonico has the case and ultimately discovers the responsible party, but not before there are more, similar killings. In all the story convolutions,...more
Overall a decent mystery. The only problems I had with the book were that for some reason I had to keep reminding myself that it took place in 1965 and not the current day. Some of the plot depends on the time period in which the book is set. Also, all of the suspects are introduced early on in the book at a pretty quick pace. I kept wishing, like in some books with lots of characters, that there was a quick reference at the front of the book with all of the main characters so I could keep them...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I think I'm a little bias when I say this, because everything that Colleen McCullough writes, I think is amazing. She could crap in a box and I'd still think that it's amazing. But seriously, I'm not one for mysteries to much, but WOW!!!!!! I've read "The Thorn Bird's" and the masters of Rome series, but mystery? From start to end I could not put this book down or I was thinking what's going to happen next? Next to Stieg Larrsen, I love Colleen McCullough as a mystery writter and can not wait to...more
Jul 15, 2008
Sandie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
folks who like "stunning" endings
Shelves:
thrillers-and-mystery,
2008-books
What a departure this is for Colleen McCullough. Best known for The Thorn Birds and her historical writings, this book journeys into the genre of the serial killer thriller and the brutality of this excursion is one that will leave the reader horrified and disgusted, but quickly turning the pages to discover the identity and motivation of the murderous monster capable of committing such appalling crimes against innocent teenage females.
The story begins in October 1965 with the gruesome discover...more
The story begins in October 1965 with the gruesome discover...more
Jan 25, 2011
Susana Pereira
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bookcrossing,
translation
Em geral gosto muito da escrita da Colleen McCullough e este livro não foi excepção.
Confesso que estava um bocadinho reticente por não associar o género policial à autora, mas no final fiquei completamente rendida.
A certa altura só estava a ser um bocadinho frustrante não sabermos (nós os leitores) nada de mais em relação à investigação. Todos os suspeitos tinham algum tipo de segredo o que tornava difícil suspeitar mais fortemente de alguém em especial...
--SPOILER ALERT--
Para além disso houve s...more
Confesso que estava um bocadinho reticente por não associar o género policial à autora, mas no final fiquei completamente rendida.
A certa altura só estava a ser um bocadinho frustrante não sabermos (nós os leitores) nada de mais em relação à investigação. Todos os suspeitos tinham algum tipo de segredo o que tornava difícil suspeitar mais fortemente de alguém em especial...
--SPOILER ALERT--
Para além disso houve s...more
Didn't enjoy this book at all! The story has holes big as trucks and too many characters who vie for your attention. I don't like when authors try to show off with their knowledge area without consideration for the average readers to read adn understand the story fully. Ditto for using/inserting languages and dialogues without translation. The begining is also so raw and crude had to skim and skip pages. Yuks!
A strange murder/whodunnit from Colleen McCullough. In need of serious pruning! Who knew McCullough was a neuroscientist who spent 10 years doing research at Yale Medical School? That explains the setting of this book which takes place in a neurology research center where part of the dismembered body of a young girl/woman is found in the facility's freezer.
good enough story.
but if you're going to read it, here's a tip.
early on the main character interviews a load of people in rapid succession - you will know it when you see it. At that point have a pen and small piece of paper handy - write down each character's name or initials and a couple of words to identify them. That way, you won't spend the rest of the book trying to remember which character is which...like I did.
but if you're going to read it, here's a tip.
early on the main character interviews a load of people in rapid succession - you will know it when you see it. At that point have a pen and small piece of paper handy - write down each character's name or initials and a couple of words to identify them. That way, you won't spend the rest of the book trying to remember which character is which...like I did.
Not her 'best' writing. Too many details for too many cast of characters. I found it a bit long and deep down I had guessed what happened - the sister was never really blind! haha! As for making the title of the book finally synch with the contents, I found that a bit lame....
Not for the faint of heart..gruesome murder mystery. But I had to see who done it and I pretty well figured it out at about the 80% through mark...Thanks to Kindle I knew it was 80%, but oh my the last few pages held a definite surprise I never saw coming. Very good read for the mystery buff.
Jul 29, 2011
Lara
added it
A friend lent me this book and at first I didnt think I would stick with it, but after the second or third chapter I was hooked. Mysterious, a bit gory, full of suspence and a real page turner, right to the last page!! The scientific bits went over my head, but didnt spoil my enjoyment.
Despite an excellent flourish or two, this is an entertaining but ultimately disappointing mystery. I applaud the historical setting and restraining from gunfights and explosions, but the surprise ending was clear from earlier on with only minor details requiring explanation. And the whole super smart serial killer with nearly limitless resources vs the dogged cop is just getting old.
A pretty silly book. Very gory, and oddly patchy. The love interest, Desdemona, was 'British' and accordingly seemed to have absorbed phrases from the working class Cockney to the stiffest upper lip blue-blood you've ever heard. Yes, not much of this was very convincing.
This was a good suspense novel, with interesting use of forensic science. The setting is a university town in Deleware. The story is centered around a neurological research center and the staff working there. It has some very interesting twists and turns.
I was actually half way through this book before I realized that it was the same author as The Thornbirds. Quite shocking as it seems like two very different writing styles.
That being said it is a rather good mystery novel. Even though it is set in the 60's it held my attention well. The lack of technology did not deter at all. A rather unique "villain" also helped the book move along quickly.
A great quick read that I would recommend to mystery buffs.
That being said it is a rather good mystery novel. Even though it is set in the 60's it held my attention well. The lack of technology did not deter at all. A rather unique "villain" also helped the book move along quickly.
A great quick read that I would recommend to mystery buffs.
This disturbing serial killer mystery leaves the biggest surprise for the end and may show that McCullough can succeed in any genre but but there is something kind of foreordained about the book. ALmost like the author is playing with the reader.
I really do not like when authors present something at the very end that is not even remotely revealed in the book. Part of a mystery is that we the reader are involved with the detective in solving it, and many times we guess way before the detective, b...more
I really do not like when authors present something at the very end that is not even remotely revealed in the book. Part of a mystery is that we the reader are involved with the detective in solving it, and many times we guess way before the detective, b...more
Read this as a book on cd. Very good in that department, made almost 2,000 miles go by very quickly. First book by her I have read and she writes very well. Interesting story and a very interesting hero in Carmine Delmonico. Norfolk Island is a long way from Connecticut, but she gets us all there.
A stilted, lame, surprisingly racist mystery (e.g., did the one Japanese-American character HAVE to wear a kimono, maintain a Zen rock garden, eat only sushi, and employ a subservient functionary?). Don't bother.
1 like · like · see review
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Colleen McCullough AO (born 1 June 1937) is an internationally acclaimed Australian author. Colleen was born in Wellington in central west New South Wales to James and Laurie McCullough.
She grew up during World War II. In her first year of medical studies at the University of Sydney she suffered dermatitis from surgical soap and was told to abandon her dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Instead,...more
More about Colleen McCullough...
She grew up during World War II. In her first year of medical studies at the University of Sydney she suffered dermatitis from surgical soap and was told to abandon her dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Instead,...more
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
